Anyone that cut the Transderm Scop Patch in quarters? How did it work?

[sasha]

Hello All!

I'm trying to make arrangements for my upcoming MR cruise. I get VERY seasick, to the point that I was in bed most of our last Disney Cruise (before kids). Now that we're taking our 3 children, I want this to be an enjoyable cruise for our entire family. I was looking into the patch, but heard awful stories about the side effects. I thought I read somewhere that someone cut it in quarters, but I don't remember where I saw it. Does anyone have any information about that? I was thinking of doing that with either ginger pills or Bonnine. Any suggestions?

TIA!!!

 

[penguinaddict]

Subscribing because we'd like to know, too......

We've used the transderm at Disneyland. Loved it! But, after about four hours I noticed significant side effects so took it off. But it seemed to remain effective for a few hours after that.

So, now I'm thinking about putting it on the night before we embark, and taking it off in the morning.... I, too, have ruined the first night of a cruise being extremely seasick. Trying to avoid it this time.

 

[disneydreamin-gang]

I'm subscribing too. This is our first cruise and I get car sick sometimes. I did get the patch for our cruise but wonder about the side effects.

Interested in the answer because I was wondering if cutting them would lessen the side effects.

 

[mickeyfan1]

The problem with cutting the patch in half or quarters is that you don't know iff all the active ingredients are in on small spot, spread eaually all over, or something in between.

Side effects can include very dry mouth, blurred vision, and in the elderly, halucinations and serious confusion.

Personally, I would try sea bands first, they worked for me in the Pacific in hurricane waters and my then 87 year old mother who reacted very badly to the patch, then ginger pills and bonine, then dramamine.

Of course not everyone will react to the patch, not everyone gets relief from ginger, sea bands don't help all.

 

[Mom323]

The patch is made up of several layers. The medication Scopolamine is in a small resovoir within the patch. Cutting it will cause the medication to leak out and not be absorbed at a controlled rate.

 

[pajl]

I guess it must vary from person to person...because I can tell you..it saved my trip!
I just got off the Magic Feb12-19 & I wasted 2 whole days sick as a dog...put it on during the night...by the next morning I was just a good as gold!! I was walking normal and felt fine!
I left it on and then put the other on a few days later

I would totally recomend it to anyone who has a tendancy to get motion sickness.

Good Luck!
oh and the ginger gravol worked as well but did not last..

 

[Hillaryone]

I am a pharmacist. DO NOT CUT THE PATCHES. A previous poster is correct about the medication being released at an unpredictable rate.

 

[rachelm23]

subbing. I have some at home but can't decide whether to bring it. I think the sickness is all in my head.

 

[kcashner]

There are many medications available for motion sickness. If you know this is a problem for you, consider consulting your physician before you cruise.

Many of the "side effects" attributed to the scope patch are caused by people who can't keep their hands off the patch. They touch the patch, then rub their eyes, get fingers near/in their mouths, touch a glass and then drink from the glass, etc. If you choose to use a patch, put it on as directed, then wash your hands thoroughly with soap, and then KEEP YOUR hands off the patch!

Scopolamine is a medication that can cause side effects, but everything reported as a side effect isn't necessarily one.

Do not destroy the integrity of the patch. If you feel that you need a lesser dose, consult your doc to see whether there is a pediatric size available.

 

[mmmears]

The patch is made up of several layers. The medication Scopolamine is in a small resovoir within the patch. Cutting it will cause the medication to leak out and not be absorbed at a controlled rate.

I asked my doctor about cutting one in half and was advised NOT to do it.

I did use the whole patch on our first cruise last spring and it helped me (and nothing usually helps me). Maybe I was super-lucky, but the only side effect I had was a blister when I removed the patch.

 

[disneydreamin-gang]

I wont cut the patch. It was just a thought about what would happen if?

 

[momtoejanda]

Everyone is different....that being said.....


My husband swears by them and wouldnt travel without them. He has never had any side effects.

Maybe you should try one before you go and see if you get any side effects?

 

[sasha]

I am a pharmacist. DO NOT CUT THE PATCHES. A previous poster is correct about the medication being released at an unpredictable rate.

Thank you for this information. Do you happen to know if there is a smaller dosage of the patch? I am usually very sensitive to medications.

 

[sasha]

Do not destroy the integrity of the patch.

Do you mean by discussing the side effects of the patch???

 

[sayhello]

Everyone is different....that being said.....


My husband swears by them and wouldnt travel without them. He has never had any side effects.

Maybe you should try one before you go and see if you get any side effects?

This. DEFINITELY try it before you go.

Not everyone has side effects. Also, be sure & change the patch after 3 days.

*Most* side effects happen after several days' use.

Sayhello

 

[mickeyfan1]

Do you mean by discussing the side effects of the patch???

No, she meant by cutting it.

Discussing the side effects is important. Not everyone has them. But to the poster that said try it first, and see, side effects not only vary by person, but also by that person. My mother cruise with me many times. She would get seasick just looking at surfers in Hawai'i on TV. So she always got the patch for cruising. Some cruises she was fine, some she got the dry mouth, some not. But the last cruise, she became very disoriented and confused, so much that I thought we were either going to have to leave the ship or she would be in a nursing home as soon as we returned. Fortunately, I spoke with a friend who said her father was the same way on a prior sailing and to get the patch OFF. I told my mother to take it off, she was fine with in an hour or so, she put on sea bands for the rest of the cruise and was never ill.

So trying them may be a good idea, but realize that one ti,e you could be fine and another not.

The patch is a prescription drug, so talk to your health care provider, too.

 

[sasha]

No, she meant by cutting it.

Okay, that makes more sense. Thanks!

What happened to your mother is what I'm afraid of. I read that it caused hallucinations in many people. I've also heard that it's worse when you remove the patch. I'm afraid I would be more susceptible to that. It looks like I'll have to try it before I sail...

 

[elgerber]

I was so afraid of the patch, based on reports of side effects, but dd and I both get terribly motion sick. So we tried them for a day or two the weekend before we left, and did ok. So we put them on the night we flew out, and wore them the entire cruise and two days after we got home. We had NO side effects (maybe a tinge of dry mouth, but nothing that we even noticed) and we were not sick at all! And we had pretty rough waters for most of our cruise as we were outrunning a hurricane.
We will never go without them!!

 

[tracielynn]

I used the patch once before and at first I was fine, but after I took it off and switched it to a new one I got really sick. I could not even see a few feet in front of me because everything was so blurry. I could not read the navigators because my eyes would not focus. I went to the onboard doctor and she told me to remove the patch. I was fine after I removed it, but then I was seasick again. The last cruise I went on to the MR was on the Mariner (RCCL) and I only used Bonine and I was totally fine. Of course, that ship is huge so I think that really helps. I am bringing the patch, but I will only use it if I have to and if I start to have syptoms of the side efeects I will know to remove it right away.

 

[wdw_girl_18]

DEFINITELY try it before you go.

Not everyone has side effects. Also, be sure & change the patch after 3 days.

*Most* side effects happen after several days' use.

Sayhello

I never even thought to try the patch before I went on the cruise. I'm going to do that this weekend!

Does anyone know the answer to this....? If the patch does not work, can I take a bonine right after I take the patch off, or will I be overdosing on motion sickness meds?