Motion sickness meds for kids

[cmph]

My search pulled up some really old threads, hoping for more current info. We have our first family cruise booked for Dec, Wonder out of Galveston. DH doesn't get seasick, I've been on enough cruises in my lifetime to know what to take (and that I need it!!), DD is old/big enough for adult meds, but where I'm stumped is DS who will be 8 by then. He has had some motion sickness issues in the past - on planes when he was very little (and fortunately outgrew that), and randomly on some theme park rides (not many), enough that I want to be prepared. On the advice of our pediatrician, we used regular kids' Dramamine for a catamaran ride in Hawaii last month, and it knocked him out. We were pretty shocked how much it conked him out! So I don't consider that a good option, but Bonine doesn't seem to have a child-safe option OTC unless it's just not carried by either Walgreens or CVS in my area. Does anyone know if a kid-safe prescription alternative to Dramamine is available? The cruise is a surprise for the kids (their Christmas present), so I'm going to have to try to talk to the pediatrician at his 8 year checkup without him knowing what I'm talking about... having actual medication names to request would definitely help!! thx!

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

I would suggest you contact your family Doctor again........He or She knows your family best and will likely have the best ideas on what to use.

Have a great cruise.

AKK

 

[disneyholic family]

motion sickness meds, even the supposedly "non-drowsy" formula totally knocked out my kids.

i just wrote a long response on this topic in another thread, so i'm copying and pasting it here.
it's regarding sea bands - which also come in a size for children.
--------------------------------------------------------------

i have very severe motion sickness - also on land. For years i took prescription medicine, also on land and on cruises.
Until i discovered the wonders of sea bands. I had heard about them for years and just thought it was a bunch of nonsense.
but it really works - also for my whole family (also motion sickness sufferers - especially DD).
The claim is they work on about 60% of the people who use them.
they work on everyone in my family who's tried them (me, DH, DD, DSIL, my elderly mom and my sister with ovarian cancer).

I've been using them now for about 5 years. Non-stop when i'm on a cruise, and during attacks when i'm on land.

i put them on before i even board the ship, and don't take them off again until after disembarkation at the end of the cruise.
They're based on acupressure. There is a hard plastic nub that presses into each of your wrists.
i hope they work on you as it's always better to use a non-drug solution when possible.

Here's a link to what i'm talking about.
they have in both adult and child sizes (my daughter, who's 31, has such small wrists that she uses the child size).
www.sea-band.com

 

[RafikiTiki21]

Yes, please do talk to your doctor about your child and to validate anything else you hear in this thread that may help.

Mine recommended OTC Benedryl in lieu of Dramamine. Apparently at the molecular level they are similar enough to have the same effect, but we know how my son reacts to Benedryl and the side effects of Dramamine on him are unknown.

My son has not demonstrated any signs of motion sickness but I wanted to be prepared for the cruise. I was advised not to pre-medicate as a prevention, only to use the Benedryl if he has symptoms.

Good luck!

 

[VillainFavs]

Sea Bands definitely helped my kids when they were little. As they got a bit older we started using Bonine. But then that reached a point where it didn't seem quite as effective. They're both teenagers and still have issues with carsickness on long car rides. Still hate Dramamine because of the "knock out" effect.

Someone here suggested MotionEaze and it's helped tremendously! We now do a combination of that and the Bonine and have had zero issues. It's an all-natural oil that's used topically behind the ear--much like the medicate patches. But it's all natural and safe for kids. Natural ginger candy from Whole Foods as a backup, too, but have used very little of that.

Here's the website: http://motioneaze.com. We ordered it from Amazon.

 

[BCV23]

I agree about Sea Bands. They really work and without any medication in your system. Since they sound like voodoo (j/k) some doctors may not mention or even know about them. For our first cruise, we took along various meds but all any of us needed was the bands.

 

[Lulubelle17]

We gave them Dramamine, both some that we had purchased before the trip and what they gave us on the ship. My kids did not seem drowsy, but it could be subjective.

