These drugs are usually taken shortly before a flight. They include: Anti-anxiety medication, such as diazepam (Valium) or alprazolam (Xanax). Motion sickness medication, such as dimenhydrinate (Dramamine).
Deep breathing is known to trigger a comfort response and will help prevent hyperventilation. Reading a book or listening to a good podcast can refocus your mind and attention. Distracting yourself from the fact that you are flying can be a great way to keep calm if you're a nervous flyer..
People often come to us requesting the doctor or nurse to prescribe diazepam for fear of flying or assist with sleep during flights. Diazepam is a sedative, which means it makes you sleepy and more relaxed.
If you know you're prone to motion sickness or nausea in other forms of travel, make sure to pack Dramamine®. It actually prevents nausea, dizziness, and vomiting.
Aspirin: Taking an aspirin tablet (either a 75mg “junior aspirin” or a normal 300mg aspirin tablet) a few hours before a long journey may provide a small amount of extra protection against DVT.
Talk to your doctor about wearing compression stockings or taking medicine before departure if you have additional risk factors for blood clots. Taking aspirin to prevent blood clots when traveling is not recommended.
Is Paracetamol ok to take whilst flying? If Paracetamol is being taken for resolving muscular back ache which has no restriction on safe flying capabilities, Paracetamol has been used before without any significant side effects, then its generally going to be ok to use.
Your blood pressure could rise
The higher you are in the sky, the less oxygen your body will carry, and less oxygen means higher blood pressure. If you typically have a regular blood pressure or even a low blood pressure, this increase will likely have no effect on you.
Aspirin—Pretreatment with aspirin before travel to high altitudes appears to decrease the incidence and severity of headaches, the main symptom of mild AMS. Take one aspirin tablet every 4 hours for three doses before arrival. After arrival, take two tablets three times daily for 3 days. (Ibuprofen also works.)
Background: Aspirin effectively prevents headache when mostly resting during acute high-altitude exposure. However, the majority of individuals exposed to high altitude perform mountaineering activities, which might trigger headache.
TAKE IBUPROFEN BEFORE YOU BOARD
If you know you're prone to aviation headaches, take a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agent (i.e. ibuprofen) one to two hours before takeoff to get ahead of any inflammation or pain.
The nonsedating antihistamines loratidine (Claritin), desloratidine (Clarinex) and Fexofenadine (Allegra) may be used while flying if, after an adequate initial trial period, symptoms are controlled without adverse side effects.
Hydration: Remember to drink plenty of water before flying, even if you tossed your liquids at the security checkpoint. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, both of which can lead to dehydration. Get up and stretch: Especially on long flights, walk around the cabin and stretch the legs.
Take an over-the-counter pain medicine, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), or naproxen (Aleve). Read and follow all instructions on the label. If available, you may also be able to use oxygen or a specially designed pressure chamber to treat altitude sickness.
acetazolamide to prevent and treat high-altitude sickness. ibuprofen and paracetamol for headaches. anti-sickness medicine, such as promethazine, for nausea.
Dexamethasone. Dexamethasone is effective for preventing and treating AMS and HACE and might prevent HAPE as well. Unlike acetazolamide, if the drug is discontinued at elevation before acclimatization, mild rebound can occur.
Some researchers think the condition occurs because a lack of oxygen to the brain causes it to swell with fluids. Ibuprofen may help to reduce that swelling. Other medications are available to prevent mountain sickness — specifically, acetazolamide and dexamethasone — but they have downsides.
Tips to Avoid Altitude Illness
Ascend gradually. Avoid traveling from a low elevation to an elevation higher than 9,000 feet (2,750 m) above sea level in one day. If possible, spend a few days at 8,000–9,000 feet before traveling to a higher elevation. This gives your body time to adjust to the lower oxygen levels.
A critical component up in high country is monitoring your electrolyte balance, as it helps you combat altitude sickness and nausea.