Originally Posted by
dhuberma
I use Valium (generic: diazepam) before a flight I want to sleep on. It's a mild sedative, and you can get either 2mg, 5mg, or 10mg pills from your doctor.
Valium (diazepam) has a really long half-life (100 hours or so), though its effects do not last that long.
Sonata (zaleplon) is great, as it works quickly and lasts a short time (2-4 hours). This lessens the chance of being dragged off the aircraft in handcuffs.
With all benzos and Z-drugs (zolpidem, zaleplon, [es]zopiclone; i.e. Ambien, Sonata, Lunesta) you should really avoid alcohol. Unlike most drug-alcohol warnings (name a prescription that won't have such a sticker on it), the ones for these drugs are real. That, and never take it for the first time when you're not with family or friends, especially on an aircraft.