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Sleep on plane?

Question:

I find it extremely difficult to sleep on planes (these coach seats are just too narrow). I have a trip to Hong Kong coming up (direct ~15 hr flight from San Francisco) and was wondering whether there are any chemical/herbal little helpers (legal, non-habit forming ones preferably) that are available. Any recommendations? (over the counter is clearly preferable to prescription).

This is a great thread!  I have an upcoming 14.5 hour flight from SFO to Sydney Australia, and I have been wondering how to deal with it.  I’m one of those people who simply cannot sleep on planes, no matter what I take or how tired I am.  It turns most trips from being simply uncomfortable to absolutely torturous!  Once, I took a full dose of sleeping pills before a red-eye flight and still could not fall asleep–it just made things worse.   So, I’m looking for something to knock me out cold for this trip. I have made a list of potential medications from the responses on this thread, and I plan to review the list with my doctor to see what he suggests for me.   (I have focused mostly on the prescription options, because OTC drug has helped me.) I thought I would post my notes in case anyone wants to see a quick summary.  Bear in mind that these are just user comments; I have not verified any information given here. My Priorities * Deep REM sleep (i.e., wake up refreshed) * Avoid grogginess on waking * Acts fast, so I can decide when to sleep * Compatible with alcohol usage Potential Medications Xanax         – short-acting         – 1 every 4 hours         – may leave you groggy         – anti-anxiety pill         – no wobble or cloudiness         – can wake up easily Zopiclone (generic name)         – marketed here as Nocturno Melatonin         – use on arrival to reset the body’s clock to local time zone         – best when the flight is close to the natural sleep cycle         – available in a long-acting (extended release) form Halcion         – .25 mg dosage         – was once the most widely used sleeping medication in the world         – no aftereffects         – good for about 6 hours         – gotten bad press in recent years Dormicum         – available in Singapore         – puts one to sleep very fast; take it a few minutes before         – no problems after waking up         – no problems waking up early         – may not be compatible with alcohol usage Dormadina         – available in Spain L-Tryptophan         – natural         – safe in low dosage Ambien         – generic name is Alprazolam         – a benzodiazopene (related to Xanax, Valium, and other anti-anxiety drugs)         – very short half-life; leaves no grogginess         – promotes natural sleep pattern (vs. drugged sleep)         – 10 mg dosage; 5 mg usually suffices — email: mikew 99 @ my-dejanews.com WWW: www.bigfoot.com/~mikew99

Response:

Ambien is a prescription drug in the US (generic name is Alprazolam, I think).  It is a benzodiazopene, which means it’s related to Xanax, Valium  and some other common anti-anxiety medications.  It has very short half-life, though, so it leaves no grogginess at all.  You can wake up and function normally if you need to and it promotes a very natural sleep pattern (not a heavy "drugged" sleep).  10 mg is an average dose but 5 mg is often enough.  I know other travelers who’ve used it for sleep on planes and jet lag and think it’s a miracle drug (so do I). Mike – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hello all, I find it extremely difficult to sleep on planes (these coach seats are just too narrow). I have a trip to Hong Kong coming up (direct ~15 hr flight from San Francisco) and was wondering whether there are any chemical/herbal little helpers (legal, non-habit forming ones preferably) that are available. Any recommendations? (over the counter is clearly preferable to prescription). Thanks a lot, Vasilis — –Vasilis The Law, in its majestic equality, forbids the rich, as well as the poor, to sleep under the bridges, to beg in the streets, and to steal bread.                 — Anatole France

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Excedrin PM works very nice with me on 4.5 hour flights from CLE to LAS & back, them I am ready for a full day & night! Our Hawaiian 11 hour flight, after a full day or walking & driving before takeoff, 4 pills had me out for 8 hours. Ready for the breakfast being served then change of plane in ATL to CLE. Other folks I know do a few shots & are out, but me I’d be heaving after one! — THE AWESOME 1 Managing Editor of GameMaster Online http://www.gamemasteronline.com "Living The Good Life"

