ambien or valium for fearful flyer
 

I will be taking a nine hour flight and I am a fearful flyer.I have taken Valium in the past,but because the flight is so long I thought maybe I would just sleep with the aid of ambien.Anyone have a similar experience or advise on which would be better.

a gravol works for me.
On the other hand, you could just get a lot more comfortable with a few cocktails lol

i just returned from a 23 hour flight from livingstone,zambia to sfo and on the way over the ambien didn't work at all! could have been the excitement of my first trip to africa or the sounds of the airplane. first night in johannesburg, took an ambien and slept like a baby for 10 hours. maybe valium would be best for you.

I was wondering if there were an emergency onboard and you have taken sleeping pills that knock you out for the duration of the flight, what would happen? Can you wake up if necessary and be able to function allright? Just taking a Benadryl tablet knocks me out and I can't imagine taking an Ambien or Valium.

my husband has fear of flying, and his doctor gives him Xannex..seems to do the trick for him, and just relaxes him, doesn't make him go to la la land

Not safe if there is an emergency. Can cause memory loss and impaired judgement at end of flight. Can't be used with alcohol.

Not recommended.

I don't approve of taking anything.

That is why I have never taken anything, the worry as to how I would be in case of emergency and coherent I would be on arrival. Just a couple of glasses of wine for me.

mayall, if you are going to take "something" you will should talk to your doctor of course. And I would should expirement at home say a week before the flight so that you know how your body and mind reacts to it. Best wishes.

As a an anaesthesiologist I recommend: 1. Speak with your physician. 2. Ask about alprazolam (Xanax). It is a good anti-anxiety agent with little sleep inducing effects. Don't dring alcohol with it. 3. If even more anxious triazolam (Halcion) is effective and the product monograph even discusses "traveller's amnesia" where you conduct yourself lucidly but my not remember certain events afterward. Therefore in the case of an emergency you would be able to respond accordingly - again no alcohol. Both very safe and effective but triazolam has more sleep inducing effects causing most people to dose off (rousable however) for about 3 hours.

This is all very helpful information that's good to know. That's amazing the effect of being lucid yet not being able to recall what occured later on.

For years I resisted the urge to try Ambien for all the reasons mentioned by others.

I'm not too concerned about an emergency - how often does that happen? And, I think I'd rather not know what what happening, since there's probably nothing than can be done about it.

Even so, I only take one if I've packed a meal to enjoy either at the airport or as soon as we board the plane so I have 8 hours to sleep. If you wait until after drink and food service, you won't have enough hours. It doesn't keep me asleep for more than 6 hours usually. And, it's important to test it out at home a few times (not necessarily nights in a row).

What I REALLY like Ambien for, however, is getting a good nights sleep once there. I'm a night owl, and usually charged up while in Europe and tend to be awake until way too late for the first few nights. Ambien really helps adjusting to the time change.

Since we are all intelligent and responsible adults here, I think it is o.k. to state an opinion or a personal experience.

A friend of mine swears by Ambien. I took a 5mg Valium during several long-haul flights and found it to be largely ineffective. Like, I would get a headache and still would not be able to sleep. Perhaps a 10mg Valium would be better.

So, now I just have a one too many drinks which works fine every time. As for being alert/awake in the event of an emergency, this is the precise reason I want to be out in the first place.

Anna Roz

It had crossed my mind that to be knocked out completely if your plane crashed, blew up, etc. would be better than being awake. Anyway, it's good to hear both sides.

Everyone is different, but I've never experienced any side effects with Ambien and wake up faster than without it.

I used to do the several drinks thing, but didn't like arriving fuzzy, drowsy, and waiting for the alcohol to wear off. I think alcohol also slows you down for many hours afterward.

Everything in moderation.

Take no more than 4 valium and six beers for any 8 hour flight.

Be sure to use the bathroom before you pass out.

