I have been on ambien for 4 years now and while I am definatly having problems with probable addiction is as much as I dont sleep much or well or for long if I dont take it, recently my doctor tried me on restoril to maybe change meds to promote better sleep and move off ambien. the ambien used to cause some interesting and disturbing side effects for the first year, I would hit a point where memory was gone and what ever I did I would have 0 recollections of ie: couldnt find a pair of scissors one night so drove to wal mart and bought 16 oairs of different sewing scissors. Scared my wife silly but thank the good Lord nothing bad ever happened and I learned quickly to take it and NOT go or do anything under pain of death by spousal abuse. Now the restoril does nothing, it helps me not at all, no sleep help , in fact I think I am sleeping less due to fact I have had upper abdominal stomach pains in varying degree's since we switched. I am stopping taking it and going back to the ambien since I have has no side effects in 3 years form it and at least get 3/4 of a nights sleep minimum for the most part instead of 1/6 on the restoril. I dont think I even sleep on the restoril, i just lose consciencness but dont feel rested at all. I urge you to be aware of side effects and causeality of these meds, they may work somewhat but the side effects can be worse than the initial problem. I would rather have problems sleeping a full night with ambien than wake up after a hour of restless tossing and turning with a stabbing pain in my upper stomach under zyphoid process every night and have to eat drink pepto bismol or something to get any relief.
But all in all the Lord is good and at least I am alive to keep complaining instead of any other possibilities