Felicia

I've heard scary things about Ambien, but then I've heard a lot of people who swear by it and have never had "air rage" & hallucinations. I tried Melatonin but didn't get sleepy & then woke up in the middle of the night! Benadryl dries out the nose....I'm running out of choices. <BR>What seems to be the most popular way to sleep on a plane?

jenna

I use Ambien, not only when I travel, but every night, in very small dose, since I have terrible time sleeping. have done this for three years and no problems...maybe I am dreaming, but everything in moderation is tolerated by the body.

andi

After suffering from jet lag for years, my last trip I used both melatonin and ambien. Worked like a charm, probably more attributable to the ambien than the other, not sure. I took it as I boarded the plane, slept a good six hours and awoke refreshed. No jet lag - a miracle.

Tammy

Ditto to Andi's plan.

Andrea

I'm not sure what Ambien is. I use the regular sleeping pills you can buy OTC in the states & have never had a problem (I think they may have the same active ingredients as Benadryl, though).

Joy

Without a doubt Ambien is a miracle sleeping pill. I take one every night of my life---You will doze of after about 25 minues---and sleep well for about 4-6 hours. No hang over and no crappy feeling! Couldn't go to Europe without!

Bob Brown

After talking with my physician about my own sleep problems induced by long term use of prednisone, I suggest trying melatonin first because it is a more natural substance. It is an over the counter drug. I have seen it in 1 mg and 3 mg per tablet formulations. <BR> <BR>Ambien is a prescription drug that many physicians now use, but my pharmacist says that after a few days of consecutive use,it can lead to poor sleep, e.g. you do not get the deep sleep you need. <BR>Another drug, also prescription, that works for some people is a very low dose, e.g. 10 mg, of amitryptiline. <BR>Use too much of it, however, and it will cause you to wake up groggy. <BR> <BR>Benadryl is an antihistimine that has the side effect of causing some people to become drowsy. On a long flight, I think it would be a poor choice because the atmosphere in the cabin is very dry by the end of the trip. So you get a double drying effect. <BR> <BR>I don't have the problems going to Europe that I seem to have after coming home. I think that may be because we have put in some long days returning. <BR> <BR>

julie

I have used about 5m of Ambien each night for about 4 years with no ill effect, after glow, confusion, etc. The thing is, you have to be strict that you don't allow yourself to add more in that much doesn't work. Just say to yourself, I have my little 'fix' and now I will sleep soon. And you will. Just don't ever add more.

Duane

Jenna, Andi, Tammy, and Joy: <BR> <BR>What strength of Ambien do you use? I have never slept on a plane, but am going to England soon, and would love to give it a try. <BR> <BR>Thanks.

drugs

The question, to the above posters, is not whether you can fall asleep with drugs, the question is can you still fall asleep without them? Y'all may have a drug dependance problem. My advice is to just deal with the jet lag.

Susan

Dear Felicia - <BR> I had my best luck avoiding jet lag by using melatonin - we found an article in Conde Naste that gave rather complicated directions for the doseage (when to take, how many). We started a few days before our trip. <BR> I had a few Halcion along, just in case. (I only had to use it one night.) <BR>Halcion has gotten a bad press so it's difficult to get a prescription. However, in my limited experience, I found it the best sleeping pill around to give a normal, non-drugged rested feeling the next day. <BR> For me, Ambien only lasts a few hours. <BR> Good luck! <BR> Jet lag can be miserable. <BR>Susan

JetLag

I think jetlag is all in a person's mind. I have traveled everywhere in the world and never experienced JetLag. I mean if I arrive in Europe at 12noon, then I know it is 12noon, I am not thinking about what time it is back at home. <BR>Halcion and Ambien? Like drugs said, it sounds like a drug dependence problem. I mean if you really feel you are suffering from JetLag try Melatonin. Halcion and Ambien are very potent drugs. I prefer to be tired the first day in Europe than submit myself to such drugs. <BR> <BR>If you do not get to sleep during the flight, you will be tired when you arrive, but that is different than JetLag. I usually cannot fall asleep in a plane, then when I arrive I either walk and explore or take a nap. One way or the other, I go to sleep that night, after all my body is telling it is nightime and need to rest, then wake up the next morning ready to go. I do not even think what time it is back at home, after all I am not at home. <BR> <BR>

Tammy

Duane, I don't know the exact dose. What I do know is it was the smallest dose.

Joy

use 10 mg ambien--but I noteice when I break it in half---get the same results. Even for those who says the don't sleep long--that is because that is their sleep pattern. WIth Ambien you can wake up and immideiately roll over. Halcion is much stronger and doesn't ork for me. Don't like the after affect at all. With ambien If I hav an emergency in the middle o the night--I can wake up and drive in a moments notice.

Ethel

Have you tried SIMPLY SLEEP by Tylenol? It is exactly like Tylenol PM without the pain medication. My family swears by it!

Greg Gallagher

Hey Ambien users! Be very careful. That stuff is addictive. I broke my back and used it to get to sleep, but stopped after most of the healing was done. <BR> <BR>Also, was a big Melatonin junkie for a while. No proper testing has been done on that. <BR> <BR>As one poster put it. Moderation!!!! <BR> <BR>Ambien works very well. No hangover. No medicine head nothing. I loved it so much I hated it.

Barbara

Ambien is truly a miracle drug. It works very quickly and also goes through your system very quickly, so you fall asleep easily and quickly and do not have that awful hangover several hours later when you awake. Melatonin never worked for me, and the otc medications such as excedrin pm or tylenol whatever contain only the equivalent of benadryl.

Felicia

Some interesting responses. I do want to say there despite a previous response, there IS such a thing as jet lag. I never get to my destination & start thinking about the time back home, unless I want to call home. I set my watch to the local time the second I get on the plane. But some people do experience major jet lag problems...more than normal amount of tiredness, intestine problems, etc. <BR>That said, fortunately, I don't have that problem. I just want to sleep on the flight in order to kill time! <BR>

Dan MC

Unfortunately, Halcion did get a lot of bad press. It is actually a fairly good drug--a shorter acting benzodiazepine than Ativan, Xanax, Valium and Librium. It usually lasts about six hours in the average adult, which is a perfect time frame for transatlantic flights. Ambien is better for longer flights, say transpacific to Sydney, Tokyo, Beijing, etc. <BR> <BR>If at all possible--avoid antihistamines like diphenhydramine, since there is a noticeable hangover potential and the anticholinergic side-effects (e.g. dry mouth and nasal cavities, excessive somnolence, urinary retention and decreased bowel function) are intolerable to many people. <BR> <BR>The best advice that I can give as a health professional is to seek the advice of your physician, and to avoid crackpot ideas like Melatonin. Melatonin has ZERO clinical trials acceptable to the FDA for licensure as a regulated pharmaceutical. The studies involving this substance have been less than stellar. <BR> <BR>Speak to your doctor about the need for a sleeping agent and be sure to follow his/her advice concerning potential blood clotting if you remain inactive during a long flight. <BR> <BR>And one last piece of advice--don't drink to excess--you'll be miserable!!!!

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