Zaleplon is a nonbenzodiazepine sedative-hypnotic agent that is prescribed for the short-term management of insomnia, specifically for individuals who have difficulty falling asleep. Chemically distinctive as a pyrazolopyrimidine, it acts by selectively binding to the benzodiazepine site on the alpha-1 subunit of the GABA-A receptor complex, thereby enhancing the inhibitory effects of GABA in the central nervous system to induce sleep. Zaleplon’s rapid onset and short half-life (approximately one hour) make it particularly effective for reducing sleep latency without significantly altering normal sleep architecture or causing residual next-day sedation. Its specificity at GABA-A receptor subtypes ensures minimal muscle relaxant or anticonvulsant effect, differentiating it from classic benzodiazepines and contributing to its popularity for sleep onset difficulties.