Melatonin for Jet Lag: What You Need to Know
⭐ 4.9/5 on Google · GPhC Registered · NHS & Private · Same-day appointments in Kingston
⭐ 4.9/5 on Google · GPhC Registered · NHS & Private · Same-day appointments in Kingston
What melatonin is, how it may help with jet lag, how licensed 3mg products are taken, possible side effects, and when to speak to a pharmacist.
Melatonin is a hormone produced naturally by the brain’s pineal gland.
Your body normally produces more melatonin after it gets dark, with levels helping to signal that it is time to sleep. Levels then fall during daylight hours.
This means that melatonin plays an important role in regulating your circadian rhythm, or body clock.
When you travel across several time zones, your natural sleep-wake cycle can become temporarily misaligned with the local time.
Melatonin may help support the process of adjusting to the new schedule.
Melatonin can help signal to your body that it is time to sleep.
When taken at the appropriate time at your destination, it may help your body adjust its circadian rhythm following rapid travel across time zones.
There is evidence that melatonin can reduce the severity of jet-lag symptoms and may shorten the recovery period following a long flight.
Taking melatonin at the wrong time may reduce its effectiveness or interfere with the process of adjusting your body clock. This is why timing is particularly important when using melatonin for jet lag.
Licensed melatonin products are available for the short-term treatment of jet lag in adults.
It is important to have an assessment before treatment because melatonin is not suitable for everyone.
This helps determine whether melatonin is an appropriate option for you.
For licensed 3mg melatonin tablets indicated for jet lag, the standard dose is 3mg once daily for a maximum of 5 days.
The first dose should generally be taken when you arrive at your destination, at your usual bedtime in the new time zone.
Always follow the specific instructions provided with your prescribed medicine and by your pharmacist.
Some licensed 3mg melatonin products allow the dose to be increased to 6mg if 3mg does not adequately relieve symptoms.
However, this should only be done where appropriate and according to the instructions provided by the prescriber or pharmacist.
Taking more does not necessarily mean that melatonin will work better, so the lowest effective dose for the shortest appropriate period should be used.
Melatonin is generally well tolerated when used appropriately, but side effects can occur.
Some of these symptoms can be difficult to distinguish from jet lag itself.
Because melatonin can cause drowsiness and reduce alertness, you should take care with driving or operating machinery.
It is best to avoid alcohol when taking melatonin for jet lag.
Alcohol can interfere with sleep and may make symptoms such as tiredness and poor concentration worse.
Some licensed melatonin products specifically advise against consuming alcohol during treatment.
Yes. Melatonin is a prescription-only medicine in the UK.
This means you should not purchase melatonin from websites selling unlicensed medicines or rely on products marketed as supplements.
An assessment by an appropriate healthcare professional helps ensure that the medicine supplied is suitable for you and that you receive appropriate advice about its use.
Our pharmacy provides a convenient jet lag treatment service for eligible adults.
Before treatment is supplied, one of our pharmacists will carry out a confidential assessment. This allows us to check your medical history, current medication, travel plans and other relevant factors.
Speak to a pharmacist or healthcare professional before taking melatonin if:
Melatonin may be a useful short-term treatment for jet lag in suitable adults, but it is only one part of managing the effects of long-distance travel.
Combining appropriate treatment with good sleep habits, sensible light exposure and adjustment to the local schedule can help make the transition to a new time zone easier.
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