Use of zolpidem night before flight
I've used Zolpidem 20-30 nights a year (trade names: Ambien, Stilnoct, Stilnox etc.) too 'boost' my circadian rythm. It's a sleeping pill with a short half-life (2-3 hours), a light version of the benzodiazepines traditionally used.
I wonder if it would be ok to use it the night before a flight (let's say at least ten hours before). I've experienced no hang over or drowsiness as a side effect of the pills, and with the short half-life there probably wouldn't be any traces in the blood either.
I asked my GP about this, but he was relucant to give definitvie answer.