sleep aid on plane

It appears that you just want someone to agree with your choices rather than offer advice. One TylenolPM shouldn't hurt anything, but it might not aid in sleeping sitting up in a noisy plane, either.

Karen, I've NEVER been able to sleep on a flight. A lot of it is because I'm a little wide-bodied and can't get comfortable enough to sleep in those seats. On the last trip over I tried to take Benadryl and it didn't do anything for me. I also get very frustrated when I'm trying to sleep and now falling asleep, so that tends to make it so I can't relax. I've even tried to make myself so tired that I can barely function by the time I get on the plane and I can't fall asleep.

Bottom line, sleeping on planes and dealing with jet lag is always going to be a struggle for a lot of travelers. So you just have to do what works for you. Plan on not being well rested or alert when you get there. Plan your schedule around this, and your trip will be much more enjoyable.

I usually take two Tylenol Simply Sleep pills an hour before I board the overnight flight, then right after they serve dinner, I put in some earplugs and doze off. Usually I only get about 3-4 hours of sleep, but it's better than nothing. However, there have been a few times where kids have screamed from Chicago to London non-stop and nothing helps in that situation.

Scotch

w/a beer chaser

I take something, ( prescribed) and my doctor recommened Melatonin for my son when he flew to London two years ago.

I know Flightattendent ( a poster on this site) recommends you not take anything ,but I respectfully disagree.
Mainly because of two reasons. The likelyhood of there being an emergency is small ( they always say that don't they ,LOL) and secondly, in most air emergencies that I have heard about the passenger being alert seems to make little to no difference to their survival, in other words, if its going down I 'd rather not know about it, LOL

Arriving tired and screwing up ( taking wrong train, snapping at hotel clerk, or getting a pounding headache from sleep deprivation ) seem alot more likely when exhausted.

I take 1/2 an Ativan( .5mg) , doesn't knock you out, just relaxes you, I would avoid a very strong drug as I would want to be clear headed when I arrive.

PS Karen, Gravol works for my kids.

try NoJetLag natural tabs... an herbal remedy and no sedatives per say - just relaxing and anti-stress herbs. If youre relaxed you may be able to catch a siesta inbetween movies and meals - but at least the stress part would be reduced - giving you an edge when you arrive. Also - the herbs help for the next day letting you adjust to local time better (so it claims... Ive tried it and combining my old plan to stay up as late as possible the first nite at arrival and taking a PM-advil that nite helps get a real good nite sleep the first nite (making up for the last24-36 hrs!)

The only sleep aid I take is on inter-cont flights. I take one Tylenol PM and it works for me. I think I could wake up and function in a life-threatening situation.

In addition to the one Tylenol PM, I get ready for the flight by adjusting my bed/alarm time by an hour or two towards local time at my destination. When I get to my departure airport, I adjust my watch and thinking to the new local time.

I try to get flights that arrive early morning so I can start a day with hopefully six or more hours rest and always stay up until a respectable bed time the first night.

On the plane I decide when to eat or sleep based on my new local time. After eating something, I settle in at 9 or 10 pm destination time and take my one PM (take at least 8 hrs before arrival).

We took tablets for our kids. We should have taken liguid. Our 12 year old won't take a tablet. He stayed awake the whole flight and was dead on his feet the next day.

Here's what NOT to do. I took a Benedryl and decided that drinking a glass of wine would only enhance my relaxation. I fainted in the aisle when I got up to go the bathroom and felt terrible until later the next day...my next flight I'm not taking anything!

I tried the NoJetLag pills for the first time last summer that Tom mentions when I flew from Seattle to Europe. I had no jet lag for the first time. Don't know if there is cause and affect there or not but I will definately try them again this summer.

Kent: You're absolutely right! For an overnight flight it's water and juice all the way for me from now on...I don't to waste any part of a holiday because I'm feeling icky.