 

[cmph]

I would suggest you contact your family Doctor again........He or She knows your family best and will likely have the best ideas on what to use.

Have a great cruise.

AKK

Yes, please do talk to your doctor about your child and to validate anything else you hear in this thread that may help.

The cruise is a surprise for the kids (their Christmas present), so I'm going to have to try to talk to the pediatrician at his 8 year checkup without him knowing what I'm talking about... having actual medication names to request would definitely help!!

Not sure if everyone is reading through my entire post.

I was hoping for actual medication names to discuss with his doctor, from all of the many very experienced family cruisers on this board. Obviously I discussed this issue prior, having used Dramamine, so I wanted to hear what others may have used, again - to have an involved discussion with our pediatrician.

 

[RafikiTiki21]

Not sure if everyone is reading through my entire post.

I was hoping for actual medication names to discuss with his doctor, from all of the many very experienced family cruisers on this board. Obviously I discussed this issue prior, having used Dramamine, so I wanted to hear what others may have used, again - to have an involved discussion with our pediatrician.

That was just my disclaimer, then I continued on with details on Benedryl for possible discussion with your doctor as requested. I know its not a Rx, but I was providing what you asked for and hoped to be helpful.

 

[cmph]

motion sickness meds, even the supposedly "non-drowsy" formula totally knocked out my kids.

they have in both adult and child sizes (my daughter, who's 31, has such small wrists that she uses the child size).
www.sea-band.com

I didn't know they had child sizes! I bought the adult size for myself for our most recent Disneyland trip, but I didn't see child sizes. Do you happen to recall where you bought the child size? They weren't at the CVS or Walgreens by me, but I live in a land-locked state, so maybe not the widest selection. Or did that have to be ordered online?

We gave them Dramamine, both some that we had purchased before the trip and what they gave us on the ship. My kids did not seem drowsy, but it could be subjective.

He curled into a ball and napped through our catamaran ride for the most part. We let him have two Cokes to try to wake him up a bit, LOL! He most definitely is one of those who gets sleepy, unfortunately.

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

Sorry, just trying to help. The Doctors are the experts.

AKK

 

[cmph]

That was just my disclaimer, then I continued on with details on Benedryl for possible discussion with your doctor as requested. I know its not a Rx, but I was providing what you asked for and hoped to be helpful.

Thank you. I just wanted to reassure those who seemed concerned, that I wasn't going to be randomly medicating my child solely based on the recommendations of an internet board. I didn't mean to imply that you weren't being helpful. I do sincerely appreciate your taking the time to respond with the Benadryl idea!

 

[MrsSmalls]

Sea Bands definitely helped my kids when they were little. As they got a bit older we started using Bonine. But then that reached a point where it didn't seem quite as effective. They're both teenagers and still have issues with carsickness on long car rides. Still hate Dramamine because of the "knock out" effect.

Someone here suggested MotionEaze and it's helped tremendously! We now do a combination of that and the Bonine and have had zero issues. It's an all-natural oil that's used topically behind the ear--much like the medicate patches. But it's all natural and safe for kids. Natural ginger candy from Whole Foods as a backup, too, but have used very little of that.

Here's the website: http://motioneaze.com. We ordered it from Amazon.

Thanks for this, I ordered sea-band from Amazon and some motioneaze, I had never heard of that.

 

[wcw57]

have you tried ginger? ginger pills, those sweet ginger chewy things, etc etc....might help

 

[VillainFavs]

Not sure if everyone is reading through my entire post.

I was hoping for actual medication names to discuss with his doctor, from all of the many very experienced family cruisers on this board. Obviously I discussed this issue prior, having used Dramamine, so I wanted to hear what others may have used, again - to have an involved discussion with our pediatrician.

There is a Bonine for kids...that is an actual drug name. Motioneaze is an actual name--although not a Drug name. Maybe that doesn't count. Sea Bands isn't a Drug. So I guess if they're not drugs they don't count....