I've taken Ambien my last two trips...it has helped me a lot to sleep on the plane...however, I've never been alone on those trips..so, if I needed to be woken up I've had someone there with me.
Anyway, what works for me is to take it during the meal...that way I get to have my meal and then go to sleep...I've only taken it on the flights from LAX-Dublin which are about 10 hours...I usually sleep 4 or 5 hours which is great...I don't have to keep thinking about the flight...the down side is I would love a glass of wine with dinner but they really say DO NOT do it!
I awake and am ready to go!
Shadow

Xanax works for me! Wise wisdom from the doctor and I agree. Xanax won't leave you hung over and/or depressed. It will also relax you enough to get a bit of sleep in on the flight.

Without getting into the discussion of whether/ what drug, I just wanted to mention that the recommendation is that you wait until the plane is in the air, at altitude, and well on it's way, to take any medication that makes you sleep or might affect your behavior.

The vast majority of problems on flights that might require you to be alert occur around take-off or landing. (and let's face it, if an emergency occurred midflight--what could you do? Maybe it is better to be asleep...)

Doctor supervision is advised in any case...and I don't think it is ever wise to take a new medication for the first time on a plane! Take it at home first, and figure out what the effects are and what the appropriate dosage should be. For example, I found that I could take half or even less of the doctor-provided dose of ambien and still have it put me to sleep. So I take the smaller dose, and see if that works first. The drug seemed to work 5 hours for me (but it might be very different for you), and I could wake up and function pretty normally if I had to, especially at the lower dosages (at home you can set an alarm and see if it wakes you, and how you respond to test this).

I have taken a 5mg Ambien on all my overseas flights and it works great for me. I never take at home or on any other occasion. What I like about that dosage is that I only sleep for 4 hours but it feels like a really restful sleep then all of a sudden, I'm fully awake and ready for a complete day of running around. I feel no ill affects of it at any time.

I used to take ambien 5 mg for long plane trips or to help with jet lag, but then I started having really bizarre nightmares every time I took it. My daughter gets this side-effect from ambien also. My mother actually had frightening hallucinations when she took ambien 10 mg.

So now I won't take ambien any more, but I might take xanax although I feel very tired after I wake up when I take that.

I have taken ambien at home but not on air plane trips where I am traveling alone.

Just one thought. I took a sleeping pill once on a boat trip. This was a night boat from Brindisi Italy to where ever it ports in Greece. This was years ago when you would boat over flying because of your money. Anyway, I did not have a problem falling asleep I had a problem staying asleep. I could not sleep in those chairs but was chemically altered to want to sleep. It was very much like drifting off into a deep sleep and having someone shake you awake. This went on throughout the night making it much more miserable than if I just stayed up and talked with someone.

I do plan on taking ambien on my Monday night flight but this memory has me second guessing it.

As others have posted don't do this without Dr. supervision and not without trying at home.

Saraho, interesting comment about the nightmares with Ambien -- I have had the same thing with melatonin, an often-recommended remedy for jet lag (it helps to reset your internal clock). My DH had no such effect, but it happened to me often enough that I won't now take it.

Haven't tried Ambien, probably won't. There was much um, discussion, some heated, about Ambien on the (in)famous Barb in Italy report... :-)

Taking a sleeping pill may cause more problems than help. I would prefer to "relax" than drugged sleep.

If your flight arrives in the AM, the long flight and sitting for a long time could make it very hard to get going that morning or afternoon. You do to need to sleep, but being overly groggy the will not help.

If it arrives in the PM, you would not be able to sleep that night. That would make the next day very bad.

Some suggestions. Mention your problem to the steward. Talk with the people around you, read, do puzzles, listen to music, anything to get you mind off of the flight. If arriving in the AM try to get some natural sleep. If the PM try to stay awake

valium works well for me (but i've never tried ambien to compare)

Ambien works well for me, but I usually split the pill in half and take it just after the flight meal. I can then sleep for four hours without feeling groggy. This was on my doctor's recommendation, and he also recommended that I try it first at home. Since then i've used it several times on flights and in some of those loud, funky hotels I've found myself in travelling.

Another vote for Xanax, just relaxes you but keeps you alert. I wouldn't want to be still be sleepy when I get to a new airport...bad enough to have jet lag, etc...

I have a hard time sleeping on planes, and Ambien works wonders for me. I take it as soon as I get on the plane for the long flight, and I'm up and ready to go by time the plane lands. The biggest benefit for me, though, is that it helps eliviate some of the jet lag on the first day. Before I started taking Ambien, I would be exhausted the first day of our trip and couldn't do much.