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Vasalis, I always have Dormicum. It puts one to sleep very fast, so take I it a few minutes before I actually want to sleep. No problems later. When I awake after a nice long and deep sleep I feel OK. If you have to wake up earlier, no problem either. But I never have any alcohol while flying, although I like it enough. And I think alcohol is a bad combination with Dormicum. I get the Dormicum, here in Holland, on prescription. Though my doctor usualy is very cautious about drugs, I get the prescription without any problem. Have a nice flight. Gerard – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hello all, I find it extremely difficult to sleep on planes (these coach seats are just too narrow). I have a trip to Hong Kong coming up (direct ~15 hr flight from San Francisco) and was wondering whether there are any chemical/herbal little helpers (legal, non-habit forming ones preferably) that are available. Any recommendations? (over the counter is clearly preferable to prescription). Thanks a lot, Vasilis — –Vasilis The Law, in its majestic equality, forbids the rich, as well as the poor, to sleep under the bridges, to beg in the streets, and to steal bread.                 — Anatole France

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My experience with melatonin is that the timed-release version isn’t effective for me.  Instead, I’ll take one, sleep a while, and depending on when I wake up on a long flight (e.g. to Sydney) I just might take another. Has anyone tried straight tryptophan?  Supposedly you feel like you just had a big high carbohydrate meal and you can’t stay awake. …Scott

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I like L-Tryptophan (sp) or melatonin. Both natural and safe in low dosage.

One VERY important thing — whatever one decides to take, OTC or prescription or grandma’s secret brew — one should try it out a few times at home BEFORE the trip. An individual may have a strong reaction to some substance that most people do not have. And reactions can change over time so re-test from time to time. I actually wanted to say this earlier in the thread — but the mention of L-Tryptophan finally inspired me to do so. I took L-Tryptophan three times a number of years ago, each time followed by increasingly horrific hallucinogenic nightmares. Luckily, I was in my own bed each time, not at 40k feet surrounded by strangers. (Luckily for the strangers as well as for me. ;) ) Btw, for sleeping on planes, I take a whole can of seltzer with two shots of vodka, drunk rapidly. Works for me. And yes, I often test it out at home. ;)

Response:

Two problems with alcohol is that one, it is dehydrating, compounding the problems of high-altitude flying and two, it breaks down into a chemical after about two hours that interferes with sleep! I generally use melatonin in a long-acting form, but this is best when the flight is close to the naturally sleep cycle already.

What’s "long-acting form"? I do take melatonin, and I find it really helpful with jet lag, but it doesn’t induce sleep… Thanks, Vasilis — –Vasilis The Law, in its majestic equality, forbids the rich, as well as the poor, to sleep under the bridges, to beg in the streets, and to steal bread.                 — Anatole France

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stay at home I do not understand this problem. IHMO it’s a more a problem of attitude

An honest answer. The man does not understand! — Larry Preuss

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The best non-prescription sleeping medication I know of is Nyquil.  Actually works better than the prescription stuff I take.

The active ingredient in NyQuil is alcohol….. About 25% IIRC.

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Hello all, I find it extremely difficult to sleep on planes (these coach seats are just too narrow). I have a trip to Hong Kong coming up (direct ~15 hr flight from San Francisco) and was wondering whether there are any chemical/herbal little helpers (legal, non-habit forming ones preferably) that are available. Any recommendations? (over the counter is clearly preferable to prescription). Thanks a lot, Vasilis

Take a sleeping pill, use earplugs, wear a mask (robin like) and take couple drinks (before mask). That works for me every time. Markku

Response:

Two problems with alcohol is that one, it is dehydrating, compounding the problems of high-altitude flying and two, it breaks down into a chemical after about two hours that interferes with sleep! I generally use melatonin in a long-acting form, but this is best when the flight is close to the naturally sleep cycle already. What’s "long-acting form"? I do take melatonin, and I find it really helpful with jet lag, but it doesn’t induce sleep…

There are long-acting (extended release) formulations of Melatonin – one has to look hard.  I ordered a bunch a while ago through the web.  Melatonin does not exactly induce sleep as a sleeping pill does.   It is the hormone excreted by the pituitary gland that tells the body that it is time for sleep:  lowers blood pressure and temperature, etc.   It is naturally produced when the eyes are in darkness.  Anyway, in a sufficient dose it should do well.  Again, different preparations have different doses, so it is hard to say what a given individual’s needs are.   I cannot sleep on planes without it. Hope this clarifies. Jeff Starrfield

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I like L-Tryptophan (sp) or melatonin. Both natural and safe in low dosage. don – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – and was wondering whether there are any chemical/herbal little helpers (legal, non-habit forming ones preferably) that are available. Any recommendations? (over the counter is clearly preferable to prescription).

