Melatonin for jet lag

In the February ’06 “Ask Steve” column, Mr. Venables wrote about beating jet lag. I must take issue with his comment, “… over-the-counter melatonin or prescription drugs… help with the sleeping going over but don’t do much for your inner clock.”

It is well known to those who deal with jet lag, and to researchers in the field, that appropriate use of melatonin resets one’s circadian clock and hence is of great value in dealing with shift work, jet lag or any other such circadian disrupters. We have some information on this on our website — www.darksky.org — and there is a lot more information elsewhere.

Melatonin must be used correctly, but when it is, it is wonderful. Both my wife and I and many hundreds or thousands of others use it and find it is great. Some use it as a mild sleeping pill (even daily) with no side effects, and it works well there too to keep one’s clock entrained. It is essential to find the right dose for one’s system (my wife’s and mine are quite different) and learn when to take it.

DAVID L. CRAWFORD
Tucson, AZ