Viagra may aid jet-lagged travelers

Flying across multiple time zones can confuse one's sleep-wake cycle, resulting in the condition called jet lag, marked by insomnia, sleepiness and difficulty concentrating.

Researchers said, their findings suggested that Viagra could be useful to help people cope with jet lag or shift work. The dose needed for such uses would be lower than the one used for treatment of erectile dysfunction.

Adult male hamsters given Viagra, also called sildenafil, recovered from jet lag up to 50 percent faster than hamsters that were not given it, the researchers said.

Viagra interferes with an enzyme that lowers levels of a naturally occurring compound that plays a role in the regulation of the circadian cycle, the body's internal clock.