"i&#039;m a 68 year-old male and i&#039;ve taken this drug for almost 10 years and it has helped me enormously. i have had no side effects yet my doctor now says he wants me to get off it. i asked why and he said ambien is dangerous. after 10 years now it&#039;s dangerous? i now am cutting down to 1/4 of 5mg and it is not working. i asked what options do i have and he said &quot;natural sleep is best&quot; thanks, doctor."