Susan

I will be leaving Houston, Tx about 6:00 pm and arriving in Paris around 11:00 am. Any suggestions for jet lag, I was thinking of taking a sleep aid right before boarding in Houston and sleeping the trip over, will this help or is jet lag inevitable?

Barb

Susan--do a search for "ambien" or "jet lag" you'll get some good input. I used Ambien, a sleeping pill, on my recent trip to Italy. I rested better than I usually do on overseas flights, and was able to make it through until regular bedtime the day we landed. A couple of things help me avoid the impact of jet lag: as soon as you board, set your watch for the time at your destination; drink lots of water; wear comfortable clothes on the flight; get plenty of fresh air as soon as you have arrived and settled into yor hotel.

lze

Hi Susan,<BR><BR>I also have used Ambien. I went to China and asked the doctor to give me something and that is what he prescribed. I took just one on the way over and one on the way back. Worked like a charm. I ditto the other suggestions made by Barb as well. Drinking plenty of water is a good thing for sure. We were thrown into touring so quick that we didn't have time to actually think about jet lag. I found coming home to be much worse. It took me an entire week to recover. I think a lot of it is the let down from all the excitement and trying to digest everything you have done. We were gone for 3 weeks which got to be long! My hubby was home, my sister-in-law and I went. I was ready to come home to him and really appreciated what I have so much more!

Jon

Susan,<BR>My wife and I are taking the exact same flight from Houston in a few days. For what it is worth, I am a doctor and she is a pharmacist, and we will both be taking Ambien to help sleep on the plane. It is a great sleep aid and I have never had a "hangover" the next day after taking it for past trips.<BR>Have fun,<BR>Jon

Kathy

Dehydration is a large reason for "jet lag." We always bring a 1.5 liter bottle of H2O per person and drink it throughout the flight. It really makes a difference.

Jennie

I was given a sleep aid called Sonata...will this work same as Ambien? (Any MD'S or Pharmacist's out there?)Don't these sleep meds. leave a bit of a headache/hangover?

Leslie

This is information from the about.com air travel website..I found it useful for my last trip overseas.<BR><BR>"How to Avoid Jetlag <BR>From your Air Travel Guide <BR><BR>Jetlag is a by-product of air travel when one feels tired, fuzzy and generally fatigued, sometimes accompanied by dull headaches. <BR><BR>-------------------------------------------------------------------------------<BR>Here's How: <BR>To reset your biological clock for a wide time change, stay up 24+ hours and go to sleep at the normal time destination. <BR><BR>Once arriving at your destination, do not take a nap until it is the normal time to go to sleep. <BR><BR>The next morning at your destination, go for a half hour walk in the bright morning sunlight.<BR> <BR>Do not eat right before you go to sleep, and when you do, eat a light dinner. <BR><BR>Avoid alcohol and caffeine-based beverages; substitute drinking a lot of water.<BR> <BR>Change your sleep-wake cycle by turning off the lights in your bedroom at bedtime in your destination time zone, and leave the window shades down in the morning.<BR> <BR>Carbohydrates make you sleepy and protein will keep you awake. Eat heavy carbohydrate meals for 2 days prior to the trip and a heavy protein meal on the day of departure.<BR> <BR>Most flights are run according to the time of departure point, not the destination. If you need to sleep according to the light/dark cycle of your destination, remember to bring along dark eye shades and ear plugs. <BR>Many people recommend taking melatonin at dusk or bedtime for your destination time, a day or two before departure, as well as continuing for a day or two upon your arrival.<BR> <BR>Melatonin is produced by the pineal gland at the base of the brain during the night and can be used to shift the circadian rhythm - otherwise known as "your biological clock". <BR><BR>Melatonin production is highest in the dark and is suppressed by exposure to sunlight.<BR> <BR>Melatonin is available from most health stores. <BR><BR>NEVER TAKE ANY MEDICINES WITHOUT CONSULTING YOUR PHYSICIAN. <BR><BR>Tips: <BR><BR>If you need to be at your absolute best upon arrival at your destination, insure this by including another day, leaving prior to your original date of arrival. <BR>Always take jetlag into account on any change of more than 3 or more time zones. <BR>Establish a "going to sleep routine" that can travel with you easily, such as listening to audio tapes, reading a book, etc. <BR>Once conditioned, your body will respond much easier to these stimuli and established routines."

