I've been taking 10 mg of Ambien nightly for 15 years, for chronic insomnia initially triggered by a painful divorce. As I don't like feeling dependent on it, I've tried many other things to address the insomnia in other ways and get off of Ambien. This includes acupuncture, mediitation, massage, hypnosis, sleep restriction, cognitive behavioral therapy, etc. Working with a psychologist I tried CBT yet again, last summer, and was able to reduce my dosage. But as soon as I encountered stressful life situations, the dosage crept back up to 10 mg. Recently, I had to change GP docs and the new doc just informed me out of the blue that she would not prescribe over 5 mg/night because it is considered "off label," effective immediately. As I'm used to the idea of tapering off gradually (still difficult), I was stunned that she made the change so abruptly. I asked her for a more gradual change and she made a very small (not sufficient) in the prescription. I'm really frustrated with this doc who seems to be unaware that for some people, it's either take Ambien or have a much lower quality of life without adequate sleep. Also, it seems that patients who benefit from Ambien when nothing else works, are penalized because it is a drug that can be abused. I have a 15-year record of responsible use and efforts to find alternatives, and still I feel I'm penalized because it's a controlled substance. I'm not sure how I'll deal with this situation but it may involve looking for another doc who is more knowledgeable and open-minded. I've had 2 GPs in the past who have prescribed the 10 mg, based on my history. With the FDA now advising only 5 mg for women and anyone over 65 (I'm a 67-year-old woman), I'm wondering if this is happening to others and/or will, in the future.