Sleeping on an airplane...doc offered either Rozarem or Ambien. Help!!

Posts: 74
Joined: 2006-01-04

Hi.  I will be flying from Fairbanks to Virginia next month.Frown And not looking forward to the trip.  Spoke with the doc, and she offered me sleeping pills to deal with the time lag and anxiety.  I'm not a 'fear of flying' kind of person, but am no fan of airtravel.

 

There is a stopover, but since that is just for refuelling, I can opt NOT to leave plane if asleep (if awake, I will).   So,  any advice for those who've taken either or both of these medications?  I see the doc this mon.    Thank you.





Jccj300's picture
Posts: 104
Joined: 2007-11-07
I have taken both and

If you wanna remain asleep take the ambien if you woul like to be able to wake up and go walk around in the airport take the rozerem. If you take the ambien tho you may sleep walk thru the airport and miss getting back on the plane... in other words if you wanna get knocked out take tha ambien but if you get woken up do not get off the plane.....if you just need help to get to sleep, take the rozerem and it will help..hope that helps a bit

johnny

 

 

Nascar #88 GO JR!!




Posts: 74
Joined: 2006-01-04
forgetting on ambien

I thought that that the whole zombie/forgetting stuff was figured out and fixed after the 1st generation of ambien and nowadays is much more effective and with less bad side effects. 




Posts: 206
Joined: 2008-03-24
Ambien make me halucinate

Weiredest thing is to take ambien and stay awake. I started hallucinating. They also say, be sure to devote at least 7-8 hours of sleep before taking ambien. Or is that Lunesta? I dont remember..



brodank's picture
Posts: 52
Joined: 2007-06-25
tulsa to fairbanks

My dr. gave me xanax, just the lil ones, .5 mgs, i think. when i flew from tulsa ok, to fairbanks, but i have a FEAR of flying, those knocked me right out



gcdylan's picture
Posts: 428
Joined: 2007-05-03
I also have a fear of flying

I also have a fear of flying but once in the air I settle down,it just is the taking off and landing that gives me this foolish phobia. Everyone knows how much safer flying is compared to driving. My last time flying I took along a few diazepam that is prescribed to me and I take 1 to 1.5 and I am relaxed. My phobia of flying makes absolutley no sense but I just cannot shake it  LMAO



Posts: 252
Joined: 2008-03-26
flying

If i was u I would just do a few shots of bourbon on the plane...then u will be lovin flying!!!!   seriously  i would not go with sleep meds.  i would go with a mild benzo like klonopin, valium, or xanax.  It should take care of your anxiety, and not knock you out so u are a zombie.  I am not scared of flying, but if i was, id wanna be awake!!   Awake, but with my anxiety under control.  Take my advice..I am on Klonopins for anxiety and panic attacks, and they really are a MIRACLE drug.

oh.. and by the way, BRODANK, that is a flippin sweet picture!  Is that you?




Posts: 1028
Joined: 2007-04-12
Roserem is just not

Roserem is just not appropriate for short term use or PRN use.  Definitely go with Ambien.  I usually give a script for 5 Xanax for long air travel. 



Director's picture
Posts: 194
Joined: 2007-05-22
Ambien and flying

The last time I flew on a late flight was the "red eye" from Honolulu to Salt Lake City and then a connecting flight home.  When we got on our plane in Hawaii, I took a half of my Ambien which was 5 mg (I have the 10 mg tabs) and slept most of the way to SLC which was a 6+ hour flight.  I had no problems waking up or making the connecting flight.

 

 

 




Posts: 74
Joined: 2006-01-04
Ambien etc, FLYING

I think it mattered to the doctor that because I get horrible motion sickness that I will be on the "patch"  scopolamine  (sp?), and that may have limited choice of what to presc.  

Didn't know it would matter that taking the med on a short time basis would matter.  Will either work better/worse because it is NOT built up in my system?  Shouldn't I do better because I don't have tolerance?

 Thanks.




Posts: 1028
Joined: 2007-04-12
Scopolamine itself is quite

Scopolamine itself is quite sedating.  Being built up in your system (tolerance) has nothing to do with the choice between Rosarem or Ambien.  Some people do develop tolerance to benzodiazapines and benzodiazapine like drugs (ambien, lunesta, sonata) when they are used continuously for long periods of time.  Roserem is not associated with tolerance and its efficacy actually depends on long term use.



Posts: 74
Joined: 2006-01-04
Update

The doctor called me Sat.  (yesterday)  the appt. would have been cancelled on Mon, and we are leaving for Alaska.  Anyway, since the discussion had to be rushed on the phone I was offered (and TOOK) bot the rozerem and ambien (10mg) with the warning that I ought to for the first leg at least cut the ambien (is it generic?,will pick it up after drugstore opens up later) and try it at 5mgs.

I got tentative permission to use both drugs on the return if each were half dose and I was travelling with another responsible adult not taking anything  (well he is taking a seasick patch, but the doc meant liquor or meds (legal or not).

Suppose I should have mentioned that while on our layover in Vancouver that I'm planning to load up on tyl #1 and aspirin #!  8 grams of codeine and 80 g. of caffeine in a 300 acetem. or 300 mg aspirin.  Guess I won't take any of those when taking the sleeping meds.  

 Caffeine, even 80 grams seems low, but why take awy from my precious little stash, eh??  Man I hate travelling!!

 

Advice/comments?  Carlos




Posts: 74
Joined: 2006-01-04
adding to the sleeping on airplane/meds questions

I will be spending a few days near vancouver before we move on to alaska, and though I know that Canada allows the aspirin and tyl. #1, was wondering if anyone knows if there is anything else I might want to shop for when up in the great white north???  The only thing I can think is maybe cough syrup??   but maybe I am overlooking something??

?  ie, benzos, different,stronger pain medicine?  Even stronger codeine and the like, like the never can find them tyl #2!! Or what ever it is called.  I know what it is sold OTC  in NZ, they are not puritans like americans, --they are/ were a few years a when could could pain relief without needing an Rx and seeng a doc

Ideas (quicker the better) will be appreciated.   `~~Carlos




Posts: 1028
Joined: 2007-04-12
Importing over the counter

Importing over the counter codiene preparations from Canada into the US will get you into trouble with US customs.

I think the reason they are not over the counter here in the US is not so much because we are puritains, but because we have so much problem with prescription drug abuse and addiction.