PHARMACOLOGICAL MANAGEMENT TO PREVENT JET -LAG

Long-haul flights allow rapid crossing of times zones. When four time zones are crossed, the trans flight induce jet-lag syndrome. Jet-lag i s essentially composed of digestive and behavioural disturbances (inso mnia and/or drowsiness). It is due to an immediate conflict between ex ternal time cues, which have been phase-advanced or phase-delayed by e astward or westward flight respectively, and the endogenous clack. Thi s conflict induces a desynchronization of the biological rhythms. Diff erent counter-measures could be advised, but the most used is the phar macological one. Hypnotics like benzodiazepines, cyclopyrones or imida zopyridines induce a recovery sleep but could also induce secondary ef fects in case of chronic use. Melatonin secreted by pineal gland needs more studies before a safety use for jet-tag treatment Psychostimulan ts are able to induce a prolonged wakefulness. But amphetamine-like su bstances have to be forbidden because of the importance of side effect s. New researches are studying a new galenic form of caffeine: the tim e release caffeine, which permits to induce a long and good quality wa kefulness.