There was an OTC drug back in the early '80s called Cope. I don't know what it is, and it's too common a name to use the Google-fu on, but that was some damned fine stuff. The only thing that would knock down the neuralgia.

It's asprin and caffine

BEHOLD MY MAD GOOGLE-FU

[link] [link]

God, I'm so glad you wrote that, Ginger, cause after I hit post, I was like, wow, they're all going to think I'm so deluded and addicted.

BEHOLD MY MAD GOOGLE-FU

I bow before the awesomeness that is the Trudy. Go to bed, already!

I'm running low on Ambien and don't have my new health insurance yet!

I'm just happy you can still get the drug.

As long as you have a refill, Trudy, generic Ambien is about $50 for a 30-day supply with no insurance.

SO much better generic, cause I remember buying 5 tablets at a time for $25 pre-generic. My pharmacy used to be really nice, then they hired some new people.

Erin, Ginger, I am nodding my head furiously in agreement with your rants. I have nothing to add to them, but I agree with them.

Wow, you all are making me feel better. Though my insomnia isn't usually quite as bad as Jilli's or Erin's, I definitely have had more than my share of sobbing-at-the-clock-punch-the-wall-in-frustration nights. Ambien is the only insomnia drug that works for me, too, and though I try very hard not to use it more than a few times a week, I am desperately grateful for its existence. (And yeah, Rozerem sucked, and melatonin made me dream crazy, freaky dreams without improving the quality of my sleep at all.)

I get the little round generic at my local CVS, though, and now I'm wondering if I should be filling the script at another pharmacy. Hm.

I'm also giggling at the "oh dear why didn't I go right to bed after taking it" stories. I've definitely learned that lesson the hard way. Apparently ND has had full conversations with me that I have absolutely no memory of. Also, nothing like looking at your cell phone text message record and seeing some bizarre-ass text you sent the night before. Ah, Ambien. I love you so.

And yes, Ginger, I completely 100% agree with your rant. There's such a stigma against taking any medication in this country, even though most of us do. That's one of the reasons I've tried to come to terms with my various medications as helpful rather than feeling like a failure for having to take them.

Also...{{{{vw}}}} and {{{{Sean}}}}

Yeah the drug war makes this country crazy in so many ways. I once dated a girl who left me when her boyfriend got out of jail for killing a man with his bare hands to return to him.

But here is the thing. He killed the other guy in a drug deal gone wrong, and apparently even the prosecutor admitted that it was self-defense. (This was in Texas, but there were reasons I don't understand why the law of parties did not apply.) So why the murder conviction? Plea bargain. A murder conviction (some degree way less than first) looked better on the prosecutors record than a drug conviction. But the n-degree murder conviction carried a lot less time than drug dealing. And once the boyfriend got out of jail and wanted to clean up his act, a convicted murderer who has served his time is still eligible for a most financial aid if he goes back to school. Whereas if the boyfriend had had a drug conviction on his record, he is barred from most types of student loans and financial aid for ever. So the Boyfriend was guilty of drug dealing, and not guilty of murder, but pleading guilty to murder in return for not being convicted of drug dealing was a really good deal for him. And of course the craziness spreads to legitimate medicine.

It is part of why ita had so much trouble getting the treatment she needed at emergency rooms for so long. (My guess is that racism was the other part.)

I am not going to talk about the insane issues around drugs.Just what I know.

It turns out when I don't sleep, I think everyone in the entire world should die. I do not have a problem falling asleep, but I have a major problem staying asleep.If my world is even a tiny bit out of whack I wake up at2am and stay awake until 5/530. Or to be confusing I wake up at 4. I am an ambien CR person. I usually don't take one unless it has been at least 3 nights without sleep. I wake up incredibly gronky the next day -- however 1) it wears off and 2)I'm not sure if the cause is the pill or 3 days without sleep.

I'm lucky - knowing those pills are there if I want them tomorrow, will sometimes let me sleep. I also know that getting some exercise during the day helps ( makes me wonder if it is partly related to bloodsugar).and not going to bedbefore1030 -- makes a big difference

I fell asleep during the debate. Well, the recorded debate, since I was working till 11. I was awake for the better part of it. I thought Palin held her own, but would *not* qualify that as a win. A successful bunt should not be confused with a home run.

So what's it mean if my body seems to be craving salt? Yesterday I bought a TON of salt snacks when shopping. I chowed down on like a 1/2 bag of Ruffles. Even at dinner tonight, I put salt on my corn. First time I've reached for the salt shaker in I dunno how long.

It's looking like I'm not gonna get this weekend off either. Maybe Saturday. Hopefully.

Sorry, I got nothing to add to the drug conversation.