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Jet lag treatment
"Effective treatment for insomnia and jet lag. Helps the body adjust to a change in time zones. Take one tablet 1-2 hours before bedtime."
What is jet lag treatment?
Travelling across time zones can play havoc with your sleep routine. Jet lag can be treated using tablets that contain a hormone called melatonin. It can help you get to sleep so you can sync your body clock to the time at your destination.
What is this treatment used for?
In the UK, melatonin tablets can be taken to treat both jet lag and insomnia.
How do jet lag tablets work?
The active ingredient in this jet lag treatment is melatonin, a hormone your brain produces naturally to regulate sleep patterns.
How to take jet lag treatment
Take one tablet 1-2 hours before you go to bed for 2-4 days after you arrive at your destination.
If you forget to take your tablet before you go to bed, skip that missed dose and take your tablet as normal the next night. You should never take a double dose. Setting an alarm can help you to take your jet lag treatment regularly.
Jet lag pills are safe to use in the short term, as prescribed. But you shouldn’t use this treatment for more than 5 days at a time, or as a cure for insomnia when you’re not travelling.
This medication is not suitable if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding.
Treatment results
Studies suggest melatonin tablets can be effective when you're flying across multiple time zones. But there’s no conclusive evidence that they work.
Avoid drinking alcohol before or after you take these jet lag tablets, as it can mean the treatment doesn’t work as well.
Possible side effects
As with all medications, some people may experience side effects when taking a jet lag treatment. These include drowsiness, joint pain, headaches or feelings of sickness.
For full details of side effects and correct use, see the jet lag treatment patient information leaflet. If you’re worried about side effects, contact us in your Patient Record.
What is jet lag?
Jet lag is our body trying to play catch up when we take a long flight. It’s very common and can make falling asleep or waking up in the morning more difficult. Jet lag can also cause tiredness during the first few days of travel.
What causes jet lag?
Jet lag is caused by long flights and it’s your body adjusting to the new time zone. The symptoms usually only last for a few days.
What are the symptoms?
When you travel between time zones, you can experience:
- Insomnia
- Irritability
- A change in appetite
- A general feeling of tiredness or trouble staying awake
You may also have concentration and memory issues or even a feeling of sickness (nausea).
Treatment for jet lag
We can prescribe treatment for the sleep disturbance that comes with jet lag. It contains a naturally occurring hormone called melatonin, which regulates your sleep patterns. Many people find it helps them adjust more quickly to a new time zone, so they can get to sleep at night.
How is it diagnosed?
Jet lag is not a medical issue. For most of us, it’s a disturbance to our normal rest and wake patterns that only lasts a couple of days. But this can mean we don’t make the most of our time away. Especially on short trips.
With a simple online consultation, we can make sure jet lag tablets are suitable for you. Then we’ll deliver the medication discreetly to your home. Or you can pick it up from your nearest Well Pharmacy.
Important: If you get prescribed medicine, it’s for your use only. You should never share it.
