"i probably hold the record for the longest regular use of this drug!   started taking halcion .5 mg in 1982 (the year it came on the market, i think) and have taken it nearly every night for the past 33 years.  in all that time, i have missed maybe 20-30 nights total.   it is effective, staying in the bloodstream just six hours so you don&#039;t wake up groggy.   it works fast and helps me get to sleep, which is my main problem.   i occasionally try going without it, but almost always get up around 1 a.m. if i haven&#039;t fallen asleep and take it.   after a number of years (maybe 8-10) the .5 mg strength was no longer available so i have taken .25 since then.  frustrated that insurance will not cover it as it&#039;s been a great drug for me."