Iv been using Remeron 30mg for sleep for 2 yrs now, and has been working great, although weight gain is a problem. It doesnt knock you out like ambien, and you sleep longer with it. It can make you groggy in the morning, due to its long half life, so someone suffering from sleep problems with anxiety, its a good medication.
Remeron is a serotonin 5ht2 blockade (usefull in anxiety and depression). Also its a potent Histamine blockade (usefull for sleep). Also, it block norepinephrine at higher doses, and blocks 5ht3 which is responsible for nausea and appetite. Its a good drug, besides the sedative nature it can cause and increase appetite. I get a good 8 hrs of sleep most of the time.
Elavil has similar properties but never tried it. I beleive Remeron is a cleaner version on the old tci elavil.
Ambien is good, for getting to sleep fast, but i never got more than 6 hrs on it and woke up without groggyness.

Herbal remodies such as valerian, passion flower, melatonin can be useful for people with mild sleep problems.

neuromind