Tried Bonine, not feeling too good :(

[nunzia]

I bought a huge thing of generic Meclyzine from Amazon for around $10. They are little pink pills that you chew. I have one right before breakfast and one right before dinner and never feel drowsy or..I hope not..crabby. I drink alcohol with it as well with no effects.

 

[mmfox316]

My DD swears by seabands. You can get them at most stores. She is 18 and uses them on all long car rides. They are worn around the wrist. I would have bet my house they would not have worked for her but she says they are great.

 

[Leighbra]

I second the ginger & the Seabands, but can NOT take Dramamine, even on a full stomach. I've gotten every kind of motion sickness all my life (which is "funny" since I basically grew up on road trips, my parents used to fight over who had to sit in front of me in the car). Road/sea/rides, all of it. I can't even swing at the playground with my kids. I'm fine at first, then NOT FINE. I keep ginger in my glove box & travel purse.

One kid has never gotten car sick, the other only got car sick driving along Highway 1 outside of Big Sur. They grew up knowing Mom could barf at any minute, but are just fine.

I don't get motion sick on boats but I will on a cruise ship. I think the more subtle motion gets to me. ... I went into it thinking I would never get sea sick because I had been boating all my life.

I have that experience, as well. I believe it's that I can see out of the boat & my brain can make more sense of the motion. I can DRIVE long, winding roads, but I can not sit in the back seat. Since ereaders came about, I can read in the car. My husband thinks it's because you break your sight line less often with an ereader, so you're not looking down at the words, then out the window, back & forth. Who knows! Whatever it is, I can't get around it on cruise ships.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Make sure your active ingredient us meclazine. I do know someone who gets sleepy with the meclazine (Bonine) but can take non-drowsy Dramamine with no issues. Dramamine makes me into a zombie, even the non-drowsy.

There is no such thing as "non-drowsy Dramamine."

The active ingredient in Bonine AND in Dramamine Less Drowsy Formula is Meclizine HCI 25 mg. (That's also the active ingredient and various generic motion sickness medications promising "less drowsiness.")

Drowsiness from Meclizine is less of a problem than drowsiness from Dramamine Original Formula (active ingredient: Dimenhydrinate 50mg), but Meclizine can cause drowsiness too.

In the United States, motion sickness medications with Meclizine are labeled for "adults and children 12 years of age and over."

 

[cheer25mom]

There is no such thing as "non-drowsy Dramamine."

The active ingredient in Bonine AND in Dramamine Less Drowsy Formula is Meclizine HCI 25 mg. (That's also the active ingredient and various generic motion sickness medications promising "less drowsiness.")

Drowsiness from Meclizine is less of a problem than drowsiness from Dramamine Original Formula (active ingredient: Dimenhydrinate 50mg), but Meclizine can cause drowsiness too.

In the United States, motion sickness medications with Meclizine are labeled for "adults and children 12 years of age and over."

yes, they are but I would ask your ped if it is ok. Ours oked it for our DD on or last cruise, but patches were a no go for her. Depending on weight and age it may be ok for younger children. I would never do it without asking a doctor though.

 

[VS85]

Is ginger ale available at the drink stations or elsewhere on the ship? I wasn't planning on carrying on any drinks, so I may have to look out for some ginger candy if ginger ale isn't available.

 

[JKSWonder]

Is ginger ale available at the drink stations or elsewhere on the ship? I wasn't planning on carrying on any drinks, so I may have to look out for some ginger candy if ginger ale isn't available.

Not at the drink stations, but my mother was able to order it at dinner.

 

[n8nally]

I used to think my husband was just being a jerk when he said a lot of sea sickness is in your head. I never bought it....until I watched my niece make herself sick before we even untied from the pier in Port Canaveral. Serious as a heart attack. She had herself totally freaked. She was so sure she'd be sick that she ended up feeling sick. We gave her half doses of Dramamine for 2 days...until she forgot about it. She was fine. So don't psych yourselves out being afraid of being sick. Take some ginger, have some meds on hand in case, and go have fun.

This!! I totally agree! My DS was fine. No issues. Day 3 he thought about it for a second (overhearing some conversation in the elevator) and was "sick" for about 15 min when I told him to let it go. He took my advice (plus we went into a movie) and he was fine the rest of the time. He is 15. Mind over matter, I tell ya!

