Ambien and overnight flights
 

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? :confused:

I don't know...I sleep anywhere and anyplace, and yet I end up not going to sleep even with Ambien. It's the "have to sleep" pressure thing.

Not sure I'll bother taking it next long trip. Not worth it.

There are recent threads about Ambien that you might want to search for.

It is good for 4-6 hours, that's it. Perfect for US to Europe or HNL to West Coast. I have never tried the CR version for up to 8 hours.

Caution: I'm not doctor, and you really need to ask your doctor this question. But I'll tell you my experience.... Maybe it will sound familiar to you.

Until Memorial Day 2005, I had never taken sleeping pills of any kind (even OTC) for any reason. I was just plain scared of 'em. Some time before that, I had gotten a 'scrip for Ambien with a couple of long flights in mind; actually, the longest commercial flights in the world. As it turned out, I didn't take 'em. And that was in Exec. Economy Class.

On the Tuesday before Memorial Day weekend in 2005, I worked a very hectic day at the office here in Atlanta, then flew out to LAX and chilled out in a horrid lounge at TBIT. I finally climbed into my SpaceBed on SQ 29 and we took off after 1:00 am Pacific Time. Even though it was 4:00 am for me and I had not eaten dinner (or anything else for more than 16 hours), I was very charged up for a great flight (then my first long-haul Business Class on any airline in a year, and my first SQ Raffles Class in 18 months) and looking forward to my holiday. I could not have gone to sleep if I'd tried. I had supper once we reached cruising altitude, and I didn't hesitate about indulging in all that SQ has to offer: Singapore Sling, white wine, red wine, port. But then I needed to sleep--right away. And I needed 8 solid hours across the Pacific before TPE or I'd be destroyed by the time I finally got to Bangkok. So out came Mr. Ambien.

Still cautious, I took only half. Less than 10 minutes after taking it, I went to sleep very easily without feeling drugged or cracked out. I woke up (not quite as smooth) 4 hours later. I fussed about for twenty minutes or so, then just went back to sleep. Up in time for pre-touchdown breakfast, I didn't feel groggy at all.

Since then, I've started taking Ambien to help me sleep on long-haul flights when sleep is necessary, in both Business and Economy Class-- it being particularly needed in the latter and always on those Trans-Atlantic flights that are redeyes and too short to get enough sleep on. I don't hesitate to take Ambien after a couple of glasses of wine, but I certainly avoid getting really sloshed. Still, whether I take a half or a whole Ambien, it seems like it only puts me down for 4 hours, not the 8 they talk about. Two halves in sequence can get me to eight sometimes. But I have never had Ambien actually put me out for 8 hours. If I didn't have any wine with dinner at all, maybe it would.

So even though I was very hesitant at first, I'm not worried about taking 'em now. Just my experience, though.

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Thanks, guys, for all the personal accounts and advice. Sounds like ambien is a good choice to help me get some kind of down-time on this flight! My big fear was waking up and imitating some version of night of the living dead when the flight ended! What really sounds good to me is this stuff actually works very fast. I hate taking something and waiting and waiting for something to happen.

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Betsy, personally, I'd recommend you try Ambien (or whatever) a week or two before you take it on airplane. Try it on a weekend when you'll be able to deal with any side effects without having to drag yourself into the office. Also, take it and go to sleep early so you know if it actually works on your body. I usually find that it takes effect within 15 minutes. No reason to wait until you get on a plane to figure out what works and what doesn't.

I'm not a doctor, but I have periodic insomnia (no problems falling asleep but a lot of trouble staying asleep).

FWIW, I too only take half an Ambien in situations when I need to fall asleep earlier than my typical bedtime. Like tmorse6570 said, Ambien has a short half life...it's designed to put you to sleep, but not necessarily keep you asleep. The new Ambien CR is intended to put you to sleep and keep you asleep (and because it's extended release, it shouldn't be broken in half).

Lunesta is designed to put you asleep and keep you asleep. I tried it a few times instead of Ambien and the other prescription medicine I usually take to stay asleep...it didn't work for me.

A lot of people who are very sensitive to drugs take a Benadryl (the "PM" ingredient in Tylenol PM) when they want to fall asleep. You shouldn't take Tylenol if you've been drinking, and generic Benadryl costs a lot less than generic Tylenol PM (you're paying for half the ingredients), so that's another thing to consider. This is non-prescription.

I used to take Ambien, and at 230#, I was looking for horizontal in about 10 minutes. I once took it too early, and was trying to do a little computer work. I was so sleepy, I could hardly walk from the desk to the bed.

I have a new drug-of-choice for long-haul. I only fly for pleasure and usually after saving up for the C or F cabin.

Like MegatopLover, I'm usually pretty fired up about the trip and find it hard to get to sleep. I find that .25mg of Lorazepam every three or four hours lets me drift in and out of sleep as needed without intractable sedation.

Before that I was a Halcion fan, but I find the new regimen works much better for me.

try it first at home
 

I agree with what is said above: ^

You should absolutely test any sedative drug at home before you do it on an aircraft. You also will find out if you get a hang over. It is more typical for the old long acting substances but there are huge differences between individuals. The interaction with alcohol can be pretty significant. Try not to combine both!

Sweet dreams! :)

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!!!!!

I have been taking ambien for years on overnight flights. It works wonders for getting sleep on the plane. I typically get 4-6 hours of sleep. I take it with dinner and wake up in time for breakfast. Never had any difficulty the next day.
I definitely agree with trying a dose before you travel. I need 10 mg (full dose) to get me to sleep. However I had a friend who took 10 mg and reports that her travelling partner had to drag her through Paris customs.
She barely remembers anything until she got to the hotel.
I would suggest starting with 1/3 or 1/2 tablet the first time. Since it works quickly you can always take an additional 1/2 in 20-30 minutes.

Isn't that the damndest thing? I have had the same experiences. I sometimes have insomnia, though. I like the way you put it. I guess I was expecting to just 'be' asleep, but it never came!

I too vote for Ambien. I used Ambien CR on my recent trip to BKK. On the ORD-NRT leg I had lunch and a few drinks and then washed up and took the CR. Slept about 8 hours and then got up for the next meal. Felt fine and stayed awake on the next flight to BKK. The flight to BKK arrived at midnight local so at 2am local (2pm back home) I took another Ambien and went to sleep. Woke up the next day 12 hours later and was pretty adjusted to BKK time.

As for the Benadryl v. Tylenol PM... Tylenol also makes something called Simply Sleep which is the drowsy causing agent in Benadryl and Tylenol PM without the Tylenol. I find however, that I am much more groggy on any of these than after an Ambien and 7 hours sleep.