Yep, everyone's body is different. If he's a bigger guy, 15 mgs might work better.

Perhaps I should rephrase to "paid like rock stars."

I heartily endorse this plan.

I forget what the first one was, but it was habit-forming and he decided he'd rather not use it, so now he's trying Ambien

Just an FYI, Ambien is habit-forming, too, just not as bad as other sleep aids.

Where are the natterers? I'm bored..... Entertain me?

I've run out of internets....

This is cool:

Bucky Fuller's Dymaxion hits the road

In 1933, Buckminster Fuller designed the Dymaxion car, a concept vehicle that could hold 11 passengers and had a fuel efficiency of 30+ miles per gallon. Three prototypes were built, but the only survivor is in the National Automobile Museum in Reno, Nevada. Recently though, renowned UK architect Norman Foster, one of Fuller's colleagues late in his life, commissioned construction of his own Dymaxion car. Right now, it's on exhibition at the Bucky Fuller & Spaceship Earth exhibition in Madrin, Spain.

Thanks, Erin and Ginger! I'll check with him tonight and see which version he's on and at what dosage. All I know is that it cost $50 for 30 pills, and it's not covered by his insurance. (His doc initially was going to have him try Lunesta, until he found out it was $295 for a one-month supply!)

He took it after drinking a beer both nights, so I think tonight he was planning to try it without alcohol, which does sometimes make him wake up in the night. Wine is even worse for him than beer in that regard, so that may not work for him, but taking it on an empty stomach would definitely be worth trying, and increasing the dosage too.

Thank you!

Just an FYI, Ambien is habit-forming, too, just not as bad as other sleep aids.

Yeah, that's good to keep in mind. I would sort of assume that all sleep aids would be habit-forming to some degree, at least for those with chronic insomnia, which is Mark's case. So I don't know how he'll deal with that in the long term.

I would imagine that getting sleep would be a better habit than not sleeping, in the long run... But I'm not a doctor.

I've been lucky with ambien. It can break an insomnia cycle for me. So, its cronic in that it returns, but it can stay away for a while too.

If it's $50 for 30 pills, it's the generic. Lunesta doesn't have a generic, and I don't think it's as effective for Ambien.

Long-term, when he's got insurance, he needs to see a sleep specialist and do a sleep study, to rule out serious apnea. That's about all it's good for, but it's a first step. About the only thing I know that's good for long-term chronic insomnia is cognitive-behavioral therapy.

Things he can do without insurance is exercise, stress relief activities, and establishing a bedtime ritual and good sleep hygiene (I swear, that's what they call it.) Stuff like no media in the bedroom, try to shut down on TV/internet usage at LEAST an hour before bed, cut WAY the hell back on caffeine (I drink one large cup off coffee right when I get up), a cool room, not going to bed too hungry or overfull.

Things like that.

I would imagine that getting sleep would be a better habit than not sleeping, in the long run... But I'm not a doctor.

That's the decision my doctor came to, which is why I take 5mg of Ambien every night. Now that I'm between dayjob contracts, I'm going to see if I can cut back to 3 nights a week and reprogram my sleep schedule.

If it's $50 for 30 pills, it's the generic.

Ah, good to know. I wonder how pricy the brand-name stuff is?

Long-term, when he's got insurance, he needs to see a sleep specialist and do a sleep study, to rule out serious apnea. That's about all it's good for, but it's a first step. About the only thing I know that's good for long-term chronic insomnia is cognitive-behavioral therapy.

He does have insurance, but they just don't cover these drugs, apparently. I know the plan is for him to do a sleep study eventually, though I sort of doubt it's apnea, since he's not much of a snorer. Still, best to rule it out if we can. I am also hoping to get him back into therapy at some point.

Things like that.

Yeah, he's been dealing with this for years, so he already does a lot of that: no media in the bedroom, keep the room cool and very dark, way less caffeine, etc. But I appreciate the suggestions! There's always the chance that something else might be THE factor that will help him sleep better.

Thank you, Erin!