Motion Sickness and DCL

[danielle782001]

I get pretty bad motion sickness...Back seat of cars, buses, anything that spins, things like that....I get the feeling that I am going to be sick but I never do and I also get that cold/hot feeling all at the same time, and if it gets really bad my fingers start to tingle...I woke up last night in fear that I will be sick the entire time I am on the cruise...

Should I be nervous about this problem and are there any tricks out there to prevent/treat motion sickness on a cruise?

 

[karibritt01]

If you are that worried, you should talk to your Dr about a perscription for the patch behind your ear. That way you are treated 24/7 without any hassle. There is a chance you won't need it... but it sounds like peace of mind would be better for you!

 

[cruisinmama06]

If you get sick then start treating yourself BEFORE you step onboard. I start taking bonine the day before the cruise.

Stay away from patches because the side effects are bad (vision problems) and if you have those problems, they don't go away just by removing the patch. The meds stay in your system.

So get bonine.

 

[NancyIL]

I've been on 2 cruises out of Port Canaveral, and both had rough sailing the first night. I take Meclizine (the main ingredient in Bonine) every day - whether the seas are smooth or rough. If you wait until you start to feel ill to take the medication, it won't be much help.

 

[mishoe01]

I can get motion sickness from watching tv but that doesn't stop me!

I use 1/2 of the patch and it works well for me.

 

[elgerber]

I can get motion sickness from watching tv but that doesn't stop me!

I use 1/2 of the patch and it works well for me.

1/2 of the patch? Can you just cut it in half?

 

[jenseib]

Watch drinking with using motion sickness meds. Some can make you real loopy. the patch is upposed to be the worse.

 

[danielle782001]

If you get sick then start treating yourself BEFORE you step onboard. I start taking bonine the day before the cruise.

Stay away from patches because the side effects are bad (vision problems) and if you have those problems, they don't go away just by removing the patch. The meds stay in your system.

So get bonine.

I've been on 2 cruises out of Port Canaveral, and both had rough sailing the first night. I take Meclizine (the main ingredient in Bonine) every day - whether the seas are smooth or rough. If you wait until you start to feel ill to take the medication, it won't be much help.

Are these over the counter or do I need to see my doctor

 

[ols386]

You could try Bonine or Dramamine. I've used both, and both make me drowsy, but have never been sea sick. I have heard that the patches that you wear behind your ear, do have some side effects. If I were you, I would definately talk to your family physician and ask if he or she has any suggestions. You need something that you feel comfortable and relaxed with, so you can thoroughly enjoy your cruise, without worrying about being sick.

 

[westjones]

If you are on the 3 or 4 night cruise, I wouldn't worry too much, but on the 7 night you might have problems. I get motion sickness too and after two 7 night cruises I told my family I am not going on any more. The waters are too rough for me and there are too many days at 'sea'. On the 4 night, there is a day at sea, but so far it hasn't been bad (they go slow on that day I think so there isn't much motion). The best cruise for people who get sea sick is probably the 3 night. Every day you when you wake up you are docked and you can go on land each of the days. Time just goes by really fast on the 3 night and it is relaxing to have that day at sea on the 4th and (at least so far) the waters for that cruise seem to be rather calm.

My family would love to do another 7 night, but of my 2 seven night cruises, I missed 4 nights of dinners because of motion sickness (the rest of the family didn't miss, but I did).

DJ

 

[hwysqrl]

I'm taking Zofran (what they give for morning sickness to pregnant people and also to some cancer patients for effects from chemo!!). Taking no chances...I used to not have any problems with motion, but have developed a pretty severe intolerance for it over the past few years.

We also called our pediatrician to ask what she recommended for the kids - ages 5 and 7 - and she prescribed Zofran for them too!! She said she wouldn't set foot on a cruise without it!

 

[danielle782001]

Thanks for the good advice...I will speak to my GP about my options...But you guys have given me a few meds to look into....Thanks!

 

[Funnygirl2004]

I used a combination of the pressure point bracelets (bought on board about $12.00 for a pair) and dramamine. Bonine didn't help me.

