Sleep aids

[Gorilla]

Another Ambien vote. Anything you get OTC stronger than Valerian will perform FAR worse, and leave you feeling crappier, than Ambien. I really limit my use, and told my doctor that, but he said "There's ZERO issues of tolerance or addiction. They just completed a study where they had hundreds of old folks with sleep issues on a triple dose for 2 or 3 years, and when they yanked it, their sleep pattern was identical to what it was just before the study."

If you get the 10 mg tabs, break them in half. 1/2 a tab works as good for me as a whole one (I'm 6'3" / 220 lb)... it's expensive.

I still used only very occasionally, usually AFTER Europe or Japan. 30 tablets lasted me almost 2 years. Now that I'm narrowbody and fly days, it isn't much of an issue anymore.

 

[Purpledog]

Sleep-inducing medications: None of the OTC sleep preparations, including Sominex, Tylenol PM, and Excedrin PM, are allowed for flight deck use and require waiting 12-24 hours from last dose to flight duty. Prescription medications such as Sonata, Halcion and Restoril are not approved for airmen. Those pilots taking Ambien (zolpidem), another prescription medication, must wait 24-48 hours after the last dose before flying. The Federal Air Surgeon's Medical Bulletin states that Ambien may be used if no more than twice a week and not within 24 hours of flight duties.

I love Ambien unfortunately can't take it hub turning b/c of the 24hr rule.

 

[WorldOnTime]

I prefer the term "boxing" the clown. Boxing implies that you use finesse and training to achieve the desired result. "Punching" the clown seems kind of brutish and un-skilled. Granted, if you are pressed for time than you gotta do what you gotta do to achieve the desired result.

Works for me also.

I guess you've never seen me box. I have a very unskilled, unrefined technique. Very scrappy like a streetfighter. I have occasionally been known to use a 2 X 4, or a broken bottle to acheive the desired results. I only wish I had your talent, smoothness and finesse. Although I lack the polish, I can assure you it is not from lack of training. I spend quite a bit of time in the "gym". I sleep like a 90 year old man (babies don't always sleep well).

 

[dojetdriver]

I guess you've never seen me box. I have a very unskilled, unrefined technique. Very scrappy like a streetfighter. I have occasionally been known to use a 2 X 4, or a broken bottle to acheive the desired results. I only wish I had your talent, smoothness and finesse. Although I lack the polish, I can assure you it is not from lack of training. I spend quite a bit of time in the "gym". I sleep like a 90 year old man (babies don't always sleep well).

Not to sound disprespectful, but I don't think i'd really like to watch you box. I can however understand each individual's technique, style, and method. Props and tools work good when you are feeling up to the challenge, I have used various things myself. Like you, I have spent many an hour in the "gym" refining my technique and consider myself a true professional. Not to sound conceited, but I have been trainig since I was a young teenager.

Different "strokes" for differnet folks. Carry on, as you were, and get back in the "gym" so you don't your touch.

 

[WorldOnTime]

Not to sound disprespectful, but I don't think i'd really like to watch you box. I can however understand each individual's technique, style, and method. Props and tools work good when you are feeling up to the challenge, I have used various things myself. Like you, I have spent many an hour in the "gym" refining my technique and consider myself a true professional. Not to sound conceited, but I have been trainig since I was a young teenager.

Different "strokes" for differnet folks. Carry on, as you were, and get back in the "gym" so you don't your touch.

No, no disrespect taken at all. Boxing can be a very personal thing and in my case, it's rather ugly. There is a lot of sweating, screaming, swearing, spitting and the occasional black out. I too have been a student of boxing since I was a young teenager. I guess some of us have to work harder and some are just natural talents. Enjoy your time in the gym.

 

[dojetdriver]

No, no disrespect taken at all. Boxing can be a very personal thing and in my case, it's rather ugly. There is a lot of sweating, screaming, swearing, spitting and the occasional black out. I too have been a student of boxing since I was a young teenager. I guess some of us have to work harder and some are just natural talents. Enjoy your time in the gym.

