esearchers note that a new medication, Rozerem (known generically as ramelteon), recently approved for insomnia treatment does not appear to have any characteristics that might lead to dependence or abuse.

The sleep aid acts in the same way as melatonin, the natural hormone that has been linked to healthy sleep in numerous studies, with Dr. Roland R. Griffiths telling Reuters Health,, "Our study found no evidence of potential for abuse or impairing effects of ramelteon up to 20 times the recommended therapeutic dose

A newly approved sleep medication does not seem to have side effects common to benzodiazepine receptor agonists, the leading prescription drugs to treat insomnia. Benzodiazepines - which include Valium, Xanax and Halcion - carry a risk of abuse, addiction and motor or cognitive impairment. However, it appears the new drug, ramelteon, does not cause these problems.

Benzodiazepines can impair thinking, learning and memory and cause motor impairments that can make driving dangerous or cause older adults to fall. Long-term users can have unpleasant withdrawal symptoms when they stop taking the drug, like anxiety, irritability and even seizures