Twelve days ago I asked my doctor for a 30 day, 5 mg (lowest dose) prescription for Zolpidem (generic for Ambien.) My last prescription was over a year ago. My insurance company absolutely refused to pay. So, today, after almost two weeks of battling, I threw up my hands and said, "Fine, I'll pay for it myself." As you know, I don't sleep. Never have. That is to say, sleep is something that I have to purposefully make happen. Lack of sleep does a number on us physically and mentally.
At this stage, most of my friends are having the same issue. But I've had insomnia forever. I usually take half a Benedryl about three hours before bedtime. This along with a light supper and plenty of quiet time usually, eventually, gets me to sleep. But I'm always up an hour or so during the night and I get out of bed before seven every morning.
How about napping? I never have. I can't. So please don't tell me to "just take a nap."
Occasionally my three hour bedtime routine is interrupted. Like, for instance, I want to go out and enjoy myself like a normal person. If I stay out until, say, midnight, there's no chance of going to sleep that night. Period.
Until, about three years ago, I discovered Ambien. I know it makes some folks crazy but it's great for me. I take the lowest dose, 5 mg. It still takes at least an hour to get to sleep but when I do I sleep for six straight hours.
I've never done that prior to Ambien.
How often do I take it? I try to limit myself to once a month. I know that sounds rigid but I don't want to become addicted and wake up in a wedding dress, stirring cake batter while riding our new SunRail system - and wonder how I got there.
I know addiction is a big problem, especially here in Florida ( the Pill Mill State) but Ive never had delusions, hallucinations, euphoria or amnesia due to sleep meds. Sounds like it could be fun but I'm pretty much a stickler about taking medicine only when absolutely necessary.
So I'v been embarrassed by the insurance company's attitude.
The end of the story is that I went to Walgreen's this afternoon to pick up my prescription and was careful to take my big credit card. The bill was $9.32. The insurance company had paid.
I don't get it! But I now have enough Ambien (30 pills)
for another couple of years. So I'm happy.
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