Make no mistake, I wasn't a natural either. All I can say is that I've trained for a long time and my hard work finally pays off, to help me get to sleep that is.

Now, anybody got any other ideas on sleep aids? I usually take just ONE Tylenol PM/Simply Sleep, works like a charm. I read somewhere that taking pills with a fatty food helps get it into your system faster. It seems to work, I'll eat a granola bar or buttered toast with it. In no time I've got that nice warm feeling and I'll be asleep in no time without waking up and feeling like crap.

 

[ILuvKittyLitter]

Night time cold medicine at the beginning of your 10 hours....no real ill effects

 

[satpak77]

FYI

lots of prescription and OTC medications with drugs in them, Ambien, Tylenol, etc, can harm the liver when used extensively. FDA, Govt approved? It must be 100% safe then....not.

Melatonin is natural and I have used it before when on the road, you can buy it at Walgreens on the herbal shelf. Works great. However, luckily, I can take a nap or go to sleep anywhere.

If you engage in a fitness program or at least walk daily, this will help also. I recommend this in the morning, as getting your heart spooled up before bedtime will not help you sleep.

Also, taking a shower before bed seems to help (I never liked hitting the sheets grimy or sweaty anyway).

 

[rubicon789]

FYI

If you engage in a fitness program or at least walk daily, this will help also. I recommend this in the morning, as getting your heart spooled up before bedtime will not help you sleep.

In regard to this, has anyone, or does anyone workout before they go to bed in the AM. I mean coming home at 8:30am, then working out doesn't sound like fun but it could also wear you down that last little bit.

Anyone care to chime in. Before or After your shift?

 

[satpak77]

In regard to this, has anyone, or does anyone workout before they go to bed in the AM. I mean coming home at 8:30am, then working out doesn't sound like fun but it could also wear you down that last little bit.

Anyone care to chime in. Before or After your shift?

don't workout :

1) Before bed, regardless of "bedtime"
2) When you are tired, as you can get injured or pull a muscle, etc.

as a secondary thing related to "sleeping well", I drink like two bottles of water one hour before bed and sleep GREAT. I pee at like 3 AM but then go back to bed and sleep real good until wakeup call.

 

[Purpledog]

Unfortunately Melatonin didn't work for me. Don't work out prior to bed. It gets your body revving and it doesn't slow down for a few hours.

 

[Gorilla]

FYI

lots of prescription and OTC medications with drugs in them, Ambien, Tylenol, etc, can harm the liver when used extensively. FDA, Govt approved? It must be 100% safe then....not.

Melatonin is natural and I have used it before when on the road, you can buy it at Walgreens on the herbal shelf. Works great. However, luckily, I can take a nap or go to sleep anywhere.

If you engage in a fitness program or at least walk daily, this will help also. I recommend this in the morning, as getting your heart spooled up before bedtime will not help you sleep.

Also, taking a shower before bed seems to help (I never liked hitting the sheets grimy or sweaty anyway).

Satpak, generally good advice, but please don't fall into the "natural = safe" mindset. Belladonna, marijuana, opium, botulism, psychedelic mushrooms, are all 100% organic and natural, and processed less than a GNC melatonin tablet. Melatonin does work and I've used it, but it leaves me feeling pretty funky in the morning, while the Ambien half-life is so short, that if you sleep 8 hours, it's metabolized and gone when you wake up.

 

[satpak77]

Satpak, generally good advice, but please don't fall into the "natural = safe" mindset. Belladonna, marijuana, opium, botulism, psychedelic mushrooms, are all 100% organic and natural, and processed less than a GNC melatonin tablet. Melatonin does work and I've used it, but it leaves me feeling pretty funky in the morning, while the Ambien half-life is so short, that if you sleep 8 hours, it's metabolized and gone when you wake up.

absolutely 100% agree

Also, FYI, Melatonin (for me) works best if I take a low dose like 2 hours out from bedtime and drink lots of water before I go to sleep.

again, agree completely with your post

 

[RideandDrive]

Love ambien. I take it frequently.

