As more and more people find the bustle and fuss of life interfere with their ability to sleep, more and more people are turning to short-term sleep aids including prescription medications to treat acute insomnia or transient insomnia. More and more companies are responding by introducing generic versions of formerly brand name prescription medications for treating insomnia and related sleep disorders, including Ambien, Ativan, Xanax and more. How do you know if the generic version of your medication is just as good as the brand name?

The primary differences between generic and brand name prescriptions is nothing more than a matter of fillers. All medications contain fillers, or inactive ingredients that help bind the medication together. All medications carry with them some risk, which you should learn about before you take any medication for insomnia or other sleep disorders. While some people may find generic insomnia medications work just as well as brand names, others may find they are sensitive to one or more ingredients in generic versions of well-known sleep medications.

If you are not sure whether you should opt for the brand name sleep medicine you need, be sure you stop to talk with your doctor or pharmacist. Most of the time, using a generic medication will save you lots of money. If however, you’ve used a brand name for some time, you may find the generic just isn’t a good fit.

If you already know you need brand name insomnia medications, make sure you ask your doctor to note that on your prescription. A doctor's note will alert the pharmacist so they know you need brand name sleep medications instead of a generic sleep aid. Most pharmacists will ask you if you have a preference anyway, and if they don’t, you are welcome to ask them. Remember that all medications come with benefits and risks, so be sure to consult with your doctor or pharmacist so you know what side-effects to expect if you do opt for prescription sleep aids to help you get to sleep better or stay asleep longer.