Last reviewed: 3 Jul 2021
Last updated: 07 Feb 2018
Summary
Definition
History and exam
Key diagnostic factors
- hx of travel across at least 2 time zones
- difficulty initiating sleep
- difficulty maintaining sleep
- daytime sleepiness
- reduced daytime alertness
Other diagnostic factors
- nausea, abdominal distension, constipation
- general malaise
- muscle cramps
Risk factors
- multiple time zones crossed and rapidity of travel
- sleep deprivation
- individual susceptibility to time zone shifts
- excessive alcohol or caffeine consumption
- stress
Diagnostic investigations
Treatment algorithm
Contributors
Authors
Ashish Adlakha, MD
Director
Sleep Disorders Center
Department of Neurology
Middlesex Hospital
Middletown
CT
Disclosures
AA declares that he has no competing interests.
Acknowledgements
Dr Ashish Adlakha would like to gratefully acknowledge Dr Sudhansu Chokroverty, a previous contributor to this topic.
Disclosures
SC declares that he has no competing interests.
Peer reviewers
David N. Neubauer, MD
Associate Director
Johns Hopkins Sleep Disorders Center
Baltimore
MD
Disclosures
DNN has received consulting fees and honoraria for speaking programs from Sanofi-Aventis and Takeda Pharmaceuticals. These companies manufacture medications mentioned in this topic.
Andrew Herxheimer, MD
Emeritus Fellow
UK Cochrane Centre
Oxford
UK
Disclosures
AH is an author of a number of references cited in this topic.
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