Sleeping Well Without Pills

Q. I am 64 and nearing retirement, but with the stress of the economic downturn, I’m having a difficult time sleeping. I have a high deductible so I have to pay for my prescription medications out of pocket. Sleeping pills like Ambien or Lunesta cost more than $160 a month, which I cannot afford. What can you recommend for me so I can sleep at night and stay sharp on the job?
A. Ambien is available as an inexpensive generic, zolpidem. It has some adverse effects, though: some people sleep-walk or even sleep-drive while on this drug and many readers report some generic formulations don’t work as well as Ambien.
Melatonin or a hot bath 30 minutes before retiring may help promote sleep. We have many more non-drug approaches as well as a discussion of the pros and cons of sleeping pills in our Guide to Getting a Good Night’s Sleep.