Prescriptions for sleeping pills are increasing with Ambien continuing to lead those in its class. Total Benzodiazepoid (benzodiazepine and related drugs) prescriptions in 2001: 29.2 million. Ambien ~ 18 million, sonato about 1 million. in 2006, 43 million benzodiazepoid prescriptions, 28 million for ambien, 1 million for Sonata, 2.3 million for Lunesta (approved March 2005), and 22 million in other benzodiazepines. Data from IMS Health, from New York Times