Originally Posted by betsy
OK, I've taken many overnighters but never took ambien or lunesta or any of that stuff to help me get to sleep. I'm considering trying this for the next long flight (SFO - PEK) and my big fear is I enjoy wining and dining in F class, take the ambien, and DON'T GET TO SLEEP. Next day, I am a complete zombie and feel even worse than I normally do after a flight like that. Anyone have that kind of experience? I know the caution on the TV commercials says you must be prepared to devote 8 hours to sleep when taking this stuff.
Anyway, what's been your experience?
There IS a reason for the commercials warning, but it is not about grogginess the next day. Ambien is AWESOME related to not being groggy the next day. One down side of Ambien is that it can have an amnesic effect, and if are up and functioning during that 8 hours after taking it you can be functioning fully but totally not remember it, and as I found your inhibition is GONE (I would say things to people I would NEVER say normally). This effect is particularly pronounced in the first couple hours. I found if I took it, didnt get right to sleep (because I got interrupted on the way to bed or decided to do something quick) I had the worst issues with this. I noticed this week the media is finally starting to talk about this, they did a story on ambien and sleep driving (something else I had done).
Ambien is a great drug, but you have to take it when you are ready to be asleep, do NOT take it thinking you have an hour before it kicks in. You want to take it as you close your eyes. Also I would agree, try it at home, or if your first attempt is on a plane make sure you have someone with you that can keep an eye on you if you do wake during that amnesic time and start doing/saying stupid things!!!!!