sunburnt22 Posted April 7, 2009 Share Posted April 7, 2009 I have a 15 hour plane flight to Australia, and I am not a good flyer. I cannot sleep on a plane and I have bad anxiety...so...I want to sleep at least half of this flight. I will be taking 1 mg of Xanax which is what I use for sleep anyway. Then I want to add on to it. Any suggestions for add-ons? Dramamine? Melatonin? Ambien? I have experience with all 3, but wanted others' opinions who are not good fliers and have taken long flights... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
null0trooper Posted April 7, 2009 Share Posted April 7, 2009 I have a 15 hour plane flight to Australia, and I am not a good flyer. I cannot sleep on a plane and I have bad anxiety...so...I want to sleep at least half of this flight. I will be taking 1 mg of Xanax which is what I use for sleep anyway. Then I want to add on to it. Any suggestions for add-ons? Dramamine? Melatonin? Ambien? I have experience with all 3, but wanted others' opinions who are not good fliers and have taken long flights... My initial suggestion would be Nyquil - but I don't know if diphenhydramine interacts with Xanax. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karin Posted April 7, 2009 Share Posted April 7, 2009 Sleeping on a plane to NYC, I get on, have dinner, ask for TWO glasses of red wine, and drink anti-histamine - the stuff you take for sinus or for allergies. If some unthinking person wakes you up, you just ask for another drink with another anti-histamine. That won't give you a sleeping tablet hangover or jet lag the following day. I used to smoke, so I HAD to sleep to stop the smoke cravings! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vitriol Posted April 7, 2009 Share Posted April 7, 2009 I had a discussion about this with my Pdoc last year. She told me to just knock me out with benzo. I take 3mg of lexotan twice a day (same as 2 X 1 mg of Ativan) and she told me to take 6 mg of lexotan just before getting in the plane. (That was for a 7 hours flight and it worked). I used to fly a lot in the past without any need of meds. And now I have trouble just getting in plane, because I think I might have a panic attack. Someone mentioned wine, that would also work for me. Give me a glass of wine every hour and there is no need for benzo. (THIS IS NOT NOT AN ADVICE BTW. My advice is to do like I did, ask your Pdoc). Vit Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tryp Posted April 7, 2009 Share Posted April 7, 2009 Hi OP - I would second Mia's suggestion to talk to your pdoc. I'm a horrible flier and I had some benzos and some Seroquel together last time I flew. It didn't really do much more than take the edge off, if that. But anyway, things that might work for you will probably depend on what meds you're already on, so it's best to speak to your doctor (whichever one gave you the Xanax). I would cautiously recommend some extra Xanax, but safest thing is to speak to your doc. Also, I posted here about tips for anxious fliers, so if you haven't seen it you might want to skim it. Some of the stuff really helped me out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MiaB Posted April 7, 2009 Share Posted April 7, 2009 * Sorry, I managed to delete my post while trying to add that I've been on 21 long international flights in my life. Karin, I think that advising someone on MI meds to down red wine liberally along with an antihistamine is really irresponsible advice, even if it's what has worked for you. I've taken many long haul international flights in my lifetime and what's always worked best for me is a combo of a benzo and a sleeping pill. My best suggestion for the original poster is to speak to your pdoc or GP - I'd be very surprised if they suggested knocking back alcohol on top of your meds. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vitriol Posted April 7, 2009 Share Posted April 7, 2009 I'd be very surprised if they suggested knocking back alcohol on top of your meds. I think we all agree with that Miab. Alcohol is always the wrong solution. But what is great about this site is we can share what we did even if it is really not something wise. Let me explain, If for some reason, I had to take a plane (Paris-Montr Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karin Posted April 7, 2009 Share Posted April 7, 2009 Whoa! Hey! Nowhere did I say knock back wine? I said I drink "two glasses"? Which is 125 ml x 2 , i.e. 1 cup, with dinner? People should sip wine slowly?? This is now a class on etiquette of wine drinking? Then, I said that is what works for ME? Nowhere did I hold a gun against anyone"s head or tell anyone to do the same? Obviously every person should consult a doctor, but what is the point of allowing a question on a public board if I am only allowed to answer ask your pdoc? I said what works for ME? I will never drink Xanax cause someone who has never seen me, on a public board, tells me it worked for them? Why then would anyone just blindly do as I say? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vitriol Posted April 7, 2009 Share Posted April 7, 2009 Whoa! Hey! Nowhere did I say knock back wine? I said I drink "two glasses"? Which is 125 ml x 2 , i.e. 1 cup, with dinner? People should sip wine slowly?? This is now a class on etiquette of wine drinking? Then, I said that is what works for ME? Nowhere did I hold a gun against anyone"s head or tell anyone to do the same? Obviously every person should consult a doctor, but what is the point of allowing a question on a public board if I am only allowed to answer ask your pdoc? I said what works for ME? I will never drink Xanax cause someone who has never seen me, on a public board, tells me it worked for them? Why then would anyone just blindly do as I say? I am all with you on this Karin. But for some people, alcohol is dark evil. A word that we shouldnt use even if we are talking about our experiences. Some people are very straight, even on this board. And Im sure they have good reasons for that. Drinking wine on a plane and telling us it helps you shouldnt make you feel bad Vit Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tryp Posted April 7, 2009 Share Posted April 7, 2009 Karin, I think people are a little bit sensitive about alcohol because it reacts especially badly with certain meds, including a lot of CrazyMeds. For instance, it can be downright dangerous with benzos, which the OP is taking. