Valium, Xanax, Ambien?
I didn't do anything to help with sleep on the plane ride last time. Going over I wish I had, because I didn't sleep well and we arrived in China during their morning hours and stayed up all day and went to bed that night.
I've heard of people using Valium or Xanax to help them chill out on the plane - but those aren't really sleep medicine's, are they? Some people talk about them like they were using them so they could sleep, though.
I know Ambien is supposed to be a sleep medicine, is there any benefit to taking it instead of a Tylenol PM? (yeah, I know you don't need the extra tylenol, but we're talking about one plane ride to China here, not something to be used daily).
There was no way we could have taken anything coming back, not with a new baby, and I know that will be no different this time. But going over, my little one now instantly falls asleep in a moving vehicle, so I'm sure she'll sleep on the plane. It's me I'm concerned about.
So - any input from ya'll on which is better? Or, do I just do one of the OTC PM meds and forget the prescription stuff?
posted by RumorQueen at 4/01/2006 12:56:00 PM
16 Comments:
You might try Valerian root. That's what I use when I have trouble sleeping. You can buy it at most drug stores and grocery stores in the vitamin section. Try it before your trip to see if it works for you. I love it, but I know of one person who says she has nightmares when she takes it.
Ambien works great for longer periods, but consider Sonata...lasts 2-4 hours. It's helpful for those early morning sleepless hours of jetlag.
Try melatonin....it can be purchased at wal-mart/Target in the vitamin section. The doctor recommended it for my daughter when she was anxious about sleeping at night.
I use Benedryl...often...lately, since my mind won't shut down with the extended wait... it does work, but I also like Simply sleep... I've gotten a valium type thing from the doc before when flying long distances (not a great flyer) and it helped. I will do the same for the trip to China.
I used Ambien and melatonin. Once we were in China, I used benadryl and it worked great. Also, No Jet Lag helps a big on the way back.
Ambien is my legal drug of choice. It's perfect, you only sleep 6-8 hours and wake with no ill effects. With Tylenol PM I'm always a bit groggy!
Be careful the Ambien works in about 10 minutes you are out quick.
I will second that warning about bendadryl for kids. We've never given it to our daughter trying to put her to sleep, but have needed to give it to her a few times for other things. You never know how she will react - one time she may lay down and drift off, the next time she'll be bouncing off the walls completely unable to contain her energy.
I do plan to make use of melatonin (for myself) to help with jet lag, but I'm specifically talking about something so I can get sleep on the plane ride over. I do like the idea of the Sonata that just lasts from 2-4 hours. And I wasn't aware that Tylenol had put something out that is just the sleep medicine without the Tylenol.
your doc should be able to give you something. my sister's doc gave her two sleeping pills for a long flight that were just samples she had in her office. she took them after the plane took off and zzzzz....!
|+)
dianne
bendryl.. I use it when I'm having sleep problems and it knocks me right out.
I should also note my own personal issue with using benadryl on a plane. We know that you are much more susceptible to catching colds and other nasties on long flights. So, just when you most need the mucous lining of your respiratory system to protect you from this, many people take benadryl and dry that protective lining right up, leaving them wide open to whatever nasties are in the air.
I also kind of have the same problem with Tylenol PM - just when you may need a fever to help kill off the nasties, you've taken tylenol to make sure you can't get that fever.
So, it is my hope that, if I choose to use something, that it will only help me sleep, and not do anything else.
I brought Ambien and Benadryl with me and took them together. Unfortunately neither of them did the trick because I was so wired up. This was on the return flight home. 1/2 a Benadryl usually knocks me out. I am going to ask for something different this time.
Good morning,
Am an Ambien fan myself. My tolerance for Benadryl is high, I'd have to triple the dosage to get any effect.Giving a child any sleep medication, not comfortable with this. Milk has tryptophan, a natural sleep aid, and activity. I plan to chase Anna around the airport before we leave.
I would really hope that your doctor doesn't prescribe Valium or Xanax for a plane ride. I could see if you had major panic attacks when getting on a plane, but otherwise it shouldn't be prescribed as a sleeping agent. Both of those meds are controlled substances and have a fairly high "street value". I work in a mental health clinic and we have lots of people coming in requesting these meds. They are quite addictive!
Both Sonata and Ambien CR have free trial offers, your MD just has to fill out the form and /or give an Rx, so you can get them for FREE!!!!! Do a web search for Sonata and or Ambien and you will find them...
I'm not a fan of Benadryl to help me sleep - it has the opposite effect on me. I plan to take a OTC PM on the plane (without the Tylenol) on the way there, and probably use No Jet Lag when coming back, as I get horrible jet lag when coming back from Asia. We are going to Hong Kong a week before meeting our baby, too - so that should help us adjust.
I like Ambien a lot, maybe too much. Expect it to knock you out for 6 hours. There is the new time release version which I have not tried. I took a Valium last night which made me sleep but only for a few hours and I woke up "hung over". That is the great thing about Ambien, you don't feel as groggy the next day.
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