Benadryl for motion sickness?

[astempel]

My DD (10) is very prone to motion sickness. I called the pediatrician today and he said to give her Benadryl and if that didn't work to go with Dramamine. Has anyone ever used Benadryl for motion sickness. I am afraid that if I give it to her during the day that she will be drowsy. If I give it to her at night will it still work for the next day? Any thoughts?

 

[outahere]

My DS's pediatrician has recommended the same thing, but Benadryl usually makes him hyper, not drowsy. We have had pretty good luck with the chewable Dramamine, 1/2 a tablet in the morning and 1/2 before dinner. Whatever you decide to use, I would suggest trying it at home prior to leaving, just to be sure you don't have to deal with any unpleasant side effects.

 

[Grumpyismyfavorite]

My DD (10) is very prone to motion sickness. I called the pediatrician today and he said to give her Benadryl and if that didn't work to go with Dramamine. Has anyone ever used Benadryl for motion sickness. I am afraid that if I give it to her during the day that she will be drowsy. If I give it to her at night will it still work for the next day? Any thoughts?

That is one I had not heard of using for motion sickness (but I'm not a doctor, either!) On our very first cruise, my DD turned green as soon as we sat down to dinner the first night (so did I, by the way). My DH went to the store and got us each the seasick bands. Within 20-30 minutes she was out the door on her way to the kid's club and I was asking for food. We have both worn them on several cruises since.

Good luck!

 

[kstategrad]

Our doctor has not recommended Benadryl, but we have all used generic Claritin (loratadine) tablets for motion sickness. There's something about the way it helps with inner-ear balance, so it prevents you from getting sick (I'm not sure if I'm explaining that right). Anyway, we all used it on our last cruise and none of us got seasick. Kids as young as 6 can take the tablet, and you can buy a bottle with 300 in it for only $11 at Sam's.

 

[lbgraves]

That is one thing that I have not seen recommended before in 7 1/2 years on the boards.

 

[outahere]

That is one thing that I have not seen recommended before in 7 1/2 years on the boards.

I was surprised when our doctor recommended it, but he explained that most motion sickness meds are basically antihistamines. Since Benadryl falls into that group, in theory it should work as well as the others.

 

[Paula13]

I was surprised when our doctor recommended it, but he explained that most motion sickness meds are basically antihistamines. Since Benadryl falls into that group, in theory it should work as well as the others.

So are allergy pills,that is why Claritin would work. Claritin dosn't make my DD sleepy,either. My doctor also recommends it when flying, that way DD's ears won't hurt.

 

[karibritt01]

My DD throws up easily, and tends to continue once she starts until we give her meds to stop it. Our ped has told us to use Benadryl for her. We have a 50/50 success rate of it helping, but it does make her very drowsy. She is also very prone to motion sickness, and sometimes gets queasy driving across town even. We took seasick meds with us on our cruise, but never needed to use them. The first night leaving Port Canaveral was the worst night, and we were starting to be a little bothered. A CM suggested that we go see a movie, as the darkness and concentrating on the screen sometimes helps. Sure enough, we were able to enjoy a movie and get past the nausea without any meds. After the first night, we hardly ever even noticed the ship moving.

 

[Fawn]

Benedryl is an old remedy for motion sickness. The problem is it either causes my various kids to fall asleep or get hyper. Dramamine puts us all to sleep!

Did you specifically ask your Doc about Bonine? Mine let my girls take it on our first cruise when they were just 10 and 11. Works wonders for us.

 

[nic_x]

Bonine is what worked for my kids. NO motion sickness at all (even on the vomit ferry from Cozumel across to Playa del Carmen), and even though it tastes bad, it's chewable. No drowsiness or hyperactivity, either.

 

[kstategrad]

So are allergy pills,that is why Claritin would work. Claritin dosn't make my DD sleepy,either. My doctor also recommends it when flying, that way DD's ears won't hurt.

Exactly. I like it too b/c it does not cause anyone in our family to be drowsy, and it only needs to be taken once a day!

 

[Paula13]

Exactly. I like it too b/c it does not cause anyone in our family to be drowsy, and it only needs to be taken once a day!

Yes, that is the up side for us due my DD doesn't like swallowing pills! When she was littler (word?) & we sailed, we opened up a ginger pill capsule & put it in some water & it worked,too!

 

[disneyfaninaz]

My pediatrician recommended Benedryl for my DD(8) as well. I would give her some at bedtime and she had absolutely no motion sickness for 2 cruises now. My DH and I took bonine and we too had no motion sickness and no side effects.

 

[Special K's Mom]

Our pediatrician also recommended Benadryl if needed. Since Benadryl usually a) zonks them out or b) makes them climb the walls , I opted to get the non-drowsy chewable children's dramamine.

On our 4 day last July, my children (DS then 4 and DD then 7) had no problems at all - no meds were ever needed. I will take it with us again this year "just in case" - I however, did the patch "just in case" then and will probably do so again! (No ill side effects from that either)

 

[tvguy]

Yes, that is the up side for us due my DD doesn't like swallowing pills! When she was littler (word?) & we sailed, we opened up a ginger pill capsule & put it in some water & it worked,too!

Don't take ginger without checking with your doctor first. For people with certain medical conditions, or taking certain prescriptions, ginger can be fatal.

A couple of years ago Consumer Reports did an article on getting medical advice on the internet, and specifially mentioned Travel Boards and the frequent recommendations on them that people take ginger for seasickness as an example of why you should not take such advice off the internet..

 

[jajomo0118]

This is crazy!!! I was just talking to a co-work, who's wife gets motion sickness....and I told him that my Dr. told me just to give my oldest ....Benadryl for his car sickness!! I always assumed it was just because it knocks most people out...hence no car sickness!!! I am so pulling up this thread at work tomorrow...he thought I was nuts!!! LMAO

 

[dvschem]

Our doctor in Australia gave the same advice for our seasickness-prone youngest. Basically, Benadryl will make them drowsy or even send them to sleep. It is hoped that this will allow them to get over the current bout of nausea and hopefully giove them a bit more time to naturally adjust. I didn't like the idea of a permanently groggy child so we left it and she was just fine.

 

[Tinkermom3]

We used children's Bonine. My son became seasick the first night and after a dose of children's Bonine he felt much better. We gave it to him twice a day (morning and bedtime) for the rest of the cruise he did great!

Benedryl makes my kids very drowsy the Bonine did not do this.

 

[Paula13]

Don't take ginger without checking with your doctor first. For people with certain medical conditions, or taking certain prescriptions, ginger can be fatal.

A couple of years ago Consumer Reports did an article on getting medical advice on the internet, and specifially mentioned Travel Boards and the frequent recommendations on them that people take ginger for seasickness as an example of why you should not take such advice off the internet..

Seriously? It is a natural product/root. This will be our 4th cruise & that is what I have always used. We are fairly young & healthy, no health conditions that I know of, any way.
And for the record, I was by no means giving advice. I was just giving my experience.

 

[tvguy]

Seriously? It is a natural product/root. This will be our 4th cruise & that is what I have always used. We are fairly young & healthy, no health conditions that I know of, any way.
And for the record, I was by no means giving advice. I was just giving my experience.

Well.....arsenic is natural too!!! I was not aware of the potential dangers of ginger until the Consumer Reports article. I can't eat grapefruit or drink grapefruit juice, because, in combination with the blood pressure medicine I take, grapefruit could kill me.
And of course there was the whole thing last year about not giving children under age 6 ANY cold medicines.
Bottom line, it never hurts to ask your doctor.