Jet Lag Disorder

Jet lag is temporary and usually doesn’t need treatment. Symptoms often improve within a few days, though they sometimes last longer.

If you’re a frequent traveler bothered by jet lag, your health care provider may prescribe light therapy or medicines.

Light therapy

Your body’s internal clock is influenced by sunlight, among other factors. When you travel across time zones, your body must adjust to a new daylight schedule. This allows you to fall asleep and be awake at the right times.

One way to adjust to a new daylight schedule is through light therapy. This involves exposure to an artificial bright light or lamp that mimics sunlight. You use the light for a specific amount of time when you’re meant to be awake. Light therapy comes in a variety of forms, including a light box that sits on a table, a desk lamp or a light visor that you wear on your head.

Light therapy may be useful if you’re a business traveler and are often away from natural sunlight during the day in a new time zone.

Medications

• Nonbenzodiazepines, such as zolpidem (Ambien, Edluar, ZolpiMist), eszopiclone (Lunesta) and zaleplon (Sonata).
• Benzodiazepines, such as temazepam (Restoril) and midazolam (Nayzilam).

You can take these medicines — sometimes called sleeping pills — during your flight and for several nights afterward as you adjust to a new time zone. Side effects are uncommon but may include nausea, vomiting, amnesia, sleepwalking, confusion and morning sleepiness.

Although these medicines appear to help you sleep better and longer, you may still feel jet lag symptoms during the day. The medicines are usually only recommended for people who haven’t been helped by other treatments.