Response:

stay at home I do not understand this problem. IHMO it’s a more a problem of attitude

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The best non-prescription sleeping medication I know of is Nyquil. Actually works better than the prescription stuff I take.

Jeez boy.  If you’re gonna drink Nyquil, you might as well avoid the awful taste and drink borboun.  Has about the same amount of alcohol in it. BTW, during my lovely collegate years, I cought a nasty respiratory infection right before I was due to return home to SAN for the Xmas break. Walked over to the school infirmary and was given a Robotussin like medicine with coedine.  Boy, did that knock me out on the flight home. And I NEVER sleep on planes….. Rich

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Two problems with alcohol is that one, it is dehydrating, compounding the problems of high-altitude flying and two, it breaks down into a chemical after about two hours that interferes with sleep! I generally use melatonin in a long-acting form, but this is best when the flight is close to the naturally sleep cycle already. Using a short-acting sleeper such as Xanax can also be useful, but as some reported, they may leave you groggy.  This seems to be an individualized response and before my last trip Thailand a month ago a friend, who is a sleep specialist, suggested trying a potential medication on a Friday night so that my response could be judged.  For me Xanax left me super groggy the next day while another medication – a new one just out – left me refreshed. Guess which one I took :-) It’s generic name is: Zopiclone, marketed here as Nocturno.  In short, try to get a couple of alternatives and test them on yourself first – and use long-acting melatonin to reset the body’s clock whether it induces sleep or not. Good luck (15 hours, yuck) Jeff Starrfield – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -I find it extremely difficult to sleep on planes (these coach seats are just too narrow). I have a trip to Hong Kong coming up (direct ~15 hr flight from San Francisco) and was wondering whether there are any chemical/herbal little helpers (legal, non-habit forming ones preferably) that are available. Any recommendations? (over the counter is clearly preferable to prescription). Thanks a lot, Vasilis

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Hello all, I find it extremely difficult to sleep on planes (these coach seats are just too narrow). I have a trip to Hong Kong coming up (direct ~15 hr flight from San Francisco) and was wondering whether there are any chemical/herbal little helpers (legal, non-habit forming ones preferably) that are available. Any recommendations? (over the counter is clearly preferable to prescription).

The best (though far from perfect) OTC sleeping pill I’ve found in the U.S. is Unisom.  It does a pretty good job of putting me out but gives me "cobwebs" the next day. It’s actually become much easier for me to sleep on planes, so I no longer use sleeping pills when airborne — just when trying to get through all the junk that happens on the ground. ;-) Vasilis

Steve Kropla Kingwood, Texas USA To e-mail, remove "dot" (You know which one) Help for World Travelers: http://kropla.com

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Alcohol is not the active ingredient, it an antihistamine.  Two tablespoons of even 100% alcohol would not have anywhere near the effect that two tablespoons of Nyquil has.  A strong antihistamine does.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – The best non-prescription sleeping medication I know of is Nyquil. Actually works better than the prescription stuff I take. The active ingredient in NyQuil is alcohol….. About 25% IIRC.

Response:

NERF BATS!!! Can you see them when the lights are low?  Do these have wings or something! Great promo! Free bats with every flights. Crayons and cards also available! Robert – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hello all, I find it extremely difficult to sleep on planes (these coach seats are just too narrow). I have a trip to Hong Kong coming up (direct ~15 hr flight from San Francisco) and was wondering whether there are any chemical/herbal little helpers (legal, non-habit forming ones preferably) that are available. Any recommendations? (over the counter is clearly preferable to prescription). Thanks a lot, Vasilis NERF BATS!!! Well, they won’t actually help you sleep, but they can be very amusing. And besides, with stops in Vancouver, Anchorage, and Osaka, to unload unruly passengers, it won’t seem that bad. Ken H

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The best non-prescription sleeping medication I know of is Nyquil.  Actually works better than the prescription stuff I take. As to prescription stuff, I take .25 mg of Halcion, which has gotten some bad press in recent years, although a few years ago it was the most widely used sleeping medication in the world.  NO after effects and good for about six hours–even in a coach seat. The other one I’ve heard about (from an SQ F/A) is called Dormicum, at least in S’pore.  Don’t know if it’s available here or what it’s called. Alcohol alone may knock you out but it won’t be a restful sleep and in the long run you’ll feel worse for it. Good luck – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hello all, I find it extremely difficult to sleep on planes (these coach seats are just too narrow). I have a trip to Hong Kong coming up (direct ~15 hr flight from San Francisco) and was wondering whether there are any chemical/herbal little helpers (legal, non-habit forming ones preferably) that are available. Any recommendations? (over the counter is clearly preferable to prescription). Thanks a lot, Vasilis — –Vasilis The Law, in its majestic equality, forbids the rich, as well as the poor, to sleep under the bridges, to beg in the streets, and to steal bread.                – Anatole France

