clansey1973

Dear All,

I know it is very hard to obtain in the UK but seems available in the USA.

Has anybody flying long-haul taken Melatonin?
Is any particular brand better than another?
Does it really relief the effects of Jet Lag?

Many thanks,

LHR Tim

Used to do it ages ago. Gave it up. Felt too groggy and not heard too much good about it.

Now I just get p!ssed on the plane.

bjorns

That's my man.

bjorns

astralclouds

I regularly listen to Melatonin on long haul flights

(spot the obscure radiohead reference)

KenJohn

You need a doctor's prescription in the UK. Cannot be sold without one

Yes

Melatonin is a generic product. Do not think brands matter. Some are of higher dosage than others.

As far as I am concern, it reduces the possibility of you waking up after a short sleep, so you get a longer uninterupted sleep to aid with the time zone changes. Does reduce the effects of Jet Lag per se. However, as long as you get sufficient sleep, you get over Jet Lag faster.

sculler1x

Seems to work for me - I use it on JFK-HKG and JFK-AMM flights pretty frequently. Ambien makes me hazy, but not sleepy, booze gives me a hangover, Tylenol PM (diphenhydramine) gives me a headache, melotonin seems to work. It's generic and widely available here in the US.

I find it works best if taken at least two hours before you want to get to sleep (e.g. when preparing to board, so you can fall asleep after the meal service), and doesn't have much of a hangover effect. YMMV.

heramato

It works for me. If sometime you`re in Buenos Aires, buy some "Buenas Noches" (no prescription) It works better than the others.

Trav+

As sculler1x said, melatonin should be taken a couple of hours before sleep. Ideally the person who's taken it should be in a darkened room / plane in order to trick the epiphysis into thinking it's time for sleep, so get that mask on.

When flying in W I've found Superdrug's Quiet Night or Boots' Sleep Well tablets to work rather well, as valerian is a decent hypnotic. Half a glass of red to wash them down with a result of a bit of restful sleep.

nbevan

Melatonin is available in all drug stores and health food shops in the US: make sure you buy the maximum dose tablets (3 Mg). It can also be purchased by mail order from outside the US (for example from amazon.com).

I once read some research which showed that not everybody reported a reduction in jet lag with melatonin, but it works for me! Particularly helps avoid waking up in the middle of the night on the first night in the US from Europe.

When returning from the US, according to some research, daylight before the middle of the night will extend the current day for your body clock, rather than starting a new one. So jet lag will be reduced by avoiding an early morning arrival, and taking a late flight to Europe that gets in in the middle of the day. This also works for me.

gonesouth

I've found if your not tired when you take it you get a cracking headache. Although that might have been the wine to try and assist the sleeping

latitude

I've used it in the past. More so when I arrive at a destination (States/Asia) to ensure I get a good nights sleep as invariably I have to work the next day. It doesn't eliminate jet lag, but it certainly helps you sleep a few hours longer without waking up at stupid 'o' clock.

I have tried it on a plane, and it doesn't seem to have made too much of a difference...mind you I rarely get to travel in J so I'm sure that plays a part.

nbevan

I often find myself washing down the melatonin with my wine: the perfect combination to get to sleep!

edi-traveller

Same here - found that it made me sleep but I woke up feeling like I had a hang over - so I thought I might as well have the plonk as well......

Dr Dave

Certainly works for me. I use the Melapure dual release tablets that I buy in the airport at Hong Kong. This releases a reasonably large initial dose to help you to get to sleep, then a slow amount over the next few hours to keep you there. I have found it to be far more effective than any other approach (e.g. sleeping tablets, alcohol, exercise) - for example on Sunday last week I returned from New Zealand (the journey and time zone change from hell), but was able to function fully at work on Monday.

I don't notice any substantial side effects and also find it easy to stop taking them after three or four days.

Rick A 1

I recently tried Melatonin on a trip back from MIA. I didn't get a moment's sleep, as I could only get W. However...

When I landed I went straight into the office planning to do only half a day. 3 things happened..

1. Everyone in the office laughed at my bright red lips. They were so red they thought I was wearing lipstick (which confused everyone because I'm a bloke)
2. I stayed in the office until after 6 without aid of coffee, pro-plus etc
3. Stayed awake until a normal time, and woke up the next morning feeling absolutely fine

..i.e. the first time in my life I have not experienced jet lag in any way whatsoever.

As such I intend to buy some melatonin when back in the US next week, but slightly worried about the lips. Has anyone else had this experience?