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vitriol Posted April 7, 2009 Share Posted April 7, 2009 Karin, I think people are a little bit sensitive about alcohol because it reacts especially badly with certain meds, including a lot of CrazyMeds. For instance, it can be downright dangerous with benzos, which the OP is taking. You just gave me the perfect example Tryp. On that subect (benzo with alcohol) there is no room for any discussion. And I completly understand why. Vit Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
december_brigette Posted April 7, 2009 Share Posted April 7, 2009 uh............ no one has talked about the extremely dry air on planes and how that can contribute to dehydration while drinking your favorite alcoholic beverage. i drink - and then i drink as much water as i can because really - the drinking just dries you out more. oh - im all about the taste. and the enjoyment of wine. but on a plane +crazy + meds = a possibly troubling disaster when one gets escorted off the plane and sent to the er. thats me!!! db Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluelikejazz Posted April 7, 2009 Share Posted April 7, 2009 The annoying thing about Australia is that its a long flight to almost everywhere. I took phenergan on the way home, but that was only because I was limited to OTC stuff. I alternated phenergan and caffeine on the 36 hours it took for me to get home, in an effort to avoid jet lag. It worked, until the last little domestic leg. I was out before takeoff. I came to and went "how long have we been in the air?" The off duty pilot giggled and goes "45 minutes...isn't your neck sore?...I don't think I've even seen anybody sleep like that!" I was also pretty dehydrated. Where abouts are you going? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karin Posted April 8, 2009 Share Posted April 8, 2009 Where did the "Love Boat" sail from and to? Anyone remember?? Australian men are cute so stick it out! Do your best to get there!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deepster Posted April 8, 2009 Share Posted April 8, 2009 Can't help but chime in here a bit. First, I don't advocate drinking alcohol for anyone....whether on psych meds or not. I do however respect everyone's right to "chose", and hopefully that would be done with a doc's agreement. I know what I do on such a flight. I'd start with .5-1mg klonopin one hour before the flight. When the plane takes off, I'd order a glass of red wine and take 5mg Ambien with the wine. If true to habit, I'd promply awake 4-5 hours later....sans hangover from meds or drink. I'd then order another red wine, take another 5mg Ambien, and roll back in for another 4 hours sleep. Upon awaking, and de-planing, I'd have a cup(2 max of that watered down shit water) and take another .5-1mg klonopin. I'd be fine, and ready for the day that awaited, and would have put the preceding day behind me mentally. Honestly, I think my pdoc would even agree on this plan. She'd prolly say "I'd prefer you nix the two drinks", but I don't think she'd damn the idea. I'd still be within my personally set limit of 1mg klonopin w/in 24 hours. I once took a non-stop from Honolulu to Atlanta.....thought I'd die......no cigs allowed, no drinking due to not wanting "dehydration head".....only sleep when I could grab it, and at that time, no meds except paxil. Felt fine when I got home to Atlanta. Then again, I took a much shorter flight from Lisbon to Atlanta once.....drank the entire way, smoked like a chimney, cursed like a sailor, and literally partied with a plane full of travel agents who were returning from a Lisbon convention. Felt like hell for 3 days. No meds here, either. I just want to state that IF someone has a particular "personal gripe" regarding alcohol consumption by the MIs among us, then perhaps it should be adressed on the Substance Abuse Forum. If it is "YOUR" issue or the issue of someone you love, take it to the SA Forum and keep it out of the face of "responsible" people with MI. Please do not impose your issues upon me. I.E., obviously we all here have some type of MI issues....ehh? Well, I won't gripe at anyone for eating a gallon of ice cream when they want, thus my minor degree of alcohol consumption giving all due consideration to my MI issues should be given the same respect. With either ice cream or alcohol it might be best to discuss with your med professional just the same. Love this forum, and thanks to you all for the support you have give me(particularly regarding Pristiq). Deepster Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karin Posted April 8, 2009 Share Posted April 8, 2009 .... I also want to add that in every box/bottle of tablets I get, there is an insert, telling me what I can/can not take with it. My doctor advised me that 1 glass of wine per day would not do me any damage. In fact... a glass of good quality cabarnet, sipped slowly, has been known to remove many a tram line between eyebrows, smoothed many a prune-mouth upper lip, and removed many sticks from many asses. It is absolutely ridiculous to think that anyone else on meds where alcohol can kill them, should now quaff alcohol on a