Patch for Seasickness

[misty9960]

We are leaving Saturday and I got a prescription for the Patch. I don't know if I should try something like bonine or the wrist band first and then if that doesn't work then take the patch or just go go ahead and take the Patch? I have read that the patch can cause some bad side efffects. Is this rare? Medications typically do not bother me. Anyone have any suggestions? Thanks

 

[two-foxes]

I used it and had no major problems. The most noticable side effect was dry mouth, but nothing some hard candy couldn't fix. I know one thing you MUST do, is wash your hands immediately after putting it on. You can get a bad vision reaction if you get the medicine in your eyes.

Take bonine with you just in case if you are at all nervous of it!

 

[lilo62]

I've heard mixed reviews on the patch. I didn't get it before my cruise. I used the sea bands and then Dramamine - both did not work.

I was told that with the patch it's best to try it out at home before you cruise, so you can see if you do get any side effects from it which sounds like a good idea. I've heard people can get double vision from it, nausea etc. Someone advised that I try some homeopathic redmedy which I will next year when on the 7-night.

I guess it's like any medication - it reacts different in everyone.

Good Luck!

 

[AKB]

I used the patch several years ago and remember the pharmacist saying to put it on 24 hours before needed. The only side effects I noticed was a dry mouth and dry eyes.
Good Luck, Kathy

 

[1stNoel]

It would be best to try the patch before you go, so if you do have a problem you don't have to go through it on vacation. Since you are kinda out of time, my advice would be to put it on now and if you experience anything other than dry mouth/eyes/sinuses you should remove it ASAP.

I usually put on the patch the day before sailing. Make sure that you don't get the medicine from the patch in your eyes. It's pretty easy to do just by touching your sunglasses, then your eye or rubbing these areas in your sleep. It will make your vision blurry, give you a headache and can make you dizzy. I wear one of those spot/circle bandaids over the patch to help keep the medicine off my hands and I wipe off the area with an alcohol swab every night before bed. You should wash your hands and glasses frequently too.

If you take the patch off before the end of the cruise you should expect more motion sickness than you would normally feel. I don't know why, but it does happen. Before I go to bed on my 3rd day, I put a new patch on the other side and remove the old patch the next morning.

There seems to be a downside to every medication for motion sickness. The patch is the only thing that works for me though and I'm sticking with it. Good luck and have a great trip!

 

[webray]

I went and got the patch..then after reading the side effects, and it saying don't drink with it..I said, forget it. Took it with, but went and bought dramamine and the sea bands.

I took dramamine the morning right before we headed to the port. Had to wear the sea bands first night of first cruise...haven't had to use them since.

 

[fireguy5620]

I saw a number of people wearing the patch. We used Dramamine. The minute we felt a little woozy, pop goes the little pill and all was well.

Or we took it at night, right before we went to bed and were generally good to go the whole next day. I only had to do it a few times and then I must have gotten used to it since I didn't need them after the 3rd or 4th day.

 

[mrsfuzzmo]

My family cruises often. Out of the 6 adults (Mom, Dad, 4 adult daughters) in the immediate family and now all the husbands and kids, about 4 get seriously seasick. They ALL us the patch and love it. The only side affect is the dry mouth and maybe a little sensitivity to sunlight (but eveyone wears their sunglasses anyway outdoors). The above poster stated to take the patch off immediately if you experience dry mouth. I don't agree. Dry mouth is a side-affect and it means the mecication is in your blood stream. It's just somethin you'll have to live with if you want the patch to work. Usually by the 3rd day, if the seas are calm, most eveyone takes theirs off and do fine. If the seas are rough, back on they go. In all of our cruises (about 50 combined) no one has ever gotten sick. BUT, do put the patch on the day before getting onboard to give the medicine time to get into the blood stream. OH, By the way, in the family, we have 2 pharmacists & 2 chemists.
We believe in the patch and, if the directions are followed correctly, they will work wonders for those using them.

