Jet lag and melatonin

You can buy melatonin at most local pharmacies or health foods store. I remember trying it once for jet lag when I was younger -- don't think it really worked.

Assuming you are going from US to Europe and are expecting a 6-7 hr difference in time?

Everyone has their own way of coping with jet lag. My mom swears by going to bed early and getting up early for the entire week before she travels (she does this and it works great for her -- her schedule is already adjusted by the time she gets there!) I find that catching at least 3-4 hours on the plane helps take the edge off. So far, I've never had a trip where I haven't suffered at least a day or two without jet lag. It's never stopped me from starting to enjoy Europe right away though!


Good Luck!

Melatonin gives me nightmares. I don't like it.
I don't sleep well on the planes.
Going over, I'm pretty much on an adrenylin high...and that keeps me going my first day until 9ish... I collapse and am up early the second day and on time.
Coming back west to the US is when I get Jet Lagish. I think that is attributable to "post vacation let down"...so I treat myself very kindly for a few days.

A good friend of mine who travells frequently between Europe and South America for business swears by melatonin for helping with sleep & jet lag issues.

Since it seems to work for some and not others, I'd try it out at home for a week or two before using it on a trip.

Ambien didn't work for me but Melatonin did!

i agree with trying anything out at home BEFORE flying.

Yes, definitely try anything before you leave!

As noted above, we all have our preferred ways of dealing with jet lag and flying. I always use Ambien and it works like a charm, but that isn't necessarily the case for everyone. I've used metanonin, in addition to other otc sleep meds, and none of them worked. Its kind of trial and error.

Tracy

I just push through it. I don't find it's as much of a problem going as it is coming. I can't sleep on the plane and don't nap when I get to my destination. I get out, walk, explore the neighborhood and ususally get to be about 9:00 or so, their time and the next morning I'm up and am OK. When I get home, for the first couple of days, I find I'm crashing in the middle of the afternoon but again I don't give in to it, and after a couple of days I'm fine. It's just a personal thing with me, but I don't like taking medication, I never get sick from jet lag or anything like that. I'm certainly tired the first day I arrive from being up all night, but my body tells I need sleep so eating a light early dinner, and getting into bed fairly early seems to work for me.

I must admit however that I had a terrible time sleeping when I went to Copenhagen and Stockholm right after Christmas last year/first part of this year. I think the very short days and overcast skys (only say the sun for one day actually) had a lot to do with my problem adjusting. I was surprised because on previous trips to London and Paris, and Italy, I had no problems at all, but there was a lot more sunlight on those trips.

If you have never taken any of those medications..melatonin and ambien, I certainly think you should talk to your doctor, look at the possible side affects, and take it before your trip to see how you handle it.

The herbal product, No Jet Lag, seems to work fairly well for me. It seems to eliminate a lot of the drowsiness and disorientation I used to get the first day in Europe. It is not a sleep aid. I've seen it sold in health food stores and airports.

I tried melatonin and it gave me night terrors. Never again for me.

However, I read up a lot on sleep and I've now found that a sleeping mask combined with a mild OTC product like Tylenol PM lets me sleep fine. The sleeping mask helps boost your body's natural production of melatonin because any light, even low light levels like a night light, will reduce melatonin production.

So, for some people, blocking out any light will be enough to raise their melatonin levels and allow sleep. For others, like me, the combination of the sleeping mask and Tylenol PM lets me drift off with no problem.

Won't work for everyone, but should for most people who have trouble sleeping--on an airplane or anywhere else.

Whatever you do, if you do want to try any drug, including melatonin, try it before flying--if I hadn't tried the melatonin at home before flying, I might have caused the pilot to divert the aircraft to the nearest airport.

I used it a few times and it does help. I was excited the night before flying to Europe and used it. It helped me sleep in my bed. On the flight over, I took two and when I woke up, the house lights were coming on for breakfast on the plane.

However, if you have a rough, noisy flight, you probably will need something stronger.

You can also get your melatonin in a natural way - drinking red wine:
http://www.lawineclub.com/artsearch.php?fn=2&dt=1&as=260

what about taking melatonin with something like Tylonol PM?

I've used melatonin, and it makes me sleepy -- but not necessarily asleep. I have learned that if I want it to be effective, I have to start taking it regularly about a week before I need it. It works then...

I found that melatonin works for me. Before I started taking them, I was never able to sleep on the plane. Then I was a wreck the next day.

Now, if I’m taking a long flight, I suck on one or two melatonin drops about 30 minutes before when it would be my bedtime at my destination. Or I if I’m on the ground, I eat one just before bedtime. That seems to reset my clock.

I read that sub-lingual form is the best. But I find holding anything under my tongue irritating. So use drops from some company called FBSHealth, instead, and let them dissolve in my mouth. They taste OK.

I travel a lot so I just keep some on me in my wallet (they are individually wrapped), so I don’t forget to bring them, and I don't have to dig them out of my carry on. And I don’t need to ask for water or anything when I’m on the plane, which is a hassle.

I have to order them online. Has anyone seen these in the store?