What is the best medicine for drowsiness on a plane?

What Are the Best—And Safest—Sleeping Pills for Flights?
  • Ambien. Ambien—the most powerful option on this list and the only one that requires a prescription—works as a sedative-hypnotic medication that slows your brain activity to make you feel very sleepy. ...
  • Tylenol PM. ...
  • Melatonin.




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Antihistamines should also not be used to help passengers sleep during a flight.

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Take a melatonin pill. That's the hormone that our bodies use to put us to sleep naturally. Pop the pill a few hours before the flight.

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Those longer acting medications should be avoided for short flights. For example, you wouldn't want to use a long-acting medication like Ambien on a short flight. Why? You could find yourself too groggy to take care of yourself when you arrive at your destination or during an emergency, he said.

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If you suffer from allergies, consider a non-sedating antihistamine instead, such as loratadine (Claritin®) or fexofenadine (Allegra). Claritin and Allegra do not have wait times (after the initial ground trial).

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If you aren't sure whether your medication falls into one of these categories, you should check with your AME:
  • Tranquilizers, such as but not limited to Valium, Librium, Ativan.
  • Most antidepressants. ...
  • Opiates, such as Morphine, Codeine, Lortab, Percodan, Oxycontin.
  • Muscle relaxants, such as Soma, Sonata, Flexeril.


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ZzzQuil Pure Zzzs Melatonin works naturally with your body to help you fall asleep. * Plus, it comes in gummy and tablet form, so you won't have an issue getting it past security at the airport.

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Over-the-counter sedatives, such as diphenhydramine or doxylamine, can be used to manage flight anxiety.

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I recommend melatonin as a natural supplement to my patients with flight-related anxiety. Melatonin induces sleep and adjusts your circadian clock to help you function better when you reach your destination.

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Anxiety About Flying with Dr Jennifer Grant Xanax is one of the more commonly prescribed benzodiazepines to help with anxiety before medical procedures or long-haul flights.

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Drugs that are used include scopolamine (prescription only), dimenhydrinate (Dramamine), and meclizine (Bonine). Scopolamine is more effective than any of the over-the-counter treatments available because it reduces symptoms and has less of a sedative effect.

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