jacketwatch

It absolutely can make you drowsy or groggy and you will see this as a warning when it's dispensed. To say that it won't and that even at the height of its effect it doesnt is just plain wrong. You are giving bad advice. That's why I inserted information about its half life which no doubt you never heard of.

When it comes to how to get prescribed medication leave it to professional medical people and take this as a lesson. There is much you don't know. I know way more about this than you and know enough to seek advice from my MD.

Have a nice day.

MmePerdu

One more time, as everyone knows, what I and others do here is relate our personal experience. That won't change no matter how many times I'm told I'm wrong. Consult a real-life professional before taking a medication, not anyone on a forum.

Every day is a nice day in the sun where I am.

jacketwatch

The same holds true for giving out advice especially about prescription drug that can impair you. .

Cheers. .

MmePerdu

Oh, no, I've been emoticoned. I give up!

jacketwatch

There is no reasoning with you but for the benefit of others see the link below. https://www.drugs.com/valium.html

Look at the part about what it can effect while you are under its influence.

Valium is an old drug seldom used for anxiety anymore because of its long half life. Xanax is more common now. Its much shorter acting.
Xanax half life: how long does Xanax stay in your system

"On average, experts define the half life of Xanax at 12 hours. But Xanax half-life can be anywhere from 6-20 hours. Xanax (the brand name for alprazolam) is a short – intermediate acting benzodiazepine, which means that you can feel the effects of Xanax quickly as they peak 1-2 hours after taking it. However, the effects of Xanax but do not last very long, about 6-12 hours."

And yet again call your MD.

Thats the best I can do. I'm out of here. . emoticon again. .

historytraveler

I posted my opinion early and have just returned to view the various responses. I was not familiar with diazepam. I googled it and read several articles and what I read would certainly keep me from using it. If undecided about its use, I strongly suggest one do a little research. There are numerous side effects and some are serious and under certain situations can cause death. I'm not talking just an overdose. The drug can stay in your body for 24/48 hours.

As I mentioned in my previous post, I once got very loopy by taking an Advil P.M. and have heard from flight attendants of passengers that had problems even one who passed out in the toilet. One person's reaction will not be another's and IMO offering medical advice is extremely dangerous since you have no idea about a person's health. Therein lies the problem of saying 'this' works for me.

The effect of any drug on a person will also be amplified by altitude. Far better to risk a sleepless night that a serious health problem. Do some research and possibly something like melatonin might work, but always,always consult a doctor before taking any medication.

suze

Well you are right about that part, it is actually Xanax these days, not "Valium" that is commonly prescribed.

WoinParis

I took Xanax when I had a burn out and it just completely turned off the lights in my brain. All the lamps.
I could look at one page with 3 sentences for 30 minutes. And I wouldn't know what I was reading.
Beware with meds...

I prefer to stick with whisky. Ok, vodka is correct too.

Or maybe as many suggested seeing a doc would be a better idea than reading a forum.

BigRuss

Yeah, this statement from Madam Perdue is pure rubbish: "Diazapam doesn't make you groggy, even at the height of its effect."

That's bollocks on stilts. It may not make HER groggy, and if that's the point she sought to make, she should have made it. The fact is that valium and its cousins specifically carry FDA mandated warnings that they can make you groggy, drowsy, dizzy or some version of sleepy. For some, they'll knock you on your a--.

justineparis

First.. reading up on any drug.. including the most common taken on the shelf ones.. not just prescriptions should scare anyone from taking anything.. however, listed side effects and how they effect a person are as unique as each person is.. if you read up on the possible side effects of Tylenol , you likely would be a lot more hesitant to pop one in your mom.
Its risk versus benefit in each case.

I tell folks if taking a drug ( even over the counter ones) to get through a long flight.. ALWAYS take one or two doses at home first.. you do not want to discover you are that 1 in a 1000 person who may have an adverse effect.. first instance many sedating drugs can in fact make some folks the complete opposite, jumpy, hyper and jittery.. not a good idea to find that out at 30, 000 feet. However that side effect is rare, but if it happens to you.. its sucks .

Always try a drug at home first. Period.

I take an Ativan sometimes .. however , while it can make a tad relaxed ( I only take .5 mg) it most certainly does not put me to sleep ( I wish it would sometimes, lol ) ... and on planes I have taken two ( so 1mg) and it never put me to sleep , just made me relaxed.

However my 24 yr old son had to be given 5 or 6 mg at the hospital to tame him down enough so them could get a blood sample from him.. he has a SEVERE needle phobia and they started with 1 mg and kept working up.. it most definitely did not sedate him at a dose that could have put me in a coma.I still had to lie on his legs and hold him down so nurse could take blood.. when people talk about phobias hes definitely a ten on a scale of one to ten.

suze

The try it first is the best advice we can give anyone. Some people use something along the lines of benedryl to knock themselves out. While that drug makes me "wired" and I would never fall asleep on it! Never.

aliced

Ambien 10 mg should give you 5-7 hrs of good sleep on the long leg. Valium does not put me to sleep, but with my Bose headphones and eyemask, I am relaxed. Get a prescription for a dozen pills, try it at home couple weeks before for at least two nights and see how you do. Regardless, it will not get you to sleep for as long or as soundly as in your comfy bed at home but it will give you some hours. But that's me. Benedryl (which is essentially Unisom) and all those P.M. over-the-counters, Melatonin, Valerian, do nothing to help me sleep. Been on Ambien for years, now have tapered myself off, using only for travel.

historytraveler

Does anyone not understand that the effect a drug has on you while at home does not mean that it'll be the same at 40,000 ft.? Drugs can have serious side effects at that altitutde that they wouldn't have at normal elevations. Sure, you may not be one who has negative reactions, but you simply won't know until it's too late. If female, 5 mg. is now the recommended dosage for Ambien.

MmePerdu

It's just remarkable that we've stayed alive as long as we have.

allisonm

Just a mention as to how drugs affect people differently, I could never take 10 mg of Ambien. I have been using it a couple times a month for several years, taking about a third of a 10mg tab. (And not the extended release.) This dosage works very well for me.

Like Suze, Benadryl makes me hyper.

I hope the OP will come back after the wedding and tell us how she made out.

mjs

This is truly an awful itinerary and no matter what you do you are going to feel terrible when you land. We are talking about 40 hours or so of traveling from the time you awake at home and arrive at your hotel in Uganda. My only advice is to plan this better next time so that you have a break of sorts in the middle somewhere. No advice on sleep medication as everyone is different.

kwren

After scanning this I don't think anyone has mentioned not to drink alcohol if taking a sleep aid.

I did that once without thinking about it, had wine and later took the pill, fell asleep, but woke up and got violently ill before passing out again. While I did get a lot of sleep, I didnt feel good when I woke up.