Crossing time zones is one of the situations for which melatonin is most often studied and used. When you fly across several time zones, the body's internal “clock” keeps running on the old time: the body wants to sleep during the day and stays awake at night. The melatonin in DORMINORM is linked precisely to this mechanism — it is involved in signalling that night has come.
For jet lag, the supplement is usually taken according to local time at your destination: in the evening of the time zone you are in, not the one you have flown from. This helps your internal rhythm adjust to the new schedule more quickly.
The same logic applies to a schedule disrupted by night shifts, working late or an irregular routine: the supplement is taken at the time when you need to start getting ready for sleep, so as to shift your rhythm gradually in the right direction.
A few points for travellers:
- Tablets that dissolve in the mouth are convenient on the road — no need to look for water on the plane or in a hotel.
- Take a tablet before bed on the very first day of the trip and then for a few more days after arrival, rather than waiting for the disruption to build up.
- A 1 mg dose is considered mild, so it is often chosen specifically for occasional use when your routine changes rather than for a continuous course.
If you fly often or the disruptions to your routine are chronic, it makes sense to discuss use with a specialist to find the best regimen.