I suffer horrible insomnia. And when I do sleep, my sleep is riddled with awful nightmares.

I've been on Ivedal 10mg for a few years now. (Zolpidem I think). Doctor says it should knock me out in 15 minutes. If I take it at 8pm, I'm still wide awake at 12. If I sleep, it is short and troubled.

I have no side effects and most sedation doesn't do much to me (tranquilizers etc). I have started supplementing my nightly tablet with over the counter sleeping meds which are basically just anti-histamines and which are costing a fortune (way more expensive that the Ivedal). I am afraid if I go to my doctor and tell him this, he may discontinue sleeping meds altogether. He did say that Ivedal is addictive, but I have never taken more than prescribed. I have no trouble obtaining them. I just phone the doctor's in-house pharmacy and they give it to me and I pay at the end of the month.

I am also on Trepiline for the sleep problem. It is an anti-depressant though but I can't remember the reasons he said it would help me sleep. Recently, it was also prescribed to me for my carpal tunnel so it has something to do with relaxation or whatever.

I need a good solid sleep med. Either I must ask the doc to up my dosage, in other words, take two, or ask for something stronger or different. I don't know what to do. I am permanently exhausted.

PS - I was also prescribed Tramadol (state / day hospital) for my carpal tunnel and I believe it is a very strong and addictive pain killer. I don't bother to take it - it has no effect whatsoever.