Melatonin vs Zolpidem: what is the difference?
Melatonin is a hormone that signals night has come, while zolpidem is a prescription sedative acting on the GABA-A receptor that induces sleep directly.
Sources and notes
- The sentence under the titlefrom sourceMoleculeFinder comparison notesThe pair's answer line.
- The two drawingscomputedMoleculeFinder rule (RDKit MCS)Each molecule's own drawing, as its page shows it. The common core, 6 of 23 atoms, is too small to align on.
Side by side
| Melatonin | Zolpidem | |
|---|---|---|
| Molecular weightCalculated PubChem | 232.28 g/molC13H16N2O2 | 307.4 g/molC19H21N3O |
| Hydrogen-bond donorsCalculated PubChem | 2 | 0 |
| Half-life in the bodyEditorial MoleculeFinder curated | about 0.75 h | Not recorded |
| FamilyEditorial MoleculeFinder curated | Amines | Sleep medicines |
| Everyday groupEditorial MoleculeFinder curated | Body | Prescription medicine |
| Chemical groupsCalculated Found by rule (RDKit) | Aromatics, Amides, Ethers | Aromatics, Amides |
| Hazard labelReported ECHA via PubChem | Not recorded | Warning |
| The supplier-filed hazard label's signal word, not a statement about ordinary use. | ||
Sources and notes
- Molecular weightcomputedPubChemComputed from the structure; the formula is under each weight.
- Hydrogen-bond donorscomputedPubChemThe hydrogens on nitrogen or oxygen that each molecule can lend to a hydrogen bond, counted from its structure.
- Half-life in the bodyfrom sourceMoleculeFinder curatedIn a typical adult: the time the body takes to clear half of it.
- Familyfrom sourceMoleculeFinder curated
- Everyday groupfrom sourceMoleculeFinder curated
- Chemical groupscomputedFound by rule (RDKit)Each group is found in the structure by a chemical pattern.
- Hazard labelfrom sourceECHA via PubChem
- ECHAfrom sourceAttributionSource: European Chemicals Agency, echa.europa.eu.
- Identifiersfrom sourcePubChemPubChem CID 896 (Melatonin) and 5732 (Zolpidem).
In more detail
Both are used for sleep and they are not the same kind of thing at all. Melatonin is a hormone the body produces in darkness, a signal that says night has come rather than a sedative, and it is sold over the counter in the US while being prescription-only in much of Europe. Zolpidem is a prescription sedative that acts on the GABA-A receptor, the same target as the benzodiazepines, and it induces sleep directly. That mechanistic difference shows in what each does to sleep architecture and in the risks attached: zolpidem carries well-documented associations with complex sleep behaviours and next-day impairment, melatonin does not. Melatonin's own half-life is very short at around 45 minutes.
Sources and notes
- The paragraphfrom sourceMoleculeFinder comparison notes
Questions
- What is the difference between Melatonin and Zolpidem?
- Melatonin is a hormone that signals night has come, while zolpidem is a prescription sedative acting on the GABA-A receptor that induces sleep directly.
- Is Melatonin bigger than Zolpidem?
- Zolpidem is the heavier molecule, 307.4 g/mol against 232.28 g/mol for Melatonin. Melatonin is C13H16N2O2 and Zolpidem is C19H21N3O.
Sources and notes
- The answersfrom sourceMoleculeFinderThe first is the pair's answer line; the others are read off the table above.