Being a firefighter and working 24 hr shifts has screwed up my sleep beyond belief. I have tried em all. Started off with melatonin, benadryl ( too groggy ), cutting out caffeine in the afternon etc etc. Tried valerian root too. In th pharm world I have tried lunesta (hated the metallic taste in the mouth), restoril,sonata and regular ambien. I have been on ambien cr for a year. It works the best. It is controlled release with keeps me sleeping all night through. I take it about three nights a week. I have done some funny stuff on it. Went from a deep sleep to doing situps and screaming to sleep eating. I'd wake up and say damn who destroyed the oreos. I hate taking prescriptions but my sleep will be messed up for another 15 years.