I tried many things for insomnia for years, but none KEPT me asleep. It got worse with my cancer treatment. Finally, in Dec '09, my oncologist prescribed Ambien CR, and I've been sleeping through the night ever since. Sometimes I wake up for a bladder break, but I go back to sleep immediately. I'm probably adicted, but I don't care, because I'm getting my much-needed sleep!
This year, my med insurance company removed Ambien CR from their formulary. I appealed, and my doc went to bat for me, and they are covering it. I've appealed a couple of meds successfully, by the way. If any of you are having trouble with your insurance companies, they HAVE to have an appeal process. Just be sure to have a conversation FIRST with your doctor - probably with her/his nurse who will do the actually talking to the insurance company. It's critically important to get the doc on board before you appeal.