I drink Ovaltine, but only cause I like it, not to sleep better, lol.

I tried melatonin for my insomnia, but it really didn't do much. I have, however, been on Ambien since about July/August. It has made a WORLD of difference in the way I feel in morning (rested and not exhausted).

There are some side effects with Ambien, and when they say you need at least 7 to 8 hours to devote to sleep, they are not kidding. Taking Ambien and only having 5-6 hours to sleep will not work... you'll be dragging yourself out of bed, if you wake up, lol.

Of the side effects, for me I find that I get more emotional if I take it and do not go to bed within about 20 minutes of taking it. I'll be writing emails or whatever else, and be so out of it and when I reread in the AM what I wrote, it's just bizarre. I don't even remember 90% of it.

My friend who takes it found that she will wake up with heartburn, not knowing why she feels sick to her stomach and have heartburn, only to walk out to the kitchen and find an empty box to a frozen pizza that she heated up and ate the entire thing!! Sleep eating and sleep walking are a common side effect of the Ambien/Lunesta.

I haven't done the sleep eating or the sleep walking thing, thankfully, but the way it makes me feel over emotional and write wacky emails and stuff isn't great, lol.

I haven't found it to be addicting, but I also have found that I cannot mix it with Nyquil or any kind of cold med with an antihistamine in it. It knocks me for a loop, and I feel almost drunk or something. I have to take a non-drowsy medication for my allergies or a cold at night when taking the Ambien.