This proposal will assess risks for transition from therapeutic hypnotic use to abuse in people with insomnia. The investigators will study a hypothesized at-risk sub-population, insomniacs with hyperarousal, and compare two hypnotics, a drug with mood effects, eszopiclone, versus one without mood effects, zolpidem.

Persons with DSM-V diagnosed insomnia disorder, aged 18-65 yrs, with no other sleep disorders, unstable medical or psychiatric diseases or drug dependency will be entered to the trial. Following a screening NPSG and MSLT, participants will be randomized to zolpidem XR 12.5 mg (n=60), eszopiclone 3 mg (n=60), or placebo (n=50) nightly for 6 months. After 6 months of nightly use, over a 2-week choice period, they were instructed to discontinue hypnotic use, but if necessary, to self-administer either 1, 2, or 3 capsules of their assigned "blinded" medication (zolpidem XR 6.25 mg, 6.25 mg, placebo; eszopiclone 2 mg, 1 mg, placebo as capsules 1, 2 and 3 respectively; or 3 placebos). Nightly sleep at home will be recorded by actigraphy for one week after the screening NPSG and MSLT and before treatment is initiated and actigraphy again during the two week discontinuation.

Inclusion Criteria:

• DSM-5 diagnosis of insomnia

Exclusion Criteria:

• acute or unstable medical disease,
• current or past history of psychiatric disease, alcoholism or drug abuse, and other primary sleep disorders

6 months

reported weekly by questionnaire

Difficulty reaching proposed enrollment target: 41 of projected 120 participants completed the study- in part due to COVID. Study is to be considered preliminary