Sleeping pills for long haul flights
#41
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 222
I asked a friend who is a frequent traveler what her sleep aid of choice is and she said 1/4 trazidone. I need to follow up with her to learn the mg of each pill.
I asked my doctor for a few Ambien for my upcoming trip and he prescribed restoril instead. $30+ for 10 pills....yikes!
I asked my doctor for a few Ambien for my upcoming trip and he prescribed restoril instead. $30+ for 10 pills....yikes!
#42
Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 7,913
Restoril is a fairly "easy" sleep med IME; not the rapid drop off as with Ambien but doesn't seem to have the problems associated with it. PCPs seem more comfortable prescribing it than many other sleep meds. It's available in generic (temazepam).
#43
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 8,577
Annw, your description of the effect of Restoril (temazepam) and the "pam" in the name leads to me suspect it's in the same family of compounds as diazepam (Valium) which I use, mentioned at the very top of the thread, a muscle relaxer rather than a sleeping pill, despite the "rest" in the brand name. Do you know more about it?
#44
Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 7,913
Wiki confirms my info:
Temazepam (brand names Restoril and Normison, among others) is an intermediate-acting 3-hydroxy hypnotic of the benzodiazepine class of psychoactive drugs. It is the 3-hydroxy analogue of diazepam, and one of diazepam's primary active metabolites.
Temazepam is approved for the short-term treatment of insomnia. In addition, temazepam has anxiolytic (antianxiety), anticonvulsant, and skeletal muscle relaxant properties.[1][2][3]
--So benzo class, but not exactly the same -- I see it used for sleep aid not anti anxiety, but that is IME maybe not universal.
Anything can lose effectiveness if used repeatedly -- if I use Temazepam I will alternate it with Zquil or Tylenol PM/benadryl to avoid that.
Temazepam (brand names Restoril and Normison, among others) is an intermediate-acting 3-hydroxy hypnotic of the benzodiazepine class of psychoactive drugs. It is the 3-hydroxy analogue of diazepam, and one of diazepam's primary active metabolites.
Temazepam is approved for the short-term treatment of insomnia. In addition, temazepam has anxiolytic (antianxiety), anticonvulsant, and skeletal muscle relaxant properties.[1][2][3]
--So benzo class, but not exactly the same -- I see it used for sleep aid not anti anxiety, but that is IME maybe not universal.
Anything can lose effectiveness if used repeatedly -- if I use Temazepam I will alternate it with Zquil or Tylenol PM/benadryl to avoid that.
#48
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 90,936
I understand. And agree, would not use the pharmaceutical every night (never more than 2x/wk).
My reasoning is that I believe using the 3 different drugs will mess up being able to fall asleep and stay asleep naturally, which I assume is the goal for most people.
And for me the over the counter ones like Tylenol PM have the opposite effect (wakes me up, doesn't put me to sleep).
My reasoning is that I believe using the 3 different drugs will mess up being able to fall asleep and stay asleep naturally, which I assume is the goal for most people.
And for me the over the counter ones like Tylenol PM have the opposite effect (wakes me up, doesn't put me to sleep).
#50
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 2,585
I am like Justine.
Melatonin works for me - but more like 6 hours.
I am told to use it before the trip but never do and use it during and after the trip when I am back.
Btw not about sleeping pills but if you don't sleep or wake up take a stroll and do some exercise. You can get blood clogging if you stay too long seated on a plane. One uncle died like that and I heard of a doctor who also died after a long flight.
Melatonin works for me - but more like 6 hours.
I am told to use it before the trip but never do and use it during and after the trip when I am back.
Btw not about sleeping pills but if you don't sleep or wake up take a stroll and do some exercise. You can get blood clogging if you stay too long seated on a plane. One uncle died like that and I heard of a doctor who also died after a long flight.
#51
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 90,936
annw~~ Not really, since I know it in advance, I don't use it.
There are several OTC that have the opposite effect on me (anything benedryl). And personally I feel safer using a prescription from my doctor, on occasion, rather than self-prescribing OTCs anyways.
There are several OTC that have the opposite effect on me (anything benedryl). And personally I feel safer using a prescription from my doctor, on occasion, rather than self-prescribing OTCs anyways.
#52
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 2,040
WOW, I guess I am blessed as I have no problem sleeping on planes. Put my headphones on some sweet quiet music, nice blanket, eye shades, take off my shoes and a great neck pillow and I am out. I generally get 5 hours of sleep on flight from CA to Europe which is enough to get me going until the next day. I do take NO JET LAG every 2 ours when I am awake and I find that it helps me a lot with headaches and that jet lag feeling.
