ever overcame jet-lag with sleeping pills?

[Andocrates]

I'm coming back to Japan in a few weeks and I'm concerned about Jet Lag, I start school the day I return so there is no time to lay around for 3 days adjusting.

I'm going to mexico tomorrow to buy some sleeping pills not sure I can get them back into the US but I'll try. Sleep is my "thorn in the flesh" I'm not a good sleeper and I have to work at keeping my sleep routine down, I have used ambian for some time but I'll get some real sleeping pills for this trip. I have 3 months in Japan to get my Japanese from beginner to intermediate so I'll have to work really hard.

Tips, suggestions.

[GomiGirl]

Give Melatonin a try. Just buy it over the counter at a good drug store in the US. (will need a prescription in other countries.)
Take this at night when it is time to sleep. When you wake up, take a few St John's wort tablets. (St Johns Wort is a Seratonin enhancer)

Only do this for 3-4 days.. no longer. Keep the rest of the bottle for when you next travel.

Note: don't take melatonin if you have a history of depression or psychotic tendencies!!


But the good news is that if you are flying to Japan from the US you shouldn't have a jet lag problem. It is when you fly East to West that jet lag is a problem. I have no idea why this is.

BTW flying to different countries in the same time zone has no jet lag effects.

[ramchop]

Tips, suggestions.

In my experience the best way to avoid jet-lag on a long distance flight is to fly north to south or south to north. Try to avoid the east-west or west-east route. Maybe tilting the earth on its side would help.

[GargoyleTS]

Start changing your sleep patterns now, if you can. Stay up later and sleep in longer till your halfway there. Also, reduce the amount of sunlight your getting each day over the next few weeks and when you get to Japan, get as much sunlight during the day as you can. Sit near a window or whatever, but try and have some part of your body in or near sunlight. Actual sunlight helps your body adjust its circadian-rythms (according to my psych textbooks), and it doesn't matter what part of your body it hits. Doing this should give you a strong switch in patterns, even without early adjustment (but early adjustment steps should help reduce the time needed to switch)

Oh, and do that thing from Die Hard: Walk around your room barefoot and makes fists with your toes in the carpet. (i dunno if it works, comedic intent only)

[Taro Toporific]

....o there is no time to lay around for 3 days adjusting....Tips, suggestions.

Use the Pongi Cure(tm): PARTY ALL NIGHT and DAY and NIGHT AGAIN.
You'll fall asleep when ya need to, really.

[Nikorasu]

Yeah that's the way!!!

Last time I visited Japan I didn't notice any Jetlag, but once back home in Sweden I got sick as a puppy two days later =)...

[AssKissinger]

It's too bad you didn't get your sleeping pills in Japan. I've mentioned before on here that I have a problem with insomnia. The natural stuff Gomi's talking about won't work if you have a real problem. Have I used sleeping pills to overcome jetlag? Oh yeah. When it's time to sleep take double the recommended dose. Real sleeping pills slow down your nervous system and practically force you to sleep. Travel and jetleg timezone insanity leaves me so bug-eyed I couldn't sleep normal for at least two weeks if it weren't for the pills. And it kills me during the day. My body and brain just shut down. Anyone who preaches about the dangers of sleeping pills should feel the dangers of real insomnia. I recommend Halcion or Lendromin (not sure what it's called in America). It's funny because usually the Japanese are so conservative about medicine but they hand out sleeping pills like candy. Getcha-ass hooked!

[devicenull]

oddly, i dont get jet lag going west, but it hit me for 2 weeks on the return trip

[ahochaude]

When I go to Japan, I don't really experience the jet lag symptoms.
Basically, I stay up all night (till 3:00am) before I go. Then, when I'm on the plane, I can sleep throughout the whole flight.
And when I come back, I usually sleep late (11:30pm or so) the night before and wake up early on my departure date. Then I can sleep all the way back and when I finally arrive back home, it's still 9:30-10:30am. So in essence, it's not like I really lost any sleep, more or less have jet lag.

(IMO) better and cheaper than a sleeping pill!

[Taro Toporific]

... I recommend Halcion ...!

Halcion works because is only is effective for 2-3 hours. It'll knock you out but then wear off long before you wake up...no groggy feeling. Also Japanese girls like Halcion, and request it by name; go figure. BTW: An overdose of booze + Halcion is what most likely killed Lucy Blackmen.

[AssKissinger]

BTW: An overdose of booze + Halcion is what most likely killed Lucy Blackmen.

I wonder how close I've come. I thought she was murdered by some psycho?

[Taro Toporific]

BTW: An overdose of booze + Halcion is what most likely killed Lucy Blackmen.

I wonder how close I've come. I thought she was murdered by some psycho?

Halcion was Japan's favorite Date-Rape drug. The most likely scenerio is that PsychoCreep hit her with too much Halcion+booze and she stopped breathing. He made an emergercy call and then hung up before giving an address or details. Psycho-kun had a history of other drug date-rapes.

[mnine]

Being jet-lagged in Tokyo has to be one of life's non-issues.

A couple of guys I know with Bose noise canceling headphones say it helps a lot, but I can't say personally, seeing as I don't have their high salaries for pricey toys or rack up international miles like they do.

[Andocrates]

I purchased 60 halcion for $110.00 US, hee hee. Doctors will move heaven and earth to treat some little issue, but a major issue like insomnia they don't give a crap. I'm hording though, I have 60 ambian and 60 halcion for a 3 month stay.

[GuyJean]

I'm hording though, I have 60 ambian and 60 halcion for a 3 month stay.

Kick down, bro..

2 valium, bottle o beer.. Take one down, pass it around.. Drink a lot of water beforehand..

GJ