here are my ratings for meds i've used (prescribed or doc. recommended) for my daily insomnia recently.... 10/10 is best.....
1.0/10 - trazadone (hated the stuff, felt horrible in the AM)
1.5/10 - zyprexa (knocks me out but too many other side effects and groggy the next morning not to mention i sleep for 16-18hrs after taking 2.5mg of the stuff)
1.5/10 - flexeril (2.5-5mg helps relax my muscles and can help with insomnia somewhat)
2.0/10 - benadryl (12.5-50mg taken occasionally can help but the side effects tend to be uncomfortable the next AM after a high dose 75mg+)
2.5/10 - alcohol (helps me fall asleep but the quality of sleep is fair to poor)
3.0/10 - klonopin (3 years of klonopin Rx'd + tolerance make klon useless for me)
3.5/10 - librium (more sedating than klonopin but not a great benzo or sleep-aid)
5.0/10 - ativan (4-6mg can help insomnia but ativan tolerance builds VERY quickly for me and has kind of an empty feeling unlike xanax or valium)
5.5/10 - xanax (1.5-3.0mg can knock me out and give me a solid nights sleep but xanax W/D's are hell and not worth taking it more than once in a blue moon)
5.5/10 - ambien (my second favorite Z-drug, 10-30mg gives a nice benzo-like relaxing sedation, helps me fall asleep but doesnt help me stay asleep as much)
6.5/10 - excercise (long walk during the day, running, working out, etc - definitely a key aspect in getting insomnia relief without a doubt)
6.5/10 - sonata (my favorite sleep aid, sniffing 10mg can relax me, but i need to take 20-40mg to fall asleep and stay asleep, but its a solid medicine)
7.0/10 - cannabis (indica dominant strains of course, always gives me a good nights sleep and no hangover/groggy feeling in the AM)
7.5/10 - valium (works wonders for relaxing body/mind/muscles and provides a great nights sleep and is the best anxiety med i've ever been Rx'd)
9.0/10 - valium + cannabis + sonata... (5-15mg valium + 10-30mg sonata, my favorite insomnia cocktail, and adding a beer is always nice, but not too much)