Author Topic: JET LAG
ual744777sta

Posts: 104
From: LAX Area, UA 2P LH Regular
Registered: Mar 2002 posted 10-02-2002 08:08 PM
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Probably the most negative thing about travel, Jet-Lag. How do you guys and gals deal with jet-lag? What is the best remedy out there?

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Fly United, the only carrier in the world to offer Channel 9, Free movies and free headseats Throughout Coach.

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j379pa

Posts: 779
From: Phoenix, AZ USA
Registered: Apr 2000 posted 10-02-2002 08:10 PM
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Coffee & Bailey's, in flight. Then, stay up to the normal time of wherever you're at.

Coming home--may as well have the dt's.

JP

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crankyusi

Posts: 1065
From: san jose, calif, usa
Registered: Jul 2000 posted 10-02-2002 09:51 PM
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quote:
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Originally posted by ual744777sta:
deal with jet-lag? What is the best remedy out there?
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Do 2 mileage runs, not 1. After completing the 1st and being weighed down by that jet lag, start another mileage run immediately to gain new jet lag which will neutralize the old jet lag from the first run. 1-1=0.


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essxjay

Posts: 2501
From: PDX -- UA 1P, US Gold, Hilton Gold
Registered: posted 10-02-2002 11:06 PM
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Please continue the discussion in TravelBuzz!, as this topic isn't about a get-together. Thanks.

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essxjay
FT Community moderator

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Finally located Melatonin 1 mg. for those sleepless nites on the redeyes, and time changes. Worked wonders last nite!

Suggestions for post travel sleeplessness?
http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttr...ML/004667.html

Although I've never used it, I'm interested in learning more about melatonin. Can it be purchased in the US over the counter, or is a prescription required? Does it make you sleepy, or does it make you wired (as if you've had 3 cups of coffee)? What dosage amount do you recommend? When is the best time to take it; i.e., how soon before a trip, during a trip, or after a trip? Any negative side effects? I've got a trip to eastern europe coming up next week and am not looking forward to the jet lag. My typical modus operendi is to stay up all night on the flight (I usually feel worse if I nap) spend day one in the new country on their time immediately, feel groggy all day, then go to bed just after dinner and am usually ok when I awake the next morning. I'd love to hear any helpful tips that work for you.

Melatonin is available OTC in the U.S.. Check in the vitamin section.

It (natural form - not the synthesized one you buy) is something the body produces but the cability is lost with advancing age. That's why generally infants and children can sleep so well and long while older adults cannot.

Can't say it's helped me.

Nothing (in a pill form) has helped me. Falling asleep on a plane for more than minutes here and there doesn't happen either. What seems to work best (and it varies from trip to trip), is to stay awake until bedtime at my destination (even if its a somewhat earlier bedtime) no matter what it takes.

Discussed melatonin with a friend, that treats the astronautes. They use it to regulate the change in hours.

The past three nites I have taken it an hour or so before wanting to go to sleep. It has helped very much and with a deeper more restful sleep. No more waking during the nite.

Yes it is recommended for mature folks for anti-aging programs. It will be especially useful for the long flights, rather then staying awake all nite.

Two years ago, before going to Spain, I read about melatonin for jet lag in Conde Nast Traveler. We got some and have kept it on hand and taken it on trips ever since.

When traveling, it is excellent to help you get a restful nap on long flights, and to help you get to sleep the first few nights when your body clock is opposite of your local time zone.

At home, on the rare occasion that I can't get to sleep, I take it and get a very restful sleep and never feel groggy.

It is usually at KMart, Walmart, drug stores, etc. Best to get the tablets (vs. the capsules). The 3 ml tablets can be broken and just take 1 ml first to see how it goes for you. If you buy the capsules, they are much harder to divide.

We very highly recommend it

A tip for short trips:

If you have to take a short trip (like a business trip) and you can do it, stay on your own home time zone. It takes about a day per hour difference to adjust, so if you travel from east coast US to west coast for a 4 day trip, you would be heading home just after finally adjusting to the time change. I have gone to the west coast for 4 day trips and just got up at 6am instead of 9am and went to bed at 9-10pm instead of 12-1am. Went home and did not miss a beat.

Melatonin can be unhealthy for younger people. I know of 2 occasions when people under 30 who took it developed severe and long lasting headaches.

I've had sleeping problems my entire life and was suffering jet lag/exhaustion even on domestic trips with a 1-2 hr time change. Last summer, my doctor prescribed Ambien, and it has been a miracle drug for me. I take it about 30 minutes before bed, and it helps me fall asleep, stay asleep, and wake up feeling refreshed. No groggy/knocked out feeling in the morning. I haven't experienced any side effects. I use it on a limited basis--only when I'm travelling for work and need to get up at what is 4 or 5 am to my body. I will use it later this year on a transatlantic flight to help me sleep over night (wide awake the whole time my last four flights without it).

Please also see:

http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttr...ML/000061.html

http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttr...ML/002149.html

http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttr...ML/007147.html

I'm not a melatonin fan. I've tried it--it does get me to sleep, but I was not fond of its hangover effect, even with a small dose.

I see no point in using an herbal supplement when FDA-regulated options are available. I always think of the horrible case of tryptophan, an herbal sleep aid, which ended up causing several cases of eosinophilia-myalgia syndrome.

Benadryl is the hypnotic of choice in the hospital. It has a hangover effect as well, but it's safe and not habit-forming.

I think Ambien is a brilliant drug for occasional use, but most clinicians are too afraid to prescribe it. In fact, I only know of one MD who will prescribe any sleep aid.

I'll have prescriptive authority at the end of next year; maybe I'll be just as stingy.

The tryptophan is still an excellent sleep aid. The problem of easinophilia was related to ONE manufacturer in Japan and that is all!

There have been some articles over the past year or two about melatonin and how some of it is contaminated with some toxic substance. I don't remember the details and I've sinced stopped taking melatonin, but you might want to look into it if you're taking or planning on taking it.

d