Yesterday, I featured my top 10 tips for sleeping on a plane. I know that these days, not everyone has time to read a long article, so I’m singling out tip number 10 as a standalone tip since it’s so important. RELATED: FBI Warns Travelers Not to Do This – Here’s What to Do Instead
When I fly (and even when I’m home), I try to avoid taking any kind of medication. Period. In fact, I’ve never even taken a sleeping pill or melatonin, which I know many people rely on to help them get through long flights. RELATED: 5 Tips For Traveling With Medications
But even if I were desperate and going to take a sleeping pill or any other medication, you can bet I wouldn’t take them for the first time while on a plane, just in case I had some kind of adverse reaction. I would want to be on the ground with access to medical attention and not hurtling through the air at 550 miles per hour.
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Which is why on Thursday, I took a decongestant for the first time in a long time since I had an earache. I just wanted to test it out as I was flying the next day. BTW: I flew in Air Canada’s Premium Economy from Los Angeles to Toronto and I’m happy to report I had no reaction and no ear pain. If you’re interested in a play-by-play of my flight, here’s my trip report; it all started out great until things went a bit sideways at the end.
Always consult your doctor before taking any medication and test out any new prescriptions or over-the-counter medications for the first time before flying to make sure you’re safe and don’t have any adverse reactions. RELATED: Why You Should Add These 8 Health Items To Your Toiletry Bag When You Travel
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Great tip!!!
I always wait for the weekend if i’m to start a new medication. If there are any side effects or adverse reactions, it’s better to be at home rather then being at work or driving to & from work which could be dangerous.
Another suggestion…don’t take Ambien until you are wheels up!!!
A friend was flying to Asia and took one so he could crash on plane. You guessed it…something went wrong with plane and everyone had to get off. Yikes
I second the commenter about no drugs til wheels up. If flight attendants see you groggy before their safety speech, they’ll assume your not fit to fly because you didn’t hear it. That’s a big no-no.
In my experience, few passengers pay attention to safety speeches.