non-drowsy motion sickness meds?

[tk93]

I get motion sick pretty easily, and despite being practically raised on airplanes, I dread flying. I exist on Dramamine during every flight, boat cruise, and extended car rides. This never bothered me before, but now that we're planning our honeymoon, I'm starting to get a bit worried.

We'll be taking 9 flights (1 of which will be a tiny little pond jumper), crossing lakes on ferries, riding up the mountainside on a train, treking hoseback up the volcano, and cruising through rough roads on AWDs. I don't want to experience any sort of motion sickness, but I also would like to avoid Dramamine if possible because it knocks me out cold. I would like to be as lucid as possible to enjoy the entire trip.

Any suggestions on non-drowsy motion sickness meds?

[BarceloMayaPalaceBride]

Girl, I'm totally with you on the motion sickness thing :( I get motion sickness HORRIBLE unless I'm driving the car. They make a non-drowsy form of Dramamine but it honestly STILL knocks me out. I've heard about motion sickness bracelets you can wear AND ginger pills have worked for me in the past as well. I found this site for you, hope it helps!!! :) http://studenttravel.about.com/od/boardaboat/qt/motionsickness.htm

[tk93]

Thanks for finding that link! It sounds like from that article that the only thing I can do to prep for it would be to get sturdy barf bags... maybe I should add that on to my shower registry! Haha. :P

I figured the "non-drowsy" Dramamine would have a similar effect.. I'm being told that perhaps I should try low dosages of Benadryl. It'll be enough to dull my sense of balance, but not enough to put me to sleep.

[Gertie]

Sucking on a peppermint and sitting either where she can see out a front window, or in the case of say a plane having the window covered have all helped my daughter, who has a lot of motion sickness. Keeping cool can also help. I've found different people get relief from different things, and sometimes the same person gets better relief from different things at different times so maybe you should take several options with you wherever you go. We've never had much luck with ginger tablets (her doc recomended 250 mg capsules) but drinking ginger ale has helped her. The bands sometimes work for her/sometimes not at all. Horehound is also an old fashioned remedy, but some people don't like the flavor/smell. It has worked exceptionally well for my daughter as long as she starts eating it before she starts moving. Acupuncture is also sometimes used, but my daughter hates needles too much to ever consider that one.

In addition, don't eat greasy food before traveling, eat small meals and never overeat while traveling. Keep hydrated with plenty of water. Keep dry crackers and carbonated beverages handy whenever possible. A cool damp cloth on the back of the neck can help, too.


There are also some homeopathic remedies for motion sickness, but I guess you'd have to see a homeopath to get the full info. Seems like I heard borax for airplanes, and something called nux vornica which I have no idea what that is.

I read of a study where pilots that had had to stop flying due to motion sickness try biofeedback and relaxation training and 75% were able to fly again.

Another idea, see your doctor. A friend of mine said they gave her daughter some sort of treatment for an inner ear condition and her motion sickness disappeared, however, this was in a young child. One would suspect if you had that condition someone would have found it before now.

Hope some of this helps.

[tk93]

Another idea, see your doctor. A friend of mine said they gave her daughter some sort of treatment for an inner ear condition and her motion sickness disappeared, however, this was in a young child. One would suspect if you had that condition someone would have found it before now.

Actually, my sis is working toward her AuD right now so she's had me tested for everything pertaining to my ear. I'm going in for more detailed exams to check my balance sometime in the next month - because I'm a total klutz and walk into stationary items I blatantly see! She's the one that initially suggested that I take low dosages of benadryl and head/neck ENT surgeon FH seonds it. One would think that between the two of them, they could fix me... we'll see!

And thanks for all the helpful suggestions as well!

[KMS]

This is what I swear by - http://www.eaglecreek.com/accessories/travel_comfort/Motion-Bands-50021/

We sell these at work and I finally got some when we went on our latest road trip. I was scared that I was going to have to drive the entire time since I get carsick after being in the car for just a few minutes if I'm not the driver. I put these guys on and didn't have any carsickness the whole time. Well, I actually did get carsick for a little while and then realized that I had taken them off when I went to the bathroom at the rest stop. I now recommend them to all of my customers. I now have faith that I will be able to go on a cruise one day!

I also saw a report on Ginger pills having a good effect on motion sickness. That or chewing on a piece of crystallized ginger. I plan on trying these soon so I have a few different options.

[KMS]

Girl, I'm totally with you on the motion sickness thing :( I get motion sickness HORRIBLE unless I'm driving the car. They make a non-drowsy form of Dramamine but it honestly STILL knocks me out. I've heard about motion sickness bracelets you can wear AND ginger pills have worked for me in the past as well. I found this site for you, hope it helps!!! :) http://studenttravel.about.com/od/boardaboat/qt/motionsickness.htm

Haha...I guess that I didn't fully read your post until after I posted. Glad to see that the ginger pills worked for you. Hopefully they will work for me too!