I have experience with every sleep-inducing drug imaginable, and after much trial-and-error, have concluded that Ambien works the best for me, with Lorazepam a close second.

The thing to remember about Ambien, in addition to everything else mentioned here, is that you want to take it on an empty stomach, otherwise, it will take forever to work, or not at all. My solution is to wait until just before dinner - as in, they've put the food in front of me, and take the Ambien with a glass of wine. Having it go down first allows it a few minutes to dissolve. Then I eat, and I'm usually almost gone by the time the tray is removed. Nice FA's take my tray away and stow the tray table for me, while leaving a bottle of H2O in the seat pocket.

At home, Ambien allows me to sleep almost all night - on a plane, usually about 4 hours. But it's still in my system, so certainly memory loss can be a bit of a problem if I have to function during the NEXT four hours.

I found the post about Lorazepam intriguing. I take it as an anti-anxiety med regularly, and I sleep like a baby on it. However, it works differently - it doesn't knock me out the way the Ambien does, but it allows me to sleep longer and better. If the doctor deems it safe, perhaps a combination of both? Sort of a one-two punch, if you're determined to get that 8 hours.

As far as docs prescribing it - I go to the most conservative doc you can imagine, and I tell her up front what it's for - two or four or whatever long-haul flights, and she gives me just enough to cover it and not a pill more. Perhaps a few extra to counter jet lag. Ambien's great for that - changing your body clock.

One final thought - once you get used to Ambien's effect, it can be "fun" to take it a little early and spend some time in goofy-land. I don't actually do anything during that time - I just sit there enjoying the sensation. But it can become addictive, so be disciplined about using it. And be VERY CAREFUL about alcohol use. One glass of wine speeds things up, but more than that and you'll likely pour it all over yourself as you fall asleep. Very attractive.

Hope this helps.

My doc started me on Ambien when I had some severe fasciculations that were keeping me awake. Then I tried it for long flights. The fasciculations have subsided greatly, but my doc has granted re-orders for me at least twice. EAch is either one or two refills. No questions asked. I get 30 10mg's at a time, but find that breaking them in half and taking 5mg suffices at home -- for 7-8 hours, and in-flight-- 5-7 hours.

If you get goofy after taking Ambien at home, you might want to hide the car keys first.

Ambien drives new breed of impaired motorists

I have had mixed results with Ambien. A lot of it really has to do with my mental state prior to taking it. To begin with I have a lot of trouble getting to sleep, and staying asleep for long periods of time. These generally occur when I am busy at work and cannot get my mind to actually stop thinking about things. (I have found I am most productive towards the end of the day than I am during the day).

When I got my prescription for Ambien, I told my doctor the exact reasons I wanted the drug. He had no problems prescribing it, and mentioned to me that he uses it as well. I usually get the 30x10mg, and find when it works it works great, but when it doesn't my night is miserable.

I haven't had the sleep walking senarios, but I have had the halucinations. It was a very sureal experience. I for a little while believed there were people on my ceiling and hanging from my fan. However, after a little while I realized that I was in fact halucinating. After a little while I did fall asleep.

My sucess rate with Ambien on flights has been mixed as well. I have found if I take it at a time on the flight when I should be tired, (i.e. a night flight), it has worked great. If I take it at a flight time that does not correspond to the local sleep time I have issues and it doesn't work that well. I have used it to try and prevent the odd wake-ups when really off my time zone, such as the infamous 3am wake-ups in OZ, and found it is not as effective there as I would hope. Still trying to find something that counters jet lag well.

The one thing I am very careful with when using Ambien or any other sleep drug is not to take it any more than twice a week. While they claim that Ambien is none addictave, and none dependent, that isn't necessarily true. The psycological effects of taking any sleep drug can make it habit forming, in the fact that you believe that you need it to fall asleep.

My only concern with Benadryl is it tends to dry you out, especially the nose and mouth; this means extra water and limited alcohol for most people.

