Ambien seems to affect everyone differently. I took it a few times. Helped me fall asleep, but didn't help me stay asleep. I woke up 3 or 4 hours later and felt no effect. My brother, who hadn't had any alcohol in about 10 years, drank the rest of a bottle of wine my sister in law had left out, and had no recollection of doing it. I posted about that, and found out only then that lots of people have lots of horror stories regarding ambien. I would be incredibly cautious, and for myself... Anything like that I wouldn't take more than 1 or 2 most, a month. I don't like taking any prescription medication unless I feel it's absolutely necessary.