 

[tggrrstarr]

The thing that works best for me is the patch. The one I use is called Transdermscop. I get motion sick in cars and on the airplane and this works the best for me. I've taken Bonine in the past, first thing in the morning is preferred, but I am usually asleep by 8pm. The time I took it before bed was a disaster. I was falling asleep everywhere mid afternoon. (on the Disney bus lol.). I dont remember any drowsiness with the patch.

 

[Plaid Princess]

. I can DRIVE long, winding roads, but I can not sit in the back seat.

I'm exactly the same way! Same thing with flying... If I'm in control I'm fine, but if my copilot is I get sick.

 

[magicmommy]

We used Bonine on our first cruise and we were so tired it almost ruined the cruise for us. Our next cruise we used ginger candy and it did the trick with no issues.

 

[QuiltTeddy]

Did you each take one or two tablets? I always take one each morning, with food, starting the day we fly down. I've never had a problem.

DH takes it every cruise, every morning and never has any side effect.

 

[Carrie in AZ]

I'm the original poster, thank you all SO MUCH for all the comments and suggestions, I greatly appreciate them.

Here are my two personal experiences with the patch:

1) Many years ago, I wanted to surprise DH with a trip to San Diego to go whale watching. In order to prevent any sea sickness, I proactively went to the doctor and asked him to prescribe me a patch. I put it on the night before and when I woke up the next morning I was SO SICK. I couldn't even function. Then I started throwing up. We tried to make it but never even stepped foot on that boat! LOL! DH had to pull over a few times on the freeway for me to throw up. I finally realized it must be the patch and took it off. I started feeling better eight hours later. That patch must have been too strong for me.

2) I had two surgeries and was very sick to my stomach both times during recovery. For my second surgery, I asked the anesth. to give me anti-nausea medicine telling him how sick I had been after my first surgery. I was still really sick. Well, roll around to my third surgery and I tell the guy about my two previous experiences, and he took careful note of it. I woke up after that third surgery and felt great, not a bit of nausea! What did I find a bit later? A little patch behind my ear!

So! One good experience with a patch and one awful experience.

I am bringing Sea Bands and will get some ginger products and will go in with a great attitude and hope for the best! Thanks SO MUCH again!!

 

[cinlo]

I just got off the Fantasy as well. Fantastic cruise. I will say that the old phrase "location location location" holds true on board as well. We were in a family concierge for the first time. Forward on deck 12. Usually we are mid ship deck 7. HUGE difference. I never ever get sick but almost did. Constant motion and swaying. Not horrid but definitely was surprised by it. Did not expect it. And we had perfect weather!

I agree with this location assessment. We usually have a high floor, and this time were mid-to aft on deck 7. I don't know if it was because the weather was so good, but we barely even felt the rocking motion the whole cruise. I kind of missed it actually. Usually after we get home I can still feel the rocking at home in bed, but did not get that effect this time! The motion really is the most noticeable the first night...we could see the curtains swaying during the show that evening in the Walt Disney Theater. So if you can take the ginger candy or pills the first day and get through it, you will be fine the rest of the trip.

 

[cheer25mom]

I'm the original poster, thank you all SO MUCH for all the comments and suggestions, I greatly appreciate them.

Here are my two personal experiences with the patch:

1) Many years ago, I wanted to surprise DH with a trip to San Diego to go whale watching. In order to prevent any sea sickness, I proactively went to the doctor and asked him to prescribe me a patch. I put it on the night before and when I woke up the next morning I was SO SICK. I couldn't even function. Then I started throwing up. We tried to make it but never even stepped foot on that boat! LOL! DH had to pull over a few times on the freeway for me to throw up. I finally realized it must be the patch and took it off. I started feeling better eight hours later. That patch must have been too strong for me.

2) I had two surgeries and was very sick to my stomach both times during recovery. For my second surgery, I asked the anesth. to give me anti-nausea medicine telling him how sick I had been after my first surgery. I was still really sick. Well, roll around to my third surgery and I tell the guy about my two previous experiences, and he took careful note of it. I woke up after that third surgery and felt great, not a bit of nausea! What did I find a bit later? A little patch behind my ear!