Separately, consider a baby aspirin for blood thinning, especially if you'll be asleep and not moving or drinking for 4-12 hours in very dry air.

You're Welcome!! :D I think that may been the reason for your Op-Up!!
Dave

I chickened out on using Ambien during my recent transpacific flights, but I did use it to help me adjust to the 12-hour time difference in Thailand. Usually for the first week I have a hell of a time falling asleep, often lying awake until the birds start chirping. Last trip I took HALF of a 5mg tablet at bedtime for most of the first week and it was just enough to push me over the edge into a decent night's sleep.

BTW, the health section in today's (3/14) Washington Post has an article on Ambien and its potential side effects:
To Sleep, Perchance to ... Walk

Good point, mush. After all, Benadryl is an antihistamine, so I guess if it's doing its *real* job, it dries you out. But given the low humidity on a plane, it could really dry you out. Although I originally suggested it, I don't actually take it on planes so I didn't think about that potential side effect.

My husband takes Ambien when flying 6 hours plus...only problem was when he took it before take off and they had plane problems and had to change aircraft...he was already asleep.

Also watch where you are sitting in relation to the snack cart. Ambien can possibly make you "HELLBENT TO EAT"

Now I know why all the good stuff has been pilfered when I get up looking for a nosh :p

Yea, I was just watching Dan Abrams on MSNBC and he had a piece on Ambien and sleep-walking and eating. Guess this is becoming common knowledge. Hmmm....so I ask the FAs to keep me away from the food if I'm up sleepwalking! Thank goodness I can't get to the cockpit. Driving cars while on Ambien is one thing, but flying planes would be waaaaayy over the top...especially since I don't know how!

OK, so no Benadryl due to drying out sinuses! Ouch, that could really hurt! Won't take an ambien until after take-off, but won't be a problem since I'm not taking anything 'til I eat!! Yet, you guys have said it doesn't work as fast if I eat first. Wow, wonder if I can take it before the main meal and stay awake long enough to have dinner?

Here's the real question: Since I normally have lots of trouble sleeping on aircraft due to all the weird things that happen (turbulance, loud talking, lights) I'm really wondering if ambien will help with the real problems keeping me awake? It seems I'm nervous and all the little things going on are what gets in the way. Perhaps a Xanax would be better.

Interesting that today's NYT (3/14) should have a similarly titled article on Ambien.

To Sleep, Perchance to Eat

This was the heading in the print edition. But they've revised the online version to have a different heading

Study Links Ambien Use to Unconscious Food Forays

Weird!

Just don't drink any alcohol when taking Ambien - there have been a few cases of air rage, sleep driving, and other odd reactions to the combination of alcohol and Ambien. I know I read an article about it last week (in the NY Times?) but can't find the link.

I often take Ambien on long haul flights, especially trans atlantic/pacific. I've had mixed results, and usually just sleep fitfully and catnap. But at least it's sleep, I guess. Afterwards I know that hours passed without memory, but I don't really feel like I slept. I have come to the conclusion that Ambien just actually puts me in a "hyptnotic state" and not actual sleep. It's like I am sleeping but dreaming that I am awake. Hard to describe. Reality is that it just passes the time and is not really restful sleep.

I've had the amnesia effect, said and done things, embarassingly, that I don't remember (alcohol definately intensifies this effect), fallen asleep during dinner, spilling my wine, etc. Have also disembarked, gone through customs/immigration, etc., claimed luggage, and arrived at destination, and then have no memory of all of this hours later. Traveling partners are surprised when I tell them this later and say they had no idea I was "out of it" at the time and that I acted normally.

So, as others have advised, test out Ambien before you travel and don't expect it to be your sleep panacea. Sometimes now I have a definate hangover from it, other times not. Lately I have decided not to take over a "half" and am content to just deal with the sleep deprivation issues the next day vs. the ambien hangover and associated problems.

Just tell your doctor the truth and if he/she refuses to write you a prescription, find another doctor.