Quote:
Originally Posted by
MrG 
I sincerely don't mean to pick a fight here, but this is awful "advice." If you're an insomniac there is no reason not to consider medication. Avoiding sleep meds when you're an insomniac is like avoiding antibiotics when you have an ear infection. These are treatable illnesses.
Quite contrary to the above, Ambien (and other sleep meds) can be quite helpful. It's great for getting back into a more reliable, fixed schedule. If you use it as your doctor directs the insomnia doesn't get worse when you quit. They'd probably give it to you for about a week and tell you to keep to a regular bed time. The idea is that it can correct your schedule by knocking you out at the same time every night. There is a possibility of one night of a bit of rebound insomnia, but even if that happens it's not terrible and it passes quickly. Yes, if you abuse it you'll probably have a problem, but if you follow the doctor's orders you will be fine.
I know you said you were hoping to avoid a doctor, but if nothing else works it might be worth trying. They produce a generic now, so it's not quite as expensive as it used to be, even without insurance.
I work different shifts sometimes and that can really disrupt my sleep cycle. Ambien is great for that! I knocks me out in <30 minutes every time. Most of the time the 5mg "senior citizen" dose is enough for me. I've never had any problem with rebound insomnia; I try to never take it more than 3 days in a row. Just knowing I have Ambien in my medicine chest helps me sleep because I know it is there if I need it. You are right about the generic; zopidem is less than my copay so I just pay cash. Ambien "CR" is not worth the money; it is Sanofi-aventis pharmaceutical's way of extending their lucrative patent.
