I travel to Asia 6-9 times each year, and suffer severe jet lag both when I get there and when I return (travel across twelve time zones will do that). Unfortunately, my jet lag results in my not being able to sleep at all on arrival and only 3-4 hours for several days after my return. My only defense is a pill - benadryl. It is a very safe non-addictive medication which has a side effect of sleepiness, which is why it is the active ingredient in many over the counter sleeping medicines. One glass of wine and two benadryls on arrival and I sleep for 4-6 hours. Not great sleep, as I am groggy for twenty minutes when I wake up, but I have to get some sleep or work becomes impossible. My doctor agrees I should use it, but he cautions me about the glass of wine. But since I negotiate complicated contracts with international customers, I need to be as awake as I can be on arrival. It works for me. I tried melatonin several years ago, but sometimes it helped and sometimes it didn't.
|