Scopolamine patch

[AuroraluvsPhillip]

I think we're going to try these to stave off any possible problems with flying, rides etc. My husband used them on a cruise and it really helped. Has anyone used them on their teens?
My daughter, 14, had a really tough time with queasiness on a piddly little boat trip around P-town harbor last summer, we didn't even go out into the ocean and she wasn't feeling well. She puked on a whale watch when she was around 4 or 5, never saw any whales...

Of course she wants to go on all the FP rides with the exception of MS. Has anyone out there had any problems with Scop patches in this age group? Any central nervous system side effects? Agitation, etc.?

Thanks friends!

 

[my3princes]

I'm not sure about teens, but I have had some very unpleasant side effects from the Scop patch. It dries my mouth and throat our so bad that I get to the point where I actually wonder what's worse the patch or motion sickness. My DM and MSIL have also experienced the same side effects. I am going to ask a DR about other options out there because the Scop can't be the best. The only advantage over dramamine is that each patch lasts for days instead of hours.

 

[MemaT]

I have been using the scopolamine patch for years, mainly at DW. I find it does dry out my mouth for the first few days, but I keep lifesavers in my fannypack. They work really well to get rid of the dryness. For a few years they weren't making the patch, and I tried other medications. None of them worked as well as the patch for me. I get car sick very easily, and I have gotten sea sick just floating on the water snorkeling. The scopolamine patch is a God send for me. Since it is a prescription medication, you have to check with your doctor before you can get the patch.

 

[crz4mm2]

I tried the patch on a cruise (I am very prone to motion sickness!). IT worked, but I didn't like how it made me feel. I had extreme dry mouth and my brain just felt 'fuzzy'. I did meclazine on my next cruise and loved it. no brain fuzzy and NO motion sickness. I use it when ever I fly or go on a boat and on long car rides.
Meclazine is over the counter at the pharmacy. I highly recommend it.

 

[Deb & Bill]

I get very seasick and used the patch on the 4 night Disney Cruise. It worked very well and I didn't have any side effects. I still had the second patch on when we returned to WDW, so I tried Space Mt. It was a disaster. I still got very ill on the ride and had to sit it out for an hour to get over the feeling.

 

[leebee]

I think everything works a little differently for everyone. The only problem I had with the scope patch is that I inadvertantly touched the patch and then transferred the med to my eye (they strongly warn you not to do this,,,it was an accident!). BOOM! Dilated pupil for most of the day, which is a hardship in sunny Florida! I stick to Bonine (otc meclizine) and Sea-Bands on my wrists!

 

[laceemouse]

I have had extreme motion sickness all of my life. Dramamine works the best for me for cars, trains, and planes. It knocks me out but that's okay, I arrive at the destination well-rested, LOL. I have used the patch a couple of times and it worked well for a plane and short cruise with no real side effects. I will try it again if we ever go on a Disney cruise, though I have told DH a short cruise will be best for me to try. I tried Bonine on a car trip last summer because so many people on the DIS love it, and it is once a day versus every 4 hours for dramamine. I felt horrible all day, felt like someone had tied concrete blocks to each of my extremeties!!! I do not do the thrill ride thing, nor do I do simulators or spinning things. If your daughter does try them with whatever medication you try start slow, like Dumbo, and move up little by little. Like Deb said, being able to ride transportation and ride rides are too different things. I also don't know if Scop is okay for teens, I know kids can't use it. Good Luck....one reason I love Disney so much is there that are still so many rides, shows, parades and other things I CAN do.....Lacee

 

[Daxx]

I don't know how much (if any) they've changed the patch since I last used one (1993, on a 7 day cruise). But, my experience was terrible! I followed the directions on the box and ended up w/the dry mouth that most everyone has mentioned. That, I could deal with. However, my vision was awful. I could not read a book b/c I had such blurry/double vision. My pupils were dilated all the time and being in the sun was tough b/c of that. I had to find really dark sunglasses. But that was easy to handle.

The worst part!? After the 7 days, once home, I went through such terrible "motion sickness" b/c, according to my Dr., my body went through withdrawal from the patch! I was feeling motion sick for 2 days and felt like taking dramamine to get me through (which only would have made my withdrawal symptoms last longer).

So, from there on in, I have stuck to Dramamine and have been successful! I would pop a Dramamine a half-hour before we'd ride any rides and I'd be fine all day. I guess I must have found some 12 hour stuff ... b/c I sure didn't have to take it every 4 hrs. By the time the next morning arrived, the dramamine would be out of my system and I'd be ready for another one. No "hangovers" or withdrawal symptoms!

Def. check w/your Dr. if the patch is ok for your teen b/c it appears that everyone has different experiences w/it.