Anyone just drug themself up for a long flight?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I always take an Ambien. This allows me to get 5-6 hours of sleep. Note I still wake up to go to the bathroom (the curse of the middle-aged woman). I do this 4-5 times a year for 20+ years and have never developed a blood clot. I think some of the comment here are alarmist-- taking a light sleeping aid isn't going to put you into a coma!

I tried that once. I stupidly took an Ambien for the first time on a long-haul flight. It turns out that Ambien doesn't knock me out, but makes me zombie-walk like a crazy person. I got up and dh thought I was going to the bathroom, but apparently I just went and stood in the aisle, far from my seat, and rocking and staring creepily into space. When the flight attendants tried to speak to me, I put my hands over my face as if I was hiding and refused to look at them or tell them where my seat was. Dh luckily found me at that point and pulled me back to my seat, where I tried to get up over and over again. I remember nothing of this. I will never take Ambien again.

The lesson, kids, is that you should test drive the "light sleeping aid" at home first.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I always take an Ambien. This allows me to get 5-6 hours of sleep. Note I still wake up to go to the bathroom (the curse of the middle-aged woman). I do this 4-5 times a year for 20+ years and have never developed a blood clot. I think some of the comment here are alarmist-- taking a light sleeping aid isn't going to put you into a coma!

I tried that once. I stupidly took an Ambien for the first time on a long-haul flight. It turns out that Ambien doesn't knock me out, but makes me zombie-walk like a crazy person. I got up and dh thought I was going to the bathroom, but apparently I just went and stood in the aisle, far from my seat, and rocking and staring creepily into space. When the flight attendants tried to speak to me, I put my hands over my face as if I was hiding and refused to look at them or tell them where my seat was. Dh luckily found me at that point and pulled me back to my seat, where I tried to get up over and over again. I remember nothing of this. I will never take Ambien again.

The lesson, kids, is that you should test drive the "light sleeping aid" at home first.

DH took it on a flight once, got up to go to the bathroom, and fell asleep. I had to get the flight attendant to unlock the door. We had to transfer planes and he was still totally out of it in the airport. I’ve told him never again.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I always take an Ambien. This allows me to get 5-6 hours of sleep. Note I still wake up to go to the bathroom (the curse of the middle-aged woman). I do this 4-5 times a year for 20+ years and have never developed a blood clot. I think some of the comment here are alarmist-- taking a light sleeping aid isn't going to put you into a coma!

I tried that once. I stupidly took an Ambien for the first time on a long-haul flight. It turns out that Ambien doesn't knock me out, but makes me zombie-walk like a crazy person. I got up and dh thought I was going to the bathroom, but apparently I just went and stood in the aisle, far from my seat, and rocking and staring creepily into space. When the flight attendants tried to speak to me, I put my hands over my face as if I was hiding and refused to look at them or tell them where my seat was. Dh luckily found me at that point and pulled me back to my seat, where I tried to get up over and over again. I remember nothing of this. I will never take Ambien again.

The lesson, kids, is that you should test drive the "light sleeping aid" at home first.

DH took it on a flight once, got up to go to the bathroom, and fell asleep. I had to get the flight attendant to unlock the door. We had to transfer planes and he was still totally out of it in the airport. I’ve told him never again.

He is lucky he wasn't greeted by police upon arrival.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I always take an Ambien. This allows me to get 5-6 hours of sleep. Note I still wake up to go to the bathroom (the curse of the middle-aged woman). I do this 4-5 times a year for 20+ years and have never developed a blood clot. I think some of the comment here are alarmist-- taking a light sleeping aid isn't going to put you into a coma!

I tried that once. I stupidly took an Ambien for the first time on a long-haul flight. It turns out that Ambien doesn't knock me out, but makes me zombie-walk like a crazy person. I got up and dh thought I was going to the bathroom, but apparently I just went and stood in the aisle, far from my seat, and rocking and staring creepily into space. When the flight attendants tried to speak to me, I put my hands over my face as if I was hiding and refused to look at them or tell them where my seat was. Dh luckily found me at that point and pulled me back to my seat, where I tried to get up over and over again. I remember nothing of this. I will never take Ambien again.

The lesson, kids, is that you should test drive the "light sleeping aid" at home first.

DH took it on a flight once, got up to go to the bathroom, and fell asleep. I had to get the flight attendant to unlock the door. We had to transfer planes and he was still totally out of it in the airport. I’ve told him never again.

He is lucky he wasn't greeted by police upon arrival.

Oh please. Actual criminals are barely greeted by police. The airlines rarely call police on their passengers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I always take an Ambien. This allows me to get 5-6 hours of sleep. Note I still wake up to go to the bathroom (the curse of the middle-aged woman). I do this 4-5 times a year for 20+ years and have never developed a blood clot. I think some of the comment here are alarmist-- taking a light sleeping aid isn't going to put you into a coma!

I tried that once. I stupidly took an Ambien for the first time on a long-haul flight. It turns out that Ambien doesn't knock me out, but makes me zombie-walk like a crazy person. I got up and dh thought I was going to the bathroom, but apparently I just went and stood in the aisle, far from my seat, and rocking and staring creepily into space. When the flight attendants tried to speak to me, I put my hands over my face as if I was hiding and refused to look at them or tell them where my seat was. Dh luckily found me at that point and pulled me back to my seat, where I tried to get up over and over again. I remember nothing of this. I will never take Ambien again.

The lesson, kids, is that you should test drive the "light sleeping aid" at home first.

DH took it on a flight once, got up to go to the bathroom, and fell asleep. I had to get the flight attendant to unlock the door. We had to transfer planes and he was still totally out of it in the airport. I’ve told him never again.

He is lucky he wasn't greeted by police upon arrival.

For taking a prescribed Ambien? It’s not illegal.

[Anonymous]

Benadryl.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Depends if you want a DVT or not. I wouldn't do it. You need to get up and walk around.

Taking Xanax does not knock you out for 15 hours. They’ll be plenty of time to all around. I take on most flights and it helps shorten the flight. I recommend it. Doctors frequently prescribe it for flights.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just did the flight last month. We left at 10 pm. Food service, then slept. Woke up. Watched a lot of movies ( Conclave, before the Pope passed) and shows.

It was doable without meds. We survived and loved Sydney

It was doable for you that doesn’t mean it’s doable for everyone without assistance. I wouldn’t recommend ambien because of potential side effects but Xanax, klonopin or Valium for a flight is not a big deal. They have different level doses available and can help sleep for a few hours.

[Anonymous]

Be adult, acknowledge that it is 15 hours flight, acknowledge that it will not be the most pleasant experience of your life, and acknowledge that is not going to be a routine occurrence. It really isn't a big deal in the grand scheme of life.

[Anonymous]

Hi all, OP back to report on my trip. I took a Xanax about 5 hours into my flight from LA to Sydney. Felt calm and relaxed, slept maybe 3 hours (better than my usual 0 on a plane), was not “hung over” in the following days, no blood clot. Everything worked as planned. Will likely take one on my return flight as well.