 

[neonurse]

They say its easier to prevent motion sickness than to treat it. I sailed on a 4 day (not DCL) and my dh and I wore the patch. They only last 3 days. When it wore off it was terrible. Dizziness for 3 days!! Dramamine does make you sleepy. I sometimes take it to help me sleep (for shift work). Bonine is better. I wasn't really sleepy just a little less sharp and you take one pill every 24 hrs. I have heard people say to take it starting 2 days before the cruise to get your levels up. My sister and I both get sick on the swings at the park so we will be loading up on the bonine for our first DCL. I don't want to miss anything!!

Good luck! Talk to your dr. and see what they think!

 

[danielle782001]

They say its easier to prevent motion sickness than to treat it. I sailed on a 4 day (not DCL) and my dh and I wore the patch. They only last 3 days. When it wore off it was terrible. Dizziness for 3 days!! Dramamine does make you sleepy. I sometimes take it to help me sleep (for shift work). Bonine is better. I wasn't really sleepy just a little less sharp and you take one pill every 24 hrs. I have heard people say to take it starting 2 days before the cruise to get your levels up. My sister and I both get sick on the swings at the park so we will be loading up on the bonine for our first DCL. I don't want to miss anything!!

Good luck! Talk to your dr. and see what they think!

Is Bonine an over the counter or a script?

 

[kellimomo3]

They make non-drowsy Dramamine and it works great! I have a huge motion sickness problem and have cruised three times, 4th time coming up in April. I start taking the non-drowsy dramamine the day before he cruise and have never had a problem even in rough seas!

Kelli

 

[danielle782001]

They make non-drowsy Dramamine and it works great! I have a huge motion sickness problem and have cruised three times, 4th time coming up in April. I start taking the non-drowsy dramamine the day before he cruise and have never had a problem even in rough seas!

Kelli

Do you take it with food?

 

[neonurse]

Non drowsy Dramamine is the same drug (meclazine) as in Bonine. Regular dramamine (gravol in Canada) is dimenhydrinate which makes you very sleepy or restless in little ones.

Both can be taken with or without food I believe.

Meclazine is one tab every 24 h (bonine/non drowsy Dramamine is over the counter, might have generic (cheaper) at the pharmacy counter...just ask)
Dimenhyrinate is 1-2 tab every 4 hr max 8 in 24 hrs

hth

 

[DCL Cruise Luvr]

DJ,
I experienced almost the complete opposite. We did a 4 night cruise after 7 days of WDW, so I probably had plenty of medication in my system... I got a OTC version from Walmart that had to be taken every 4-6 hrs, so in the parks when I could tell it was wearing off I would just take the next dose, gave these to DS (I think he was 10 at the time which is why I didn't buy the daily dose ones - those said 12 or older). We weren't drowsy or anything... just could tell when it was starting to wear off after 5-6 hrs. We took it every morning & then about 2-3 times rest of the day.

When we were on the boat (4 day) I felt the waters, I didn't love sitting in Animator's Palatte (I think it may be above engines??), and basically any time I was sitting in one place (movies, shows, dinner, etc.) I could feel the "motion". I never got sick... just that queesy "I don't feel good" feeling. Again, we took the OTC every 4-6 hrs, still no drowsy, but DS & I both "felt the motion". And we had been taking the medication for a wk prior in WDW so should have had plenty in system.....

Next cruise (7 day - western) on Wednesday I realized we had forgotten to take several doses, decided to take a risk and see if we got that "funny feeling" again. (Reason I decided to try to take a break was this time neither of us complained about the "motion" and I didn't feel it every time I was sitting down.) Anyways, we didn't take any more doses of the medication and both of us were fine. Which I will admit is odd because we both get motion sickness, pretty bad. This time we didn't have any pre-cruise WDW time, so we only started taking it the morning we were leaving port. I don't know what the difference was, but we're going back in November. I will take the medication with me, because you never know, but I think it just all depends on the individual. Take a few options, the OTC walmart pills were like 100 for under $5, the daily "version" I think was similar cost. I don't think either of those were bonine or dramamine, but not sure of name... I've taken Bonine & Dramamine before, all of them seem to keep me from actually getting sick, but on the shorter cruise, there were times I wanted to get up & walk around because sitting really didn't "feel good".
Sorry so long... HTH. I think it all just depends... just be prepared.

 

[danielle782001]

Sorry so long... HTH. I think it all just depends... just be prepared.

Don't be sorry...Thank you for the information...I need it!