Karen - Pat from Victoria recommends Gravol - if you don't know that is the Canadian version of Dramamine. My 20 year old daughter still takes Dramamine (be sure to get Regular NOT "non-drowsy") for flights, overnight train rides, etc. And yes, my teen son has in the past used Benadryl. Nothing wrong with drugging the kids as long as they have had it before. Good luck!

I read that Tylenol PM contains Benadryl, so that explains why people use either Tylenol PM or Benadryl to help with sleeping. This past trip I bougtht one of those "U" shape pillow at the airport before leaving on impulse. It really worked for me. I felt so comfortable and dosed off and on. I now think they should be standard issues on planes, especially for those flying in second class seats. I landed up carrying it all around Itlay in my suitcase, so I would have it for my flight home.

hi karen,

tylenol pm does contain benadryl. just take a benadryl if you want it to help you sleep. don't take the tylenol as well unless you are having some sort of pain. you don't need that exposure as well, especially if you will be having a little alcohol on your flight.

Thank you all for your responses. I did actually know that TylenolPM, AdvilPM, and Benadryl all contain the diphenydramine that makes you drowsy. I take whatever I need at the time. I like it because I can still wake up when I need to (to pee or answer the phone) but go right back to sleep.
btw-my daughters took Dramamine for a trip on Lake Erie, and it did not stop them from sending their breakfast overboard. I later was told that you should take Dramamine every day for several days to build up a level in your system to prevent motion sickness. Doesn't seem worth it to be so drowsy, but...

I just added G Monster Sleeping aid to my supplements Program; it has helped me sleep and has been helping me recover my muscles from the brutal training that I put on my self. It gives me a little buzz before bed and that is good for me because I do not drink, since alcohol weakens athletic performance.

6 Perfect meals a day

Work 6 hours a day; 7 days a week
Sleep 8 hours a day; 7 days a week
Train 6 hours a day; 5 days a week
1 heaping tablespoon of G Monster 30 minutes before bed.

Wake up: 2 tablespoons of Metamucil (this is to remove the bi-products and soreness from my body brutal training
Immediately drop a deuce, and then have first meal.

Late Morning
1.5 hours: Boxing; Muay Thai; Jui-Jitsu
30 minutes circuit weights
3 times a week; mixing it up every time
1 hour: stretch

Post meal replacement while sitting in an ice bath

Late After Noon
1 hour: Boxing; Muay Thai; Jui-Jitsu; Wrestling
90 Minutes: Bikram Yoga or Power Yoga or Gimnastics
30 minutes: stretch

Post meal replacements while sitting in an ice bath

30 Minutes before bed I take G Monster to help me sleep; when training like this, my body is tired but my mind does not want to shut off; I was sitting in bed thinking and thinking. G Monster has the ability to help me relax and get the REM sleep plus the GH response to rest and recover for my next brutal day ahead of me.

I bought the G Monster from Narcomundo.com

Narcomundo?? No wonder you get a buzz from it...

Me, I think I'll skip sitting in an ice bath.

Don't worry about the lecture on drugging your kids. I bring Benadryl to give to my kids on the flights, gave some to my son when he was a little less than 2, with the okay from the pediatrician. He was the kind of kid who never slept without putting up a fight, figured I'd make it a little easier on everyone. It's also good to have around in case someone has an allergic reaction to something over there. My son got sick on the last trip, developed a mystery rash, so I was glad I had some along. Yes, you can find medicine over in Europe, but when it's nighttime and you need to give them something NOW, it's good to have a little along.

The only time I've taken a sleeping aid (excedrin PM) is on intercontinental flights. Usually one pill is plenty for me.

I suppose if there is an emergency before we get to Europe my chances are pretty slim anyway.

A person recently said she also takes a sleep aid on her first night there to keep from waking up in the middle of the night. I think I'll try that this time.

I just pop a Dramamine. Makes me sleepy, also takes the edge off any turbulence we might encounter.

Sorry, folks. It seems my 2 year old post has been revived by an ad for Narcomundo.