Travel Health

Jet lag occurs when your circadian rhythm, the internal body clock that regulates sleep, alertness, and hormone release, struggles to adjust to a new time zone. This can lead to temporary sleep disruption and daytime tiredness.

Common symptoms may include:

• Difficulty falling asleep or waking too early
• Daytime fatigue
• Poor concentration
• Irritability or low mood
• Digestive discomfort
• General feeling of being “out of sync”

Symptoms vary depending on the number of time zones crossed and the direction of travel. Jet lag is often worse when travelling east than when travelling west. Most cases improve naturally within a few days without medical treatment.

You should seek medical advice if:

• Jet lag symptoms are severe, persistent, or worsening
• You have an existing medical condition that affects sleep
• You take regular medication and are unsure how travel may affect your routine
• You are unsure whether jet lag treatment is suitable for you
• Sleep problems persist beyond a few weeks
• You experience significant mood changes or ongoing insomnia

A clinical assessment is required before any prescription‑only treatment can be supplied.

Treatment for jet lag focuses on helping the body adjust to the new time zone more quickly. A prescriber will determine whether treatment is appropriate based on your symptoms and travel plans.

Prescription‑Only Medicines

Certain medicines may be prescribed to help regulate sleep patterns during short‑term travel. These treatments are only supplied following a clinical review and are not suitable for everyone.

Some treatments may cause drowsiness or affect alertness. You should not drive or operate machinery if affected. These medicines are prescribed with caution due to potential side effects and are not suitable for long-term use.

Non‑Medicinal Approaches

Many people manage jet lag with lifestyle adjustments alone. These can be used alongside or instead of medication, depending on clinical suitability.

These steps may help reduce the impact of jet lag:

• Gradually adjust your sleep schedule before travelling
• Stay hydrated and avoid excessive caffeine or alcohol
• Spend time in natural daylight at your destination
• Take short naps if needed, but avoid long daytime sleep
• Eat light meals and maintain a routine
• Try to sleep on the plane if travelling overnight
• Avoid bright screens before bedtime

These measures can support your body’s natural adjustment to a new time zone.

1. Complete a short online consultation
   Provide details about your travel plans and symptoms.
2. Assessment by a UK‑registered prescriber
   A clinician will review your answers and determine whether treatment is appropriate.
3. Dispensing by our GPhC‑registered pharmacy, if clinically appropriate
   If prescribed, your medication will be dispensed and delivered discreetly.
4. Support from our pharmacy team
   Our pharmacists are available for advice before and after treatment.

If your symptoms suggest an underlying sleep disorder or another medical condition, we may refer you to your GP for further assessment.

• Always use medicines exactly as prescribed.
• Jet lag treatments are intended for short‑term use only.
• Do not use someone else’s medication or leftover prescriptions.
• If symptoms persist or worsen, seek medical advice.
• This service is not suitable for emergency care.

Our UK‑registered pharmacists are available to provide guidance on jet lag, safe medicine use, and general travel health advice.

You can request an online consultation if you would like a clinical assessment for jet lag symptoms.

Malaria is caused by parasites from the Plasmodium family, transmitted through the bite of an infected female Anopheles mosquito. It is most common in parts of:

• Sub‑Saharan Africa
• Asia
• Central and South America
• The Middle East
• Certain Pacific islands

The risk varies by region, season, and type of travel. Symptoms can develop from 7 days after exposure, but sometimes weeks or months later. Malaria can develop after returning to the UK. Always mention recent travel if you feel unwell.

Symptoms can develop 7 days to several weeks after being bitten. They may include:

• Fever or chills
• Sweats
• Headache
• Muscle aches
• Nausea or diarrhoea
• Fatigue

Malaria can become severe quickly. Anyone who develops symptoms after travelling to a risk area should seek urgent medical attention. Risk assessments are based on UK travel health guidance.

This information is for general awareness only and is not a substitute for medical assessment.

Antimalarial tablets help reduce the risk of infection, but must be chosen based on:

• Destination and local resistance patterns
• Length of stay
• Type of travel (e.g., rural, backpacking, business)
• Your medical history and current medicines

A prescriber will determine the most appropriate option following a clinical review. Antimalarial medicines cannot be supplied without a valid prescription.

A prescriber will select the most appropriate antimalarial medicine based on your individual risk and travel plans. Different antimalarial medicines are available, and the choice depends on destination, medical history, and potential side effects. Suitability varies from person to person.

Medication alone does not provide complete protection. These steps can help reduce the risk of mosquito bites:

• Use insect repellent containing DEET, picaridin (icaridin), or oil of lemon eucalyptus
• Wear long sleeves and long trousers, especially after sunset
• Sleep under a mosquito net if accommodation is unscreened
• Choose air‑conditioned or well‑screened rooms where possible
• Avoid standing water where mosquitoes breed

These measures should be used alongside any prescribed antimalarial medication.

