Sleep on transatlantic flight....
 

I have read some of the posts on this topic but was wondering if anyone had any success using pills to be able to sleep on transatlantic overnight flights. I have xanax but it doesnt seem to make me sleep. someone recommended Tylenol PM or Benadryl...anyone have any suggestions.. Thanks

Beandryl, a trade name for diphydramine hydrochloride and other antihistamines cause drowsiness in folks which is a natural "side effect" of blocking the effects of histamine...it makes me drowsy but I have to take about 100 mgm to sleep on a plane...Ambien is another oft-used med but generally requires an Rx if I am not mistaken.

I envy anyone who can actually sleep, in a semi-recumbent position, on a plane, with help from meds or not.

Sorry (and before I get slammed from the well-known country doctor) that's diphenhydramine...anyway, try it and see what happens!

my dad uses ativan when he flies. he's a light sleeper and he doesn't care for flying so this anti anxiety pill kills 2 birds. this is also a good med to use if you want to avoid that spacey feeling when you wake up.

Ambian - works like a dream. Really, this stuff rocks. Very few OTC medicines do anything for me(for sleeping or anthing else) but I told my Dr. I wanted to be able to sleep on the plane and he perscibed these. They start working in about 15 minutes, and they really work. I was out cold for at least 6 hours. (wait until the plane takes off till you take it - it really does start working fast and one you take it you don't want to be getting up)

Isn't it bad for your circulation to not move for 6 hours on a plane? If I can doze for 2-3 hours, I am functional upon arrival. And I do 'believe' those No Jet Lag 'pills' work :)

Whatever you try, you should probably try at least once before you get on the plane! Benadryl, for instance, makes me wired, so I would never take it to try to sleep!

Benadryl dries up your nasal passages which is bad enough on the plane already.

I have tried Xanax., Valium and Ativan over the years, but like Ambien the best. I can get a good solid 4-5 hour block of sleep and when I wake up I don't feel all drugged and stupid.

The best remedy however is flying first class. No drugs required in there...

Another vote for Ambien.

and another vote for Ambien

Keith75,

I have taken Tylenol PM and other similar sorts of things and didn't sleep.

I have used Ambien, and that has helped me sleep on the plane.

I did try it that next evening once I'm overseas to sleep, and it does nothing. I'm sure that my body clock is so out of whack that it doesn't work.

Tim

Have success with 2 Tylenol PM when trying to get a decent night's sleep. As someone had mentioned earlier in this thread it doesn't make one all stupid when you really do need to be alert.

I had my doctor prescribe Ambien for me to help reduce the jetlag before we went to Italy. It worked great for me! I took it with my dinner, and they seemed so slow about picking up the trays that I thought I might fall into mine. I slept the entire rest of the flight. When we arrived, I didn't feel at all groggy or fuzzy-headed, which was my husband's concern about taking it. Instead, he took Benadryl and didn't sleep at all on the flight.

Ambien here too. If you put "ambien" in the search box, keith, you'll come up with various posts about it if you want some more info.

Ambien did NOT work for me...it made more more awake than ever. I've tried a few different remedies and only three things help me sleep on transatlantic flights:
1. no turbulence
2. flying business class or better
3. staying up all night before a flight, cleaning, sorting paperwork, whatever, so I'm just too tired.
Best of all would be a combination of all three items above.

I'm surprised that no one has mentioned Melatonin, 3 mgs. Doesn't "make" you sleep, "allows" you to relax and sleep.
(Works well for dogs with thunderstorm phobias as well!)
Ambien has not worked for me either, but I suppose I don't want to give up 'control' on the plane--I want to know everything that's happening!

Another prescription option that's shorter-acting than Ambien is Sonata. It works quickly and only knocks me out for three hours, so I can get up and stretch and then take another capsule for another three hour 'nap.' No grogginess, either.

I took ambien for the first time on a trip to East Africa and really wanted to make sure I got some sleep. I'm am now a huge fan. I'm going to Italy and will definitely use it again. We just called the doctor and didn't even have to go in, he prescribed it over the phone. I also heard Sonata is a bit more mild but works too.

Be advised that XANAX and valium, are not sleeping pills. They are anti anxiety pills. After taking them, you may feel relax and help you sleep. I take .50 mg xanax with two double vodka and tonic....... sleep like a baby and get there non drowsy.

Benadryl can "dry" a person out, and the air in planes is dry enough as it is. I would avoid using it

Vote for Tylenol PM - worked great for me to Italy and Japan...

We're going to try one of the daytime transatlantic flights this winter when we go over to Scotland - leave the US in the morning, arrive in London in time for a late dinner and "normal" bedtime. The only time I've done this was when my flight was 13 hours late. :( I have a terrible time sleeping on planes, so will try this. Many travelers swear by them.

Whatever you decide to try, try a trial run at home.

I found that Ambien had bad effects on me. Worse, I found out on a flight that still had hours to go.

>> I take .50 mg xanax with two double vodka and tonic..<<

What great advice!! NOT! It's always a DUMB idea to take medicine and alcohol!!!!!!

How about no zanax, but a couple of double vodka/tonics before dinner, 3-4 glasses of wine during dinner, a couple of after-dinner drinks, then when you arrive, you get your wife to drive the rental car. b( ((b))

Budman,

Now, THAT sounds just fine! Though you may not remember much of what you see on the first day. :)

Personally, my codeine tabs and a couple of Baileys make everything fine--whether or not I get to sleep.

