"i&#039;m sixty-eight years old and have dealt with anxiety/depression my whole life.  there were some medicines over the years that helped, but for one reason or another, i had to stop taking them. but five years ago (july 17,2007) i had an acute neurological episode that awoke me from sleep straight into a carnival midway atmosphere. very disturbing, and my sleep was never restful from that day forward. four different polysomnograms verified i was getting less than a third of normal rem sleep.  six months ago i discovered ambien and was quite pleased, but i was recently to see a pain management doctor who understands the value of good sleep in dealing with chronic pain; his preference is trileptal so i went on it. never felt this relaxed and normal."