answer

Message: I don't get it.<BR><BR>At 30,000 feet, the atmosphere, i.e. the oxygen, is too thin to breathe. If the cabin were not pressurized and the contained air recycled, there would be no oxygen at all and you would be permanently asleep.

ellen

I don't recommend taking medicine when it isn't necessary. However, I did observe that when I left on my recent trip to Paris, I had a terrible cold which included a lot of coughing. Before the flight left, I took some Ny-quil type cough medicine. I could barely keep my eyes open as the plane taxied to takeoff, and I woke up as the dinner trays were being taken away. Not asleep for the whole trip, but it did help.

Janda

I always seem to sleep during the movie darn it...

trixie

Take daytime flights on overseas travel. There are not alot but always some, especially to Europe, Japan or South America. That way you can read on the plane, watch the movie, maybe take a little nap, you arrive, it is evening, by the time you get to the hotel it's bedtime, you wake up the next morning and NO JETLAG. After 10 years of global business travel I finally figured this out!<BR><BR>Airplanes at night are always jammed and the meal service is too long, the cabin lighting left too bright until too late and other passengers inconsiderately talking all night in the next seat at times. Just forget it, even if you sleep a little you will still be dragging the following day.

linda

marciab;<BR><BR>One more suggestion for traveling and Ambien. Take the Ambien during the flight, reset your watch and wake up and start your day. Now, you should be able to stay up until bed time--take another Ambien and sleep until morning thus you start your day and have greatly reduced jet lag.

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helen

I take Ambien every night--have been doing it for about 2 years, but only 5 ml. Do you think there are any long term affects from doing this, anyone?

Olga

There are Ambien 10mg and 5mg - which one to take?<BR><BR>

RnR

ATIVAN works quite well - but take only 1 mg. Two mg. is just too much. And take it one hour before take-off. Be relaxed when you get onvboard. Eat very lightly the day of travel. No alcohol on the ground. But certainly you can have a glass of wine with your meal, if it's coast to coast or overseas. One tablet works quite well NY to Europe. If your flight is under four hours, don't drink any alcohol during the flight IF you plan to drive when you arrive. Be careful when you do drive, and it is best to have someone with you. Ativan doesn't make most people druggy or sleepy, but it may affect some of your memory of the flight.

Janice

I was recently on a flight which had mechnical problems and had to land and be offloaded in Greenland. Exiting through the emergency chutes, no less. The people who had taken sleeping pills or had a lot to drink were a mess - in a real emergency they would have been a nightmare to deal with. <BR>I fly a lot, and fundamentally believe that it's safe, but I'm not certain that I want to be under the influence of anything much in an emergency. The idea of trying the pills out ahead of time is a good one; you can get some sense of how you would function if you had to get back up after taking the medicine.

PrincessSleepsalot

Olga: I have taken both 5 and 10mg Ambien and 5 works for me. I suggest you try 5mg and see how you do. The least amount that works is best.<BR>It is absolutely true that Ambien has different effects on different people. I can take it and wake up whenever I want. My husband took 5mg and was really knocked out. So it is a very good idea to take one before you fly so you know what will happen. If it really knocked me out I don't think I would want to use it.

drugs

Helen.<BR>If you are seeking serious medical advice here, then I say yes, there are long term effects.<BR><BR>This forum is like the gong show on bottled water, let alone sleeping aids.<BR><BR>Can you imagine Harpo and Zeppo and Curly and Moe discussing meds?<BR><BR>RnR.<BR>Sorry,<BR>1mg Is my dose as well.<BR>I have cried and whimpered in my 'jacket', but they won't give me more.

helen

Have you tried listening to classical music? Don't know if that will work for you but on my flight from San Francisco to Paris nonstop I listened to Vivaldi's four seasons repeatedly. I think it ended up being four hundred seasons, but I fell asleep and felt rested unbelievably.

Pamela

I'm going to Ireland in a couple of weeks (6 hour flight) and I read about Ambien on this post. <BR><BR>I picked up my prescription last night and the pharmacist told me not to take it if I'm not going to sleep for at least 7-8 hours. My prescription was 10mg. Maybe that's why? Has anyone taken 10mg and slept less than 7-8 hours? Just wondering if what she told me was just a precaution.

ron

sundown/rexall makes an herbal supplement called 'calm' that is safe, effective and doesn't make us groggy. we get 4 good hours of sleep from 1-2 tablets. if you can't find it at a grocery store or major retailer, check out their website http://www.sundownvitamins.com/produ...c=030768009649

fairfax

I love Ambien (handy dandy ambien). A doctor friend gave me an rx and i have found that it works brilliantly - no groggy hangover feeling when you wake and it kicks in pretty quickly. I flew to London last fall, and took an ambien about 10 minutes before boarding was going to start. Unfortunately, just after I swallowed one, they made an announcement that the pilot was late in coming in from Pittsburgh, so boarding would be delayed by about a half an hour. I was about to topple over, so asked if i could be boarded early, and they let me. Just before take-off, i sort of remembered some commotion, and saw EMT's on the plane. When we landed the next morning, I asked the guy next to me what had happened, and he told me that someone had a panic attack and had to be taken off the plane. I do agree with a previous poster that I would have been useless in an emergency, but what are the chances?

Sleep

I have taken Ambien on a recent flight, but did not see any difference from my usual routine which is the same as many others--I use a blow up neck pillow, eye shade, and ear plugs. Make sure I wear something comfortable, doesn't wrinkle, and will look nice for the flight. I get on the plane, have dinner with one glass of win, take melatonin, take my shoes off and go to sleep. A few days before the flight I usually try to get up earlier and go to bed earlier. I like to eat carbohydrates the day of the flight and drink less caffeinated drinks. It works for me.

Mike

Ambien works.<BR>Also, place the small pillows on each of the handrests so that your elbows won't hurt when you lean on them. <BR>Of course, try not to sleep much the night before.<BR>Avoid sitting next to an overweight person...there ought to be seats with weight and height ranges...dream on.<BR>a blow up neck pillow is helpful. Also, a disc player with relaxing music. I like Shubert for long trips. Stay away from anything familiar...you'll hum yourself awake all night.<BR>Don't start a convesation with the person next to you...you'll worry about ignoring them.<BR>Sit next to the widow...an aisle or middle seat means that if you seat partners have weak kidneys you'll have sleep interruptous all night long.<BR>That about does it. Personally, I've tried it all...including ambian and beer. I've never been able to sleep a wink and I've logged tens of thousands of miles.<BR>Oh yes...I'm also not the jumpy sort. I just can't sleep sitting up and don't want to pay the idiotic surcharge for first class or business.<BR>One of my great kicks is walking past the people who do sit in first class and trying to differentiate the intelligent ones who take advantage of flying points from the ignorant jackasses who actually PAY for first class. That has got to be the biggest ripoff ever devised.<BR>Good night, y'all...<BR>

PrincessSleepsalot

Hey Fairfax -- loved your story. The first time I took Ambien (10mg) I didn't FEEl like I was knocked out, but I have a vague memory of the young man sitting next to me climbing over me via the armrests in order to visit the bathroom. I can only assume he tried unsuccessfully to wake me. Now I take 5mg and smile every time I think of this poor guy trying to get out of his seat. Maybe he was just the ultimate gentleman?