Bonine vs. Dramamine -- and side effects

[bmb3]

My husband and I are going on a 3-night cruise in early April. I'm nervous about sea-sickness and my husband struggles with inner ear equilibrium issues. (He won't ride upside down roller coasters because he feels like he's still on one the rest of the day.)

We are trying to figure out what medication to try - and bring along on the trip. Which is better - Dramamine or Bonine? What are the side effects for each? (We both tend to have 'bowel' issues on vacation - and don't want to make it worse.) Also, do you recommend trying it before the trip? How about taking it every night regardless of the motion of the ship?

Thank you so much!

 

[tmbacon]

I haven't tried either, but from reading these posts I get the sense Bonine is a bit easier on the body. You are to take it prior to getting ont he cruise, so in my case, I'm going to take it the day before the cruise, then the day of departure, and then whatever else the instructions tell me to do.

 

[Tink rules]

Bonine won't make you drowsy...

I also suggest that you take the Bonine BEFORE you board the ship... I took it the day before and the morning and had no problems after and then only took it one time when we had rougher seas before dinner one night.

If you are wondering how it will affect you, take one on a day you are home.

Also... they have the pills onboard (there is a container of them by the Medical center) and if you do feel sea sick, then call room service and get some green apples and gingerale...

Also... again...

The ship has stabilizers - you will feel the ship move, but the stablilizers help to keep the ship from rocking alot.

Good luck!

 

[jiminyC_fan]

Another vote for Bonine. Try it before you leave home so you don't have any surprises. We have ZERO side effects.

 

[Tink rules]

and the kids version is Raspberry flavored

 

[xangav]

I normally take the kids dramamine the first night because I am always a little worried until I get my sea legs. After reading the boards I decided to try the Bonine last year on the Freedom of the Seas and I gave my daughter a half dose. I always take a little less than the recommended dose.

Wow! That stuff knocked me for a loop. I could barely keep my eyes open during dinner. Both my daughter and I went to the room after the show and went to bed. Normally, I am a very light sleeper but we had promenade rooms and we slep through the entire parade happening right below our windows!

Well, we didn't take any more after that and couldn't even tell the ship was moving...best cruise ever and I am very much like your husband: If I go on a serious coaster I am pretty much done for the day. Good Luck.

P.s. try to stay away from caffeine and alcohol and drink lots of water. This helps me ALOT!

 

[pmama]

Bonine did make me drowsy as well but I took it before bed and wasn't affected much during the day. I felt it really helped as there were rough seas and many getting sick yet I felt fine. I took a Bonine before our flight home and was OUT (wasn't my intention). So, I recommend taking it before bed.

 

[MFaieta]

My mother took Bonine once the day before we left for the cruise and once the 1st morning we were leaving, both days she got extremely tired 6-8 hours after taking it. It was so severe that the first night on the ship, she had to excuse herself to go to bed during dinner.

She didn't take it after that and just used the SeaBands and was fine.

 

[stlkeeler]

The generic name for Bonine is meclezine which is the same as the non-drowsy form of Dramamine. I can get a bottle of 100 tabs from behind the pharmacy counter for around $5. Take it before you leave to see how it affects you. It doesn't make me sleepy but I take it at night anyway. I start taking it before I leave home so I have it in my system. I usually feel the boat moving but I have never gotten sick. I usually stop taking it halfway through my cruise and don't need it anymore but I'm on the EBTA next month and I have a feeling I'm going to have to take it much longer.

 

[su_kraft]

So, this may be a silly question, please bear with me... I haven't gotten sea sick on the Magic, but each time we get off it takes a couple of days to loose the sea legs. I have heard people say that if you take bonine or dramamine this doesn't happen. Anyone have any experience with this? We are on the WBTA this September and I would hate to feel like everythign is rocking a week after we get home...

 

[xangav]

On our first cruise I took more dramamine and I really felt the rocking after getting off the ship. That was before I figured out how much being dehydrated really affected me. Now I really cut back on my coffee and alcohol and try to drink at least 8 glasses of water a day while on board.
To put my motion sickness in perspective, I have to drive the car as opposed to being a passenger because I get so nauseous. So, for me to go without dramamine and getting off the ship without feeling sick in pretty good.

 

[Mtopher4]

What about the bonine for kids? It says take every 6-8 hours? Did anyone's kids sleep all the time?

I know I can take mine at bedtime but what about kids?
Thanks

 

[ikeymakes3]

I did dramamine...and pretty much slept through the entire cruise Not do that one again!

 

[bstafford]

I have read these threads for awhile, and I have never heard what we did mentioned. On our honeymoon cruise 11 years ago, we bought Dramimine 2. It was a non-tiring version. We just took it daily because we felt that we didn't even want to chance getting sea sickness with the amount of money we paid.
We had no effects of it. Does this stuff no longer exist?

 

[clawmachine]

It has been stated elsewhere on the board that Dramamine Non-Drowsy and Bonine both have meclizine (given generically on the ship) as their main ingredient. Original Dramamine seems to be the only one that most people say causes drowsiness...

 

[Mtopher4]

Ive been to about 4 stores looking for the non-drowsy dramamine and no one has it. The kids Bonine is hard to find too but Target ordered it for me.. can in the very next day

 

[diane648]

I bought a bottle of 100 meclazine HCI 12.5 mg. from Costco -- started taking one pill each night a couple of nights before the cruise, & took 2 on nights when the boat was really moving. The pharmacist asked if I wanted the 12.5 or 25 mg, and since I wasn't sure, he suggested buying the smaller version, understanding that I could take two if needed. The cost was $3.59.

Didn't feel any sort of sea sickness (which I've had before) and did not notice any side effects. It may have helped me sleep (which is why I took it at night) but I can't confirm it.

I had read on these boards that you just have to ask the pharmacist for it. They keep it behind the counter but it's non-prescription.

 

[llkoolj40]

So, this may be a silly question, please bear with me... I haven't gotten sea sick on the Magic, but each time we get off it takes a couple of days to loose the sea legs. I have heard people say that if you take bonine or dramamine this doesn't happen. Anyone have any experience with this? We are on the WBTA this September and I would hate to feel like everythign is rocking a week after we get home...

I get very seasick and Bonine works the best for me. I take it before I get on the ship and once a day on the ship. I take it for one day after the cruise and that prevents me from feeling sick on shore.

 

[xangav]

That's why I took the non-drowsy kids version. I only took
one a couple of hours before dinner, when it really seems
to hit me. I usually feel a little out of it when I take anything
which is why I prefer not to take anything.

I guess everyone is affected differently.

 

[whamma]

I prefer Bonine too. I have found that just 1/2 pill works fine for me (the adult version and the kids version are both chewable). It does make me sleepy so I took it each night before going to bed. I didn't get seasick last trip. It didn't help me avoid the sealegs after the trip though. I also take it when I fly because I tend to feel "queasy" if I don't.