Korean Job Discussion Forums

[SeoulMan6]

I've got a friend's wedding to go to back in the US and I've got to hit the ground running. The rehearsal and rehearsal dinner are just a couple of hours after landing.

My flight leaves at 2pm Korean time (10 hour flight). If I can sleep about 5 hours on the plane, I should be good to go. But how?

I've heard good things about Ambien, but you need a prescription (in the US and Korea).

Any advice on forcing myself to sleep?

Thanks!

[JJJ]

My Aussie mate gave me a handful of super extra strength Panadol (is this correct?) for the flight home and back. Wow. I had an awesome rest and I usually can never sleep for more than an hour before.

[blackjack]

[Chambertin]

Drink.

Hit the bar on the way over. Get a very light buzz, then dorp two after takeoff. Should doze you out for a while. When you wake up pound water and its a good idea to drink water inbetween drinks.

Shouls mello you out enough to sleep and no hangovers.
Works for me on every flight, except coming back from Hawaii, the locals sent me off with enough vigor to give me and the guy next to me a headache.

[oldtactics]

Buy Calms Forte at any natural foods store - it's herbal and in my opinion, works just as well as any sleeping pill without the grogginess after you wake up. Could just be a placebo but it always works for me on planes, I love the stuff.

[bassexpander]

I've got the solution for you, and it's cheap.

There is an allergy medicine you may have heard of called Zyrtec. They sell it in Korea under that name, and various other cheaper generic names. If you have sneezes/runny nose/allergies, it's great, but a full pill makes me as tired as heck. I can sleep 14 hours on it, so I just take half. Everyone else I know who takes the stuff has to do the same, or they can't stay awake.

Zyrtec is sold over-the-counter at pharmacies in Korea for 1,500 to 4,000 won for a pack of 10. You don't need a prescription. Taking one, even if you don't have allergies, won't hurt you in the slightest. I suggest taking it at least 6 hours in advance. Take a full pill. It'll make you groggy for a good 20 hours, I'd say.

You can get Zyrtec (it's 4,000 for the real stuff) or buy the generic copies under the names of Allertec and Say-ro-tech. You'll probably find Allertec easiest to find. That one for sure knocks me out. It's about 2,500 to 3,000 per box

[Otherside]

Don't sleep before.

Keep yourself busy all night, (partying, playing computer games, watching movies, reading etc). Obviously this works best with an earlyish morning flight, and not too good with the afternoon night flights.

Tips: Set an Alarm at the airport, so in case u pass it while waiting for your flight, you'l wake up.

With this method, I can get a good 8-9 hours sleep on a 12 hour flight...in economy. On a flight from London to JNB, i fell asleep before take off, and woke-up when hit the ground. Slept the ENTIRE 11 hours! Admittadly I was younger and partied extra hard the night before

[D.D.]

Just get your rest that week so you can handle the wedding with or without sleep. That is better than making yourself tired which might make you sick. Meds are a lot worse for your health than most people imagine so not worth doing that to just get some sleep. Just get extra sleep the week before and have some hot milk without the coffee before you get on your flight.

[prideofidaho]

don't know if it's prescribed here but I usually pop an Ativan (Lorazepam). No drowsy after effects.

[Robot_Teacher]

Avoid alcohol as it will make you exhausted and weak due to dehydration. I would recommend the melatonin and an eye mask. When going East, it gets dark much quicker if departing in the day, but if going West, then you're chasing the sun in the clear blue sky if departing in the daytime. That was how it worked going to Europe a few times. I left Chicago like at 9AM for Seoul and we chased the sun for hours and it still was nothing near night upon arrival as night came and went in like only 2 or 3 hours, but was already the next day on the calendar like 3:30AM. I was so exhausted, but a new day was just starting with many business matters to tend to taking another 15 hours before settling in to hit the bed. Very exhuasting. How wierd is that? Well jet travel is not natural so you'll get quite jet lagged.

[JBomb]

Beer is great. Don't get enough to get super plowed and rowdy, but enough that you get a bit of a buzz. Hops plants are actually genetically similar to marijuana and thus they have that same effect of drowsiness if consumed in low, but substantial enough levels. 2 big pints of ale will do the trick. Deprive yourself of sleep the night before so you are also itching to get some shut eye. Also, bring along your own pillow and aim for a window seat. You will have more head room. Then get some ear plugs or just some quiet music in the ears and pass the hell out.

[ppcg4]

Go to any clinic and tell them that you're going to be on a flight and you need to sleep. They'll give you some xanax, likely, or maybe zolpidem (ambien) if you're lucky.

Either of the international clinics in Itaewon will hook you up.

Xanax and ambien are both pretty short-acting, so they won't leave you feeling all buzzed out after a good 6+ hours of sleep. Whatever you do though, don't drink while taking either. I broke my hand and busted my eyebrow open when I fell after drinking wine and taking xanax (as prescribed).