Struggling with Jet Lag? Reset Your Sleep and Travel Smarter

Planning a trip across multiple time zones? Avoid the fatigue, grogginess, and disrupted sleep that come with jet lag.
Webdoctor.ie offers a convenient, doctor-approved prescription service to help you adjust quickly and enjoy your travels.

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Beat Jet Lag with Webdoctor.ie

Struggling with jet lag on your travels? Our doctor-approved prescription service can help you adjust faster and feel more refreshed. Simply complete a quick and secure online medical questionnaire. If approved, an Irish-registered GP will send your prescription directly to your chosen pharmacy. Before leaving the pharmacy, be sure to review your medication, as changes cannot be made afterward.

Who is this service for?

This service is suitable for you if:

  • You are aged 18 years or older.
  • The time difference between your destination and departure location is more than 3 hours.

Who is this service not suitable for?

This service is not suitable for you if you:

  • Are under 18 years of age.
  • Are seeking treatment for insomnia, long term sleep problems, or management of shift work patterns.
  • Are pregnant, possibly pregnant or trying to conceive.
  • Are breastfeeding.
  • Are a woman of child-bearing potential who is not using reliable contraception.
  • Are using certain medications (listed in our questionnaire).
  • Have a history of any of the following:
    • Autoimmune disease
    • Epilepsy/ seizures
    • Kidney disease
    • Liver disease
If you are not sure you are suitable or you have any questions send us an email to info@webdoctor.ie / info@careoncall.ie.

What is Jet Lag?

Jet lag is a combination of physiological and physical symptoms caused by disruption to your body’s natural sleep/ wake cycle. It happens when you travel rapidly across several time zones. This causes a temporary difference in your body’s internal clock and the day/ night cycle at your destination.

If the time difference at your destination is more than three hours you are more likely to experience jet lag. The greater the time difference, the greater the impact jet lag may have, but this is very individual to each person.

People will often find it more difficult adjusting when travelling east, as your sleep time needs to be brought forward, compared with travelling west when you need to stay up for longer than usual.

What type of jet lag medication do you prescribe?

We can issue a prescription for melatonin tablets subject to clinical suitability. Taking melatonin for a few days when you arrive at your destination can help to reduce adjustment time and jet lag symptoms.

Melatonin is a naturally occurring hormone produced by the brain. It plays an important role in the regulation of the body’s sleep/ wake cycle and when this cycle is disrupted, melatonin can help to restore it.

How do I take tablets for jet lag?

To use melatonin for jet lag, take the tablet 30 minutes to an hour before your intended bedtime at your destination (ideally between 8pm and 4am, destination time).

You should start this treatment the night you arrive at your destination and continue for a few days after arrival (for a maximum of 5 days). Avoid food for 2 hours before and 2 hours after taking melatonin, and avoid alcohol.

This medication should be used in conjunction with non-medical measures to help reduce jet lag symptoms.

What are the side effects of jet lag tablets?

While melatonin is generally considered safe for short-term use, it can have side effects, including:

  • Drowsiness or grogginess: Some people feel sleepy or lethargic the next day, and this may impair your ability to perform skilled or complex tasks such as driving or operating machinery.
  • Headaches: Mild headaches can occur, especially with higher doses; so please ensure you take it as prescribed.
  • Dizziness: You may feel lightheaded or unsteady.
  • Nausea: Some individuals experience digestive discomfort.
  • Disrupted sleep patterns: Overuse or improper timing can make sleep disturbances worse.

For full details on potential side effects of this medication, please read the patient information leaflet that comes with your medication before you start to use it.

If you are concerned that you are developing side effects, we advise that you seek medical advice.

Safety considerations

Melatonin should not be used by women who are pregnant or breastfeeding. It can impair fertility and should be avoided by men and women trying to conceive. If your partner is pregnant when you are taking melatonin, a condom should be used during intercourse.

If you are using contraception or Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) containing oestrogen, this may increase the side effects of melatonin (i.e. you may become more drowsy than if you were not using oestrogen).

Melatonin can cause drowsiness – if you experience this side effect, do not drive/ operate machinery, or perform complex tasks.

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How It Works

Requesting a prescription for Jet Lag treatment couldn’t be easier with Webdoctor.ie! We despatch your prescription to an Irish pharmacy chosen by you.

Step 1

Online Questionnaire

Complete a short and secure online questionnaire from your phone, tablet or laptop – it only takes a couple of minutes.

Step 2

Medical Review

One of our Irish-registered doctors will review your details to make sure this treatment is medically suitable and safe for you. If our doctor requires further clinical information to help safely assess your request, they will send you a message via your secure patient account.

Step 3

Decision Made

Once approved, your prescription will be sent straight to an Irish pharmacy of your choice using secure Healthmail.

Why Choose Webdoctor.ie?

Expertise

All of our doctors are registered with the Irish Medical Council and provide convenient and confidential healthcare to our patients.

Confidential

The same doctor-patient confidentiality exists as in a regular face-to-face consultation, so you’ll be in good hands.

Caring

Webdoctor.ie was created by and is led by medical professionals, so patient safety is always our priority.
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Convenience

From the comfort of home, avail of instant access to medical expertise, including evenings & weekends.

Value

Affordable healthcare with prescriptions (subject to clinical suitability) from just €25 and video consultations starting from €49.

Irish

Webdoctor.ie is an Irish-based healthcare provider that has carried out over 130,000 patient consultations.

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