"i have been taking ambien for almost 1 yr now and find it to work just well.  i sleep for almost 6 hrs but it takes almost 1- 1.5 hrs to kick in for me. i take it when in bed because once it&#039;s in and the effect takes in i fall right asleep and don&#039;t remember what time i fell asleep, i wake up right when my alarm goes off or if i need to use the restroom.  i don&#039;t wake up groggy and feel pretty great about my day, everyone i believe would like to sleep in more but 4-6hrs is good for me.  i have horrible insomnia which keeps me up all night until about 6-7 am then maybe fall asleep fr being a zombie.  ambien definitely helps &quot; me&quot;, but yes on a empty stomach is a must it else i can just say i wasted a pill.  good luck with your experiences."