Sleeping pills for the rest of my life?

I've taken them for 6 years or more. Iv'e had insomnia all my life.

I've been pill free except for these. Has anyone experienced success after long term use? No particular type of medication; just in general.

Sorry but I am in the same boat. I have been taking meds for sleep for about 15 years now. Every once in awhile I will doze off without them, though. I've tried going to sleep more than a night without them and I have fallen asleep but I keep waking up and then the next day I can't even fall asleep. Just relating to you. Have you tried natural sleeping meds like melatonin?

Yes, Melatonin doesn't help. I think my nervous system is overactive. It doesn't shut off. Even when I'm exhausted.

I know what you mean. I take several meds to sleep.

My insurance took me off ambien when i turned 62, saying it was not good for old people. Im am less dizzy now that im off it. The older i get, the less i need it, as long as i have only one cup of coffee. Chewable melatonin works, as does exhausting myself. So - maybe dont worry about it? The problem will fix itself as you age. Or president trump pushes the button

I know ambien is one said to increase falls. I liked that one but wouldn't take it long term. I think it affects memory. Currently taking a low does of Amitrypline-that one has made a huge difference for me. Since that is my only medication now, I want to go med free but am thinking that might not be possible.

I'm really against taking psychiatric medications (except for on occasion) but wasn't always that way.

I have suffered insomnia since my breakdown some 16 or so years ago. I've been on a whole bunch of sleeping meds. Some worked, some didn't. Then I began drinking more and more, and kept using the excuse I was drinking to sleep (but I was taking the meds too and still not staying asleep). Finally, I quit drinking a year ago. I'm on a sleeping med that I just phone in to my doctor's office and get from their pharmacy. I'm terrified to see the doctor for anything else for fear he might take me off that med, since it's been 2 years already. I've tweaked it by also buying over-the-counter sleeping meds and supplementing my scheduled med. It seems to work. Except for relentless nightmares, I actually do get a fair amount of sleep every night.

I need ambien or diphenhydramine for a full night's sleep right now and I stumble around falling into everything on either of them. I prefer to work or read until exhaution than black out on a pill that will leave me with premature dementia in twenty years, which is what the latest warning is for diphenhydramine. All the good drugs have the really scary long-term side effects.