Cure Me: You couldn't sleep on long flights, then you found the cure...
Jul 15, 2015, 12:50 pm
#46
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Ambien and things like that - make sure you try them before getting into an airplane.
Just for fun b/c I miss drinking right now..
It used to be...7 G&T's, melatonin and 5HTP
Now it's more like....<just shoot me now>
Just for fun b/c I miss drinking right now..
It used to be...7 G&T's, melatonin and 5HTP
Now it's more like....<just shoot me now>
Jul 15, 2015, 4:12 pm
#47
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: MCI
Programs: National Executive, Hertz Five Star, Hilton Diamond, BW Diamond
Posts: 323
Ambien is the answer. You won't get hooked using it one time.
Jul 15, 2015, 4:56 pm
#48
formerly known as Tad's Broiled Steaks
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 6,412
It usually takes a long-haul flight and then a layover before I can (uncomfortably, mind you) fall asleep on a plane. For example, last month, I did JFK-NRT-CGK. I only fell asleep two hours before landing at CGK.
Although that was Y, class of service never mattered in the past.
Although that was Y, class of service never mattered in the past.
Jul 15, 2015, 9:55 pm
#49
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Jul 15, 2015, 11:39 pm
#50
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 208
A lot of the meds described here are simply different preps of dipenhydramine, which is one of the most tried and true sleep aids for general safety and effectiveness. Ambient is great but there are some oddball effects for some people, so I would certainly agree that it should be experimented with before flying.
A long time ago a doctor friend of mine prescribed: take 75mg of Benadryl (50% more than the OTC dose, but not much by medical standards) and either 1 or 2 stiff drinks. Works for me.
FYI for those of you who are trying Melatonin, please look into what melatonin actually does. It's doesn't really act as a sleep aid, despite the marketing efforts to sell it as such at drug stores in the US. It can help the onset of sleep in some circumstances, but what it really does is simulate the onset of the circadian phase that brings sleep. This isn't the same as simply putting you to sleep, which is why it won't work in some circumstances.
What IS amazing about melatonin is if you try to use it for what it's really good for: resetting your circadian clock and avoiding jet lag. For forcing yourself to sleep when you're uncomfortable it's not going to help much - chances are your body is already tired and trying to sleep, but can't do it because you are on a cramped plane. So, sedation is better than melatonin.
However, when you get to your destination try taking melatonin (only a tiny dose is needed) a little while before bedtime in the new time zone. Do this for 3 days or so, and you will likely notice a dramatic improvement in jet lag as your body adjust quickly due to the 'help' in resetting the circadian clock.
Note that jetlag and the ability to sleep, or exhaustion from not sleeping, are totally separate things. I have gotten on a long-haul flight and slept for 10 hours, only to have crushing jet lag the next day. So, when you are taking melatonin think about the jet lag and the timezone more than just 'getting to sleep'.
Ironically, people who take melatonin on planes to get to sleep sometimes confuse their circadian cycle more than ever and suffer from worse jetlag.
Source: My father was a Phd. researcher who studied jet lag, my endocrinologist agreed with this and told me where to get low-dose-slow-release melatonin, and a trusted friend is and MD in a sleep center
Try it!!
A long time ago a doctor friend of mine prescribed: take 75mg of Benadryl (50% more than the OTC dose, but not much by medical standards) and either 1 or 2 stiff drinks. Works for me.
FYI for those of you who are trying Melatonin, please look into what melatonin actually does. It's doesn't really act as a sleep aid, despite the marketing efforts to sell it as such at drug stores in the US. It can help the onset of sleep in some circumstances, but what it really does is simulate the onset of the circadian phase that brings sleep. This isn't the same as simply putting you to sleep, which is why it won't work in some circumstances.
What IS amazing about melatonin is if you try to use it for what it's really good for: resetting your circadian clock and avoiding jet lag. For forcing yourself to sleep when you're uncomfortable it's not going to help much - chances are your body is already tired and trying to sleep, but can't do it because you are on a cramped plane. So, sedation is better than melatonin.
However, when you get to your destination try taking melatonin (only a tiny dose is needed) a little while before bedtime in the new time zone. Do this for 3 days or so, and you will likely notice a dramatic improvement in jet lag as your body adjust quickly due to the 'help' in resetting the circadian clock.
