What should you know about jet lag prevention pills?

Jet lag follows a mismatch between your body clock and destination time. A medicine that makes you sleepy may not reset that clock, and taking it at the wrong local time can leave you groggy or disrupt the next sleep period. Some products interact with other medicines, alcohol or health conditions. Daytime sleepiness can be especially hazardous after landing.

Do not borrow tablets, combine sedating products or test a new medicine during a flight. Give a clinician your route, usual sleep pattern, current medicines, allergies, pregnancy status and medical conditions. A Travel Health Consultation can help plan light exposure, rest and medication timing. Keep the destination schedule, limit alcohol and avoid driving if drowsy. Non-drug sleep measures may be safer for some people; see Insomnia Management.

Get prompt advice for excessive sedation, confusion, unusual behaviour, an allergic reaction or breathing problems after a pill. Urgent care is needed for collapse, severe breathing difficulty or chest pain. If sleep trouble continues after travel, discuss Insomnia or another sleep problem rather than continuing self-treatment.

Ask whether medication is appropriate for your itinerary, what local-time schedule applies, which side effects should stop you taking it, and whether your other medicines change the choice.