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Sat Aug 04, 2007 9:15 am  |
I suffer quite badly from jet lag and want to try some Melatonin to see if that will help for when I have a long distance flight next month.
Trouble is, I can see tablets of 1mg, 3mg and even 5mg - each with different directions.
Please can anyone recommend which Melatonin strength and brand has helped them with jet lag, and what directions did you use? |
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Sat Aug 04, 2007 10:29 am |
| Hi, I tried Melatonin in the past for travel. My bottle said to take one 1 mg. tablet per time zone traveled, so to Europe from Chicago would be something like 6-7 pills! I was always afraid to take more than 2-3, so I think it put me in a drowsy state on the plane. It worked for a few days (probably that is all I tried) after I got there, taking 2-3 pills. It did not work as well as one would hope and I don't do it anymore. But now they are saying that older people need Melatonin because they lose it, so I am thinking of starting to take it again daily as I am an insomniac. I have suggested to friends to take some during flights, but they too are cautious and don't take the recommended dose and claim it doesn't help them. I hope some others will share their experiences with Melatonin here. Any flight attendants or pilots here? |
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Sat Aug 04, 2007 11:44 am |
| I would stay clear of these tabs without medical supervision as I had awful hallucinations. This was my own fault as I had heard they were very good but they are not available in Ireland and I got them on the net. |
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Sat Aug 04, 2007 11:51 am |
Thanks so much for your help!
From what you've said, I'd probably wait until I was ready to go to bed on the first night in Canada and then take the pills. That would be 5 pills difference from the UK to Toronto.
Anyone else have any experiences or advice on what's worked for them? |
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Sat Aug 04, 2007 11:53 am |
| Lola Moroney wrote: |
| I would stay clear of these tabs without medical supervision as I had awful hallucinations. This was my own fault as I had heard they were very good but they are not available in Ireland and I got them on the net. |
Oh, blimey, Lola! Just read your post. That's a wee bit scary. I have very vivid dreams (and sleepwalk) anyway.
Anyone else experience this problem?
Also, is there a particular brand anyone can recommend? I'd have to order them from the Internet too (and Lola's experience has worried me now about doing that), as they're banned over here. |
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Sat Aug 04, 2007 3:19 pm |
Have to agree with Lola. I had a similar experience with melatonin, it was like a bad acid trip. Only took it once, a few years back, and NEVER would again, threw the rest of the bottle out.
For “normal” sleeping, I sometimes take valerian, although even that often gives me weird and somewhat memorable dreams (once involving Colin Farrell and not in a good way!!) |
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Sat Aug 04, 2007 3:47 pm |
| appletini wrote: |
Have to agree with Lola. I had a similar experience with melatonin, it was like a bad acid trip. Only took it once, a few years back, and NEVER would again, threw the rest of the bottle out.
For “normal” sleeping, I sometimes take valerian, although even that often gives me weird and somewhat memorable dreams (once involving Colin Farrell and not in a good way!!) |
Hmmm...maybe this is one of the reasons why was banned in the UK?
Mind you, any dream involving Colin Farrell would be a bad one for me.  |
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Sat Aug 04, 2007 5:19 pm |
| I can't say that Melatonin was bad in any way. I read this interesting book by Ray Kurzweiler called "Fantastic Voyage" and he claims, among many other fascinating things, that as we age we lose Melatonin and need to take it on a daily basis. He also says we are all soon going to live to 120! Now the latest info for insomniacs like me bears the Melatonin connection out. You probably should take it for replacement if you are unable to sleep. I hear that flight attendants and pilots use it. In any case, I like the supplements that I have tried from <rayandterry.com>, esp. the fish oil. Since I have been buying from them online I don't have the fish burps. They claim that if you do have the icky burps, the oil was rancid even though it may have a date way into 2008 or 2009. I am planning on getting Melatonin from them next and continue their fish oil. Before this I just got Melatonin at Whole Foods in 1 mg., that way I could control how many I wanted to take. HTH |
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Sat Aug 04, 2007 7:11 pm |
hi majorb. Have you considered taking a Benedryl? The main ingredient treats allergies but it also is used as a gentle treatment for insomnia etc in hospitals. Once in a while I will take it and it's fairly effective for me.
