Best time to take ambien?
Oct 16, 2007, 6:37 am
#31
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: BOS
Programs: Recovering AA flyer, LT PLT 2.6 MM
Posts: 1,543
The way I describe it to people is, "I take an Ambien and 10 minutes later it's 8 hours later."
Oct 16, 2007, 7:29 am
#34
Join Date: Apr 2001
Posts: 3,083
I have only taken over the counter and Ambien. Ambien is just amazing for east bound flights and the days after the flight. Not only do you go to sleep fast, more importantly you wake up fast.
Having said that I have decided to no longer take it on westbound. Have not pinpointed the reason, but it seems to interfere with activities more.
Having said that I have decided to no longer take it on westbound. Have not pinpointed the reason, but it seems to interfere with activities more.
Oct 16, 2007, 7:36 am
#35
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Bansko, Bulgaria
Programs: Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 1,260
Count me in as another person who had strange reactions to Ambien..... crazy dreams with a rather aggressive bout of talking (yelling) in my sleep - scared my husband half to death. Also felt like totally hungover the next day (and no booze either). A male friend of ours had a couple of sleepwalking/bizarre episodes - came to in the kitchen with half of the fridge out on the counter eating everything in sight.
I now take 1 tylenol PM when I need it and that works pretty well. 2 works better but I feel sluggish the next day.
Bottom line DO NOT take anything for the first time when you are traveling. I would think that would just be common sense......
I now take 1 tylenol PM when I need it and that works pretty well. 2 works better but I feel sluggish the next day.
Bottom line DO NOT take anything for the first time when you are traveling. I would think that would just be common sense......
Oct 16, 2007, 7:52 am
#36
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Not in DFW
Posts: 2,007
My friends and I call Ambien the mind eraser, I never heard the shovel thing.
Oct 16, 2007, 2:26 pm
#38
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: DFW
Programs: PLAT -- 2.7Million
Posts: 2,051
Count me in as another person who had strange reactions to Ambien..... crazy dreams with a rather aggressive bout of talking (yelling) in my sleep - scared my husband half to death. Also felt like totally hungover the next day (and no booze either). A male friend of ours had a couple of sleepwalking/bizarre episodes - came to in the kitchen with half of the fridge out on the counter eating everything in sight.
I now take 1 tylenol PM when I need it and that works pretty well. 2 works better but I feel sluggish the next day.
Bottom line DO NOT take anything for the first time when you are traveling. I would think that would just be common sense......
I now take 1 tylenol PM when I need it and that works pretty well. 2 works better but I feel sluggish the next day.
Bottom line DO NOT take anything for the first time when you are traveling. I would think that would just be common sense......
I stuck w/ Ambien because when I tried melatonin I had disturbingly vivid dreams, and awoke somewhat distraught
. Thankfully I don't have that problem w/ Ambien.^
Oct 16, 2007, 10:29 pm
#39
Join Date: May 2005
Location: various cities in the USofA: NYC, BWI, IAH, ORD, CVG, NYC
Programs: Former UA 1K, National Exec. Elite
Posts: 5,485
If you plan on drinking (don't!), make sure to try the same combo at home beforehand, with a loved one present.
If you eat AFTER taking ambien, you may wake up having eaten much more or much less than you wanted to. I remember a story about someone (okay, me) taking ambien right before a meal on an aircraft, then drooling the food onto the tray right before falling asleep. It must have been pretty funny to Mrs. ralfp watching me have trouble getting the food to my mouth. Forks are really tricky things.
Oct 17, 2007, 2:05 am
#40
Join Date: Aug 2007
Programs: AA EXP, HH Gold, SPG Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 3,017
I'd use the experiences from other FTers here to let you know that an extremely adverse reaction is NOT uncommon.
Oct 17, 2007, 2:08 am
#41
Join Date: Aug 2007
Programs: AA EXP, HH Gold, SPG Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 3,017
Perhaps exercise is the right prescription. ^
Oct 17, 2007, 5:49 am
#42
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: DFW
Programs: PLAT -- 2.7Million
Posts: 2,051
I have to agree with others I've spoken with that the vivid dreams accompanying Melatonin as a sleep aid are just not worth it. (Maybe it's the above-normal levels associated with the Melatonin supplements that induce the unsettling dreams??)
I also agree with your exercising thought as well...
Walking 4-5 miles per day (double that on weekend days) does help, "de-stressing" the mind by clearing thoughts as much as anything.
I also try to make arrangements to get to the airport well before (2-4 hours) any long, int'l flight so I can walk several miles to help get worn out in order to sleep better on the long flight. DFW is very accommodating to long walks.
Now what also REALLY helps is when I avoid caffeine after noon!!!
Last edited by AAJetMan; Oct 17, 2007 at 5:54 am
Oct 17, 2007, 6:02 am
#43
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: BOS
Programs: Recovering AA flyer, LT PLT 2.6 MM
Posts: 1,543
I am quite pleased w/ Ambien's results.
I have to agree with others I've spoken with that the vivid dreams accompanying Melatonin as a sleep aid are just not worth it. (Maybe it's the above-normal levels associated with the Melatonin supplements that induce the unsettling dreams??)
I have to agree with others I've spoken with that the vivid dreams accompanying Melatonin as a sleep aid are just not worth it. (Maybe it's the above-normal levels associated with the Melatonin supplements that induce the unsettling dreams??)
In end, the folks saying "never take Ambien" are being a bit silly. The fact of the matter is that everyone is going to have somewhat different reaction to just about any drug. Ambien will be great for some and not for others.
Ambien is one option. You should talk to your doctor, decide what you're going to try, and don't rule anything out based on hearsay. Figure out which of the options are right for you and do so before you step onto an airplane.
Oct 17, 2007, 6:03 am
#44
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: CLE
Programs: UA Gold, HH Diamond, Marriott Gold
Posts: 3,662
I have a friend who takes Ambien. We were traveling together. He got up in the middle of the night, drank two beers from the minibar and ate a bag of almonds (about a pound) and remembered nothing the next day. It is scary stuff.
Meditation almost always works for me. Like Ambien, try this ahead of time. If you are Christian, centering prayer is the name of the practice. There are a number of books by either Basil Pennington or Thomas Keating on the practice. If you are secular, "Wherever You Go, There You Are" by Jon Kabat-Zinn is very good. Other religious traditions follow this practice, too.
Meditation almost always works for me. Like Ambien, try this ahead of time. If you are Christian, centering prayer is the name of the practice. There are a number of books by either Basil Pennington or Thomas Keating on the practice. If you are secular, "Wherever You Go, There You Are" by Jon Kabat-Zinn is very good. Other religious traditions follow this practice, too.
Oct 17, 2007, 6:09 am
#45
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: DFW
Programs: PLAT -- 2.7Million
Posts: 2,051
Meditation almost always works for me. Like Ambien, try this ahead of time. If you are Christian, centering prayer is the name of the practice. There are a number of books by either Basil Pennington or Thomas Keating on the practice. If you are secular, "Wherever You Go, There You Are" by Jon Kabat-Zinn is very good. Other religious traditions follow this practice, too.
May I add...I find classical music helps me relax during turbulence.