 

[rubicon789]

Satpak77-

See it sounds like your schedule involves a little sleep during the night. Mine however is flying all night with a few short breaks. However, my schedlue for the last year as been a complete flip on monday to the 3rd shift flight schedule 8pm-8am, then on friday night flop back to days for a normal weekend and once again back to nights on monday night. I have it pretty perfected by now, and don't have a hard time sleeping. However, I do want to start working out and can't seem to find a time that would work. And I know the weekends are just too busy to fit it in, we are always doing something. Thanks for the input though.

X2 on the water, i try to drink atleast 1/2 -3/4 of a gallon throughout the night. I think it makes a huge difference.

 

[Lostdog65]

Did the melatonin thing in the freightdawg dayz. Worked well off the bat. First time I took one was :30 before my flight from RDD to OAK. I was on the nods over STS VOR!

A year later I was up to five of those little buggers just to get 5 hours uninterupted sleep. (I slept in the back of a 402 on the KaiserAir ramp in OAK....too many APU's runnin' at 4 am for the 6 am departure!)

I'll second Valeria root. It's a muscle relaxer that is the basis of Valium. My chiropractor gave me a bottle and one pill puts me in LaLa land with no ill affects in the morning.

Eric

 

[satpak77]

Satpak77-

See it sounds like your schedule involves a little sleep during the night. Mine however is flying all night with a few short breaks. However, my schedlue for the last year as been a complete flip on monday to the 3rd shift flight schedule 8pm-8am, then on friday night flop back to days for a normal weekend and once again back to nights on monday night. I have it pretty perfected by now, and don't have a hard time sleeping. However, I do want to start working out and can't seem to find a time that would work. And I know the weekends are just too busy to fit it in, we are always doing something. Thanks for the input though.

X2 on the water, i try to drink atleast 1/2 -3/4 of a gallon throughout the night. I think it makes a huge difference.

Current job is mostly day flying, however in my "prior life" I flew 135 freight, like you are doing, 7PM to 7AM, so I know where you are coming from.

Stay hydrated, this includes some skin lotion on your arms and face before you start your day (sounds gay but I am serious), and dress comfortable, loose pants, etc. Eat a small meal and carry some bananas or apples or a Clif Bar in your flight bag to keep the blood sugar steady thru-out the night. NO snickers bars or other crap. In between your stops, get out and stretch your whole body (pretend you are going to the gym) every stop, legs, arms, ankles, neck, etc. Carry an old Minute-Maid jug with you at all times so there is not issues with holding it before landing, etc.

All the little factors add up when you are on the backside of the clock and asking your body to do things it doesn't really want to do.

Take care

 

[rubicon789]

Stay hydrated, this includes some skin lotion on your arms and face before you start your day (sounds gay but I am serious), and dress comfortable, loose pants, etc. Eat a small meal and carry some bananas or apples or a Clif Bar in your flight bag to keep the blood sugar steady thru-out the night. NO snickers bars or other crap. In between your stops, get out and stretch your whole body (pretend you are going to the gym) every stop, legs, arms, ankles, neck, etc. Carry an old Minute-Maid jug with you at all times so there is not issues with holding it before landing, etc.

I do just that, and have found it to work great. I really don't have any problems sleeping. The no coffee, soda thing makes a huge diff. just drink water or juice. Happy flyin....

 

[Ill Mitch]

absolutely 100% agree

Also, FYI, Melatonin (for me) works best if I take a low dose like 2 hours out from bedtime and drink lots of water before I go to sleep.

again, agree completely with your post

I tried it the other night. It worked real good. I woke up and was a little tired and in a funk, but as soon as I got going with my morning routine, it was gone. By the time I hit the road for the drive to the airport, I was feeling really good and felt rested all day long.
When it was time for bed that night, didn't even need to take another one and slept just as well.

I won't be taking it every night, but as an occasional aid it looks like it will work for me.

 

[Catbird]

2 Qualudes (sp) and a (hot)six pack of Colt 45 works like a champ.