I'm a retired teacher too. I'm 75. I've taken Ambien off and on for years but doctors don't like to prescribe it. They say I'll grow dependent on it. Who cares? I'm 75! If I were 35, I'd understand! My new doctor gave me a prescription for Trazodone but it didn't do the job. I've taken gabapentin and it just made me dizzy. I don't care if I become dependent on a sleep medication at my age. so...I'm going to ask her to at least give me a prescription for 15 tabs of 5mg rather than 30. Last night was brutal!