I'm interested in hearing what sleeping pills the AusBT readers use and recommend for international flights as well as to help with that first night's sleep, as that's something I often have trouble with too.
Melatonin is my 'go-to', buy it from the USA on your next trip there, there's loads to choose from at CVS and Walgreen. It's very inexpensive, ranges from tablets or capules of 3mg to 5mg to 10mg. I find 5mg is enough. Don't bother buying in in Australia, chemists here have to have a prescription from your doctor and they then make a 'compounded' version which is incredibly low-dosage and pretty much useless as well as costing heaps more than what you get in the US.
I use Zopiclone, it's a very good sedative and although normally prescription-only you can buy it over the counter at Fanda pharmacies in Hong Kong, which is where I get it from. Fanda has shops at TST in Nathan Road, very close to TST station's D1 and D2 exits, also in Pedder St at Central, just near the corner of Chater Rd and Des Voeux Rd. Get the 7.5mg tablets. I can't remember the price but it's pretty cheap, Fanda sells Zopiclone under one of its brand names as 'Dopareel'. This really knocks you out, so I would make sure you have a good eight hours of sleep time available to you, and it will leave you a bit drowsy and groggy for a short time after you wake up. But it's what I use on CX flights from HKG to Europe and it's excellent.
I think you need to be careful with stillnox not to mix it with alcohol though?
Yes, as a rule that's correct, however this does vary from one person to the next. My doctor takes stillnox when he flies and also has a glass of red wine with it and has zero side effects. If you do get a prescription for stillnox maybe try it at home one night to see how well it works for you, and then try it another night with a glass of wine and note the effects. In fact I recommend this for all sleeping tablets for travellers, the first time you have a new type of sleeping pill you should try it at home to see how your body handles it.
I've used both Stilnox and Temtabs. Temtabs are my new preference - help you fall asleep and stay asleep. Feel a little hazy when I wake, but a bit of fresh air and a coffee fixes the haze.
Prefer to avoid any drugs unless absolutely necessary which is rare. A nice chamomile tea (sure, this is a drug but a more natural one), along with a bit of planning to set your sleep pattern on a path leading up to a flight if possible.
Then trying to time the sleep pattern on the flight with the timezone at my eventual destination is smarter.
I will admit to being a fan of Pam, ie diazepam or temazepam, which is available under prescription for insomnia. Diazepam is also known as valium of course. Very effective within 30 minutes.
I've used both Stilnox and Temtabs. Temtabs are my new preference - help you fall asleep and stay asleep. Feel a little hazy when I wake, but a bit of fresh air and a coffee fixes the haze.
Struggle to stay asleep with Stilnox.
Temtabs are temazepam, very effective if your doctor is willing to prescribe them!
Whichever pills you end up using, make sure to try them at home before you take them on the flight. My wife didn't try a sleeping pill before an overnight flight to HK for a holiday and the side effects kept her wide awake all night during the flight then fell super dozy and sleepy when we arrived in HK.
Good tip Pabs, same thing happened to a friend of mine, his sister is a pharmacist and gave him some pills for a long trip and it kept him awake the whole way, funny thing was he offered one to the pax in the seat next to him and he fell fast asleep instantly and snored the whole trip.
Good tip Pabs, same thing happened to a friend of mine, his sister is a pharmacist and gave him some pills for a long trip and it kept him awake the whole way, funny thing was he offered one to the pax in the seat next to him and he fell fast asleep instantly and snored the whole trip.
I’ve been offered drugs by people sitting next to me multiple times - have always been scared it is a sting operation!
As for the question itself, my sleep aid has typically come in red or white ;)
In flight sedation is fraught with risks, as described by the posts above, most specifically interaction with alcohol, varying effect with the dehydration caused by flying, sleep deprivation and sedation causing hyperstimulation and arousal rather than sedation. Also the risk of being sedated on arrival, or if the plane gets turned around or shortly after you pop the pill (or if you pop it on the ground before takeoff and the flight is delayed).
For me the best strategy is to maximise sleep on arrival and reduce jet lag - Melatonin (USA bought) is fantastic for that first couple of nights sleep post arrival. 5mg seems to be about right for me and it shortens the duration of jet lag considerably.
In terms of sedative on the flight, previously I've used over the counter non preceription agents - sedating antihistamines, I found Phenergan gave a nasty hang over effect but diphenhydramine (benadryl) seemed to give a decent 6-8 hours of sleep with little after effect. More recently i've been a bit cautious of using any sedative because of the reasons above and also, in case of "is there a Dr on the plane" call out, so prefer not to sedate myself.
