Seasickness remidies?

[DaisyMoM]

My sister and family are planning a Disney Cruise,but shes very concerned and fearful she'll get sick while at sea!!Any suggestions on possible remidies would be greatly appreciated.

 

[sdptalk]

My Sister and I are taking some Bonine with us. It doesn't make me sleepy if I only take one, and it really works for me. The last time on the Wonder I felt a little queasy on the first night, but was fine the rest of the time. I didn't take any Bonine that night though. When my husband and I cruised RCCL last November, I made sure I took one every day around 3:00p.m. It was a good thing too, because we had some really rough seas that trip. As long as I took the Bonine -- no problems.

 

[jgalecpa]

Luckily, I don't suffer from "mal de mer", but we have a place on the water and boats and are always at sea and such.

We've always recommended Bonine and those that have used it and find it works.

One person who knew "better than me" had some snake-oil type product which involved a drop of glycerin oil behind his ear that he bought in a bait shop he was really sick 60 miles out in the ocean while we were tuna fishing.

I'd stick with the bonine.

Like my 85 year old aunt says [insert Irish brougue here] "You don't have to do it my way, but my way works."

Jim

 

[tinksdad]

Bonine is good, but you can save some $$ if you get the generic Meclizine. Same active ingredient.


Check out This Link it has some good information that might help!!

 

[fireplug]

DW swears by crystalized Ginger. She eats a couple little pieces as needed and does great with it.


Steve

 

[branv]

Is there anything wrong with the patch?

What will happen if you wear the patch AND take a bonine a day?

 

[turtle51]

I have only used the patch on every cruise and have done fine with it. You should have no problem.

 

[Luv2Dream]

I was under the impression that if you had took high blood pressure medication that you couldn't or shouldn't use the patch, but Bonine is fine to take. Am I correct?

 

[Typhoon Guy]

Not sure what they are called butthe velcro wrist bands have always worked great for my family and friends. They have a little plastic dimple that applies pressure to the pressure point in your wrist, not sure what it does but my mom swears by them. (Note: they come two to a pack and are reuseable howver you can't splut the pack up you need to wear both for it to be affective.)

 

[cruisenewbie2004]

Is there anything wrong with the patch?

What will happen if you wear the patch AND take a bonine a day?

you would not want or need to do this. Seriously. Ask your doctor. The patch is enough or Bonine (generic or brand) is enough. Both is overkill and likely to make you pretty darn sick!

 

[carleesmom]

I leave this Thursday on the Wonder w/ my 2 DS's. I have never been seasick before & being a single mom don't want to start now (first cruise for all of us) - what time of day is recommended to take the once daily dose of Bonine or does it make a difference?
Thank you!

 

[hydster]

I've posted this several times before but here is some sea sickness info that might help you. I can't say this enough...TRY the method you want to use at HOME BEFORE you go on your cruise to see WHAT side effects it might cause you to experience!


Sea Bands and Relief Bands

Sea bands are a terry cloth type band that you wear on your wrist. It has a white knob that if positioned correctly CAN put pressure on the wrist pressure point. Here is a website with a picture of a Sea Band

http://www.etravelergear.com/noqmotdiswri.html

These bands are very cheap but beware that since they rely on hitting a specific spot in your wrist it is possible that they will not work very well. They did not work well on me or my husband as our pressure point is too deep. The spot it is supposed to sit on is called the NeiGuan Pressure Point (P6) if you want to research that pressure point.


The Relief Band is a sort of watch looking contraption that actually shocks your wrist with a shocking impulse that is supposed to help with motion sickness as well. It is quite pricey and in the same sort of category as the Sea Bands where if they work I hear they work great but if they don’t work well you hopefully have another method with you. Here is a website with what these are:

http://www.reliefband.com/

We found them at a local store for about 70 dollars but ended up returning them as they didn’t work for either of us.

These two options are nice if you don’t want to take any medication but please beware that there is a chance that they will not work and make sure you have a backup method.
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The Transderm Scop patch is a patch that contains scopolamine and you put it on behind your ear and wear it continually for 3 days at a time. Can have irritating side effects but, most people complain of a 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. You MUST be diligent about washing your hands after they come in contact with the patch and if you accidentally touch it and touch your eye(s) they can dilate your pupils and give you symptoms much worse than seasickness alone! These patches work well for some but have a higher rate of allergic reactions than other forms according to my pharmacist (take that for what it's worth). Their website is http://www.transdermscop.com/site2/
I would suggest that you read the side effects in the patient information section. I didn’t try this out at home before we left on our first cruise and I ended up in the cabin sick with a nasty headache, upset stomach, dizziness, dilated pupils and miserable. Turns out I am highly allergic to scopolamine and didn’t know it! I would suggest if you plan on using this you try it out at home first to make sure that you are not allergic to it. I have also heard that there is a new scopolamine product called Scopace that gives the same benefit as the patch but with fewer side effects. Ask your doctor if you want to go this way if they think it is good for you and your body.
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Then there are the over the counter drugs like Dramamine, Dramamine Less Drowsy, Bonine and the active form of Bonine and Dramamine Less Drowsy which is Meclizine.

