Ambien for Travel
 

Has anyone had success with this drug? I travel a great deal, and find that if I don't get at least a few hours sleep, I am 'trashed' the next day and have trouble with presentations,staying awake, etc., and I worry that it makes me look less than 'fit', even that I may make a serious mistake somehow. Doctor has given me a few but I am loath to get dependent on pills, yet...I need to sleep. Any thoughts?

But if your doctor gave you some, didn't you use them so you would know how they affect you? I think you should discuss this with your doctor, but they are in a category of pharmaceuticals that can be addictive.

The doctor should be able to tell you how much use makes you liable to become addicted.

I can't imagine that taking them for air travel only could make anyone addicted. I guess it depends how much you fly. I wouldn't worry about it myself. But I'd definitely try one at home prior to flying. You don't want a bad reaction at 30,000 feet.

I use physician-prescribed Ambien when I travel and find that it (a) helps me sleep en route and arrive refreshed and (b) helps me regulate my sleep while overseas as well as upon my return.

I have also used it for prolonged periods (up to several months at a time) when under a lot of stress at work and home (also physician-prescribed). I have never had any trouble weaning myself from Ambien---the first night without it after prolonged use included very vivid dreams and somewhat restless sleep, but the next night was back to normal.

Your mileage may vary, of course, but if your physician has prescribed Ambien I wouldn't worry about taking it. Do a test run at home, and when flying make sure it's a long flight and that you take it on an empty stomach for maximum effectiveness (which usually means eating dinner before you get on the plane rather than waiting for that nasty thing they call a meal to arrive).

Lots of thread on this here- ranging from "works well for me" to "terrible reaction and I woke up and the fridge was empty" - and all points in between.

I think that the bottom line is try it out at home and see how YOU react to it.

I fly a lot and use a different prescription sleeping pill. I know from talking to others who use the same pill as I do that people react very differently. Half a pill might give someone six to seven hours solid sleep while two pills might give another person only three hours.

On average I fly transatlantic once a month with the odd longer haul here and there. I have been travelling with prescription sleeping pills for the last few years and would not be without them. I can say I am probably dependent on having them with me (forgot them once and had a terrible trip) but I am not dependent on the medication itself because I rarely take them. Just knowing that if I need one they are there tends to do the trick and takes away the anxiety of thinking that I must go to sleep.

But even so - try them in your own bed first (and make sure there isn't too much food in the fridge)

I take it a few nights on my trips.
It doesn't "knock me out" on the plane, though. Perhaps I sleep a bit, but not much. I also use melatonin at bedtime. At home I have a big glass of cream sherry at bedtime and that really knocks me out. I just don't always manage to buy it when traveling.

Also, last trip to Europe from the States (last month) I tried the No Jetlag pills sold by Magellan and I think they helped me feel better upon arrival. Hard to tell, though.

Ask your MD about Lunesta. No addiction issues (apparently) and no "hang over" problems.

I tried the No Jet Lag homeopathic pills years ago after a Kiwi client told me about them. They are indeed WONDERFUL.

They don't conflict with ordinary prescriptions (heart, thyroid, asthma, etc.) and have no nasty side effects. They don't artificially put you to sleep or pep you up: they simply help your body adjust naturally to the shifting time zones. You sleep normally and wake normally.

One trick they don't tell you on the box is to keep taking them as directed for the full day AFTER you land at your destination (it makes them even more effective.)

As mentioned above, different sleep aids affect people differently. I take Ambien every time I travel with absolutely no problems. It doesn't knock me completely out, but enough to get 5-6 hours of sleep and arrive refreshed. I only take a few; one for the trip over and for the first two nights or so of my trip.

Definitely check with your doctor and definitely try it out a few days before your trip to make sure you don't have any negative side effects.

Tracy

There are 2 problems with Ambien.

First - they can cause dependency if used on any sort of regular basis.

Second - they do cause sleep - like 8 hours of sleep. So - depending on your plans you might find yourself extremely sleepy when you need to be awake (like when the plane is landing and you have to transit the airport and get to the meeting.)

There's a recent thread on FlyerTalk where the exact facts are ambiguous. However, one interpretation is that Ambien caused a passenger to try to open the cockpit door, leading to some unpleasantness and his ejection from the plane. Luckily this all happened while the plane was still on the ground.

There have been other reports, not flying-related, of people doing strange and unusual things while on Ambien. The last place I'd want to exhibit unusual behavior would be an airplane.

I have been taking Ambien for overnight flights for many years without a problem. I was told about it by doctors that I work with who all take it on overnight trips. I wouldn't fly to Europe or Asia without it.

Are you talking about for in-flight (on the plane) or after your arrival (at night in bed to get over jet lag)? Or both?

In flight only on overnight flights.
Once I arrive, Ambien is my secret weapon for curing jetlag. I take it at close to my normal bedtime for a day or two and I feel great.

Again, I take Ambien and only sleep about 5-6 hours. Hubby usually only sleeps 3-4. So for some people it can cause you to sleep for 8-9 hours, but not for everyone.

Each person is different and honestly the best thing to do is contact your doctor. Share your concerns and let him/her decide which sleep aid, if any, would be best for you.

Tracy

And just becasue "No Jet Lag" is a "natural remedy" do NOT assume it's fine for you.

I took it and had a horrible reaction. (Heart racing, diziness etc) To me that falls into the "Nasty Side Effects" category. I was about to go to the ER in London when the effects subsided. NEVER AGAIN! LOL!

Ambien I am fine with (I generally only take half a pill for my flight)

On our last trip, we were traveling with a couple of pharmacists. Very useful travel companions

Somehow my message posted itself midway through writing it. Anyway, our pharmacist travel companions definitely recommended Ambien, and used it themselves.

Just a personal point of view, but I would never want to take anything that makes me unnaturally sleepy and less alert on board a plane. I know I sound paranoid and the chances of it happening are very rare but if the plane had to land and evacuate in an emergency, I would want to be fully awake.
Put up with a bad few hours on the plane, then take something on your first night at your destination to help you get a full nights sleep.

I thought your previous post was perfect :-)