Motion Sickness Meds

[LVdisneyChick]

What should be used?
Do we try it beforehand?

 

[sweetnana]

Be careful with the motion sickness meds. I thought it would be a good idea to take Dramamine one year, before riding RockNRoller Coaster and TOT at DHStudios. I had a terrible day because it made me so sleepy. I slept through most of the Stunt Show and almost fell out of my seat nodding off!
The rides at all the WDW parks are really pretty mild, as far as thrill rides go. You don't need the Dramamine.

 

[QueenDoOver]

I use the non drowsy dramamine, which does make me drowsy if I am not at Disneyland (like in the car, I drift off to sleep). At DL it just allows me to enjoy all the rides without the urpy tummy

 

[rszdtrvl]

Our first trip, I had no idea that I would have motion sickness. The plane ride brought it on, and it just got progressively worse throughout our vacation.

I remember trying to eat lunch, but not being able to because I was so nauseous. I stumbled back to the hotel to utter the words "Dramamine" to my husband when he arrived.

The Dramamine helped, but not much.

I asked my doctor about something, and for our trip in March (2009) she prescribed the Transderm Scopolamine (Scopace) patch for me. I wore it the evening before we flew out, and traded it for a fresh one 3 days into our vacation.

I still got sick when we got home, but I think it was a bug I picked up on the plane, as the child across from us in our seats was coughing a lot, obviously sick.

The patch was wonderful!! I am definitely getting it for our next trip.

My doctor said it is mostly used for cruises, but in my case, where the OTC stuff didn't work, it was a good choice.

 

[firefly87]

My doctor prescribed Meclizine for me when I was suffering from vertigo (sooo not fun!). When I would take the whole pill, it wiped me out....no energy at all. But taking 1/2 pill consistently throughout our DL trip works much better. I have tried Dramamine as well and it put me to sleep.

 

[lattemomof3]

Would definately recommend trying one out 1st - for our cruise I tried Bonine (which is Meclizine, I believe), it made me sooooo tired and did'nt really help w/motion sickness anyway. What did work w/out side effects were the little wrist bands w/ pressure points - I picked them up at Walmart. I don't think I will try anything this time - I would rather take my chances than feel tired and doozy all day!

 

[Crazy4Disney06]

I by far recommend Ginger Root. You can get it at any health foods or even in the vitamin section at Walmart. We used Ginger Root on our cruise last October and even people who had used Bonie and Dramamine where getting sea sick and our family was just fine! It's herbal with no side effects or drowsiness.

 

[blackjackdelta]

Our first trip, I had no idea that I would have motion sickness. The plane ride brought it on, and it just got progressively worse throughout our vacation.

I remember trying to eat lunch, but not being able to because I was so nauseous. I stumbled back to the hotel to utter the words "Dramamine" to my husband when he arrived.

The Dramamine helped, but not much.

I asked my doctor about something, and for our trip in March (2009) she prescribed the Transderm Scopolamine (Scopace) patch for me. I wore it the evening before we flew out, and traded it for a fresh one 3 days into our vacation.

I still got sick when we got home, but I think it was a bug I picked up on the plane, as the child across from us in our seats was coughing a lot, obviously sick.

The patch was wonderful!! I am definitely getting it for our next trip.

My doctor said it is mostly used for cruises, but in my case, where the OTC stuff didn't work, it was a good choice.

My son uses Transdermscop for the rides all the time and does well with it.
Everyone reacts differently to different medications. Try it, it may meet your needs.

Jack

Sent from my iphone

 

[Canadian Ladies]

I get sick all the time, trains, planes, cars, rides you name it I've been sick in it.

I strongly recommend "Sea Bands" - you can buy them at any pharmacy for around $20. They contain 2 wrist bands (you need to wear both) with a small ball in each. How it works is there are pressure points on the underside of your wrist that ball will sit on, this prevents motion sickness.

You can also try the non-drowsy Gravol, it is the one that contains ginger. I find I need to take double the recommended dose for it to work.

Good luck, hope this helps you out.

 

[cari12]

Can you get the "Sea bands" for children. I am a little concerned my DS4 will get motion sickness either on the plane or from the rides.

 

[abent]

I too am gearing up for this aspect of our trip. My boys do get sick something awful. One recovers fast and will just rebound on to the next ride, the other is just miserable for days. I have the "scope" patches as well as non drowsy Dramamine. I am trying to decide which will best the most effective as we will be flying for their first time, and I know one will be sick from that. Is it true you need to treat BEFORE travel, instead of treating symptoms? I cannot deicde whether to put a patch on the morning we leave or try the Dramamine. Any suggestions?

