Ambien is a prescription drug available for the treatment of insomnia.  Insomnia is a disorder that affects 60 million Americans per year and comes in many flavors.  Insomniacs suffer from trouble falling asleep and/or the inability to stay asleep long enough to rejuvenate the body.  Primary insomnia develops independent of other problems, while secondary insomnia occurs because of other factors.  Insomnia can be short-term (acute) or chronic.  Acute insomnia can be caused by physical and/or emotional discomfort and is often related to a specific event.  Causes may include illness, significant stress (due to loss of job, an upcoming deadline, etc.), or environmental factors (such as light, noise, or smell).  Chronic insomnia is the reoccurrence of insomnia at least three times a week for a month or more.  It is often caused by other health conditions (cancer, depression, asthma, etc.), medications, chronic stress, and pain/discomfort at night.
 
 
 

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