I think there's another herbal supplement that has a combination of herbs such as valerian root that is supposed to induce sleepiness. I can't remember the name (sorry). I have a sample that I want to try the next time I need help sleeping. I'd go look at the sample but I'm not at home.
Btw, the melatonin that I've tried was 3mg and it was sufficient to "knock" me out for the night. I'm 5'10/ 155lbs.
I didn't realize that melatonin had been banned in the UK.
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Do any of you that take melatonin find that you get a head ache after taking it for a few days?
I've tried taking it a couple of times for a few days and after the 3rd or 4th day it's like it gives me a low grade, persistent headache until I stop taking it.  |
_________________
early-mid 30s || oily-combination, sensitive & acne-prone skin || mild breakouts (Aczone helps a lot) || occasional eczema rashes || fine lines around eyes || very dark under eye cirlces- concealer a must || very fair neutral-warm complexion, blue eyes, blonde hair |
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Sun Aug 05, 2007 4:03 am |
Okay, after reading some good experiences on the forum on another thread about Melatonin, I've decided to order some and give it a try.
However, heeding the warnings, I'll do a test-run before I go away. That way, if I do get hallucinations, at least I'll be at home and not on holiday. If I'm fine with it, then I'll take it away with me. I've opted for the Ray & Terry brand. (Thanks for the rec, existential lady.)
Although I'm also concerned about headaches, after reading amnis' post (because I am prone to them), I'm hoping that I can avoid those as I only aim to take the Melatonin for a couple of nights at a time and no longer.
I'll also look into making taking some Benedryl with me, as a fall-back. I think you can get it OTC here now.
You've all been incredibly helpful, thanks, and if anyone else has any further info, experiences or tips to share about attempted jet lag avoidance, I'd still love to hear them.
If I can overcome it, I'll be chuffed to bits. I have awful trouble sleeping at the best of times. |
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Sun Aug 05, 2007 2:18 pm |
Hi majorb,
I often take melatonin (3mg) - 1 tablet at bedtime (about 20 min before) and I've found it to be very hepful. No headaches. There are also reports that it can actually help with headaches. I don't have many tips against jetlag. I set my watch for the new time zone as soon as the plane takes off, try to sleep on the plane; when I get there, take a quick shower and nap for 20 min (no longer) and go to bed early (oh and have an extra glass of wine with my evening meal!).
Have a fantastic time.
Cat |
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Mon Aug 06, 2007 6:38 am |
My hubby and I each take a 1 mg at night, so does my sister-in-law. I don't have any residual sleepiness or next day headaches. But we can have very vivid dreams. We don't take it every night, but about 3 times a week. I buy mine from Puritans Pride, where I get most of my regular vitamins and supplements.
It does help with jet lag, but I've never taken more than 3 mg at a time, so that larger amount sounds scary. |
_________________
Joined the 50 club several years back, blonde w/ fair/sensitive skin, Texas humidity and prone to rosacea, light breakouts and sunburns, combo skin type, starting to see sundamage and fine lines |
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Mon Aug 06, 2007 7:29 am |
| The 3mg is the highest dose. Don't exceed 3mg per day. |
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Mon Aug 06, 2007 7:48 am |
| Agent, that is true if you are using it for insomnia, but for jet lag the instructions are different. I have taken 2-3 flying across the Atlantic and then 1 a day after I get there. If it's good for pilots, it's good for me! |
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Mon Aug 06, 2007 8:44 am |
| majorb wrote: |
| Lola Moroney wrote: |
| I would stay clear of these tabs without medical supervision as I had awful hallucinations. This was my own fault as I had heard they were very good but they are not available in Ireland and I got them on the net. |
Oh, blimey, Lola! Just read your post. That's a wee bit scary. I have very vivid dreams (and sleepwalk) anyway.
Anyone else experience this problem?
Also, is there a particular brand anyone can recommend? I'd have to order them from the Internet too (and Lola's experience has worried me now about doing that), as they're banned over here. |
Hi ya
You shouldn't get jet lag travelling that direction, (UK to US), it's coming back that you should get jet lag (all to do with the direction you're travelling). I always find when I fly to the US I wake up around 2-3am the first night and am wide awake, I used to just lie there but now (call me sad I know), I get dressed like it's morning and go to WalMart, by the time I've finished there I get some breakfast somewhere and then it's light! 
