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