Tried Bonine, not feeling too good :(

Carrie in AZ

DIS Veteran
Joined
Mar 18, 2003
UGH.......We are sailing for the first time ever this Saturday on the Wonder. I am big time scared about my family getting seasick. To that end, I bought Bonine and tried some last night to see how we all tolerate it with the plan to begin taking it 1-2 nights before we sail.

Well, today I felt like crud and was soooooo sleepy. And DH felt that way also. We were irritable and felt lousy.

Now I don't know what to do? Try a lower dose? Brave it without taking anything? Use Sea Bands instead? (I had planned on doing both)

Anyone else try Bonine and feel YUCK?
 
UGH.......We are sailing for the first time ever this Saturday on the Wonder. I am big time scared about my family getting seasick. To that end, I bought Bonine and tried some last night to see how we all tolerate it with the plan to begin taking it 1-2 nights before we sail.

Well, today I felt like crud and was soooooo sleepy. And DH felt that way also. We were irritable and felt lousy.

Now I don't know what to do? Try a lower dose? Brave it without taking anything? Use Sea Bands instead? (I had planned on doing both)

Anyone else try Bonine and feel YUCK?

Did you each take one or two tablets? I always take one each morning, with food, starting the day we fly down. I've never had a problem.
 
Irritable, I understand. Took it on the last cruise for the first time. Took me all day to figure out why I was getting upset at almost everything. I found that when I ate with it and made sure I was not hungry, it helped tremendously. After that, I found it worked well enough. Just took once a day, slept without it. Hope you find something that works for you all! :wizard:
 
If you can find some ginger candy, even on Amazon it works pretty good. You can also drink ginger ale....bring it with you in your carry on. I just got off the Fantasy, and the sea was so smooth the whole trip I barely ever felt motion, well after the first night anyway. No hurricanes or storms is making for great sailing weather!
 
I just got off the Fantasy as well. Fantastic cruise. I will say that the old phrase "location location location" holds true on board as well. We were in a family concierge for the first time. Forward on deck 12. Usually we are mid ship deck 7. HUGE difference. I never ever get sick but almost did. Constant motion and swaying. Not horrid but definitely was surprised by it. Did not expect it. And we had perfect weather!
 
If you can find some ginger candy, even on Amazon it works pretty good. You can also drink ginger ale....bring it with you in your carry on. I just got off the Fantasy, and the sea was so smooth the whole trip I barely ever felt motion, well after the first night anyway. No hurricanes or storms is making for great sailing weather!

I second the ginger candy. You could also just eat ginger root, but that is really bitter. I took pretty much everything just in case. For our upcoming cruise, I can be called the designated seasick prevention specialist, because I'll have almost every type of prevention there is. I'll probably even have a ginger root itself, just because. :joker:
 
I take Bonine (Walgreens brand, active ingredient meclizine) every time we cruise and have never felt sleepy, drowsy or cruddy. Make sure that your Bonine is not equivalent to Dramamine (active ingredient Dimenhydrinate, which is the drowsy formula). I will take one tablet of Bonine before breakfast and one before bedtime.
 
Do you guys get other kinds of motion sick, on rides, cars, etc...? If not, then I really wouldn;t worry about it.

I always get the patch for behind the ear. The kids and DH are fine. One kid gets a bit car sick on windy roads, sometimes can't tolerate super spinning rides, but is fine on the ship.

Kim
 
Make sure your active ingredient us meclazine. I do know someone who gets sleepy with the meclazine (Bonine) but can take non-drowsy Dramamine with no issues. Dramamine makes me into a zombie, even the non-drowsy. Also, try taking the meds before bed vs. early in the day. I've heard of that working, too.

I keep ginger supplements on hand as well. It's like a pill form. That could also be helpful to keep the stomach settled.

I used to think my husband was just being a jerk when he said a lot of sea sickness is in your head. I never bought it....until I watched my niece make herself sick before we even untied from the pier in Port Canaveral. Serious as a heart attack. She had herself totally freaked. She was so sure she'd be sick that she ended up feeling sick. We gave her half doses of Dramamine for 2 days...until she forgot about it. She was fine. So don't psych yourselves out being afraid of being sick. Take some ginger, have some meds on hand in case, and go have fun.
 
I agree with ginger; it always seems to help my wife. She uses gingerbread cookies; we usually pack 2 or 3 boxes of them. Any time she feels a little queasy, she eats a cookie or two & it goes away.
 
I agree with ginger; it always seems to help my wife. She uses gingerbread cookies; we usually pack 2 or 3 boxes of them. Any time she feels a little queasy, she eats a cookie or two & it goes away.

I love this idea, helpful and yummy. Thank you!
 
