No you shouldn't have to do that... Ambien is not an Opiod...and those meds do require bloodwork every 6 months. But doctors these days have gone off their rocker when it comes to prescribing sleep aids! Or anxiety meds...it's like pulling teeth to get the anxiety medication that truly works for me. Had to see a psychiatrist in order to get it and I have never had serious enough mental issues where I needed to see a psychiatrist. And I mainly use it for sleep because it's the only med that works for me!