Surprised nobody mentioned NyQuil. It's the only OTC med that can knock me out.

Definitely do a test run at home before your trip.

2 Tylenol PM + 2 cocktails + wine with dinner on the plane allowed us to get a good 5-6 hours of sleep going from NYC to Rome. We were not drowsy in the morning, and went all day with some cappuccinos to get us started!

Eye mask on, head drooped over, mouth hanging open with a thin river of drool running down the chin and a huge line of ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ's coming from said open mouth. OH yea, I've seen all of you!!!!! LOL I actually don't sleep on the plane..ah hem...for all of the reasons listed above..a crying baby would be preferable I think. I fly from the west coast..the flight from hell..but I find, I don't drink alcohol, I get an isle seat so I can get up and down without climbing over one of the drugged persons listed above..I learned that the hard way my first trip. I drink a lot of water, take some good reading material and watch our progress on the screen on the back of the seat in front of me. "What do you mean we are over Newfoundland?!!! I've been on this #@$%^&*# plane for a month already!!!!!! Just about the time I am ready to hang from the ceiling they usually serve breakfast and then we are ready to land. I get to the hotel, leave luggage or check in, stroll around the neighborhood a bit, find a place for a light meal and turn in early. I am usually up VERY early the next morning, go out and take a walk, come back to the room, get cleaned up and ready to start my day. The second might I'm right on track, no jet lag. The only downside is, of course I really am tired that first day but there isn't a lot of time to do major things anyway, and i find it bearable. It's just a personal thing with me..just don't like pills..and then of course there's that drool issue..I seem to have a harder time on the return run. The second day home I find myself crashing about 2:00 in the afternoon.

crefloors: I think we live with all those otherwise embarrassing details because while "OH yea, I've seen all of you!!!!!"... we were out and didn't see you seeing us.

Actually, I don't sleep well on planes either. But as we go to Australia from the midwest from time to time... and the total flight each way is like 24 hours (16 after the LAX connection), I've learned to live with finding some way to sleep. 24 hours flying, a rollover the int'l date line and a 17 hr time difference and you forget all about how you look to the other plane zombies. ;)

Clifton: oh I know. I really want to go to Australia before too long, and I'm certain I would NOT be able to stay awake on a flight that long. It's a scary thought...just ask my husband!!! LOL I was watching something a couple weeks ago about that new giant Airbus (I think) that they are building. Oh to be rich..they have sleeping compartments actually for those really long flights. Oh wouldn't it be loverly!!!! I think on that plane they can have REALLY long flights. They said that they can go almost anywhere in the world from what ever point to their destination without re-fuling.

Just talked to my doctor about sleeping pills on the plane, and she said best not: it's more important to move around during a long flight to exercise one's legs.

I haven't heard that much about the new Airbus except that they were building one. I'd like to try it out once they have them flying. It's just something else, the long haul 747's, as it is. Getting ready to board one, looking at it sitting at the gate dwarfing 777s, 767s and Airbuses is just awe inspiring to me. The 737s look like toys next to it. 10 seats and 2 aisles across with a tall ceiling sort of makes it feel like an auditorium full of slack-jawed droolers. Can't wait to embarrass myself on one that's even bigger.

An inside seat -- either window or center of the center section.
Making sure the attendants know that you won't appreciate being disturbed for a sack of nuts and half a glass of OJ every 2.25 hours.
Melatonin (go to the health food store and get some). They sell sublingual cherry flavor that gets into your head like woodrot. Added benefit -- you'll feel like you had 6 hours, even if you only get 4 hours of sleep (I do).
Opinions vary, but please stay away from alcohol on the plane. You are trying to get some sleep so that you'll feel better at your destination. Drink yourself into a coma on the ground if you like, that's what I do.

-Craig

No, no, no! Do NOT take Tylenol with alcohol: very bad idea, can be toxic to the liver.

I used to take Tylenol PM but now take Tylenol Sleep Easy. I usually take 2 when they serve the first round of drinks. No I do not mix alcohol with it. Then I eat dinner and by then I am sleepy enough to fall asleep for a few hours. I do not feel as hung over with Sleep Easy a I did with Tylenol PM.

I think folks need to prioritize here. Do you want to (a)celebrate, feel good now then deal with your fatigue/jet lag when you arrive, or do you want to (b)put off your fun a bit, knuckle down and do what it takes to arrive in best possible shape?

(a) booze it up, woohoo you're on vacation!
(b) drink lots of water, turn off the movie screen, put on the eyeshades, lean on your little pillow, and rest if you can't actually sleep. Get up and walk the aisle a minute or two every 1-2 hours at least.

Never mix alcohol with any type of drugs, OTC or prescription. Choose a or b, but not both!

I am not a teetotaler. I might have a glass of wine in a terminal bar during connecting time, but nothing more when on the overnight flight. When I get out and about the next day, I look forward to a café break somewhere for my next daily dose. But I just don't think it helps jet lag to drink on the flight, and would never mix with any drugs. Be safe.

I'm with Lucy's dad on this one.

Sleeping on a plane for a number of hours without moving your legs isn't a good idea. Since I've had a pulmonary embolism in the past, I've learned a little bit about how to safeguard that from happening on long flights. Drink plenty of water, get up and walk around often, and flex your feet and ankles at least every 1/2 hr to keep the blood pumping. If you're going to nap, don't do so for longer than 30-45 min at a time.