 

[mrsfuzzmo]

Oh, yeah, and they all drink, sometimes, quite a few, and they've never had any side effects or problems.

 

[two-foxes]

Oh, yeah, I drank alcohol every day on the ship while wearing the patch. I didn't notice any additional side effects or issues with the drinking. I'm with MrsFuzzmo on this one!

 

[TootyJane]

None of us have ever experienced sea sickness on any cruise but I always have Bonine on hand just in case.

FYI ~ the patch is also good for those who can't tolerate general anesthesia when having surgery. HTH

 

[lilo62]

Has anyone tried a homeopathic approach?

 

[kellib36]

I've used the patch on 4 cruises, and never noticed ANYthing along the lines of a side effect. NO dry mouth or eyes, and I did drink when I wanted to. We do live in a pretty dry climate, though, so maybe my eyes think they're at home in the Caribbean.

My mil is not allowed to use them, as she has glaucoma and its a big no-no. On one of our cruises, the rumor was that someone had to go to the medical office, and had a horrible eye problem. They asked if she had on a patch and when she said yes, they had her take it off immediately, and wash the area with soap and water right away.

Eye trouble is the main thing I've heard of people having trouble with, but then, I'm not that "up" on all the side effects....

Kelli

 

[two-foxes]

Originally posted by lilo62
Has anyone tried a homeopathic approach?

If you mean something like Ginger, I have tried it. For some reason, in Melbourne airport in Australia, all they sold was a ginger capsule. It was ginger powder in a clear capusle. No Dramamine or Bonine. It didn't work for me at all.

 

[jrabbit]

We are leaving Saturday and I got a prescription for the Patch.

For those of you reading this, don't do what the Original Poster has just done, get the patch and then leave for the cruise before trying it out. Many people have Severe reactions to it. And if you must drink while on the cruise, have a drink or two while trying out the patch just to make sure that it will work for you while on the cruise. This is true for any motion sickness meds that you are considering taking while on the cruise that you normally don't use. The side effects can be mild (feeling drowsy) or more extreme (makes you nausous or puts you to sleep) to severe (allergic reactions, vision problems, etc)

Make sure to try any motion sickness meds well BEFORE leaving!!

Read Hydster's response on this thread...Seasickness

 

[lilo62]

Originally posted by two-foxes
If you mean something like Ginger, I have tried it. For some reason, in Melbourne airport in Australia, all they sold was a ginger capsule. It was ginger powder in a clear capusle. No Dramamine or Bonine. It didn't work for me at all.

Well, there is a company called Hylands that makes motion sickness stuff (homeopathic) and anther thing called Tabacum that a woman on my cruise recommended.

When I went to the vitamin place, they offered Ginger to me as a suggestion and I figured that wasn't gonna work. I don't know - maybe seasickness is just an inevitable part of a cruise!

 

[mthurn]

My neighbor who has done many cruises says there is a box of FREE non-prescription patches outside the ship's doctor's door. I wonder why nobody ever mentions those????? Do they work??? TIA

 

[FlynnStone]

I used the patch on a 7-day cruise and did fine. No side effects while wearing it, worked great. However, when I removed the patch I was sick for *days* - I was nauseated, dizzy, and had the shakes - as my doctor told me, I was going through a withdrawal, which happens to one in three people. It was worse than any seasickness I may have gotten! After that, I only used the bands and ginger root tablets. No more prescriptions for me!

So, my advice is to try natural or non-prescription meds first. If you get very ill, you can try the patch later -- but make sure you "test" it first! (I had not, and boy, did I wish I had...).

 

[cjsmith]

I use the patch for our cruises, flying, anything that has motion and love it. I put it on at least 4 hours prior like you are told to. The only thing that I will get is dry mouth for the first day and that's about it. I also drink while on it and have no problems. I don't know what I would do without it, I guess I wouldn't be cruising!