Note that jetlag and the ability to sleep, or exhaustion from not sleeping, are totally separate things. I have gotten on a long-haul flight and slept for 10 hours, only to have crushing jet lag the next day. So, when you are taking melatonin think about the jet lag and the timezone more than just 'getting to sleep'.
Ironically, people who take melatonin on planes to get to sleep sometimes confuse their circadian cycle more than ever and suffer from worse jetlag.
Source: My father was a Phd. researcher who studied jet lag, my endocrinologist agreed with this and told me where to get low-dose-slow-release melatonin, and a trusted friend is and MD in a sleep center
Try it!!
Jul 16, 2015, 3:11 am
#51
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 132
A lot of the meds described here are simply different preps of dipenhydramine, which is one of the most tried and true sleep aids for general safety and effectiveness. Ambient is great but there are some oddball effects for some people, so I would certainly agree that it should be experimented with before flying.
A long time ago a doctor friend of mine prescribed: take 75mg of Benadryl (50% more than the OTC dose, but not much by medical standards) and either 1 or 2 stiff drinks. Works for me.
FYI for those of you who are trying Melatonin, please look into what melatonin actually does. It's doesn't really act as a sleep aid, despite the marketing efforts to sell it as such at drug stores in the US. It can help the onset of sleep in some circumstances, but what it really does is simulate the onset of the circadian phase that brings sleep. This isn't the same as simply putting you to sleep, which is why it won't work in some circumstances.
What IS amazing about melatonin is if you try to use it for what it's really good for: resetting your circadian clock and avoiding jet lag. For forcing yourself to sleep when you're uncomfortable it's not going to help much - chances are your body is already tired and trying to sleep, but can't do it because you are on a cramped plane. So, sedation is better than melatonin.
However, when you get to your destination try taking melatonin (only a tiny dose is needed) a little while before bedtime in the new time zone. Do this for 3 days or so, and you will likely notice a dramatic improvement in jet lag as your body adjust quickly due to the 'help' in resetting the circadian clock.
Note that jetlag and the ability to sleep, or exhaustion from not sleeping, are totally separate things. I have gotten on a long-haul flight and slept for 10 hours, only to have crushing jet lag the next day. So, when you are taking melatonin think about the jet lag and the timezone more than just 'getting to sleep'.
Ironically, people who take melatonin on planes to get to sleep sometimes confuse their circadian cycle more than ever and suffer from worse jetlag.
Source: My father was a Phd. researcher who studied jet lag, my endocrinologist agreed with this and told me where to get low-dose-slow-release melatonin, and a trusted friend is and MD in a sleep center
Try it!!
A long time ago a doctor friend of mine prescribed: take 75mg of Benadryl (50% more than the OTC dose, but not much by medical standards) and either 1 or 2 stiff drinks. Works for me.
FYI for those of you who are trying Melatonin, please look into what melatonin actually does. It's doesn't really act as a sleep aid, despite the marketing efforts to sell it as such at drug stores in the US. It can help the onset of sleep in some circumstances, but what it really does is simulate the onset of the circadian phase that brings sleep. This isn't the same as simply putting you to sleep, which is why it won't work in some circumstances.
What IS amazing about melatonin is if you try to use it for what it's really good for: resetting your circadian clock and avoiding jet lag. For forcing yourself to sleep when you're uncomfortable it's not going to help much - chances are your body is already tired and trying to sleep, but can't do it because you are on a cramped plane. So, sedation is better than melatonin.
However, when you get to your destination try taking melatonin (only a tiny dose is needed) a little while before bedtime in the new time zone. Do this for 3 days or so, and you will likely notice a dramatic improvement in jet lag as your body adjust quickly due to the 'help' in resetting the circadian clock.
Note that jetlag and the ability to sleep, or exhaustion from not sleeping, are totally separate things. I have gotten on a long-haul flight and slept for 10 hours, only to have crushing jet lag the next day. So, when you are taking melatonin think about the jet lag and the timezone more than just 'getting to sleep'.
Ironically, people who take melatonin on planes to get to sleep sometimes confuse their circadian cycle more than ever and suffer from worse jetlag.
