Travelling on a long international flight can be a hectic affair.

After all, you are travelling from one time zone to another, so there are bound to be some negative impacts on your body’s clock. Most notably, your sleep patterns take the biggest hit from such a journey.

That’s why many passengers prefer taking sleeping pills to help with this aspect. But here’s the thing - most sleeping pills are prescription drugs that cannot be used without the approval of a doctor. And even though there are several over-the-counter options available, not all of them are effective.

But there’s no need to worry, for here, we have done the research and reviewed some of the best options that you can get today. So, dive in if you are curious!

Five Best Sleeping Pills Reviews

1. Noocube Sleep Upgrade

The Noocube Sleep Upgrade features a potent, natural blend of herbs and minerals. It uses lemon balm leaf powder and lavender extract that help to calm your nerves while travelling on a long-haul flight. Besides, it contains vitamin D3, magnesium and calcium, all of which help to relax your body and regulate brain functions. As a result, you will start feeling drowsy shortly after taking the sleeping pill.

What’s more, the quality of sleep you get with this tablet is quite good. It gives you a deep and uninterrupted sleep experience, regardless of what happens around you. Subsequently, you’ll feel refreshed and rejuvenated when you wake up. It is easy to use as well - just take one around 30 minutes before starting your overnight flight, and you will be sound asleep after the plane takes off.

Drawback

This option is pretty expensive to purchase.

Verdict

Unlike most sleeping pills available today, the Noocube Sleep Upgrade does not use melatonin, meaning that there is no risk of forming a habit. On top of that, it comes with a 60-day money-back guarantee, which gives you sufficient time to try it out.

2. Sleep Support Plus

Sleep Support Plus is a US-made sleeping pill that provides surprisingly strong sedation for long-haul flights. This is all thanks to its composition, which includes melatonin and tryptophan. These two ingredients actively help in improving sleep quality and duration. In fact, they can effectively help mitigate occasional sleeplessness, which is a common occurrence in long, international flights that involves crossing multiple time zones.

Apart from that, the sleeping tablet includes a blend of natural herbs as well. It uses goji berry and lemon balm extracts to make you feel calm and composed. Additionally, chamomile extract helps to reduce your brain activity, thereby making you feel relaxed. And lastly, valerian root, a.k.a. “nature's Xanax,” reduces stress so that you can get a peaceful and uninterrupted sleep throughout the flight. 

Drawback

Since it is imported from the US, the delivery process can take some time.

Verdict

This particular option uses a blend of traditional and modern ingredients for a fulfilling sleep that makes you feel refreshed and rejuvenated after waking up. And if you are worried about its safety, then don’t be, for they are made in FDA-registered facilities that follow GMP (good manufacturing practices) guidelines.

3. Source Naturals Sleep Science Nutrasleep

The Source Naturals Sleep Science Nutrasleep is one of the best over-the-counter sleep aids that you can get, thanks to its blend of natural ingredients. It provides you with the GABA neurotransmitter, along with an assortment of vitamins and minerals - all of which help to soothe and relax your body for the long flight.

Each package comes with 100 tablets, which makes it the perfect choice for frequent flyers. It is simple to use, too, for all you need to do is pop a couple of tablets around 30 to 40 minutes before your flight. And once you fall asleep, its potent formulation will ensure that you stay asleep, no matter what happens in your surroundings.

Drawback

If you are pregnant, this tablet may not be suitable for you.

Verdict

This sleeping tablet comes at a fairly affordable price point, and considering how many tablets you get in a package, it offers good value for your money. Moreover, it is free from eggs, soy, wheat, dairy, sugar, preservatives and artificial agents, which makes it safe, gluten-free and vegan-friendly.

4. Force Factor Somnapure

The Force Factor Somnapure is another worthy sleep aid for your next trip to another time zone. This dietary supplement uses a safe but powerful formulation that is made up of an assortment of natural herbs, melatonin, calcium and L-theanine. Instead of unnaturally forcing you to sleep, these ingredients gradually relax your body so that you can fall into a deep, restorative sleep in a short time.

Besides, it ensures that you remain asleep for a long time and wake up fully refreshed and rejuvenated. When flying between different places, such an aspect can be quite useful for combating sleeplessness and jet lag. Furthermore, it is a highly affordable option, which makes it a great choice for those on a budget.

Drawback

The shape and size of the tablets can make them a bit difficult to swallow.

Verdict

While the recommended dosage is two tablets, a single tablet works well enough, which means that you can stretch your supply for a long time. In addition to that, the tablet does not use any habit-forming ingredients, which makes it safe to consume.

5. Banyan Botanicals I Sleep Soundly

With the Banyan Botanical I Sleep Soundly, you get just what the name suggests. This particular sleeping aid uses a blend of natural, ayurvedic ingredients. All you need to do is take one or two tablets roughly half an hour before sleep time, and it will help you fall asleep faster.

Likewise, it ensures that you get a deep, restful sleep without interruptions. This can be particularly useful when your co-passengers are relatively noisy, and you end up getting the middle seat between them.

Drawback

You will need to get the doctor’s prescription if you are pregnant or have any medical condition.

Verdict

The organic-certified formulation of this product is gluten-free and 100% vegetarian. Besides, it does not contain melatonin, so there are almost zero side effects.

Final Words

That was our list of the top five sleeping tablets for flying. Before we wrap up, we’d like to mention our favourites from the above list. 

The Noocube Sleep Upgrade is our top pick, as it gives you high-quality, refreshing sleep, regardless of your flight conditions. And thanks to its natural formulation, you don’t have to worry about forming a habit or any other side effects.

However, if you want a more affordable option, you can go with the US-made Sleep Support Plus tablets. It offers the same quality and duration of sleep and keeps your body relaxed throughout the flight.

Additionally, we recommend listening to white noise if you’re not comfortable resorting to sleep aid or pills for long hours in the plane.