{{{Frank}}} I'm sorry that 2013 was so horrible for you, and I hope that 2014 treats you better. I don't have an experience with Ambien, but I hope it works for you.

As long as I remembered to take the Ambien early enough to get a full night's sleep it worked great. If I forgot until I was already in insomnia land, it was too late. If I took it anyway, the mornings became impossible.

My only recommendation for Ambien is just go to sleep as soon as you take it. I've been on the receiving end of non-sensical phone calls, emails, and skypes. Do not Ambien and Social Media.

Ambien. Start with a 1/2 dose if it's a 10 mg pill; otherwise, take a full dose.

I advise taking in bed about a 1/2 hour before you want to fall asleep...and make that time about 8-9 hours before you get up. Be all ready when you crawl in bed, and read a magazine or something.

If you haven't fallen asleep with 1 hour of ingestion, go ahead and take the other half. Some people are knocked out by the 5 mg dose; I always needed the 10 mgs. But don't play around with the "Oh, I'll wait till an hour and 1/2 or 2 hours after dose" because if you do, then take the other 1/2 and have to get up in 5-6 hours, you'll be somewhat to massively gronky.

But it works well for a lot of people, so it should work for your insomnia! Remember, it's a hypnotic, so be all tucked up in bed to take it until you get a real firm grip on how you'll react.

TCG is home sick today. He never takes a sick day. He's not sneezing quite as much today as yesterday, but I think he's run down from how cold it has been.

Do not Ambien and Social Media.

Oh, God, no. I have posted some weird shit in the past!

Also...try to stay out of the kitchen. I had some Ambien power-eating sessions like unto crazy pot munchies.

I've taken ambien a few times, and never had any issues, but definitely have always been of the "I'll take this and pretty much immediately be trying to sleep".

I don't understand why last night I woke up at 3AM and was coughing like crazy and had to take a few cough drops and sit up for almost an hour, but before bed last night I was fine, and this morning I'm fine. WTF, body??

Thanks for the advice/opinions. I figured I'd give it my first try on a weekend in order to get a feel for the effects and don't find out the hard way on a work morning that I am gronked for the day.

Also...try to stay out of the kitchen. I had some Ambien power-eating sessions like unto crazy pot munchies.

Oh hell yes. Good lord.

Praise be to all dieties that I have not been burdened with insomnia. Hubby is deeply jealous of my ability to sleep. Of course, I stay up till I'm sleepy, which helps. But that's 1-2 AM on a worknight, which doesn't help.