"i&#039;ve had horrible insomnia since i was a child. diagnosed with severe sleep apnea a few years ago.  ambien is not the holy grail.  you build up a tolerance over the years but 12.5 is as high as most doctors will go ) from 10, 8 years ago).  pluses for ambien - it will put you to sleep; no half-life so no grogginess in the morning.  minuses- it will put you to sleep but generally not keep you asleep.  thus the waking up wide awake at 3 a.m.  there is now intermezzo - and sublingual 3.5 dose of ambien meant for  this problem - works for me 50% of the time- otherwise i just stay up.  another minus - if you take ambien on a full stomach it will not work. i generally eat before 5 and allow 5 hours before i take it.  but in all - a savior!"