Source: My father was a Phd. researcher who studied jet lag, my endocrinologist agreed with this and told me where to get low-dose-slow-release melatonin, and a trusted friend is and MD in a sleep center
Try it!!
it clear out things for me. Thanks
Jul 16, 2015, 5:32 am
#53
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: MCI
Programs: National Executive, Hertz Five Star, Hilton Diamond, BW Diamond
Posts: 323
Not after one dose. Read.
Oh and here's a bunch of medical literature. Knock yourself out.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?...dem+dependence
Anyone who has taken ambien knows it takes a few weeks to really build up that dependence.
Oh and here's a bunch of medical literature. Knock yourself out.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?...dem+dependence
Anyone who has taken ambien knows it takes a few weeks to really build up that dependence.
Jul 16, 2015, 5:52 am
#54
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: CPT
Programs: BA BD SA
Posts: 4,467
I find I sleep badly (as in waking up a lot and having difficulty getting back to sleep) even on flights with flat beds. I am a bit wary of sleeping tablets for various reasons so have stopped taking them.
But I have recently discovered something that works for me: anti-histamines. I take an old-style anti-histamine (the type that warns you about drowsiness as a side effect and tells you not to use heavy machinery) after I board and find the quality of my sleep is very much improved.
I'm sure this isn't the ultimate answer for everyone (though I do feel like I should be in one of those ads that say "Drug companies hate him - look at this funny old trick that costs a few cents and puts you to sleep safely and quickly"
) but it has really benefited me and it is cheap, easy (no prescriptions) and has minimal side effects. Well, there is one: I wake up with no blocked nose!
But I have recently discovered something that works for me: anti-histamines. I take an old-style anti-histamine (the type that warns you about drowsiness as a side effect and tells you not to use heavy machinery
) after I board and find the quality of my sleep is very much improved. I'm sure this isn't the ultimate answer for everyone (though I do feel like I should be in one of those ads that say "Drug companies hate him - look at this funny old trick that costs a few cents and puts you to sleep safely and quickly"
) but it has really benefited me and it is cheap, easy (no prescriptions) and has minimal side effects. Well, there is one: I wake up with no blocked nose!
Jul 16, 2015, 9:54 am
#55
Join Date: Jul 2000
Posts: 3,746
OK, where does one get "low-dose-slow-release melatonin" that is reliable? I've used Melatonin for years, have thought it has helped with jet lag, but from what I've read about these nutritional supplement companies who knows what's actually in the tablets.
Jul 16, 2015, 11:14 am
#56
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Otherwise the half life on regular melatonin is way too short.
Jul 16, 2015, 11:51 am
#58
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: IL
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Any "nightime" cold and flu stuff.
I find that taking a (regular) does of any OTC cold/flu pills of the "nightime" variety does the trick.
Since my nose blocks up during flights, the decongestant is a welcome bonus :-)
I use a neck pillow so don't tend to end up with my head on my seatmate's shoulder, except on those cases when I'm seated next to King Kong and his shoulder and my head are close proximity anyhow.
Since my nose blocks up during flights, the decongestant is a welcome bonus :-)
I use a neck pillow so don't tend to end up with my head on my seatmate's shoulder, except on those cases when I'm seated next to King Kong and his shoulder and my head are close proximity anyhow.
Jul 17, 2015, 1:07 am
#59
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With me the key thing is a window seat and the wall to lean against, and for whatever reason I do better on the left side of the plane than the right side. I also can't have my knee so cramped as happens with Spirit.
Maybe in first class if the seat has a winged head cushion it can be bent far enough to simulate the wall, but in coach they don't bend that far.
Usually the position is the bigger problem than the drowsiness, but if the timing is against the circadian rhythm and I'm trying to make myself get to sleep when I'd normally be awake, then it's likely a losing battle. OTOH, far more common is being short of sleep but having to get into a sleep-able position.
Maybe in first class if the seat has a winged head cushion it can be bent far enough to simulate the wall, but in coach they don't bend that far.
Usually the position is the bigger problem than the drowsiness, but if the timing is against the circadian rhythm and I'm trying to make myself get to sleep when I'd normally be awake, then it's likely a losing battle. OTOH, far more common is being short of sleep but having to get into a sleep-able position.