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Hello all, I find it extremely difficult to sleep on planes (these coach seats are just too narrow). I have a trip to Hong Kong coming up (direct ~15 hr flight from San Francisco) and was wondering whether there are any chemical/herbal little helpers (legal, non-habit forming ones preferably) that are available. Any recommendations? (over the counter is clearly preferable to prescription). Heck, it’s a long list. Beer, Scotch, wine, etc …

That’s certainly an idea, but 1) it’s kind of tough on the liver 2) next-day groginess is a problem Thanks anyway. — Craig

– Vasilis

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Hello all, I find it extremely difficult to sleep on planes (these coach seats are just too narrow). I have a trip to Hong Kong coming up (direct ~15 hr flight from San Francisco) and was wondering whether there are any chemical/herbal little helpers (legal, non-habit forming ones preferably) that are available. Any recommendations? (over the counter is clearly preferable to prescription). Thanks a lot, Vasilis

NERF BATS!!! Well, they won’t actually help you sleep, but they can be very amusing. And besides, with stops in Vancouver, Anchorage, and Osaka, to unload unruly passengers, it won’t seem that bad. Ken H

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Hello all, I find it extremely difficult to sleep on planes (these coach seats are just too narrow). I have a trip to Hong Kong coming up (direct ~15 hr flight from San Francisco) and was wondering whether there are any chemical/herbal little helpers (legal, non-habit forming ones preferably) that are available. Any recommendations? (over the counter is clearly preferable to prescription). Thanks a lot, Vasilis — –Vasilis The Law, in its majestic equality, forbids the rich, as well as the poor, to sleep under the bridges, to beg in the streets, and to steal bread.                 — Anatole France

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Sleeping pills?  Sometimes a glass of wine puts me away. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hello all, I find it extremely difficult to sleep on planes (these coach seats are just too narrow). I have a trip to Hong Kong coming up (direct ~15 hr flight from San Francisco) and was wondering whether there are any chemical/herbal little helpers (legal, non-habit forming ones preferably) that are available. Any recommendations? (over the counter is clearly preferable to prescription). Thanks a lot, Vasilis — –Vasilis The Law, in its majestic equality, forbids the rich, as well as the poor, to sleep under the bridges, to beg in the streets, and to steal bread.                 — Anatole France

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try melatonin. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hello all, I find it extremely difficult to sleep on planes (these coach seats are just too narrow). I have a trip to Hong Kong coming up (direct ~15 hr flight from San Francisco) and was wondering whether there are any chemical/herbal little helpers (legal, non-habit forming ones preferably) that are available. Any recommendations? (over the counter is clearly preferable to prescription). Thanks a lot, Vasilis — –Vasilis The Law, in its majestic equality, forbids the rich, as well as the poor, to sleep under the bridges, to beg in the streets, and to steal bread.                 — Anatole France

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Hello all, I find it extremely difficult to sleep on planes (these coach seats are just too narrow). I have a trip to Hong Kong coming up (direct ~15 hr flight from San Francisco) and was wondering whether there are any chemical/herbal little helpers (legal, non-habit forming ones preferably) that are available. Any recommendations? (over the counter is clearly preferable to prescription). Thanks a lot, Vasilis

I too agree that over the counter is not effective. I consider myself a sleeper on aircraft. I don’t take sleeping pills, but do use a drug from my Doctor called Xanax. (1 mg) This is sold as an anti-anxiety pill but it really does the job of putting you to sleep. The benefit is that if there were a reason to be awake such as some sort of emergency or something, you can and do wake up easily. There is absolutely no wobble or cloudiness to this pill. I use earplugs, an eye shade, a decent pillow, a large blanket  and 1 Xanax every four hours. Good Night Now! Be sure and ask the F/A’s to wake you for meals. I also look for the three or four seats in coach to stretch out. Don’t be embarrassed. First down and stretched out gets the bed. Although I try and use upgrades to business where possible, four seats in coach with the above equipment is the trick. As another poster mentioned, what jetlag??????? Have a safe trip, Robert

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