I was diagnosed, I think about 20 years ago with "Chronic Insomnia" I was prescribed Xanax. So, I took it. Years later I am in front of the sleep Dr. and telling her I can't sleep. She adds Ambien to my sleep solution. So at that point I am taking 2 mgs. of Xanax and 20 mg. Ambien. That makes for a pretty good night sleep. I will be 54 in Aug. and I have managed to dose down on the Xanax to. 5 mg but trying to dose down on the Ambien is kicking my ass. I hope you don't have to do this! My husband has recently started with the sleep concerns for himself and I am begging him not to get in the situation I am in. He was there when that Dr. prescribed my 1st script for Xanax. This is a long boring story. Sorry for that. Here is what I have found for him and he loves it and sleeps great. Liquid Melatonin. Not the pill form. Has to be liquid. Natrol makes a good 1. I hope you can find something that works without going down the path I am on. That is easy for me to say knowing that I am going to pop a couple of pills here in the next hour and lights out for 6-8 hrs. I think I just needed to rant. I hope this helps in someway. Take Care! Deny

Hi thanks so much for your reply, I have had Xanax but only occasionally not regularly. I am sorry to hear that you are struggling to cut the ambien dosage down I can imagine that it is not easy for you. I will look into the liquid melatonin as I haven't tried that, so thank you for bringing that to my attention.

Thanks again and take care x

Hello, im 49 and going through the menopause, i cannot get to sleep at all! When i do i wake after each hour, having night sweats too!
I know this sounds crazy but sometimes when i really need to sleep ive found taking a couple spoonfulls of Clarityn Syrup (hayfever remedy) few hours before i go to bed gives me a good nights sleep. Worth a try x

Hi thanks for the tip about clarityn syrup I will look into that its definitely worth a try ;-)

Sleep is so very important. Im not all about medications, however, when you sleep is affected your mental status can be affected, your reaction time, your emotional state, so making sleep important should be high on the list. Many women in menopause dont sleep well. Having your estrogen and progesterone levels checked could be a first step. Progesterone 100-200 mg if yours is low, most women's is, is a great benefit for sleep. I found a warm shower right before bed allowed me to slip peacefully off to sleep comfy and cozy, along with my progesterone cream. I take Ambien, and an anti-depressant at night, and my doctor recently added a third med to this, and I sleep peacefully all through the night. I used to stay awake til 1 am and then added the Ambien. Then I was sleeping until 3 or 4 but waking up. Now I sleep all the way through. My sleep is super important to me. Judy

You can also take Benadryl at night safely without worry of addiction.

I just learned yesterday the Jet Blue Pilot that had a horrible breakdown on a flight to Las Vegas was found "guilty by Reason of Insanity". The official diagnoses "Sleep Deprivation" . WOW. Solidifies our understanding of the importance of sleep! She (Diane Saywer) said it is likely that that he suffers from a psychoses of some sore but the lack of sleep provoked the condition to the point of insanity. While I continue to find healthier ways to get to sleep rather then take powerful sleep meds. I have over the years I won't let myself get in this bind. Lets get our Ladies. Take Care! Deny

I haven't been able to sleep on my own since perimenopause. Now that I'm in menopause, the insomnia is kicking my ass. And when I don't have sleep, the anxiety and depression are unbearable. I had been on Xanax and Ambien for a long time but it really stopped working. I guess my body got used to it. My family doc sent me to a psychiatrist and we've been working with medications. Melatonin is a joke when you have severe insomnia. It's like eating an M&M. I've had to start taking Risperdal and Seroquel for any kind of sleep at night. i'm so thankful we found this combination. I know people who can get away with Ambien and it works fine. But I'm not so lucky. Menopause is certainly a journey that none of us deserve to be on. I wish you all the best.

Hi typqueen thanks for your comments. So sorry to hear you are suffering with no sleep. I've had a sleeping tablet for the last few nights which has helped me get some sleep. I won't have one tonight a I know you shouldn't keep having sleeping tablets. I know that I will hardly get any sleep tonight though but I can't have another sleeping tablet.
I hate this menopause, the hot flushes during the day and the night sweats are awful. Some people seem to suffer for years I do I'm not one of them :-(

melatonin and time helped me. Good luck!