Long Flight and Sleep Aid??
#2
Join Date: Jan 2004
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I can barely get Tylenol PM to work for me at home so they definitely don't do anything for me on a long flight.
I take Ambien, prescribed by my doctor when I fly overseas, and its a lifesaver for me. But everyone has their own method of dealing with sleep and jetlag. If Tylenol PM works for you at home without groggy side-effects, chances are it will work for you on a long flight as well.
Tracy
I take Ambien, prescribed by my doctor when I fly overseas, and its a lifesaver for me. But everyone has their own method of dealing with sleep and jetlag. If Tylenol PM works for you at home without groggy side-effects, chances are it will work for you on a long flight as well.
Tracy
#3
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I usually get a prescription sleep aid like Ambien or Lunesta (I prefer the latter) and wake up refresh as long as I have at least 6 hours to sleep.
A lot of people swear by it, but Tylenol PM has both acetominephin and the same ingredient as Benedryl, and Benedryl makes me totally zonked out for half the day after I take it. If you want a cheap over-the-counter aid to help you sleep, just take the generic Benedryl tabs and forget the Tylenol, which isn't necessary (and taking unnecessary extra meds is bad for the liver anyway).
A lot of people swear by it, but Tylenol PM has both acetominephin and the same ingredient as Benedryl, and Benedryl makes me totally zonked out for half the day after I take it. If you want a cheap over-the-counter aid to help you sleep, just take the generic Benedryl tabs and forget the Tylenol, which isn't necessary (and taking unnecessary extra meds is bad for the liver anyway).
#6
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Hi Doug Stallings
I'm sorry to get away from the travel question but I'd like to know why you prefer Leunesta over Ambien. I take Ambien and am very curious.
Thanks
[email protected]
I'm sorry to get away from the travel question but I'd like to know why you prefer Leunesta over Ambien. I take Ambien and am very curious.
Thanks
[email protected]
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#9
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Personally I love Ambien--8 hrs of sleep and not groggy when I awake. Some Fodorite recommended Sleep Aid from Walmart (Equate?) and it is cheap compared to Ambien--$1.99/12. It takes twice as long to make you sleepy compared to Ambien but a good product. I have never used either on a flight. If your flight is 8-9 hrs you would have to take it early on.
#10
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<< Personally I love Ambien--8 hrs of sleep and not groggy when I awake. >>
Ambien is a very effective sleep-inducing medication, but the majority of people might not get 8 hours of restful sleep (especially not in an UNrestful setting like a coach airplane seat). Some people go VERY deeply to sleep, to the point of getting into a state tht they do things they are not aware of, or do not remember. It is not a common occurrence, as I understand it.
Ambien CR was brought to market because Ambien does not prevent early awakening, in a number of people (i.e., "it doesn't last long enough"
.
I have taken both, and I believe that there is a groggy/sleepy feeling after taking Ambien CR if you try to get up and active sooner than 8 hours after you take it. Thus, it might not be the medication of choice, unless you take it just before you board (on the average trans-atlantic flight).
With any plan to get as much restful sleep on the plane as possible, it makes sense to understand how you sleep, with and without a medication as an aid. If a medication is prescribed for you, try it at home some days or weeks before your travel, and maybe even, ideally, in a less-than-ideal setting (sleep on the couch, sitting up).
And don't forget that you _can_ start to adjust your own circadian rhythms prior to traveling. For eastern time zone departures (leaving the US gateway city at 4 to 10 pm), I recommend getting up at 4 am (10 am, Europe time, or 9 am, UK time) on the day of departure, going to bed at 8 pm, the night before, and getting up at 5 am, the day before departure.
And of course, you have to _try_ to go to sleep. Avoiding books, movies, even the airline's (poor excuse for) supper is wise; likewise avoiding alcohol - -_especially_ if you take a sleep medication... these can all help. The flight attendants will, by the way, serve you supper at the same time as breakfast, if you ask - - in my experience.
Hope some of this is helpful info to you.
Best wishes,
Rex
Ambien is a very effective sleep-inducing medication, but the majority of people might not get 8 hours of restful sleep (especially not in an UNrestful setting like a coach airplane seat). Some people go VERY deeply to sleep, to the point of getting into a state tht they do things they are not aware of, or do not remember. It is not a common occurrence, as I understand it.
Ambien CR was brought to market because Ambien does not prevent early awakening, in a number of people (i.e., "it doesn't last long enough"
![Imported](https://www.fodors.com/community/images/smilies/imported/wink.gif)
I have taken both, and I believe that there is a groggy/sleepy feeling after taking Ambien CR if you try to get up and active sooner than 8 hours after you take it. Thus, it might not be the medication of choice, unless you take it just before you board (on the average trans-atlantic flight).
With any plan to get as much restful sleep on the plane as possible, it makes sense to understand how you sleep, with and without a medication as an aid. If a medication is prescribed for you, try it at home some days or weeks before your travel, and maybe even, ideally, in a less-than-ideal setting (sleep on the couch, sitting up).
And don't forget that you _can_ start to adjust your own circadian rhythms prior to traveling. For eastern time zone departures (leaving the US gateway city at 4 to 10 pm), I recommend getting up at 4 am (10 am, Europe time, or 9 am, UK time) on the day of departure, going to bed at 8 pm, the night before, and getting up at 5 am, the day before departure.
And of course, you have to _try_ to go to sleep. Avoiding books, movies, even the airline's (poor excuse for) supper is wise; likewise avoiding alcohol - -_especially_ if you take a sleep medication... these can all help. The flight attendants will, by the way, serve you supper at the same time as breakfast, if you ask - - in my experience.
Hope some of this is helpful info to you.
Best wishes,
Rex
#13
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Thank you. Thank you. Everything I wanted to know and haven't had time to ask. My last trip to Madrid, and my only trip overseas, I got anxious about mid-way back. I think part of it was because I had to teach a very,very difficult group of third graders the very next day.ha. We are going to France next week and I was a little concerned about long flight.
#15
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Unbelieveable!!!
A drug for every little problem. Why not trying to go to sleep late the night before the trip, with an early wake up.
After a full meal on board you will be tired enough to sleep most of the trip,without "side effects ".
I have flown on business and pleasure for more than 35 years,long haul flights,without resorting to an artficial stimulus for sleep. Try it.
A drug for every little problem. Why not trying to go to sleep late the night before the trip, with an early wake up.
After a full meal on board you will be tired enough to sleep most of the trip,without "side effects ".
I have flown on business and pleasure for more than 35 years,long haul flights,without resorting to an artficial stimulus for sleep. Try it.
#20
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My use of Xanax is more for my nerves than sleep. I fly a lot on business and the more I fly, the more "white knuckle" I become. Even a small amount of turbulance drives me crazy. With Xanax, even when I wake up to turbulance, I can handle it easily. By the way, flying is the only time I use this drug.