Very different — and this matters.
Sleeping pills (like zolpidem or nitrazepam) force the brain into sleep by suppressing the central nervous system. They work, but they come with dependency, withdrawal, grogginess the next day, and rebound insomnia when you stop. Many people find they cannot sleep at all without them after a few weeks.
Melatonin supplements signal to the brain that it is nighttime. They can help with jet lag and shift work but don't address the actual reason most people can't sleep — a stressed, overstimulated mind with high cortisol.
Lori does neither of these things. It does not force sleep. It does not add a chemical signal. It works by reducing cortisol and calming the nervous system — creating the conditions your body needs to fall asleep naturally on its own. When you sleep after using Lori, it is your own sleep, not chemically induced sleep.
This is why Lori is completely non-habit-forming. There is nothing in it that your body becomes dependent on. You can use it every night or stop anytime — your natural sleep patterns are not affected.