Paranoid about seasickness

[Melissa]

Reading some recent posts about this has me worrried. I have cruised once, years ago on the Big Red Boat and was fine, so I'm sure this is going to be better than that, I was thinking of asking my Dr for the patch or does anyone know of a dramamine type thing that doesn't make you tired? I am more worried about Dh who does get really sick on rides like star tours.

 

[CRB#33]

I get terribly sick on rides, but love them, so I invest in Bonine or Dramamine.

We cruised the end of June and it was a bit rocky through the gulf stream. I started taking bonine several days before our trip (to get used to the drowsiness), and I had no problems. I continued to take half doses for the rest of the trip. Probably didn't need them though because the water was like glass and I never felt any motion after the first night.

 

[gizfish]

Many people swear by the patch, but it can have some serious side effects, and since it is a continuous release medication, those side effects can stick around even if the patch is removed. Meclizine (brand name Bonine) is a less drowsy sea sickness medication. You can get it cheaply in the generic form over the counter by asking the pharmacist. You can also ask your doc for a prescription if you have an excellent (cheap) prescription plan. Take it once a day before bed and the sleepiness should be at a minimum. I actually take it every twelve hours when we are at sea and find if I am sitting on my balcony, I will relax right to sleep. But if I am doing something, I am not sleepy at all.

 

[hilltopfamily]

ditto other posters about bonine. I sometimes get car sick and I always get ill on all fair-type rides other than roller coasters, and have had no problems with cruising since I read about bonine from the nice people on these boards. I start taking them the day we embark and continue until we arrive back home.

 

[LoveMickey]

Better to be safe (take Bonine) than sorry.

I did not think that "I" would be the one to get seasick, so I ended up missing a very nice dinner the first night at Tritons.

From then on, I took the Bonine and did not have any further issues.

 

[Muushka]

Dear Paranoid about seasickness

I too was paranoid about getting seasick. I was so bad for certain motion that if I was swimming in the ocean with moderate waves, it would make me sick. Going on 'lazy river' type rides with waves would make me sick, so you can imagin how paranoid of getting sick I was.

We were on the March 20 cruise, the one with the waves as high as 30 feet. I did not get sick. I got sick and tired of the constant rocking of the ship, but I was not nauseaous and my appetite (sadly ) was not affected.

I took the Bonine 2 days prior to boarding (1 a day) and once on the ship I upped it to 2 a day. Highly recommend them .

 

[hughiedeweylouie]

Where do you get bonine? Is it over the counter?

 

[tkd lisa]

Another motion sick person here who took Dramamine II (same basic ingredient) and didn't have problems. You do feel the boat moving, but my stomach was okay. Bonine, mezacycline, and dramamine in all forms are available over the counter. I believe the patch is a prescription. Most drug stores and some Wal Mart type stores have them available. Just ask in the pharmacy and they'll point you to it.

 

[klStacker]

I just wanted to mention one down side of bonine. I know not everyone has this problem, but when I took bonine and then had a drink or two, it totally knocked me out. I literally could not keep my eyes open in one of the shows after dinner. I heard people say that they never had that problem, but I know others who had the same experience. I hate to spend that much money on a trip and then have to go to bed early. Personally, I had much better luck with the patch. You may want to try the bonine before the trip, and see how it affects you.

 

[WVMD]

Antihistamines (Over the counter)

Meclizine = Bonine, Dramamine 2 - Less likely to cause drowsiness

Dimenhydrate = Dramamine - Most people find this makes them drowsy.

Benadryl = Diphenhydramine - Not as effective for most people - can make some drowsy.

Claritin = Loratadine - Not as effective for most people - makes very few people drowsy.

Any antihistamine has the potential to help with seasickness. Remember if you are already taking an antihistamine - start at the lower doses of meclizine - as there can be an additive effect.

Scopalamine - Patch (timed release) medication. Can have irritating side effects - but most people complain of dry mouth. Wear the patch for a day or two prior to going on the cruise to see if you can tolerate it. It is a prescription only medication. Drug clears rapidly from the system - hence the need to wear the patch - so side effects should be resolved in 4-6 hours after removing the patch.

