Seasickness Patch vs. Bonine

[mjaclyn]

I've had problems with seasickness in the past. I've only gone on one other cruise before and I had a horrible time because I felt so dizzy, off balance and nauseated. I had Dramamine which took the edge off but made me very drowsy and gave me a 'medicine head' kind of feeling. I am very sensitive to motion on boats. I even got sick at a local restaurant that is ON a boat but it was docked and didn't even go anywhere! My doctor gave me a prescription for the seasickness patch but I read that it could make you drowsy and have blurred vision. I also picked up a box of bonine which I tried once before when we did a WDW Fireworks Cruise on the Grand 1 Yacht. The Bonine helped a lot and after the initial getting on the boat I felt fine. I don't remember feeling drowsy with it, but I'm not sure it will work for me on a boat that is SO much bigger than the tiny Yacht.

Has anyone tried both the Bonine and the patch? Which was better? Did either one make you drowsy? I have two young kids so I really need to be alert and not drowsy or out of it.

 

[kcashner]

Everyone reacts differently....to ships and to drugs.

I can't do small boats at all...or park rides...or back seats of cars. However, the Magic is no problem at all.

If you plan to do drugs, the key is to start them a day or two before you cruise.

If you do the patch, put it on, wash your hands and DO NOT TOUCH THE PATCH! A lot of the visual side effects occur when people touch the patch and then rub their eyes, placing a significant dose of medication right into their eyes!

 

[CruisingTide]

I never have the slightest problem when using the Transderm Scopalimine Patch. The only thing I have heard from others who use the patch is a feeling of being slightly "jittery," like after having too many cups of coffee. Personally, I don't even know I am wearing it other than the fact I never feel any seasickness. The oral medications require continuous doses, whereas the patch is put it on and forget it. We leave in about 30 days and I will have multiple prescriptions for the Transderm...just in case.

 

[lsjones]

I just returned from a cruise with RCI and used the patch. I loved it!!! I have only cruised one previous time on Disney's Magic and used Bonine. I still got sea sick on that cruise. I was out for a whole day, then got the Sea Bands on-board. I felt a bit better, not sure if it was the Sea Bands or not. I decided to give the patch a try this time. I only felt a bit off once, and I changed my patch (it was a day early) and felt better quickly.

I had no side effects from the patch. I did try it prior to sailing to see how I reacted to it, just in case I had any of the side effects. It also advises you not to drink...I cheated just a bit and had no problems. I would use the patch again, definetly!

 

[Ariel224]

Medications are never "one size fits all". Side effects and their severity will vary from one individual to the next, meaning that what works great for Person A might end up being a disaster for Person B.

Get some of both, try them out well before your cruise, and take with you every option that you tolerate well. It's good to have options when you are actually on the cruise in case you find that one method isn't working, then you can switch.

 

[mjaclyn]

If I try the patch and it makes me drowsy/dizzy will I still be able to change my mind and use bonine? I know it says you're supposed to start taking medicine BEFORE you get on the ship, so I'm just nervous about starting something new when i don't know if it will work for me or not...especially if that will cancel out any other kind of medicine I could possibly take.

 

[kcashner]

Generic bonine is available FREE outside the medical center on the ship.

 

[Diannah]

As many people have said, everyone reacts differently to meds. I am VERY prone to motion sickness, and VERY sensitive to meds. (If I take Dramamine, I'm out cold for at least 4-6 hours) I tried the patch once on a fishing trip in Florida. I have never gotten SO sick! Worst motion sickness I have ever experienced! My sister tried the patch, and it completely messed with her sense of direction and spacial awareness. Needless to say, the patch is not a welcome thing in our family.

When we cruised on the Wonder, I tried Bonine. Wow, what a difference! Except for the first night (when I was over-tired, the waters were so rough they were throwing sandbags onto set pieces in the evening show to keep them from falling off stage, and I had only taken a half dose of the Bonine), I had zero motion sickness and zero drowsiness. I was able to handle the Wonder AND the smaller boat that we rode in to get to the snorkling excursion. I've since used it flying and at amusement parks, and it has worked just as well.

Once again, everyone is different. You might have a great time on the patch, and not tolerate the Bonine well. If possible, find something that tends to trigger your nausea while at home and take some Bonine to see how it affects you.

Good luck!

 

[soul_power]

I've been on three cruises (going on my 4th in two weeks), and I've used the patch with no problems each time. Like others have said, each person reacts differently to different meds, but I also know that it's nice to hear the experience of others.