Recently I've not used in flight sedation and found that with decent in ear noise cancelling headphones (no music, just noise cancelling the white noise of the cabin) I can sleep pretty well in flight.
Sparksy
Sparksy
Member since 09 Aug 2015
Total posts 12
I'm interested in hearing what sleeping pills the AusBT readers use and recommend for international flights as well as to help with that first night's sleep, as that's something I often have trouble with too.
TJS
TJS
Member since 14 Jun 2018
Total posts 55
Stillnox. Only need to take half a tablet. It's a prescription though.
Bob Burgess
Bob Burgess
Member since 13 Sep 2016
Total posts 49
Melatonin is my 'go-to', buy it from the USA on your next trip there, there's loads to choose from at CVS and Walgreen. It's very inexpensive, ranges from tablets or capules of 3mg to 5mg to 10mg. I find 5mg is enough. Don't bother buying in in Australia, chemists here have to have a prescription from your doctor and they then make a 'compounded' version which is incredibly low-dosage and pretty much useless as well as costing heaps more than what you get in the US.
Bob Burgess
Bob Burgess
Member since 13 Sep 2016
Total posts 49
I think you need to be careful with stillnox not to mix it with alcohol though?
AsiaBizTraveller
AsiaBizTraveller
Member since 20 Nov 2015
Total posts 43
I use Zopiclone, it's a very good sedative and although normally prescription-only you can buy it over the counter at Fanda pharmacies in Hong Kong, which is where I get it from. Fanda has shops at TST in Nathan Road, very close to TST station's D1 and D2 exits, also in Pedder St at Central, just near the corner of Chater Rd and Des Voeux Rd. Get the 7.5mg tablets. I can't remember the price but it's pretty cheap, Fanda sells Zopiclone under one of its brand names as 'Dopareel'. This really knocks you out, so I would make sure you have a good eight hours of sleep time available to you, and it will leave you a bit drowsy and groggy for a short time after you wake up. But it's what I use on CX flights from HKG to Europe and it's excellent.
AsiaBizTraveller
AsiaBizTraveller
Member since 20 Nov 2015
Total posts 43
I think you need to be careful with stillnox not to mix it with alcohol though?
Yes, as a rule that's correct, however this does vary from one person to the next. My doctor takes stillnox when he flies and also has a glass of red wine with it and has zero side effects. If you do get a prescription for stillnox maybe try it at home one night to see how well it works for you, and then try it another night with a glass of wine and note the effects. In fact I recommend this for all sleeping tablets for travellers, the first time you have a new type of sleeping pill you should try it at home to see how your body handles it.
Tracie
Tracie
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
Member since 30 Oct 2015
Total posts 105
I've used both Stilnox and Temtabs. Temtabs are my new preference - help you fall asleep and stay asleep. Feel a little hazy when I wake, but a bit of fresh air and a coffee fixes the haze.
Madhatter49
Madhatter49
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
Member since 11 Dec 2016
Total posts 85
Prefer to avoid any drugs unless absolutely necessary which is rare. A nice chamomile tea (sure, this is a drug but a more natural one), along with a bit of planning to set your sleep pattern on a path leading up to a flight if possible.
Anna80
Anna80
Member since 09 Mar 2015
Total posts 15
I will admit to being a fan of Pam, ie diazepam or temazepam, which is available under prescription for insomnia. Diazepam is also known as valium of course. Very effective within 30 minutes.
Mal
Mal
Member since 14 Jun 2013
Total posts 109
5gm of US-bought melatonin does the trick for me.
Mal
Mal
Member since 14 Jun 2013
Total posts 109
Temtabs are temazepam, very effective if your doctor is willing to prescribe them!
Pabs
Pabs
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 22 May 2017
Total posts 21
Whichever pills you end up using, make sure to try them at home before you take them on the flight. My wife didn't try a sleeping pill before an overnight flight to HK for a holiday and the side effects kept her wide awake all night during the flight then fell super dozy and sleepy when we arrived in HK.
GBRGB
GBRGB
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 21 Jan 2014
Total posts 292
Good tip Pabs, same thing happened to a friend of mine, his sister is a pharmacist and gave him some pills for a long trip and it kept him awake the whole way, funny thing was he offered one to the pax in the seat next to him and he fell fast asleep instantly and snored the whole trip.
Steve987
Steve987
Member since 23 Feb 2015
Total posts 268
Dr Al
Dr Al
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 07 Mar 2017
Total posts 34