Everyone agrees that prescription drugs is not a first choice decision for insomnia. However, I found that sleeping only three hours for 3-4 consecutive nights led to depression. My social worker shared that lack of sleep is a primary factor in depression. Not only was it a few hours, it was not the deep, restorative sleep that I need. Sleep determines my quality of life in terms of energy-fatigue as well as daily out-look on life. I have the sleep med next to my bed. I do all the other cognitive behavioral approaches to sleep- if I am having a bad night, I take the drug. Not needed every night but as needed.