Good luck!

 

[MrsScooby]

Medications are never "one size fits all". Side effects and their severity will vary from one individual to the next, meaning that what works great for Person A might end up being a disaster for Person B.

Get some of both, try them out well before your cruise, and take with you every option that you tolerate well. It's good to have options when you are actually on the cruise in case you find that one method isn't working, then you can switch.

Good idea

I have found both bonine and ginger capsules work for me and I try to take both when I cruise.

I would not take the patch unless you have tried it before hand and know how it will affect you.

OP, if bonine worked well for you on a smaller boat (like a yacht) it should work fine (or even better) on a larger cruise ship which usually has less motion.

Good Luck

 

[fhtpdw20]

Bonine works for me. Like everyone else stated, I start taking day before so it is in my system before embarkation. On the last day of the first cruise we had waves 13-18 ft high with very windy conditions and I did not get seasick. DCL booked as mid ship so that we would not feel the motion as much. Next cruise we are in an aft room so we will see if location makes a difference.

 

[maggie blossom]

I had surgery 8 weeks ago and was given the Scaplomine patch to deal with the effects of the anesthesia. While it worked I hated the side effects. I had really, really dry mouth. Nothing I could do made it better. While it isn't the worst thing in the world I wanted to enjoy the food on the ship and didn't like that dry mouth at all.
We were on our first cruise on the Magic last week. I took Bonine starting the night before, I meant to start it two nights before before I forgot to take it, oops. I had no problems with Bonine and also had no seasickness whatsoever so it worked for me.

Hope you enjoy your cruise

 

[cwbagne]

Just back from 3-nights on the Dream. I did Bonine starting the morning we got on. I took one in the morning and one at night. Never had any problems. Previous cruises, tried the patch. Suffered from severe dry mouth and very tired all the time. Everyone is different, but I wish you the best.

 

[elgerber]

My dd and I both used the patch, and had no problems at all! We both get horribly motion sick, and we never felt even the slightest bit sick, even though we had some pretty rough seas. I too, was scared of the side effects, but we each wore one at home for a couple of days, before we left. We were fine, so we used them, and I will never cruise again without them!

 

[ajsfamdisneyfan]

Everyone is different, but the generic med they give onboard worked well for our family

 

[GTO-Girl]

I had surgery 8 weeks ago and was given the Scaplomine patch to deal with the effects of the anesthesia. While it worked I hated the side effects. I had really, really dry mouth. Nothing I could do made it better. While it isn't the worst thing in the world I wanted to enjoy the food on the ship and didn't like that dry mouth at all.
We were on our first cruise on the Magic last week. I took Bonine starting the night before, I meant to start it two nights before before I forgot to take it, oops. I had no problems with Bonine and also had no seasickness whatsoever so it worked for me.

Hope you enjoy your cruise

I tried the patch ONCE and it affected my vision as well as giving me the worst dry mouth I have ever had (just as you did). My mouth was so dry my tongue was almost sticking to the roof of my mouth. I took it off after 2 days and threw it away!!!!

I use Bonine and take one pill each night at bedtime.....starting with a couple of nights before we leave. I also take it a couple nights after we return to prevent the "sea legs" after getting off the ship.

As others have said, please give these meds a "trial run" while at home so you will know beforehand.

Have a wonderful trip1!!!

 

[thinkoflaura]

Everyone is different, but the generic med they give onboard worked well for our family

is bonine - or the generic kind they give on the ship - CHEWABLE? i can't swallow pills.

 

[llnolte]

OP-I have never tried the patch but did use Bonine (really the generic brand they carry at Target called travel sickness pills) on our first cruise in October. I started taking it the day before we flew to Florida and had no problems. We did have one rough evening and I took an extra pill that night. No dizziness, no drowsiness, and worked great! The pharmacist at Target recommended the generic kind and you get 100 pills for a low price (much better than buying Bonine). I had enough for my entire family every day and plenty to spare.

And for thinkoflaura-I don't think my kind was chewable. But I believe the Children's version is.

 

[maggie blossom]

I bought the regular ole Bonine, not generic, and it was chewable. Tasted yucky, but was chewable. I chased it down with a chewable baby aspirin that I been taking since my surgery. Oh yeah, real fun party going down in our room

 

[mjaclyn]

Thanks everybody!! I think since the general consensus shows that more people have less side effects from the Bonine than the Patch, I'll start with the Bonine and then if I still feel sick I'll try the other. I just hope it works because my last cruise was a nightmare!