I see that after my last post, Modafinal is still but in the same class as Ambien. I don't mean to be evangelical about Modafinal, but it is an option worth knowing about.

Modafinal is the opposite of a sleeping pill. It is taken upon arrival not as a sleep aid. It was developed first to aid those with narcolepsy - a neurological disorder whose victims fall asleep unpredictably and uncontrollably. It supresses the sleep mechanisms. It is said to re-set the biological rhythms that travel accross multiple time zones disturb.

The next use of Modafinal has been for the military. It enables troops to "hit the ground" after transport from far away and to be efficient in their duties - i.e. without the effect of jet-lag.

My wife's doctor recommended it for travel to reduce the time it takes for jet-lag recovery.

You take one dose upon arrival before 10:30 local time. It will see you through. Some recommend a second dose the second day. I have not found this to be needed in the two times I have tried it.

There is no feeling of being "speedy" as one might get by drinking too much coffee or using other stimulants that work on other parts of the nervous system.

It is not cheap. Something like $11.00 per dose.