An effective use of melatonin for jet lag

What is JET LAG? Jet lag is a condition that affects travellers. It is caused by a rapid time zone change that disrupts a person's normal sleep-wake cycle. The body adjusts to the new time zone by producing melatonin, and it usually takes 2-14 days. What is MELATONIN? Melatonin is a natural substance produced by the body. The pineal gland, located at the base of the brain, produces melatonin only at night, as darkness stimulates melatonin release. Secretion of melatonin increases progressively between 9pm and 4am, reaching peak levels between 2am and 4am. Melatonin is metabolized in the liver to 6- hydroxy-melatonin and excreted as sulfate and glucuronide conjugates. There are also synthetic formulations of melatonin. After oral administration, melatonin gets rapidly distributed and then eliminated. The initial half-life is estimated to be 2 minutes, and the elimination half-life is 20 to 50 minutes. Dr Pierpaoli recommends taking only the purest synthetic melatonin, with GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) production as only such a production guarantees purity, dosage and sterility. Several commonly used medicines can disrupt melatonin's natural rhythms. Studies have shown that nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories, like aspirin and ibuprofen, can break the normal nocturnal cycle of melatonin. If you are taking any of these medicines and have difficulty sleeping, talk to your doctor about other treatment options. Beta blockers, which are used to treat hypertension and heart problems, can interfere with melatonin production. In fact, people with high blood pressure who are taking beta blockers have lower blood levels of melatonin than people with hypertension who are given different medications such as diuretics. Talk to your doctor about other treatment options.

Jay is 35 years old. He is a flight attendant. He complains of sleep problems, particularly daytime sleepiness and frequent awakenings during the night, decreased energy and alertness. He has been taking melatonin, but he still suffers from jet lag every time he travels. Melatonin has been used for JET LAG and insomnia. But it can also help aging, depression, reproduction, HIV, and cancers. Several studies showed that melatonin promotes sleep when administered before 10 pm to midnight. However, other studies found that melatonin causes significantly more sleepiness when taken at 8pm compared with 11:30pm, possibly due to the fact that the receptors in the brain are already saturated with melatonin late at night. On arrival in the new time zone, Jay should try to stay active until the new time-zone bedtime and resist daytime naps even after a poor night of sleep. Jay should try to take melatonin earlier, that might help. It may take 1 to 3 weeks for his internal time clock to readjust after traveling. In addition, maximizing daylight exposure can enhance symptom recovery, so Jay should get an hour of bright light in the morning to help normalizing his circadian rhythm.

​References Koda-Kimble, Mary Anne. Applied Therapeutics: The Clinical Use of Drugs. 9th ed., Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2009. Pierpaoli, Walter. La Chiave Della Vita: con la melatonina l'inversione dell'invecchiamento nella ghiandola pineale. Morlacchi editore, 2007.