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Summary

  • Jet lag is when your body's internal clock is disrupted because of time zone changes.
  • You might feel fatigued, and have difficulty sleeping and concentrating.
  • Melatonin is a natural 'sleep hormone' that can help get your schedule back on track
Here’s what's included in the price:
Consultation
Answer a few questions about your health so we can get to know you better.
Free 24h delivery
Your treatment delivered in secure packaging, the very next day.
Aftercare
We’ll check in with you regularly to see how your treatment is going.
View all prices  
Jet lag

What is jet lag?

Your body clock works according to the hours of daylight and the rising and setting of the sun to keep you in-sync with the environment you live in.

When you travel to a different time zone this can be disrupted, causing your body to struggle to adapt. It can be common for you to feel like you need to sleep in the middle of the day, or to feel wide awake at bedtime. You might also feel irritated, or like you’re struggling to concentrate.

Jet lag can also affect your digestive system if your meal times become out of sync with what your body is used to, causing indigestion, nausea and constipation.

Who gets jet lag?

Anyone who travels through different time zones can experience jet lag. The more significant the time zone change, the more disruptive jet lag tends to be. When travelling from Europe to America, for example, the time difference can be between five and seven hours, meaning that it can often be daytime in America when it’s night time in Europe. This can cause your sleep schedule to become disrupted as you get tired earlier than normal.

Jet lag is usually worse when travelling east, because you ‘lose’ time and have to stay awake for longer, which can make it more difficult to adjust .

You might also suffer more from jet lag as you age, because you produce less of the sleep hormone ‘melatonin’ as you get older.

How common is jet lag?

Jet lag is very common among people who travel by plane, particularly those who travel east over long distances.

Medically reviewed by
Dr Daniel Atkinson
GP Clinical Lead
on February 10, 2023.
Meet Daniel  
Daniel
This page was medically reviewed by Dr Daniel Atkinson, GP Clinical Lead on February 10, 2023. Next review due on February 10, 2025.

How we source info.

When we present you with stats, data, opinion or a consensus, we’ll tell you where this came from. And we’ll only present data as clinically reliable if it’s come from a reputable source, such as a state or government-funded health body, a peer-reviewed medical journal, or a recognised analytics or data body. Read more in our editorial policy.

Jet lag

What causes jet lag?

Jet lag is caused when your body’s natural circadian rhythm falls out of sync with your environment. Your circadian rhythm is an internal clock that regulates your hormones to make you feel sleepy or alert at certain times. So when you change time zones, these hormones can become out of sync with the time, making you feel tired during the day and awake at night.

This can cause a range of symptoms, the strength of which often depend on the number of time zones you’ve travelled through, as well as the direction of travel.

What are the symptoms of jet lag?

The main symptoms of jet lag include:

  • tiredness and fatigue
  • lack of concentration
  • memory problems
  • difficulty staying awake during the day
  • irritability
  • difficulty getting to sleep at bedtime

In some cases jet lag can also cause disruption to your digestive system, which can cause indigestion, stomach cramps and constipation.

Some people also report feelings of mild anxiety when they are jet lagged.

Can jet lag lead to other problems?

Although jet lag itself isn’t dangerous, the sleep deprivation associated with it can have an impact on your overall health - leading to disordered sleep and insomnia.

There’s also some evidence to suggest that it can increase your risk of cancer, infertility, and heart disease.

Medically reviewed by
Dr Daniel Atkinson
GP Clinical Lead
on February 10, 2023.
Meet Daniel  
Daniel
This page was medically reviewed by Dr Daniel Atkinson, GP Clinical Lead on February 10, 2023. Next review due on February 10, 2025.

How we source info.

When we present you with stats, data, opinion or a consensus, we’ll tell you where this came from. And we’ll only present data as clinically reliable if it’s come from a reputable source, such as a state or government-funded health body, a peer-reviewed medical journal, or a recognised analytics or data body. Read more in our editorial policy.

Jet lag

What medications are there for jet lag?

Melatonin is the only approved treatment for jet lag in the UK.


Melatonin is a naturally occurring ‘sleep hormone’, which is produced in line with your circadian rhythm. When you’re jet lagged your body is out of sync with the time of day, so it doesn’t produce all the melatonin you need to help you to get to sleep.


As a result, taking melatonin in order to replace this deficit might be able to get your circadian schedule back on track.

Is there a ‘best’ treatment for jet lag?

As well as melatonin, there are a number of self-care methods that you can use to help you with the symptoms of jet lag.

Do:

  • sleep well before your trip
  • plan for some recovery time on the first day of your trip
  • stay hydrated
  • exercise
  • get out into the sunlight when you arrive
  • develop a relaxing bedtime routine


Don’t:

  • consume a lot of alcohol or caffeine
  • ‘catch up’ on sleep when you arrive


You should also be careful to avoid melatonin supplements that don’t come from approved sellers - they might not contain the ingredients or dosages that they claim to.

Does jet lag always need treatment?

Jet lag will usually improve on its own as long as you’re mindful of it and give yourself time to adjust to your new environment. Having a good bedtime routine is an important factor in limiting the effects of jet lag and helping a speedy recovery.

Medically reviewed by
Dr Daniel Atkinson
GP Clinical Lead
on February 10, 2023.
Meet Daniel  
Daniel
This page was medically reviewed by Dr Daniel Atkinson, GP Clinical Lead on February 10, 2023. Next review due on February 10, 2025.

How we source info.

When we present you with stats, data, opinion or a consensus, we’ll tell you where this came from. And we’ll only present data as clinically reliable if it’s come from a reputable source, such as a state or government-funded health body, a peer-reviewed medical journal, or a recognised analytics or data body. Read more in our editorial policy.

Jet lag

FAQ: Jet lag

Have something specific you want to know? Search our info below, or ask our experts a question if you can’t find what you’re looking for.

How is jet lag diagnosed?

Answer:
There’s no test for jet lag. It’s usually diagnosed through discussing your symptoms and travel history with a clinician.

Can you get side effects from jet lag treatment?

Answer:
The low dose of melatonin taken to combat jet lag rarely gives you any side effects. Because it’s a naturally occurring hormone that’s produced in your brain, your body should be used to it.

Does jet lag treatment always work?

Answer:
Jet lag’s often short-lived, and gets better within a day or two. You’re unlikely to feel any effects at all after about a week. If you find that your symptoms aren’t going away and you’re still struggling after a week, then feel free to chat to one of our clinicians. They should be able to offer you some expert advice on how to improve your symptoms.

This page was medically reviewed by Dr Daniel Atkinson, GP Clinical Lead on February 10, 2023. Next review due on February 10, 2025.

Jet lag: Here's what we've got.

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