plane because I might drink two glasses. (On an 18-hour flight, I actually might drink two more during the night, or alternate it with Bells scotch whiskey, as found on South African Airlines!) I am allergic to milk and dairy products. It would be extremely stupid of me to take some slab-of-chocolate-therapy, or a hot chocolate drink, or to eat a litre of ice cream when I get on a plane, despite everyone advising me of the feel-good qualities of chocolate? It would be even more stupid of me to now have a hissy-fit at anyone else who advises that a choccie is good therapy. May I lastly also refer anyone to the terms of CrazyBoards, as set by the Administrators. Click on "The Rules" in the upper left hand corner of the web page. It makes for extremely funny-haha-reading, however, I think it should be read be everyone. Here's to a good single malt with soda, or on the rocks! Enjoy your flight. The Southern half of Earth is fabulous. Aussie-land is also great, but South Africa is far greater !!!! (Ask any Aussie rugby or cricket-fan! ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karin Posted April 8, 2009 Share Posted April 8, 2009 The annoying thing about Australia is that its a long flight to almost everywhere. I took phenergan on the way home, but that was only because I was limited to OTC stuff. I alternated phenergan and caffeine on the 36 hours it took for me to get home, in an effort to avoid jet lag. It worked, until the last little domestic leg. I was out before takeoff. I came to and went "how long have we been in the air?" The off duty pilot giggled and goes "45 minutes...isn't your neck sore?...I don't think I've even seen anybody sleep like that!" I was also pretty dehydrated. Where abouts are you going? Where do you stay in Aus??? Your cricket and rugby players are here at the moment!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Guest_sunburnt22_* Posted April 9, 2009 Share Posted April 9, 2009 The annoying thing about Australia is that its a long flight to almost everywhere. I took phenergan on the way home, but that was only because I was limited to OTC stuff. I alternated phenergan and caffeine on the 36 hours it took for me to get home, in an effort to avoid jet lag. It worked, until the last little domestic leg. I was out before takeoff. I came to and went "how long have we been in the air?" The off duty pilot giggled and goes "45 minutes...isn't your neck sore?...I don't think I've even seen anybody sleep like that!" I was also pretty dehydrated. Where abouts are you going? Where do you stay in Aus??? Your cricket and rugby players are here at the moment!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sunburnt22 Posted April 9, 2009 Author Share Posted April 9, 2009 Here's a more practical question. Is there any danger in combining 1 mg Xanax (which I what I normally take for sleep) with Dramamine. Also, how frequently can I take the Xanax? Every 4-6 hours? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bipolar_Angel Posted April 9, 2009 Share Posted April 9, 2009 Sleeping on a plane to NYC, I get on, have dinner, ask for TWO glasses of red wine, and drink anti-histamine - the stuff you take for sinus or for allergies. If some unthinking person wakes you up, you just ask for another drink with another anti-histamine. That won't give you a sleeping tablet hangover or jet lag the following day. I used to smoke, so I HAD to sleep to stop the smoke cravings! I WOULD GET ADVICE FROM UR DOC BUT I FLEW ONE TIME AND TOOK BENADRYL ONLY 2 BUT NOT WITH DRINKING TOO. JUST WITH UR OTHER MEDS.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vitriol Posted April 9, 2009 Share Posted April 9, 2009 My doctor advised me that 1 glass of wine per day would not do me any damage. In fact... a glass of good quality cabarnet, sipped slowly, has been known to remove many a tram line between eyebrows, smoothed many a prune-mouth upper lip, and removed many sticks from many asses. It is absolutely ridiculous to think that anyone else on meds where alcohol can kill them, should now quaff alcohol on a plane because I might drink two glasses. (On an 18-hour flight, I actually might drink two more during the night, or alternate it with Bells scotch whiskey, as found on South African Airlines!) amen. They use to do lobotomy , remember ? And now they want to tell us how bad is wine ? Getting waisted and having wine for dinner are 2 things. Meds or not. That being said, benzo is still my first choice for flying. And for the last time sunburnt22 , ask your Pdoc or your pharmacist if you are not sure about the xanax Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoldCoin Posted April 12, 2009 Share Posted April 12, 2009 I flew from Australia to NY, a total of 33 hours. This is how i did it.. Aust to Singapore (5hous) - 1mg of ativan for anxiety Singapore to Hong kong (1 hour) - 2 glasses of wine Hong Kong to San Fransisco (something like 15 hours or so) - 2X 100mg Seroquel San Fransisco to New York - 1mg of ativan for anxiety of flying. I had no jet lag no sleep hang overs and ready for the day as i arrived at 9am. Seroquel saved me. On the way back to Australia i took seroquel the entire way and was a walking zombie. I would not recommended that. I am flying to Paris this year and i am planning on doing the same flying on ativan and seroquel. Safest way and i dont have to worry about sleep walking or talking if i was taking ambien or the likes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karin Posted April 13, 2009 Share Posted April 13, 2009 Jet lag to me is worse when I fly against the sun, than with the sun, i. e. when I fly East to West it is really worse than vice versa. Ativan is really a good drug! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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