Have your doctor write a Rx for 10 Ambien. The low dose you sleep for about 5 hours and the higher for 8 hours. Wake up refreshed. Fabulous for long distance traveling.

To yale (and others). Simply Sleep is a product made by the makers of Tylenol and is exactly the same thing as Tylenol PM WITHOUT the Tylenol - that is, it is just the Benadryl. So we are talking about the same thing and to argue Tylenol PM vs Benadryl vs Simply Sleep is silly.

I thought Ambien had very bad side effects?

For some people it does - my mother acts like a total nut after Ambien. I wouldn't want her on flight like that. She sort of sleep walks and talks.

what about other sleeping pills or ativan?

gail - I know that. But because of the pain medicatin in Tylenol PM you could experience adverse effects. I think it's important to point that out. I speak from experience when I say Tylenol PM may leave you with a hangover feeling the next day. It's not fun.

Try Tylenol PM at home. For me, it has a terrible just awful effect. Makes me wired and jittery.

Personally I go with Valium or another anti-anxiety prescription drug from my doctor, rather than sleep medication.

I say that because the symptoms you describe are classic of anxiety, not necessarily a need to go to sleep.

Since you mention Tylenol PM I would think you have had good success with it at home. I take it occasionally and it works for me. I would never recommend Valium or Percocet to someone who doesn't usually take it - unless the person recommending is a physician... The best thing is to call your doctor and just let the nurse or doc know of your claustrophobia and panic attacks. They will help you more than this site. Try before you fly! The idea is to get off the plane and enjoy your vacation, not be strung out the first few days. Most travel books will tell you to avoid alcohol and caffeine in flight for that very same reason. Is there a place on the plane you prefer to sit? (I always feel more comfortable sitting near the front.)Get your seat assignment early. Also alert the flight attendent that you tend to get paniky. Most will be very helpful in making you more comfortable. If you have a CD player, go to the library and get a good book on tape, if you are into mysterys, then find something by Grisham, or your favorite author; if you like comedy, I suggest "The Bear Went Over the Mountain" by William Kotzwinkle, or anything by Fannie Flagg, or Erma Bombeck. The Millionaire Mind is a good read, etc...ask a librarian for something light to listen to. Once you get into the story, time will fly by. There are things to do along with taking some type of medication. Have fun - envision yourself lying on the beach or dancing the hula!

I read an interesting article on sleeping pills and travel recently, perhaps in a November Travel + Leisure? I know original poster was more concerned with anxiety. But this article was discussing how depending on which way you're flying, east or west, there are different sleep aids that can help you. One can help you sleep on a plane, for example. The other would help you sleep once you arrived at destination. Article said that drugs like Tylenol PM are "messy". The drug clings and gives a hangover effect, whereas modern prescription drugs are much cleaner and leave your system quickly. I was never much of a sleeping pill person, but this article convinced me to talk to my doctor about options if I ever had a trip to, say, Australia, or Hong Kong.

dear traveler,

i have the same problems, the more i fly the worse it gets. i asked my dr. for xanax, and never regretted it. i wasn't panicky, scared, or otherwise bothered. i slept most of the way from maui to chicago, but was able to be up to go to the bathroom, and eat. and i felt fine when i arrived in Mass. i recommend at least talking to your dr about it, and like one person posted, try before hand. i didn't, but i was lucky that it worked well for me. good luck!

I had uncontrollable vomiting from Ambien. But at last the FDA approves.

Hi..
Feel your pain.. That is why they offer you the $2 shot more at the Airport Bar and you betcha I do it..
Going to Europe,love to do a Valium or Ambien..same for Tahiti or Australia..but I hydrate myself with alot of water and a couple glasses of wine and then pop then with the dinner and it works great.. No hangover and I get great sleep..
Tylenol PM never seems to work for me but you have to do what works for you.
Have fun and don't worry..

lizziea06: kayd is correct. The sleep ingredient in Tylenol PM is the same ingredient of Benydryl.

I agree with GoTravel, in that Xanax would probably be the better sleep inducer with less hangover, dry mouth, but everyones different. Maybe you could give these a trial run before going just to see how they affect you?

I'm one of those people whom Tylenol PM keeps awake. It took me three sleepless nights to figure this out. (I'm a slow learner.)

You could also try Valerian. It's an herbal remedy sold at health food stores. I would recommend the Nature's Way brand as it's one of the more reputable herbal companies. Valerian is a natural sedative and also calms you down. It won't knock you out like Ambien or any of the over the counter stuff. It's just a nice relaxing feeling while you're awake, and when you do sleep while taking it, you sleep very soundly. In the morning, there is no 'after effect' at all - you just wake up feeling refreshed. I've also studied herbs for years and Valerian is one of the safest ones out there and there is currently no other medicine that it conflicts with, although I wouldn't recommend taking other sleeping medicine at the same time.

Another recommendation for nerves is Bach Flower Essences Rescue Remedy. It's a very safe and natural stress reliever. I give it to my 15 lb. dog whenever we go to the vet's or groomer's and she's very laid back the whole time. It comes in a liquid or a spray and can be found at most health food stores.

I'm flying 18 hours to Mongolia in the near future and plan to take both of these remedies with me then. Good luck!

Heidi

i too have used valerian and rescue remedy very successfully. what i like best is how quickly they work...not much waiting to get in synch with the remedy's intended effects. also, use them both with my children when there is a need. plan to fly from east coast to west coast with two kids, and will have them both in my purse, just in case.
corwin

The air is so dry on planes it contributes to people getting respiratory ailments. It is important to try to keep your sinuses from drying out when you fly. I wouldn't take an antihistamine unless I had a cold and needed to be sure my sinuses were clear.

I'd suggest you explain your situation to your physician. You can try whatever he or she recommends before you fly and see how you react.

I travel just about every week and SWEAR by Lunesta. I do not use it on planes, but I use it for sleeping in hotels. I typically would wake up every hour or so and I was just exhausted all the time.
Lunesta allows me to fall asleep very quick and sleep sound for 8 hours. I have taken it when I have only 6 hours and feel perfectly fine when I wake up. Never groggy or tired. Alert and refreshed.
When I travel I try very hard to get plenty of rest and Lunesta has been a godsend.
I never take it at home... I am scared I will build resistance to it.
The only side effect I have noted is an odd taste in my mouth. Totally acceptable if I have plenty of mints handy!

I've heard good things about Lunesta also. I've used over the counter Sominex, and it works for a good 8/9 hours. Never used it for a flight though.