Getting Your Zzz’s on the Road

I’m what you would call a nervous traveler.

It’s not that I don’t like to travel, but getting on an airplane makes me tense. Even worse are the long flights that take me someplace where I am either six hours ahead or four hours behind my normal time zone. But the traveling part aside, what really is in the back of my mind is: Will I be able to get some sleep!?

My doctor would often tell me to pop a few Sudafed’s to get drowsy, but that never worked. Today, there are sleeping aids that claim to have nearly no morning groggy side effects so long as you follow the strict directions on the label. I’m sold!

But this revelation hit a snag this week.

A popular anti-insomnia medication, Ambien, which is taken by many travelers (26.5 million prescriptions were filled last year), was linked to short-term memory loss leading to increased traffic arrests and uncontrollable binge eating.

I know that some of you road warriors may be in the same boat as I am when it comes to catching your Zzz’s on the road. Do you have any tips for other travelers who may not want to take sleep aids and risk all those side effects?

For tips on getting sleep in the road read: Catching Some Shut-Eye

Comments

[cgalea]

I've tried Dramamine too but after a while it didn't seem to work—now I think I'll try yoga.

[Ernie Lansford]

Dramamine works best for me. Cheap alternative to Ambien and non addictive.

[Scott Hornstein]

In my case, Ambien should get the Nobel Prize.