Please click the link to complete this foAmbien 5 mg pills can be used to either help you fall asleep faster or, in its extended-release form, to help you stay asleep. Your doctor decides which form of the drug is most suitable for you based on your symptoms and complaints. Generally, Ambien 5 mg medicine is prescribed for short treatment periods of between 2 and 6 weeks. In most cases, Ambien 5 mg is prescribed only as a second-line treatment for insomnia after non-pharmacological options such as cognitive behavioral therapy and sleep hygiene therapy have been exhausted. rm.