Coming home is horrible, I was talking to an air hosty last time I travelled and she said you're supposed to have jet lag (flying East to West), one day for every hour time difference, so from Florida to UK is five hours time difference so jetlag for 5 days!  |
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Mon Aug 06, 2007 8:49 am |
| Talking of headaches, I used to get the most horrendous headache at the end of the flight, one that would last for hours and hours and several tablets wouldn't knock it off. I then wondered if it might be a dehydration headache so I started drinking loads of water, much more than I normally would on a flight and I haven't had a headache since. So drink tons of water. |
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Mon Aug 06, 2007 9:42 am |
| sarahb wrote: |
You shouldn't get jet lag travelling that direction, (UK to US), it's coming back that you should get jet lag (all to do with the direction you're travelling). I always find when I fly to the US I wake up around 2-3am the first night and am wide awake, I used to just lie there but now (call me sad I know), I get dressed like it's morning and go to WalMart, by the time I've finished there I get some breakfast somewhere and then it's light!
Coming home is horrible, I was talking to an air hosty last time I travelled and she said you're supposed to have jet lag (flying East to West), one day for every hour time difference, so from Florida to UK is five hours time difference so jetlag for 5 days! |
That is so bizarre! I have completely the opposite problem. When I travel to the US/Canada from the UK it takes me ages to pull myself around, yet when I fly back home it's not much of a problem at all.
In the past, I've found it best to stay awake as long as possible, not to sleep on the plane at all, then go to bed at 10 or 11pm local time in my destination. (I can't last out much longer than that.) I still suffer, but not as badly as when I sleep during the day or flight to try to catch up.
I'm really hoping the Melatonin will help. I'll let everyone know how I get on with it. |
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Mon Aug 06, 2007 9:44 am |
| Just thought, if you get a post in a week or two's time, complaining about the llamas dancing in the kitchen and that the elephants are out to get me, you'll know that Melatonin's not for me! |
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Mon Aug 06, 2007 10:25 am |
| majorb wrote: |
That is so bizarre! I have completely the opposite problem. When I travel to the US/Canada from the UK it takes me ages to pull myself around, yet when I fly back home it's not much of a problem at all.
I'm really hoping the Melatonin will help. I'll let everyone know how I get on with it. |
That's odd, because flying West should not give you jetlag but trust you to be different!  |
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Mon Aug 06, 2007 2:04 pm |
I've tried liquid Melatonin and a few other herbs but they really knock me out. It says one dropper-full but 3 drops can put me to sleep.
For Jet Lag I HIGHLY recommend "NO JET LAG". I'm one of those who gets jet lag with even an hour time change.
It's tiny herbal pills that you chew before takeoff, every two hours and landing. Can be taken with prescriptions and tastes a little sweet.
I've used for trips to Spain, Hawaii and just got back 1 a.m. from Bermuda last night (in California right now) and woke up at 6:30am feeling fine.
I get them at drugstore.com because if I get other stuff it's cheaper than Trader Joe's.
p.s. Hubby travels a lot and doesn't have huge problems but took No Jet Lag with me on this Bermuda trip. He says he feels great and wants me to order more for him. |
_________________
mid 40's, Hawaiian/Japanese, combo skin, med/dark complexion. "If life hands you lemons, throw them at your enemies" |
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Mon Aug 06, 2007 3:44 pm |
| sarahb wrote: |
| That's odd, because flying West should not give you jetlag but trust you to be different! |
It's the one thing I'm actually good at!
Rjez - Yes, I'd been wondering about that stuff. I'll try the Melatonin this time, but if it doesn't work, then that's my next option. I wonder if they sell it in Canada? (If so, I can pick some up when I'm over there.) They don't sell it over here. |
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Mon Aug 06, 2007 6:13 pm |
| For me, melatonin worked best if I didn't eat or drink anything within an hour of taking it....even if I drank a glass of water, it didn't seem to work as well. |
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Tue Aug 07, 2007 2:07 am |
| I might try that, mysushi. I need all the help I can get to get to sleep. |
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Tue Aug 07, 2007 5:20 pm |
majorb
No Jet Lag is a product from Australia so you might be able to order somewhere.
A coworker just came in today - back from a trip to Hawaii - feeling like death-warmed-over. It's amazing how different we are feeling right now. |
_________________
mid 40's, Hawaiian/Japanese, combo skin, med/dark complexion. "If life hands you lemons, throw them at your enemies" |
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