Dramamine is a dimenhydrinate and it has the ability to make you really really sleepy! I'd suggest trying these methods out at home before you go as well to see how they react especially if they make your extremely tired and if you drink how you react with alcohol. Original Dramamine can be used in small children although not under the age of 2 but can make them extremely tired and agitated. Here is their website
http://www.pfizer.com/do/counter/di..._dramamine.html


Dramamine Less Drowsy and Bonine are actually Meclizine. You can generally buy Meclizine over the counter (although some pharmacy's keep it behind the counter) but without a prescription and the Meclizine is generally cheaper. We get 100 Meclizine tablets for 8.00 where we get 12 Bonine for 8.00 so the difference is a big deal to us! Meclizine, Bonine, Dramamine Less Drowsy are all antihistamines such as Benadryl. We usually start taking this medication 2-3 days before we leave and continue to take 1 pill every morning until we have been home for at least 2 days. Our pediatrician told us we could give a 1/2 of a 12.5 mg pill to our older kids and my dd needed it but my 2 boys did not. They didn’t suffer from motion sickness at all but my 9 year old did suffer. I would also suggest trying this out at home before you go as well. Better to lose a weekend than a whole trip! Here is an online pharmacy (prices are outrageous) but it has some good information on Meclizine http://www.online-health-pharmacy.c...y_meclizine.php

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

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

Alcohol can intensify the side effects of all of these medications!
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There are also Ginger tablets or candy that you can take with you to help with nausea and generally you can buy them in any health food store. As with the relief bands since they are "natural" and not a drug it would be hard to try them out before you go so make sure you take a backup method as well. Also some people find that mint is helpful as well. I believe these are in the same kind of category where ginger and mint have a calming effect on the stomach. Another short term trick is to eat a green apple. Our servers told us this on one of our cruises and it did help when I was already feeling ill. It kept my stomach somewhat calm UNTIL the meds took effect.
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As you can see there are many ways to combat seasickness but you need to make sure that you pick the right one for you!! I honestly can’t say this enough but make sure you try whatever medication you can out at home before leaving on your trip so that you can deal with the side effects at home. A trip to the ships' doctor is quite costly and MOST insurance require that you pay for the treatment up front and then submit a claim to get reimbursed. I know my one trip to the ships doctor cost me over 200 dollars because I had to get an anti-nausea shot, diagnosis, more medication and I lost 3 days of my trip! Remember it is a lot easier to prevent sea sickness than it is to cure it.

Hope this helps!
Heidi

 

[Snow Dog Mom]

I'm cruising this Thursday too Carleesmom! If your drugstore does not have Seabands in stock ask if they can order it for you. I was having a hard time finding them and asked at 4 different stores. Finally at the last stop they said they didn't stock them but would be happy to order them. I was able to get the child size ones too!

Kim

 

[carleesmom]

Hydster - since you gave your dd meclazine but you said your 2 ds's didn't need it, I assume that you didn't give anyone the medicine & just saw how things went?? Wasn't sure whether to be pro active & treat empiracly or treat as needed. Thank you for all that information - it was great!

 

[musicgirl]

Ok, I think I have a new one!!!

I just read this in Woman's World magazine.

When you start to feel a little sick, open one of those individually wrapped alcohol swabs/cloths.

I do not know if it works, but I'm willing to try it for a quick car trip!

Personally, I start with on dramamine less drowsy before I get on the plane. Then I take one in the afternoon, one in the am etc. even if I plan to be ashore. It keeps it in the body.

I have also tried the electronic bands mentioned. I think they work.

Have you seen that Altoids have a ginger breath mint. I 've tried it in the car. It is pretty strong however.

 

[hydster]

Carleesmom

I knew my dd would have problems with motion since she gets sick in the car if she is in it longer than 20 min and not able to see out. My ds's are younger and don't seem to have a problem with motion although on the E. cruise my middle son had a day with motion sickness issues thanks to extremely rough seas and wind. I would give it to your kids at home before you go to make sure that they can tolerate it and then I would just see how they do. I don't know how old your kids are but mine were old enough to tell me they were feeling sick and we'd give them an apple and then a meclizine tablet if needed.

Have a great time!
Heidi

 

[carleesmom]

Hydster - Thank you for the info! My sons are 9 & 12 yo so they can tell me if they are starting to feel sick. They both do fine riding in the car & have done fine in a boat on the lake, etc, so will play it by ear. Any particular reason for eating an apple? Just curious