After the eighth rum and coke, my sleep is beautiful.

Alcohol http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif

4 Tylenol PM's
A Few Cocktails

and:

http://www.united.com/page/article/0,,3002,00.html



[This message has been edited by 1K_From_SNA (edited Jan 07, 2004).]

Some of these things, especially the drugs, sound like they're designed to keep you out for a good seven or eight hours. How long is the flight you'll be trying to sleep on? If it's just a 4-5 hour midnight transcon, I'd suggest something like melatonin. It's fairly mild and you can still function on it even if you only get 3-4 hours of sleep. I believe that in the ads for Ambien, they say not to use it unless you're prepared to devote a full 7-8 hours to sleeping. Who knows what kind of shape you'd be in if you took something like that for a shorter flight.

Do NOT mix Tylenol or any Acetominophen-containing drug with alcohol.

It will turn your liver into swiss cheese:

http://www.postgradmed.com/issues/20...0/draganov.htm

----

Speaking of funky-looking face masks, on an Asiana flight last november I was given a honeycomb mask, which is designed to catch moisture in the air and allow you to inhale it with every breath.

Keeps you from dehydrating from the inside out. (Or something like that).

I have a prescription for Ambien and am taking an IAD-LHR redeye. My doctor prescribed the stuff by talking to me through his secretary - so he and i didn't have a whole lot of doctor/patient counseling.

I did take it the other night and slept real good (in my bed). (But I usually sleep well, if I'm not on a plane).

The question is how much to take. I have 10 (well now 9 tablets) at 10 mg a piece. I noticed in other forums folks felt that 5mg is enough to start with on planes. I know all meds effect everyone differently. What has been your experience?

The flight time is listed as 7 hours and 5 minutes. Assuming I take it soon after wheels up - should i worry about being a zombie walking around London (28 days later anyone?). any experience with 10mg (or less or more) for East Coast Transatlantic redeyes?

[This message has been edited by chobby100 (edited Jan 08, 2004).]

I usually use 5mg (half a tab) for transatlantic flights. I find this gives me 4-5 hours sleep time and no significant hangover.

I have not found there to be a lingering effect of Ambien after waking up.

I obtained a prescription for Ambien to take on an overnight flight from LAX to LHR. The pharmacist told me to "be in bed" when I took it as though it was going to be some really potent thing. Once on the flight, I took it and waited and waited and waited for something to happen. I think I eventually dozed off for maybe 45 minutes. Not nearly effective as Xanax for me and even that doesn't really keep me asleep for long either. I don't think anything short of general anesthesia would keep me fully asleep on a plane.

"I don't know about the others, but it's definitely a bad idea to repeatedly take Ambien. Ambien (and many other sleep aids) are designed for short-term treatment of insomnia. Like many other drugs, they lose their effects over time (the same goes for anitbiotics, for example). Using Ambien once a month as a travel aid shouldn't cause any problems, but becoming reliant on it as a daily cure for insomnia is a recipe for disaster."

I've been taking it nightly for 5 years or so. No Ambien, no sleep so it's a no brainer for me. It does not lose its effectiveness over time nor are there any side effects the next morning. It does NOT knock you out and there may be cases where it doesn't seem to work. Get yourself wired up enough or in some highly uncomfortable situation and Ambien will not help. It is really more of a mild tranquilizer but without the often detrimental effects of most others.

On longhauls I take Ambien, and inflight programming and wash it down with what ever I feel like. Works pretty well. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

I didn't choose the moniker "whiteknuckles" for no reason.

Doesn't look like anyone has mentioned this, but the best thing I have found is tylenol PM and EAR PLUGS. infact, I have ear plugs at work for the noisy co-workers, and their great if you want to read on the plane as well.

I tried Sonata once, and it was totally useless for me. It did not make me the least bit drowsy. I think I am one of those people that can't sleep on a plane under any circumstances...

I believe that Stilnox is the same as Ambien.