Can hormone pills cure your jet lag? new study tests hydrocortisone and melatonin
NCT ID NCT00097474
First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Aug 14, 2026 · Updated 10 times
Summary
This study tested whether taking hydrocortisone (a cortisol-like hormone), melatonin, or both could reduce jet lag symptoms after long eastward flights. Fifty-seven healthy adults aged 18-65 who flew across 6-8 time zones took the pills for 4 days after arrival and reported their symptoms. The goal was to see if these hormones help reset the body's internal clock and ease jet lag.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Hydrocortisone and Melatonin
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could point toward a simple, short-term treatment to reduce jet lag symptoms after long flights.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, completed Phase 2 trial with only 57 participants, so results may not apply to everyone. The effects may be modest or no better than placebo.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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National Institutes of Health Clinical Center
Bethesda, Maryland, 20892, United States
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.