Wedding Etiquette Forum

Sleeping on flights

I have a 7.5 hour flight to Europe in a month (Well, 4 hours to Chicago, then 7.5 more to Europe). I'll arrive at 8 a.m., so I really want to sleep on the way there to do my best to get adjusted. I realize that may be wishful thinking... is there a safe pill I can take to make me sleep? I've never done it before so I have no idea. Should I take something like Tylenol PM?
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Re: Sleeping on flights

  • If it's a long flight, I usually take a decongestant that will make me drowsy because I always get stuff on a plane...and it helps de-stuff. I wouldn't take an actual sleeping pill myself.
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  • I've heard that seratonin (over the counter, vitamin supplement) is great for jetlag and you can take it in addition to something like benadryl, nyquil, or tylenol/advil pm to help you mellow out a bit more or take them together. I've never tried it myself, but it's not too expensive and you can pick it up at most pharmacies or at a vitamin shoppe, etc. have fun :)
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  • In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_sleeping-flights?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:c6995455-0d22-4987-adf8-80bdcbe7ab12Post:68596401-2412-4109-8cfa-43cc8aa3a3a6">Re: Sleeping on flights</a>:
    [QUOTE]I've heard that<strong> seratonin</strong> (over the counter, vitamin supplement) is great for jetlag and you can take it in addition to something like benadryl, nyquil, or tylenol/advil pm to help you mellow out a bit more or take them together. I've never tried it myself, but it's not too expensive and you can pick it up at most pharmacies or at a vitamin shoppe, etc. have fun :)
    Posted by chaseleyh[/QUOTE]

    I think you mean melatonin.  I've taken it before to help me sleep without much luck, but I took the lowest dose because I heard mixed reviews about side effects.

    I took Tylenol PM when I flew to Italy, but I could have just as easily taken Benadryl since I didn't need the painkiller part of it and the drug that makes you sleep is the same ingredient as Benadryl.  Some of my friends swear by Dramamine as well.
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  • In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_sleeping-flights?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:c6995455-0d22-4987-adf8-80bdcbe7ab12Post:5b086cc1-9a92-4cb1-9f02-d44df84c6d8a">Re: Sleeping on flights</a>:
    [QUOTE]Vodka. Lots of it.
    Posted by Champagne Supernova[/QUOTE]

    Ha or this works too!
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  • take a tylenol pm and a drink on the plane like wine.... you'll be out before you know it!
  • In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_sleeping-flights?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:c6995455-0d22-4987-adf8-80bdcbe7ab12Post:5b086cc1-9a92-4cb1-9f02-d44df84c6d8a">Re: Sleeping on flights</a>:
    [QUOTE]Vodka. Lots of it.
    Posted by Champagne Supernova[/QUOTE]

    That is DH's game plan also. 

    I had some ambien for our flights to South Africa.  I didn't end up needing them though.






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  • I take a Benadryl right after the dinner service (DC to France, 7 hours).  Wake up about an hour before I land in Paris at 7 AM.  I take an hour nap later that day and then I'm completely re-set.

    Are you flying an International Carrier or a US based one?
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  • Thanks all! aMrs - I'm taking AerLingus into Dublin.
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  • In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_sleeping-flights?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:c6995455-0d22-4987-adf8-80bdcbe7ab12Post:9c07a5ec-26e1-414c-b055-3be97518b242">Re: Sleeping on flights</a>:
    [QUOTE]Thanks all! aMrs - I'm taking AerLingus into Dublin.
    Posted by apple_green[/QUOTE]


    Excellent, then your booze <em>should</em> be free!
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  • apple_greenapple_green member
    First Comment
    edited April 2010
    In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_sleeping-flights?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:9Discussion:c6995455-0d22-4987-adf8-80bdcbe7ab12Post:3525ef16-112e-497d-b927-317a1b6fae51">Re: Sleeping on flights</a>:
    [QUOTE]In Response to Re: Sleeping on flights : Excellent, then your booze should be free!
    Posted by aMrsin09[/QUOTE]

    Wow! Now that you mention it I think I've heard that! I'm going to ask my sister. She's flown on AerLingus before.
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  • Tylenol PM has worked for me in the past.. but I get motion sick, so on long flights or drives, I take a couple dramamine (the drowsy kind) and knock right out. 2 birds, 1 stone.
  • I usually take some nyquil, since Tylenol PM knocks me out for about 9 hours. 

    Also, bring some water on the plane because when I sleep in that cabin, I get really dried out from the recycled air.

    I really like those neck pillows you can buy at the airport, too.
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  • Oh yes, the U-shaped neck pillow is a must!
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  • I have one of the Nap brand neck pillows from Brookstone and I swear it's one of the best purchases I've ever made.
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  • I'm hardly ever able to sleep on flights like that.  I don't take anything because it lasts too long.  Drinking helps you snooze, but there's nothing worse than a hangover AND jetlag, so be careful.
  • One tylenol PM and a Benadryl knocks me the hell out for at least 4 hours.

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  • I take dramamine and Tylenol PM. I have a really hard time sleeping on a plane, but that gets me as relaxed as possible.
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  • I take a half an Ambien, but I can do that and sleep 4-5 hours and get up feeling completely alert.

    Now the time I took an Ambien and had 3 glasses of wine with my seatmate on a redeye flight to NY was probably not a good idea.  I barely remember the cab ride to my hotel.
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