 

[PrincessShmoo]

There is a Bonine for kids...that is an actual drug name. Motioneaze is an actual name--although not a Drug name. Maybe that doesn't count. Sea Bands isn't a Drug. So I guess if they're not drugs they don't count....

Bonine for kids (cyclizine chewable) Don't think it's still available
Bonine (meclizine) chewable available, but same strength as regular Bonine
Less-drowsy Dramamine (meclizine)
Motion-eze (herbal)
Sea bands (acupressure)
Ginger, peppermint, green apples (dietary)

From WebMD:
How is it treated?
You can take medicine to prevent or reduce nausea and vomiting. These include:

• Scopolamine, which comes as a patch you put behind your ear.
• Medicines called antiemetics, which reduce nausea.
• Certain antihistamines, which may make you drowsy.

Some of these medicines require a prescription. Most work best if you take them before you travel.

These tips may help you feel better when you have motion sickness:

• Eat a few dry soda crackers.
• Sip on clear, fizzy drinks such as ginger ale.
• Get some fresh air.
• Lie down, or at least keep your head still.

 

[cmph]

There is a Bonine for kids...that is an actual drug name. Motioneaze is an actual name--although not a Drug name. Maybe that doesn't count. Sea Bands isn't a Drug. So I guess if they're not drugs they don't count....

Not at all! I will discuss anything and everything with the pediatrician. I didn't know they even had sea bands for kids (only had adult size in my local stores when I bought them for myself) and haven't heard of Motioneaze.

We now do a combination of that and the Bonine and have had zero issues.

Something like this is actually what I'll most likely do for him, and what I do for myself (Bonine plus the sea bands). Ginger has never been helpful to me... not that it won't help him, of course. Thank you for the ideas!

 

[cmph]

Bonine for kids (cyclizine chewable) Don't think it's still available

Ahh, this may be the source of much of my confusion in my research. It most definitely wasn't in my local stores (but landlocked, so maybe not the best place to shop), but I read multiple sources that mentioned it. I almost replied to a post in an old thread discussing it, but then saw the poster hadn't been on the boards since Feb. Every box of meclizine-containing OTC drugs I found was specific to 12 and older, and hearing that they used to make a child version but don't anymore... well, that's got me wondering why! Poor seller? Or actually not ok for them?

Now I feel like I might need to type up a term paper on possibilities to pass off to the ped b/c I have no idea how I could orally discuss all of the above in front of my son without him asking me why I'm so concerned about motion sickness all of a sudden!!

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Ahh, this may be the source of much of my confusion in my research. It most definitely wasn't in my local stores (but landlocked, so maybe not the best place to shop), but I read multiple sources that mentioned it. I almost replied to a post in an old thread discussing it, but then saw the poster hadn't been on the boards since Feb. Every box of meclizine-containing OTC drugs I found was specific to 12 and older, and hearing that they used to make a child version but don't anymore... well, that's got me wondering why! Poor seller? Or actually not ok for them?

Now I feel like I might need to type up a term paper on possibilities to pass off to the ped b/c I have no idea how I could orally discuss all of the above in front of my son without him asking me why I'm so concerned about motion sickness all of a sudden!!

Even if the drug specifies "12 and older" it's quite possible for your/his doctor to allow it. The "12 and older" is a generic dividing line. It's mostly more about actual physical size, and your son's doctor may feel he's OK with using it. You can also split it in half to use.

There's also a Dramamine for kids (phenylalanine).

 

[cmph]

Even if the drug specifies "12 and older" it's quite possible for your/his doctor to allow it. The "12 and older" is a generic dividing line. It's mostly more about actual physical size, and your son's doctor may feel he's OK with using it. You can also split it in half to use.

There's also a Dramamine for kids (phenylalanine).

This was definitely true for my 11yo - no issues with me giving her meclizine b/c she is adult-sized. But they weren't ok with it for DS when he was 7, which is why we used Dramamine (it was the only thing they gave me the ok to use) and accidentally knocked him out. a lot to talk over with the doc, that's for sure!