I always use ginger pills after my first cruise where I was loopy on Dramamine the entire cruise. I think I got mine at GNC. They work great.
 
UGH.......We are sailing for the first time ever this Saturday on the Wonder. I am big time scared about my family getting seasick. To that end, I bought Bonine and tried some last night to see how we all tolerate it with the plan to begin taking it 1-2 nights before we sail.

Well, today I felt like crud and was soooooo sleepy. And DH felt that way also. We were irritable and felt lousy.

Now I don't know what to do? Try a lower dose? Brave it without taking anything? Use Sea Bands instead? (I had planned on doing both)

Anyone else try Bonine and feel YUCK?

Both my wife and I get seasick as well. But, a full dose of Bonine is too much for both of us. We have the same symptoms as you and your family. So we cut the pill in half. That keeps us from getting seasick and feeling sleepy. There is Bonine available that the dosage is not as strong. Try one of these things and see if that helps you. Have a GREAT time on your cruise!!!:thumbsup2
 
Oh yes! My son and I took Bonine the night before out cruise and awoke feeling horrible! Never ever again. It lasted about 12 hours or so. We used sea bands, but I discovered we do not get sea sick...only wore them the first day. In fact we were in the cl deck 12 with all the movement and I loved it! I felt like I was being rocked to sleep :goodvibes. I could live on a ship I think, when we got home I missed the movement of the ship...go figure:goodvibes. Who knows maybe like us you won't get sea sickness! Good luck!
 
Make sure your active ingredient us meclazine. I do know someone who gets sleepy with the meclazine (Bonine) but can take non-drowsy Dramamine with no issues. Dramamine makes me into a zombie, even the non-drowsy. Also, try taking the meds before bed vs. early in the day. I've heard of that working, too.

I keep ginger supplements on hand as well. It's like a pill form. That could also be helpful to keep the stomach settled.

I used to think my husband was just being a jerk when he said a lot of sea sickness is in your head. I never bought it....until I watched my niece make herself sick before we even untied from the pier in Port Canaveral. Serious as a heart attack. She had herself totally freaked. She was so sure she'd be sick that she ended up feeling sick. We gave her half doses of Dramamine for 2 days...until she forgot about it. She was fine. So don't psych yourselves out being afraid of being sick. Take some ginger, have some meds on hand in case, and go have fun.

I agree. I have always had motion sickness, since a small child. I decided to never let my kids know, having heard the mind-over-matter argument. They never got car sick. Then, when they were about 10 and 6 someone mentioned how they got sick in the car when they read! And guess what! Immediatley neither child could read or watch anything in the car! :crazy2:

Obviously, as I know all too well, your symptoms are real. But try hard not to get totally stressed about it. Just know you will feel the motion the first night and into the first day, but the body soon gets used to it.

For us the sea-bands have been amazing. We couldn't go anywhere without them! Believe in them :-)

Good luck. I hope you find a solution for you. Half dose and taking meds before going to bed are 2 great suggestions. :goodvibes
 
I would just go to your doctor and get a scrip for the patches if bonine makes you feel bad. I cannot take it, but used the patches and did fine on our last cruise.
 
I don't get motion sick on boats but I will on a cruise ship. I think the more subtle motion gets to me. Elevators can make me woozy. Seriously my first time on a cruise ship and we were not even out of the NYC harbor and I was sick. And I went into it thinking I would never get sea sick because I had been boating all my life.

I take a bonine each morning starting the day of the cruise. I feel a bit groggy and out of it for the first 24 hours. Then I am fine. I just plan accordingly and don't plan anything the first cruise day except a big breakfast as soon as possible. A full stomach helps.

Personally I would not bother with anything until you know you need to.
 
I used to think my husband was just being a jerk when he said a lot of sea sickness is in your head. I never bought it....until I watched my niece make herself sick before we even untied from the pier in Port Canaveral. Serious as a heart attack. She had herself totally freaked. She was so sure she'd be sick that she ended up feeling sick. We gave her half doses of Dramamine for 2 days...until she forgot about it. She was fine. So don't psych yourselves out being afraid of being sick. Take some ginger, have some meds on hand in case, and go have fun.

This is the best sea sickness advice you can give. Don't overthink and/or focus on the ship's motion. The ship moves regardless of the seas and where your cabin is - the motion is just different. If someone thinks ginger candy is keeping them from getting sick, then give them ginger candy - the brain is fooling the body.
 
I've used ginger pills with great success...one in the morning is usually all I need.

I'd also suggest asking your server for some green apples to keep on hand in your stateroom, or ask for one at meal times. Green apples (and perhaps some saltines) are great!
 

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