I've been on 12.5 mg of Ambien CR for over 10 years. I think I started in 2002. The doctor I used to have didn't care. He was the type to ask me what I wanted rather than discussing a way to cure the problem without being dependent on prescription medication. He retired and I found another complacent PCP, who I can't seem to get to spend more than the allotted 5 minutes with me to actually discuss the issue. I'm very frustrated. I've tried substituting Melatonin and end up with weird dreams and nightmares that wake me up throughout the night. I've tried weaning off it when I was out of work last summer, but once it was gone, I could get to sleep and stay asleep until almost 6 a.m., if even, and then it's time to get up! Before I was on the Ambien, I took Trazadone for a little while and it worked great and when I stopped, I didn't have any problems and had a relatively easy time getting to sleep and staying asleep, but now I can't do it. I lay there listening to my husband sleeping and every little sound and my mind just goes. It can be about any number of things, worry, not worry. If I try to think of something that's relaxing like sitting on the beach, my mind will wind around until I'm lying there obsessing about something. For example, I'm on the beach. Who am I with? My friend Mary. I haven't seem Mary in a long time. Why? And so on and so forth. It's like pulling a thread.

The health plan we have now is terrible and they don't cover Ambien. Plus, because Ambien is now classified as a Class 4 opioid, my PCP insists that I come into her office every 3 months for her to write a new prescription. So I went from paying $10 a refill to paying $50+ and paying my PCP $30 every 3 months. I want off this treadmill!