If you typically have trouble sleeping or have anxiety on planes, you can also talk to your doctor about melatonin supplements, Ambien, or an anxiety-reducing drug like Xanax.
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While you could use a sleep aid like Zzzquil even that may not be necessary. Instead, we suggest you try melatonin tablets. Melatonin is a natural hormone that your body releases when it's time to sleep. By taking a tablet an hour or two before your flight, you'll find it much easier to relax and fall asleep.
However, melatonin pills — especially for travelers crossing multiple time zones — could be a helpful aid. One milligram is all you need, Oexman told T+L. Take it about 30 minutes to one hour before you want to fall asleep on the plane. But there's more to it. When you land, stay awake all day.
Doctors rarely recommend sleeping tablets for flying for several reasons. Some tablets render you immobile, which would be problematic during an in-flight emergency. Even if you're OK with that small risk, avoid sitting near an emergency exit where you could be responsible for many lives in an emergency.
It's common to pop some Benadryl or Ambien to knock you out so that you can sleep through a red-eye flight. But make sure you only resort to this if you absolutely need to. While medication might help you fall asleep, it can also make it harder to wake up upon your arrival.
Should you sleep after you take a red-eye flight? If you've been able to sleep during your trip you are likely to feel slightly better than those who were awake overnight, but even those who slept may wake up feeling slightly disoriented.
Melatonin pills and gummies are totally fine to take on a plane from a TSA (Transportation Security Administration in the USA) perspective, but liquid melatonin has its own requirements (explained below).
Many airlines eliminated pillows and blankets in coach a couple of years back. For me, it's tough to sleep on a redeye without a blanket. I can handle no pillow (my hoodie kind of helps with that), but I still find it really helpful to have some sort of a thin blanket in order to sleep.
Loose fitting clothing is your best bet. Consider bringing an extra blanket or scarf: blankets and pillows are provided on some (but not all) red eye flights, so be sure to check ahead of time. Keep in mind they can be quite flimsy though, so if you like to be snuggled up and warm when you sleep, bring something extra.
Pharmacological treatmentThey include: Anti-anxiety medication, such as diazepam (Valium) or alprazolam (Xanax). Motion sickness medication, such as dimenhydrinate (Dramamine).
Incorporate Lean Protein Into Your Preflight MealIf you're eating out in the airport before your flight, choose items like boneless skinless chicken breast, egg whites, or fish. Foods rich in protein can also help offset the effects of any sugary snacks you might have succumbed to in the airport, according to Platkin.
People often come to us requesting the doctor or nurse to prescribe diazepam for fear of flying or assist with sleep during flights. Diazepam is a sedative, which means it makes you sleepy and more relaxed.
If you're nervous about the idea of prescription sleep aids, plenty of over-the-counter options await. A diphenhydramine tablet or two (i.e., Benadryl or Zzzquil) is enough to make most people drowsy, as is a single dose of cough medicine containing diphenhydramine and doxylamine succinate (a.k.a. Nyquil).