I would definitely try taking something like Ambien a day or two before your flight to see how you react to me. You definitely don't want a bad reaction on the first day of your trip!

Tracy

degas ... :-d

Hi mayall,
Of course, you need a rx and must speak with your doctor. On the rec of our doctor we have taken ambien. At first, I refused but thought about it and decided to try it AT HOME first. You could do this and just talk half a pill--which might be enough. We also have taken one the first night when the time change is a lot to "get on schedule". If you can stay awake all day the first day there though you can probably get yourself on their time. I do not like to take any medicine period. Happy and safe travels.

You might consider Lunesta. It`s more long lasting than Ambien. And no, none of those pills knock you out to the point where you can`t wake up. It`s not general anesthesia! I took Lunesta on my recent trip to Croatia and it worked well. Normally, I can`t sleep on the plane. I have tried alcohol, benedryl, and none has helped.

Ambien works great for me at home or in hotels, but never works on airplanes-must be I just don't want to lose control or become too relaxed other than in bed. I recommend Xanax also which I've used for claustrophobia on small planes-makes you sleepy if you start reading though.

My doctor prescribes Ativan, which I take 2 of for overseas flights (us to Australia for example).. if I don't take something, I get sweaty palms, hyperventillation and severe panic attacks.. a couple Ativan's gets me through the stress. But I don't take them on short hops.. I spend the Los Angeles to Vegas route white palmed, and gripping the arm rests while sweat pours down my clothes.. Can't drink either, I get so stressed out that a few drinks makes me throw up. Ahh but I love to travel.. the curse of my life.

Mayall, Hi. I have RLS (restless leg syndrome) which drives me insane on flights, but also hate flying even when we can bump up using our miles. I am not fearful but I do get bored out of my skull!. I have traveled for years, up to 26 hour flights to Asia and here is the thing that works best for me.

Valium just before you board.

I take an Ambien on an empty stomach just 10 mins before they serve dinner and no alcohol.

OUT until breakfast arrives in coach on a 9 hour flight to Europe. A full nights sleep to Asia.

Cant beat it with a big stick! Remember never take antihistimes when flying and you have to hydrate for the full week before flying, not just on the plane. You will be fine. :)

I've never taken valium, but have taken xanax when I was a very nervous flyer after 9/11. I'm more relaxed now and don't need it, but I do take an ambien on a night flight and to help me sleep through the night the first few nights in Europe. (It's awful to wake up and be wired at 3 in the morning!) The good thing about ambien is it is out of your system in 4 or 6 hours. You don't feel groggy, like if you've taken Tylenol PM or Benadryl.

I have been tempted to get an Ambien prescription, not for on the plane (I'm accustomed to just being awake the whole time!) - but for the first few nights of trip. However, since I have trouble sleeping at home these days, I'm afraid of getting hooked on it and using at home...it might be too tempting if it works!

Sue4: I thought so too, but when coming home you "lose" those extra hours. We live on the east coast. So, if we get up at 8AM in Paris and arrive home at 8PM, and don't sleep on the plane (which we typically do not since it's all "daytime"), we've been "up" for 18 hours. What with the packing, getting to/through the airport, waiting/standing around, enduring the flight, going through passport control/customs, collecting the bags, getting out of the airport and getting home, we are exhausted! Once home, we drop into bed and get back to "real" time real fast.

On our first trip to Europe, the jet lag was not hardly noticeable upon arrival and compared to "re-entry". Both of us called work when the alarm went off and went back to sleep!

Hypnosis.

Or ask your doctor about klonapin, a tranquilizing anxiety fighter that doesx not make you drowsy so much as shuts off the "racing" mind and lets you relax.

In any case talk to your dr about these prescription drugs, and try it out before the trip to see how you react in the safety of your home!

Also, alcohol may release one from inhibitions at a party, but it does not alleviate anxiety - it can actually make it worse.

Halcion keeps you lucid, buy you may not remember events later?
That sounds like a politician's dream-come-true!

oh, and one more thing... Do a practice run and take whatever you plan to take on the plane at home one night ahead of time, to make sure you don't have some awful reaction to it.