MelissaE1
- The age recommendation for medication often has to do with how a medication is removed from the body, i.e. through the liver or kidneys. And a person/child's age a medication is recommended for often has to do with whether those organs are developed enough to handle the medication or not too "worn out" (as in the elderly). A child's organs are not fully developed and are still growing. It may be that a child under that age of 12 doesn't not have a developed-enough liver or kidney to break-down this drug and remove it from the body. Which could be a big problem and could have serious side-effects and consequences. I am a nurse and I see the effects of a person's body not being able to excrete a drug all the time (My patient population is mostly elderly & I mostly see this with narcotics). I don't know a lot about meclizine (the active ingredient in Bonine & Less-Drowsy Dramamine) but I do know that it works great for MY motion-sickness, that physicians often prescribe it for vertigo/dizziness (even when not caused from traveling) and that the box says do NOT give to a child under the age of 12. There must be a reason the box says this. Regular Dramamine works just fine in kids and is safer. If you are worried about your kids having motion sickness, pack regualr Dramamine just in case. If they don't have a problem, then you won't need to give it but you will have been prepared. Also, I seem to remember reading that
DCL has both bonine and dramamine available free to passengers (don't know personally, my 1st time cruising). So if you are worried about the cost of buying a drug and then never using it, you can always not pack it and get some from DCL if you need it. I realize that dramamine causes drowsiness, but so does meclizine, just not as bad. You can always try giving less dramamine to see if it causes less drowsiness but still takes care of the motion sickness. I give dramamine to my kids and I give them each a different dose. I give the 8 year old 1/2 tab and my 12 year old 2 tabs. The 8 year old is tiny and doesn't weigh very much and the 12 year old is big and weighs as much as most adults. One time I gave the 12 year old only 1 tab and it wasn't enough and she had really bad motion sickness until I gave her the 2nd tab and it kicked in. (I could probably give the 12 year old the meclizine just haven't needed to yet) They do get a little drowsy but if they are busy and kept active they still function and have a great time. It is when they sit still that they start getting really drowsy. And of course you could always look into other medication/treatment for motion-sickness that would be safe for kids under 12. This is an area I know nothing about because meclizine and dramamine have always worked great for our family.
Wow!! Holy cow!! I just read back over this and realized I wrote a book!!
Probably gave you more information than you needed or stuff you already knew or information you weren't even asking for!!
Oh well, I typed it, I'm not going to erase it. I at least hope I was helpful.