Gretchen

I have seen the regimen for avoiding jet lag and could just never quite work all that into my pre-trip preparations. I do think it is important when you board the plane to set your watch to Paris time--it is a "wake up" call, as it were--a reminder that it is already 1AM!! I tend to sleep as much as possible on the way over. We check in to our hotel and then keep going on a light day's sightseeing and cafe sitting with an early dinner and to bed. Then by the next day we feel pretty well on local time.

Kal

Jon, is Ambien on any approved list for a recovering addict? No snide comments from others please, just need answer from a doctor or pharmacist.

Jon

Kal,<BR>I honestly don't know the answer to your question since that is WAY outside my usual expertise. For what it is worth, Ambien is in the same category of drugs as Valium. As far as hangovers, I think Ambien is one of the best at reducing morning after effects. I don't know anything about Sonata. Regardless, as the fleetingly temporary medical consultant to Fodor's ;-), I would highly recommend that Ambien or any other medicine be combined with the other recommendations for reducing jet lag.<BR>Bon Voyage All,<BR>Jon

Neil

Melatonin is a wonderful thing and has made travel possible for me. Previously I was unable to sleep in a strange bed in a strange city, especially with the excitement of traveling, but sleeping pills always made me feel druged all the next day - it was even worse than getting no sleep at all. I've recommended melatonin to others who claim it doesn't work for them, though. It's much more subtle and gentle than a sleeping pill.<BR><BR>That said, even with melatonin I've NEVER been able to sleep on the plane. So for my trip to Paris next month I got a subscription to Ambien. I took a test dose of *half* a 5 mg pill (2.5 mg) a couple nights ago to see if there would be a hangover the next day. The stuff was very strong - 45 minutes after taking it I was out like a light. The next morning after 8 hours of sleep it was a little more difficult to get out of bed and I felt slightly sleepy for about an hour, there was none of the usual "drugged" feeling. I think I will be taking it when I go next month.

Kal

Thank you Jon. I'll have to avoid Ambien. Your response without judgement is appreciated.

Ron

There ia a book on the market aptly titled "Overcoming Jet Lag" which has some interesting information. Has anyone tried their plan?

Marilyn

I've used the Argonne Lab jet lag routine and find it works very well. It is very similar to Leslie's except the diet is a little different. Melantonin helps and being sure to be out in the sunlight at your new location. Marilyn

Grace

On a recent trip to Africa, my husband and I took Ambien. It helped somewhat. We've tried nearly everything, but what works best for us....if our hotel room is ready when we arrive, we take a 3 hr. nap, shower, walk around the city, have dinner, and retire by 9-10pm. We feel pretty good the following day.

Toni Brayer

I am a physician. Both Ambien and Sonata are effective for plane rest and jet lag prevention. I think Ambien may be the better choice. They are rapid onset and short acting so "drugged" effect should not occur. Everyone is different but most people do well with them. I have used both with recovering addiction patients without a problem. Just take 2 or 3 on the trip to get you past the lst night and plane travel. Hope this helps. Toni, MD

CJ

I have taken Ambien and Sonata. They are both very mild. Ambien is a pill that you normally take right before bedtime. It gives you a gentle nudge and then you wake up refreshed, not groggy. Sonata is designed to work only 2-3 hours. It is mostly for insomniacs who wake up in the middle of the night, and then can't fall back asleep. So you're not groggy is you take it at 5 am, for example, and then wake up at 8.<BR><BR>I have tried the homeopathic "No Jetlag" remedy that you can buy from Magellans.com. It seemed to work well the last time I flew from Calif. to Europe. I plan to take it again on our trip to France this summer.

Mary

Has anyone every taken Nytol sleep aid? What does it make you feel like the next day?? I am going to Rome tomorrow arriving Saturday morning at 8:30 a.m. I usually don't have trouble sleeping but I though I would take something to ensure I fall asleep.

Jessie

I don't like to go to see a Dr. just for sleeping pills. How well do the OTC sleep aids work to compat jet lag?

Jessie

Sorry...I really meant to say: how do the OTC sleep aids help to combat jet lag.