 

[aandjmama]

Absent--I tried the transdermscop patch last year when we went to WDW, and I really didn't like it. It just made me feel "weird". I thought it would be handier than taking pills, but I just didn't care for it. I take Dramamine about an hour before my flight or any other motion sickness-inducing activity. It does make me a little sleepy, but I'd much rather be tired than sick. What ever you decided to take, be sure to take it before the symptoms start. Good luck!

 

[d1gitman]

I second this motion...Mythbusters did an episode where they tested various motion sickness remedies. Ginger Root was the only thing that provided positive results.

I by far recommend Ginger Root. You can get it at any health foods or even in the vitamin section at Walmart. We used Ginger Root on our cruise last October and even people who had used Bonie and Dramamine where getting sea sick and our family was just fine! It's herbal with no side effects or drowsiness.

 

[abent]

For those of you who have taken ginger root...what, how and when? TIA!!

 

[tink2dw]

the thing with Meclizine/Bonine, a 24 hour pill, and I perfer the chewable Bonine, Is that you take it, the NIGHT BEFORE travel/rides then you have slept off the drowsiness!!!!!!!! And are left with Good to Go!!

I have been using Meclizine since my 1st trip to DL. It works brautifully taken the night before travel and ever night of the trip!

 

[GrandBob]

I too am gearing up for this aspect of our trip. My boys do get sick something awful. One recovers fast and will just rebound on to the next ride, the other is just miserable for days. I have the "scope" patches as well as non drowsy Dramamine. I am trying to decide which will best the most effective as we will be flying for their first time, and I know one will be sick from that. Is it true you need to treat BEFORE travel, instead of treating symptoms? I cannot deicde whether to put a patch on the morning we leave or try the Dramamine. Any suggestions?

Yes, you should definitely try out beforehand whatever you're going to use. Everyone reacts to these drugs differently; it's likely that your two sons will react differently from each other, and may need different meds.

My guess is that the transderm scop patch will be the most effective. It's also most likely to cause drowsiness. Based on your descriptions, I might try out the patch on the son who gets and stays sick, and Meclizine on the other one. Note that Meclizine is the active ingredient in both Bonine and "Dramamine Non-Drowsy".

In all cases, you have to take the medication an hour before being exposed to symptoms. Take it from me -- I work for an oceanographic research institute, and have to go out on our boats periodically. And I get seasick. It doesn't help to take the med after feeling sick -- got to take it before. Half hour still seems to work, but an hour is best.

I get drowsy from a lot of meds, including most antihistamines (which is what Bonine and Dramamine are). But meclizine (Bonine) doesn't make me drowsy at all. IMHO, it's the best choice for someone, like me, who is prone to getting drowsy on these meds. But as you can see above, some people will still get drowsy with any of the above. If that turns out to be the case, then you just have to decide which is worse -- the drowsiness or the motion sickness.

Oh, and I've tried ginger root. You can just cut off pieces of ginger and eat them, or make a tea out of them. For me, it helps slightly, but nowhere near as much as the meds. Same for my DW. YMMV.

HTH,
Bob

 

[NMMickeymom]

I used Bonine (non-drowsy) for our last cruise and it helped some. What I did not expect is that when we hit the parks afterward I felt great!! I had always just put up with feeling a little "off" after a ride. On the cruise boards they suggested taking Bonine a day before you leave as it apparently has to build in your system. It has been said that you definitely need to take it before you feel ill I will always take Bonine before visiting the parks now. I was not drowsy at all. I would give it a trial run. Everyone reacts differently and you don't want to be experimenting while on vacation. Good Luck!!!

 

[karylrocks]

the thing with Meclizine/Bonine, a 24 hour pill, and I perfer the chewable Bonine, Is that you take it, the NIGHT BEFORE travel/rides then you have slept off the drowsiness!!!!!!!! And are left with Good to Go!!

I have been using Meclizine since my 1st trip to DL. It works brautifully taken the night before travel and ever night of the trip!

I second this idea. You can get a whole bottle of chewable Meclazine (generic for Bonine) for a few bucks from the pharmacist. We take one tablet every night starting the night before our trip and it has worked great. We started doing this for our cruise 3 years ago and still have not finished off the bottle. I don't know how it would work if you have severe motion sickness but for me it works fine (I just have a tendency to get a little queasy on Star Tours and the teacups).

 

[LVdisneyChick]

I second this idea. You can get a whole bottle of chewable Meclazine (generic for Bonine) for a few bucks from the pharmacist. We take one tablet every night starting the night before our trip and it has worked great. We started doing this for our cruise 3 years ago and still have not finished off the bottle. I don't know how it would work if you have severe motion sickness but for me it works fine (I just have a tendency to get a little queasy on Star Tours and the teacups).

Does this require a prescription or is it over the counter and you just have to get it from the pharmacy.

 

[karylrocks]

No prescription but you probably will have to ask for it at the pharmacy.