Antivert - Prescription version of Meclizine - no difference in strength/ingredients - just price!

Alcohol can intensify the side effects of all of these medications!

 

[CRB#33]

hughiedewielouie, yes it is over the counter and you can find all these (except the patch) in the same spot.

The reason I start taking the medicine a few days before the trip is because my body gets acclimated to the side affects and they are not noticible after a few days.

I was very tired, but I was up late and waking very early. So I can't say for sure that it wasn't my schedule!

We had a drink or two a day, but I didn't feel that much more tired than I did before the drink.

 

[jerry112]

I also get motion sick very easily. Usually take Bonine without any problems, however, for my first cruise, I didn't want to take any chances since I am usually out of it for 12 or more hours after an attack.

I WILL NOT DO THE PATCH AGAIN!

By the third day, my vision was so blurry I had to remove my glasses to read the menus. Also, I'm sure it affected my memory, as I just can't seem to recall many events which I attended. To top it all off, 24 hours after removing the patch, I was hit with the worst case of motion sickness I ever had. It struck while I was in the shower and took 5 days to wear off! I'm sure it's great for some people, but never again for this cruiser!

Karen from NJ

 

[jrabbit]

Whatever meds you choose to use, make sure to try them out on land long before you leave on your cruise vacation. This is to make sure that you don't have bad side effects to the meds (on a cruise I do consider being sleepy a bad side effect). Some of them can make you feel ill. By testing the meds out early you can work with your doctor to find something that will work well with you - before you go.

If you end up taking an over the counter med and are worried about the possibility of motion sickness, start taking the meds a day or two BEFORE boarding the ship so that you have the meds in your system. It's easier to keep the symptoms under control than having to "stomp out" the symptoms of motion sickness once they start. If I get motion sickness its usually 12-16 hours of sleep to recover - and I don't want to be doing that on the ship when there is so much fun to be had.

 

[CRB#33]

Along the lines of the meds not working, I have another question.

I saw on a Travel Channel cruise special that many of the ship's medical quarters, you can get a shot of some kind if you try everything and are just not tolerating the trip.

Is this true and what is in the shot?

 

[WVMD]

Most likely it would be a shot of Phenergan (promethazine) for the nausea.

 

[Muushka]

Originally posted by CRB#33
Along the lines of the meds not working, I have another question.

I saw on a Travel Channel cruise special that many of the ship's medical quarters, you can get a shot of some kind if you try everything and are just not tolerating the trip.

Is this true and what is in the shot?

Yes, as stated above it is Phenergan . The only problem is that they will not give you the shot unless you have been throwing up. My husband was nauseaus, but not vomiting and they would not give him the shot.

 

[LoveMickey]

I -- one who has some minor allergies - did not have an adverse affect to bonine and having cocktails.

We tend to imbibe a little bit more on the cruise than at home and taking the bonine did not make me feel like I wanted to go to bed.

We would have a cocktail at lunch time, maybe before dinner, with dinner then after - 4 a day and I did not have a problem.

Testing the meds before hand is a good idea.

I would rather be a little sleepy then feel the way I did before I took the bonine. Seasickness is not fun.

 

[hmneal]

We took prescription Phenergan with us (pill form) and DH did have to take it the first night. But then again, we don't travel with out it (stomach virus seems to find us at the worst times!)

I agree about not wearing the patch next time. I just felt funny the whole time it was on. By day 2, couldn't focus to read a menu, see my watch, etc. On the other hand, DH loved it, as did my sister's DH and they wouldn't cruise with out it!
They had no side effects at all. And...meds to seem to affect me more than DH so maybe that is a factor.

 

[drnlhome]

Is there something that kids can take as well like say ages 4 and 6? Just preparing! TIA!!

 

[WVMD]

Benadryl would be safest in that age group - Meclizine isn't approved for kids that young (but probably OK).

Talk to your pediatrician/family physician about what they recommend....