LauraMunroBruce

Just wondering if anyone knows the answer to this.
I fly to the states next week, SYD-LAX and it's a 13 hour flight. I generally don't have a problem with flying, no fears etc but was wondering if anyones taken valium on a flight before without a prescription?
I've been prescribed it before so no side effects but don't really want to go to the docs to get a whole prescription just for a couple of flights. My partner is prescribed it and I wanted to know if I would have any problems with security etc when I check-in, proceed through security check etc, if I have a couple of valium but no prescription for it?
I leave early in the morning, and arrive there early, and as I'm only going to be there for 10days I dont want to have to waste any time adjusting to time diffs so my theory was to sleep through the flight and wake up refreshed enough to be able to enjoy the day I arrive.
Thanks for any info
L

Bermudashorts

I am sure that they don't ask to see prescriptions for medication at security, well I have never seen that anyway.

Not oging to opine on whether I think you should take valium or not, but as far as I can tell being able to sleep on a plane does not prevent jetlag anyway.

jad n rich

Just dont try it on routes via many parts of Asia

You might end up with a longer holiday than you bargained for.

asprilla

Perhaps some BE members have tried this, and can give you firsthand experience of whether or not it works?

I haven't tried it. I wouldn't expect it to work either. Jet lag is basically your body sticking to the day/night/day that it is used to. It takes a while for your body clock to reset. I don't think that taking a couple of valium tablets will help in resetting your body clock. All it will do is make you miss the inflight movies and free booze. Then when you arrive at your destination, you'll wake up and still have jet-lag.

On top of that, if there is some kind of inflight emergency (very small chance though, very very unlikely to happen) you would want to be awake and alert, not drugged up.

If I were you, I'd forget the pills... just make sure that when you get there, you are active between 2pm and 8pm and not sitting in a hotel room. That way you'll get over the jetlag pretty quickly ! enjoy your holiday !!

tartantopgun

What if there was an emergency on the plane and you are wacked out on Vallies. You would not be in a fit state to fly going by carrier guidelines, so would you not be better to seek your own prescription from the doctor. I bet he does NOT prescribe Valium.

Taking other peoples prescriptions is both dangerous and unpredictable.

Cut and paste from medical website.

SIDE EFFECTS: Drowsiness, dizziness, fatigue, constipation, blurred vision, or headache may occur. Tell your doctor immediately if any of these unlikely but serious side effects occur: mental/mood changes, slurred speech, clumsiness, trouble walking, decreased/increased interest in sex, tremor, trouble urinating, sleep disturbances.

Not great side effects (apart from a greater interest in sex)

ABCDiamond

Sleeping tablets have that same warning on the packet

itigo

My Mum's Dr used to prescribe valium to her for flying but he knew exactly how much she should have. My Dad is in the airline industry and always hated her taking it for the reasons of safety listed above. In an emergency, you need to be able to look after yourself/have the use of your brain and legs......your fight or flight response would be seriously impaired..........

tartantopgun

Case and point. Controlled medical prescription, is perfectly acceptable.

moonsurfer

I think if you take a certain amount of prescription medication when leaving Australia then Customs/security can ask you to show a letter from your doctor saying that you're not exporting it for use of friends or family overseas - something to do with Australian Government subsidised drugs only being made available to Australian residents etc - this may very well not be the case if it's only a couple of tablets for the flight. Personally I have never flown long haul without taking something or other as I do feel so much better at the other end. Only you know though how this particular medication affects you and your own sleeping patterns.

RedT

The husband and I took valium both times we flew to Australia and it was a real help! We didn't sleep especially but we were both veeeeeery relaxed and got off the plane all smiles when the rest of the family were a mess. We went out to lunch and socialised our first day which we'd never normally do. We didn't suffer too badly with jet lag, mostly because we were relaxed and so slept quite well when we did go to bed in the evening.

Second time was a bit awkward, we changed planes in Abu Dhabi but didn't have a doctors note for the valium (didn't realise in time we needed one) so we couldn't take it at the times we needed. But that flight was rubbish anyway so no amount of medication would have made it better!

Tx

man_called_Horse

Its the only way to travel.... anesthetize yourself.

I usually take 2-4mg Diazepam that will knock you out for sure, I find that the usual 23 hour flight feels like about 2-3 hours.

10mg Normison is great as well.. doesn't knock you out but helps you relax... and time just passes you by...

Centurion

I prefer 750ml of Airline wine. Sends me to sleep every time.

spalen

i fly long haul a lot but i dont take valium. However, most of the people I work with who are frequent flyers do take stuff. Especially the americans they take ambien. ( I am not a pilot - if I was a pilot i think i'd lay off the valium).

I did start on last few trips taking a natural sleep tablet, natures own, theyre called. That worked fine for me

I did try once or twice the anti-histamine based sleeping things for flights, but i ended up being a bit mental afterwards so jacked those in.

For the arguments on safety...come on really... if a plane is going to crash you are going to die. Provided you dont take it before take off, and you fasten your seatbelt and sleep with the seatbelt over you - then you are going to be fine for the main problem which is turbulence throwing you into the ceiling.

WHATEVER you take - make sure you do a DRY RUN before you get on a plane. Finding out that it makes you go hyperactive and pooh yourself is something you want to do in the comfort of your own home where toilets are abundant, not at 30,000 feet.

LauraMunroBruce

Haha! Just had a conversation with one of my friend's and she said that is one of the reasons she doesn't take anything, she's worried she'll wake up and find she's wet herself!

Thanks for all your input guys, I have been prescribed, and taken valium before. I have dropped a few kilos since so will do a test run again before I go just to make sure the dosage is good, thankfully its a direct flight to LA so no worrying about connecting flights until then and by that time I should hopefully be nice and refreshed!

Will be taking a few vitamins with me on the flight so was just thinking I'd pop a couple of the valiums in with those and see what happens when I hit security.
Thanks for all your responses
L

renth

I take Xanax and alcohol, I'm pretty careful though, it is easy to OD. I'll have a half, then a G&T then another half another drink, eventually I pass out.