Another plus? There are no major side effects to worry about.
5 and 5 milligrams were equally effective at preventing jet lag, though the larger (maximum) dose will help you fall asleep quicker and sleep better. Former heavy users may experience vomiting and other effects during this time. Former users may also feel anxious or fearful. Feelings of confusion, changes in mood and memory loss are often the first to present. researchers found melatonin decreases jet lag if you take it close to your target bedtime at your destination, especially if you’re traveling across five or more time zones. Sleeping pill withdrawal symptoms usually begin during the first 24 to 72 hours after quitting sleeping pills. Start taking melatonin a few days before your trip, about four to six hours before your bedtime, so that you’re ready to hit the pillow 30 minutes to an hour earlier than normal, Das says. That will help you function better at your destination, Das says. The hormone occurs naturally in the body, but taking an extra dose helps induce sleep and adjust your circadian clock. Still, Das says it’s okay to take so long as you’ve tolerated it in the past. The antihistamine may also leave you with a dry mouth that those tiny airplane cups of water just can’t quench (not a good situation since flying in general can make you dehydrated). “It makes us feel really groggy when we wake up, and it can make us feel really hungover,” Das says. Diphenhydramine, the same antihistamine found in Benadryl, will likely put you to sleep, though you may pay the price once you land. The over-the-counter medication is easy to pick up at the drugstore when you’re stocking up on travel-sized shampoos and other carry-on essentials. Zolpidem (the generic name for Ambien) has been shown to fight off jet lag, finds a study published in Aviation, Space, and Environmental Medicine. Ambien can also lead to sleepwalking, which could result in some awkward bump-ins on the plane.
#OVER THE COUNTER SLEEPING PILLS FULL#
Some users experience retroactive amnesia, which means you could wake up mid-flight, have a full conversation with the flight attendant, and have no memory of it when morning comes, Das says. It’ll knock you out good-maybe even too good. AmbienĪmbien-the most powerful option on this list and the only one that requires a prescription-works as a sedative-hypnotic medication that slows your brain activity to make you feel very sleepy. Here’s what to know about three common sleeping pills for flights.
Some pills are stronger than others, and some have wonky side effects that may outweigh the extra zzzs. Skip them if you’re heading west or on a short trip (just stay awake instead), and reserve it for those overnight flights when you’re jumping across multiple time zones, says Aneesa Das, M.D., a sleep medicine specialist at the Ohio State University. If noise-cancelling headphones don’t help you doze off, you may need to consider a more heavy-duty fix: sleeping pills for flights.