1. Complete a short online consultation
   Provide details about your destination, travel dates, and medical history.
2. Assessment by a UK‑registered prescriber
   A clinician will review your information and determine whether antimalarial medication is appropriate.
3. Dispensing by our GPhC‑registered pharmacy, if clinically appropriate
   If prescribed, your medication will be dispensed and delivered discreetly.
4. Support from our pharmacy team
   Our pharmacists are available for advice before, during, and after your trip.

Some travellers may require a face-to-face travel clinic assessment, particularly for complex itineraries, long stays, or underlying health conditions.

We may not be able to prescribe if:

• Your travel is imminent
• Your itinerary is complex or high-risk
• Your medical history requires further assessment

Malaria can become life-threatening quickly. If you develop a fever or flu-like symptoms during or after travel to a malaria-risk area, seek urgent medical attention immediately and inform healthcare professionals of your travel history.

• Always take antimalarial tablets exactly as prescribed, including before and after travel.
• No antimalarial medicine provides 100% protection.
• Do not use leftover medication from previous trips.
• You should seek advice at least 4–6 weeks before travel, as some antimalarial medicines need to be started before departure.
• This service is not suitable for emergency care.

Our UK‑registered pharmacists are available to provide guidance on malaria prevention, safe medicine use, and general travel health advice.

You can request an online consultation if you would like a travel health assessment.

Traveller’s diarrhoea is typically caused by consuming food or water contaminated with bacteria, viruses, or parasites. It is most common in parts of:

• Asia
• Africa
• The Middle East
• Central and South America

Most cases are mild and resolve within a few days without prescription treatment, but treatment may be helpful in certain situations. Advice is based on UK travel health guidance.

Symptoms can vary from person to person and may include:

• Passing loose or watery stools
• Stomach cramps
• Nausea
• Bloating
• Urgency to use the toilet
• Mild fever

These symptoms are usually temporary and usually develop within a few days of exposure. Severe or persistent symptoms require medical attention.

This information is for general awareness only and should not be used to diagnose yourself or others.

Seek urgent medical attention if you experience:

• Signs of dehydration (e.g. dizziness, reduced urination)
• Blood or mucus in the stool
• High fever
• Persistent vomiting
• Symptoms lasting more than 3–5 days

A prescriber will determine whether treatment is suitable based on your symptoms, medical history, and travel plans.

Prescription‑only treatments

In some cases, a short course of prescription medication may be recommended to help manage symptoms. Antibiotics are only prescribed when clinically necessary, as many cases resolve without them. These medicines are only supplied following a clinical assessment and are not appropriate for everyone.

Oral rehydration solutions

Rehydration is essential, especially in hot climates. Oral rehydration salts help replace lost fluids and electrolytes.

Symptom‑relief options

Some over‑the‑counter products may help ease symptoms. These should be used with care and only when appropriate.

Extra care is needed in children, older adults, pregnant individuals, and those with underlying health conditions. In some cases, an alternative medical assessment may be required.

These steps may help support recovery:

• Drink plenty of safe, clean fluids
• Avoid alcohol and caffeine until symptoms improve
• Avoid buffets or food left at room temperature
• Eat light foods such as rice, bananas, and toast
• Rest and avoid strenuous activity
• Wash your hands regularly with soap and water
• Use alcohol-based hand gel where soap and water are not available

If symptoms worsen or do not improve, seek medical advice.

While the risk cannot be completely eliminated, these precautions can help reduce it:

• Drink bottled or boiled water
• Avoid ice in drinks
• Choose freshly cooked, piping‑hot food
• Avoid raw or undercooked meat and seafood
• Peel fruit yourself
• Avoid food from street vendors where hygiene is uncertain

These measures are especially important in high‑risk regions.

1. Complete a short online consultation
   Provide details about your symptoms or travel plans.
2. Assessment by a UK‑registered prescriber
   A clinician will review your information and determine whether treatment is appropriate.
3. Dispensing by our GPhC‑registered pharmacy, if clinically appropriate
   If prescribed, your medication will be dispensed and delivered discreetly.
4. Ongoing support
   Our pharmacy team is available for advice before, during, and after your trip.

Some cases may require an in-person medical assessment, and we may refer you to your GP or another healthcare service if needed.

• Always use medicines exactly as prescribed.
• Seek urgent medical help if you experience severe dehydration, blood in the stool, persistent vomiting, or symptoms lasting more than a few days.
• Children, older adults, and people with underlying health conditions may be at higher risk of complications.
• Do not use leftover medication from previous trips.
• This service is not suitable for emergency care.

Our UK‑registered pharmacists are available to provide guidance on traveller’s diarrhoea, safe medicine use, and general travel health advice.

Request an online consultation if you would like a clinical assessment.