Melatonin for the prevention and treatment of jet lag
The question: Does melatonin help with jet lag?
- Study type
- Systematic review and meta-analysis
- Population
- Air travellers in ten randomised trials
- Intervention
- Melatonin 0.5 to 5 mg near bedtime at the destination
- Compared with
- Placebo
- Duration
- Days around travel
- Published
- Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2002
What was measured
Self-rated jet lag.
What was found
Nine of ten trials found that melatonin taken close to the target bedtime reduced jet lag after flights crossing five or more time zones. Doses above 5 mg were no more effective.
Limitations
Trials were small. Timing matters: taken at the wrong time, melatonin can delay adaptation.
What it means
One of the better-supported uses of melatonin, provided the timing is right. People with epilepsy or taking warfarin should seek advice first.
Source
Herxheimer A, Petrie KJ. Melatonin for the prevention and treatment of jet lag. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2002;(2):CD001520.
Read the original (DOI 10.1002/14651858.CD001520) · Source verified 8 October 2026
Study summaries describe published research for education. They are not claims about any product and are not medical advice.