Bonine and Less Drowsy Dramamine are expensive packaged Meclizine HCL 25 mg. They both are exactly the same in formulations and in amount of medicine in the pill. Buying the "name brands" is doing nothing more than costing you more $$$$. You can usually get a bottle of Meclizine from the pharmacy without a prescription for a LOT less than a box of either Bonine or Dramamine L/D.
Regular Dramamine is just another expensive version of Benadryl. The active ingredient in Dramamine is diphenhydramine which is Benadryl. The Dramamine has 50 mg per tablet and you can take 2 benadryl and get the same amount of medicine for a LOT less too.
I posted this on the
Disney Cruise Line board but I think it might be relevant here as well.
Sea Bands and Relief Bands
Sea bands are a terry cloth type band that you wear on your wrist. It has a white knob that if positioned correctly CAN put pressure on the wrist pressure point. Here is a website with a picture of a Sea Band
http://www.etravelergear.com/noqmotdiswri.html
These bands are very cheap but beware that since they rely on hitting a specific spot in your wrist it is possible that they will not work very well. They did not work well on me or my husband as our pressure point is too deep. The spot it is supposed to sit on is called the NeiGuan Pressure Point (P6) if you want to research that pressure point.
The Relief Band is a sort of watch looking contraption that actually shocks your wrist with a shocking impulse that is supposed to help with motion sickness as well. It is quite pricey and in the same sort of category as the Sea Bands where if they work I hear they work great but if they dont work well you hopefully have another method with you. Here is a website with what these are:
http://www.reliefband.com/
We found them at a local store for about 70 dollars but ended up returning them as they didnt work for either of us.
These two options are nice if you dont want to take any medication but please beware that there is a chance that they will not work and make sure you have a backup method.
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The Transderm Scop patch is a patch that contains scopolamine and you put it on behind your ear and wear it continually for 3 days at a time. Can have irritating side effects but, most people complain of a dry mouth. Wear the patch for a day or two prior to going on the cruise to see if you can tolerate it. It is a prescription only medication. Drug clears rapidly from the system - hence the need to wear the patch - so side effects should be resolved in 4-6 hours after removing the patch. You MUST be diligent about washing your hands after they come in contact with the patch and if you accidentally touch it and touch your eye(s) they can dilate your pupils and give you symptoms much worse than seasickness alone! These patches work well for some but have a higher rate of allergic reactions than other forms according to my pharmacist (take that for what it's worth). Their website is
http://www.transdermscop.com/site2/
I would suggest that you read the side effects in the patient information section. I didnt try this out at home before we left on our first cruise and I ended up in the cabin sick with a nasty headache, upset stomach, dizziness, dilated pupils and miserable. Turns out I am highly allergic to scopolamine and didnt know it! I would suggest if you plan on using this you try it out at home first to make sure that you are not allergic to it. I have also heard that there is a new scopolamine product called Scopace that gives the same benefit as the patch but with fewer side effects. Ask your doctor if you want to go this way if they think it is good for you and your body.
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Then there are the over the counter drugs like Dramamine, Dramamine Less Drowsy, Bonine and the active form of Bonine and Dramamine Less Drowsy which is Meclizine.
Dramamine is a dimenhydrinate and it has the ability to make you really really sleepy! I'd suggest trying these methods out at home before you go as well to see how they react especially if they make your extremely tired and if you drink how you react with alcohol. Original Dramamine can be used in small children although not under the age of 2 but can make them extremely tired and agitated. Here is their website
http://www.pfizer.com/do/counter/di..._dramamine.html
Dramamine Less Drowsy and Bonine are actually Meclizine. You can generally buy Meclizine over the counter (although some pharmacy's keep it behind the counter) but without a prescription and the Meclizine is generally cheaper. We get 100 Meclizine tablets for 8.00 where we get 12 Bonine for 8.00 so the difference is a big deal to us! Meclizine, Bonine, Dramamine Less Drowsy are all antihistamines such as Benadryl. We usually start taking this medication 2-3 days before we leave and continue to take 1 pill every morning until we have been home for at least 2 days. Our pediatrician told us we could give a 1/2 of a 12.5 mg pill to our older kids and my dd needed it but my 2 boys did not. They didnt suffer from motion sickness at all but my 9 year old did suffer. I would also suggest trying this out at home before you go as well. Better to lose a weekend than a whole trip! Here is an online pharmacy (prices are outrageous) but it has some good information on Meclizine
http://www.online-health-pharmacy.c...y_meclizine.php
Antivert - Prescription version of Meclizine - no difference in strength/ingredients - just price!
Claritin = Loratadine - Not as effective for most people - makes very few people drowsy
Any antihistamine has the potential to help with seasickness. Remember if you are already taking an antihistamine - start at the lower doses of meclizine - as there can be an additive effect
Alcohol can intensify the side effects of all of these medications!
We don't have a delayed reaction, but it's entirely possible that's how it can work with some people. 
Maybe my husband didn't want to skip the rides! 
