"i have been taking ambien or its generic since it first came out in samples at my doctors office.  i quickly graduated from 5 mg to 10mg and have been on it ever since.  the brief period of time that my insurance didn&#039;t cover it, there was no relief for me. they tried tranxene (pharmacist said insurance co recommended) and that was a joke.  i too am a chronic insomniac with chronic migraines and no sleep equals migraine.  2 years ago my family dr cut me back to 5mg  ( due to the &quot; women shouldn&#039;t take 10mg) insomnia and migraines raged to new limits.  returned to 10mg.  even during my brief hospital stays over the past few years, the nurses do not need to put a bed alarm etc on me because i suffer from zero side effects. this is a lifesaver"