Frequent flyers, what sleeping pills do you use and recommend?

56 replies

pearsonlive

Member since 10 Jul 2015

Total posts 9

A good non prescription option available in Australia is velarian forte. Available in the vitamin section. Works well without waking feeling dozy.

russell

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

Member since 04 Nov 2011

Total posts 236

Stillnox. Only need to take half a tablet. It's a prescription though.
Last edited by TJS at Apr 22, 2019, 04.52 PM.

I think you need to be careful with stillnox not to mix it with alcohol though?

I wouldn’t use Stillnox, especially on a plane. For me personally, they were terrible as they cause hallucinations. I had kangaroos running through my bedroom...

Ourmanin

Singapore Airlines - KrisFlyer

Member since 08 Jun 2018

Total posts 144

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.

Maybe just a personal view, but you’d have to be a special kind of idiot to accept pharmaceuticals from someone you didn’t know on a plane. So many reasons that’s not a good idea.

David

Member since 24 Oct 2010

Total posts 1,021

Melatonin is my standard resource to help push me off to sleep, although these days I'm on 10mg and I'll add that melatonin isn't for everyone. On some people it doesn't work, on others the enhanced and very vivid dreams are a bit much (!). So, I'll add my 2c to the suggestions here that whatever sleeping pills you consider, try them first at home rather than when you're on the plane or at the hotel. Get to know how they work for you and how your body reacts to them.

NQflyer

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

Member since 02 Jun 2015

Total posts 65

Melatonin - USA bought. I use a dual-phase preparation 5 mg - 2.5 mg immediate release and 2.5 mg slow release. I take two. I take it night before my trip - normally 2-3 hours earlier bed time than normal. Then at a sensible sleep time mid-flight adjusted to destination’s bed time. I then take at bedtime at destination for 5 nights. Then do same regimen on return. No jet lag and able to function back at work the next day.

syd_dan

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

Member since 13 May 2016

Total posts 25

A glass of red and 5mg of valium is all I need to get me fast asleep... I do have a hard and fast rule that I don't take it (or take my shoes off) until airborne and the seatbelt sign has been switched off.

JackMiles

Member since 29 Feb 2016

Total posts 20

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.

HI there ABT. Do you know if this is available at any of the HKIA airside pharmacies? Thanks.

mspcooper

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

Member since 09 May 2013

Total posts 456

I use Phenargan. Works really well, may need a coffee or two after you wake up, to get going.

grov

QFF

Member since 19 Sep 2013

Total posts 6

Believe depends on flight class. When flying for work long distances in economy, used to take prescription sleeping tablets so that I could be effective the next day, but there were noticeable side effects. Now that I'm travelling in Business for leisure, one or two Restavits do the trick.

grov

QFF

Member since 19 Sep 2013

Total posts 6

Meant to add that sleeping tablets seem to reset the body clock a lot faster.

Neil R

Member since 28 Feb 2014

Total posts 55

I am using stillnox. My GP had me test some different tablets first at home (Valium, Normison etc). Some tablets actually had a reverse affect, so it really comes down to the individual. I only ever use stillnox on long haul flights 10 hours plus, and only take the tablet once we are airborne, as it will literally knock me out for a good 8 hours. As my work travel is in Economy, I need to make sure I have a window seat booked! But when I travel for pleasure, it will generally be in business, a few G&T's will have the same when the seat in bed mode!

UpUpAndAway

QF

Member since 11 Jul 2014

Total posts 19

Xanax is the best, gave my brother half a tablet and he went to sleep leaving Singapore and woke up in Frankfurt.

Goldmember

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

Member since 02 Mar 2019

Total posts 7

My preference is a stiff gin and tonic

OzDino

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

Member since 11 May 2015

Total posts 12

Stillnox. Only need to take half a tablet. It's a prescription though.
Last edited by TJS at Apr 22, 2019, 04.52 PM.

I think you need to be careful with stillnox not to mix it with alcohol though?

I wouldn’t use Stillnox, especially on a plane. For me personally, they were terrible as they cause hallucinations. I had kangaroos running through my bedroom...

Did you try counting them....?

highflyer

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

Member since 10 Apr 2012

Total posts 186

Just off topic slightly... do any of you who use sleeping pills get concerned that it may knock you out, and you may be a little incapacitated in the unlikely event of an emergency?

Hi Guest, join in the discussion on Frequent flyers, what sleeping pills do you use and recommend?

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