Delayed Sleep Phase

Treatment

Mayo Clinic doctors trained in sleep medicine, including doctors trained in lung and breathing conditions (pulmonary medicine), mental health conditions (psychiatry), brain conditions (neurology) and other areas, evaluate and treat people who have delayed sleep phase.

Your doctor will work with you to create a plan for you to treat your condition.

Your plan may include:

• Improving sleep hygiene. Your doctor may recommend you maintain a regular sleep schedule, avoid caffeine and stimulating activities near bedtime, avoid tobacco and alcohol, and other changes to improve your sleep hygiene.
• Chronotherapy. In chronotherapy, doctors may prescribe you a sleep schedule that delays your bedtime by two to three hours every two days, until the desired bedtime is reached. You should maintain your sleep schedule once it is established.
• Light therapy. Having light exposure in the morning may adjust your circadian rhythm (internal sleep clock).
• Melatonin supplements. Doctors may prescribe a melatonin supplement to take in the afternoon or early evening, to help adjust your circadian rhythm.