Originally Posted by
greggarious
Unfortunately, I've found doctors tend to hand out medication like candy, so I'd rather walk in and say "Based on X, Y, and Z facts I'd like a prescription for (drug)", rather than just say I want something to make me sleep on planes and have them pick seemingly at random and then have me try a new one if the first doesn't work.
If you're not concerned with drug interactions, and don't find your own doctor helpful, the data here might be a start, and I'd have a look at the drug data sheets to confirm it:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_benzodiazepines
Sonata (zaleplon) and Halcion (triazolam) have by far the shortest time in your blood and are the least likely to leave most people groggy. Sonata is far more likely to be prescribed these days, so just based on "Xanax works for me but leaves me groggy," that's what I'd ask for.
Ambien will have a shorter half-life than Xanax, and might be the next step if you find that Sonata doesn't last long enough.