Medications Commonly Used to Promote Sleep
| Drug Category | Medication | Hypnotic Dose (route) | Onset (duration of action) |
| Benzodiazepines | diazepam (Valium) | 5–10 mg (capsule, tablet) | 30–60 min (6–8 h) |
| temazepam (Restoril) | 15–30 mg (capsule) | 60 min, minimum (6–8 h) | |
| triazolam (Halcion) | 0.125–0.5 mg (tablet) | 30 min (peaks 1–1.5 h) | |
| clonazepam (Klonopin) | 0.5–2.0 mg (tablet) | 30–60 min (8–12 h) | |
| Tricyclic antidepressants | doxepin (Sinequan) | 10–150 mg | 30 min |
| amitriptyline (Elavil) | 10–15 mg | 30 min | |
| nortriptyline (Pamelor) | 10–50 mg | 30 min | |
| Chloral derivatives | chloral hydrate | 0.5–1.0 g (capsule, syrup, suppository) | 30–60 min (4–8 h) |
| Second-generation antidepressants | trazodone (Desyrel) | 25–150 mg | 30 min |
| nefazodone (Serzone) | 50–100 mg | 30 min | |
| mirtazapine (Remeron) | 15–60 mg | 30 min | |
| Antihistamines | diphenhydramine (Benadryl) | 25–100 mg (tablet, capsule, syrup) | 10–30 min (4–6 h) |
| hydroxyzine (Vistaril, Atarax) | 10–100 mg (tablet, capsule, syrup) | 15–30 min (4–6 h) | |
| Neuroleptics | chlorpromazine (Thorazine) | 10–50 mg | 30–60 min |
| Other | zolpidem tartrate (Ambien) | 5–20 mg | 30 min (4–6 h) |
| zaleplon (Sonata) | 10–20 mg | 30 min (4–6 h) |
