Bonine or...

[Kimnicki]

the patch. Can anyone give me their preferences? Do you suggest starting it the day before cruising and can you drink alcohol while using the Bonine?

Thanks!

 

[minniemouse1]

with the bonine its states to start it an hour before travel and to take it atleast 2 times per day. the drinking part i'm not sure about but a quick call to a pharmacy could answer your question. as for the patch I really don't know anything about it.

 

[allshookup]

I drank a few tropical drinks with dinner while taking Bonine and it didn't bother me at all.

 

[videogal1]

I took the Scopalomine patch with me on two cruises. On the first cruise I waited to see if I would need it before applying it...The instructions tell you to apply it many hours (forgot how many) BEFORE the cruise. I didn't and wished I had. This was in 1989. The patch was good for 3 days at which time you were to take it off. period. When I finally decided I didn't like being seasick and that I wasn't going to be able to make the yucky feeling go away, I donned the patch and had to wait hours before it finally took effect. The second cruise (1990) I thought I was smarter. I put the patch on before boarding but, as it was a four-day cruise, decided to push the limits and keep it on for that extra day...Well, I had to rip it off before the end of the cruise because of the double vision it caused...the extra day was an overdose and gave me worse problems than being seasick...
Moral of the story...It will absolutely prevent seasickness, I had no sleepy side effects and was able to join the former cruisers club..the members of which are identifiable by the rectangular untanned patch of skin behind their ear. Word of advice...Don't make the same mistakes I did...FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS, make sure all your cruise days are covered without pushing the recommended limit of the patch. Also, take a backup remedy like non-drowsy dramimine or Bonine in case you have side effects that prevent your continuing with the patch.

 

[aprilgail2]

Bonine works great...take one before getting on the ship and then every morning I took another. The patch has terrible sick effects..including making your vision so blurrry you can't even read menus!

 

[jgalecpa]

Herre's a link to an interesting article in BoatUS, the biggest US boat owners club.

http://www.boatus.com/seaworthy/seasic.asp

Jim

 

[Verandah Man]

We took two boxes of Bonine tablets for the six of us on our cruise and never opened either box. My DW is the type of person who can't even get on a merry-go-round without getting an uneasy feeling in her stomach. Not once did she even ask where the Bonine was. At lease we had them if we needed them, luckily, we didn't need them!!!

 

[lsmac]

We always use Bonine and never had a problem with it. Absolutely no side effects for us! And that was with the requisite sail away drink. I also just would take one the morning of embarkation and one in the morning if it looked like seas would be rough after that. Other wise I think out of a packet of 12, the three of us used 4 the last time when we cruised in December.
Also...they have free packets of meclizine (the same as Bonine) just outside the medical center on board.

Lisa

 

[SeaSpray]

With regards to seasickness, it's MUCH better and more effective to avoid it, than to try and treat it once it hits you. On our cruise to Bermuda this summer, I had DH and myself take 1 Bonine (generic name is meclazine) table each morning with breakfast, beginning the day BEFORE our cruise. We took 1 tablet every morning of the cruise, even though we had no seasickness symptoms. My doctor told me that if we began to feel nauseous, we could take up to 3 tablets per day. We drank in the afternoons and evenings and had no side effects from the Bonine at all. In fact, since it's original purpose was as an antihistamine, I never felt better in my entire life...no sinus problems at all while on the cruise!

On our Disney cruise next summer, I plan on having DH and both DSs (with their pediatrician's permission) take Bonine every morning, just to be on the safe side. I can't imagine being sick while on a cruise.

 

[Kimnicki]

Thanks for all of your replies!! I know I can always count on you all to help

 

[minnieluvzmickey]

So, the bonine doesn't make you feel drowzy at all? We went on a fishing trip this summer and my dad (a pharmacist) gave me some type of sea sickness med. that wasn't supposed to make you drowsy but i felt like i'd been hit by a mack truck all day. Not sea sick......just very groggy.

 

[bassoongirl]

This summer, my family went to Isle Royale which is located in Lake Superior between Michigan and Canada. The boat ride to the island takes 4 1/2 hours, and the boat is nick-named the "Barf Barge". Because of the length of the trip and the reputation of the boat, my two kids and I took Bonine. It was supposed to be a non-drowsy formula. I felt fine, but my kids starting falling asleep on the boat ride and then slept for about three hours once we got there. My kids are 12 and 9, and are not nap takers. I was surprised by the effects of the medicine! Now I am reluctant to give them Bonine when we are on our cruise. I don't want them to sleep through all the fun!

bassoongirl

 

[SeaSpray]

Originally posted by minnieluvzmickey
So, the bonine doesn't make you feel drowzy at all? We went on a fishing trip this summer and my dad (a pharmacist) gave me some type of sea sickness med. that wasn't supposed to make you drowsy but i felt like i'd been hit by a mack truck all day. Not sea sick......just very groggy.

Hi Missy:

It didn't make me feel drowsy in the least, but that's not to say that it couldn't effect someone else differently, you know?? Ask your dad what he gave you this summer, and hopefully it's something other than Bonine (meclazine). I'd hate for you to feel groggy all day

 

[figment52]

While it is not one of hte options you listed, the Sea Bands worked for us. No medication just a "sweat band" with a pressure button around your wrist and we had no problems at all. Becasue it is not medicine you can eat and/or drink with no side effects (ok, just the normal over-indulging kind of side effects)

You can get them at the drug store.

 

[Dean]

Bonine would be my first though. The Transcop patch has a LOT of side effects and about 25% have to discontinue it's use. Dramamine and Phenergan will make you sleepy but are pretty effective. The Sea Bands are hit and miss but won't hurt. Someone mentioned phenergan gel to rub on the wrists, this is made up by a compounding pharmacy.