So! One good experience with a patch and one awful experience.

I am bringing Sea Bands and will get some ginger products and will go in with a great attitude and hope for the best! Thanks SO MUCH again!!

your first exprience with the patch may not have been the patch at all. The timing just seems off to me. It shouldn't have taken 8 hours after you took it off to start feeling better becuase the half life of that meidcation is much shorter than that, hence the need for a continuous delivery system. It may have been a concidence that you had a aptch on when you caught a bug, especially given the factthat you had a good experience the second time.

 

[Fielhol]

In Canada they sell a homeopathic anti nausea medicine. It is called Cocculine. I give that to my oldest. He doesn't sick on our boat, but will in the car or on a cruise ship. My two younger kids and my DH don't get sick. I use the patch.

 

[TwinPrincessMermaids]

My best way to ward off sea sickness is to make sure I never work out before breakfast again and have low blood sugar on the ship. My VERY TRIED AND TRUE!!!! yes this is a fact people, way of warding off sea sickness is with chicken tenders and fries! It WORKS. And when you ask the crew, they will suggest a green apple. So I started keeping them around. Before I figured out what a miracle chicken tenders and fries were to settling my motion sickness (A trick I also use on land at amusement parks for the whirly rides...), I tried to take dramamine. Is that like the brand name bonine? Anyway I was the laughing stock of my cruise group. I wandered the ship for an hour 'looking for food' (on a CCL, its not easy to find food at 2pm. Only one grill is open at the very back of the ship, and I was so disoriented from the dramamine, I couldn't figure out how to get past the stair well since the ships I was used to had stairs at the end, but CCL had them in the middle, so everytime I got to a stairwell, I thought I was at the end, and I kept going back and forth and up and down levels trying to get to the back of the ship and find the only open buffet) finally I found someone in my group who took me AROUND the stairs, out to the deck, around the pool and to the back grill where I could finally get- you guessed it- my chicken tenders and fries. And then the world was right again.

So while the dramamine did make me a bit tired, I can't even describe the disoriented state I was in, a complete loss of my bearings. As I took it the next day, I continued to get grumpier and grumpier...until we got to Roatan, and I was literally kissing the ground! (I have since changed birth control pills, and experience 0 sea sickness on my last two cruises, which were in the Bahamas and part of which I attribute to being in the bahamian water with less open water to sail. but even when we were going to the VIs, I still did ok. My sea sickness was DEFINITELY hormone/blood sugar related.) I have also used an ear patch on last year's trip and did ok. But this year, on 2 cruises after switching up my pills, I needed ZERO anything! (I could tell, because just driving in the car or play sports games was making me soooo motion sick, so I called, got it switched, and the following day, had zero motion sickness and no problems on the cruises either!)

Number one tip, even if you can't imagine eating, you must make yourself eat something. The worst thing you can do is sail on an empty stomach! Now if I work out, I do it at 4pm long after lunch, and I haven't had any problems...

Just trying to be helpful to others! Try those chicken tenders! I swear by em.

 

[koshaugh]

As I've gotten older, motion is definitely a problem for me. On our 1st cruise, I tried ginger capsules, but still felt a little queasy, but nothing I couldn't handle. Next cruise, I used only the Sea Bands...I was amazed how I felt no sickness whatsoever! I also use at amusement parks and they work like a charm. I usually end up taking them off by day 2 or 3 of the cruise. One suggestion...they do sell cute patterned plastic versions (not Sea Band brand)....these are very uncomfortable and tend to pop off. I prefer the sweatband material of the Sea Bands brand...not very attractive but they do the job. One final note...DH wore the patch...on day 1 of 1st cruise was very sick...went to the infirmary and got a shot...went to bed instead of dinner and the next day (and the rest of the cruise) he was good to go!

 

[sayhello]

your first exprience with the patch may not have been the patch at all. The timing just seems off to me. It shouldn't have taken 8 hours after you took it off to start feeling better becuase the half life of that meidcation is much shorter than that, hence the need for a continuous delivery system. It may have been a concidence that you had a aptch on when you caught a bug, especially given the factthat you had a good experience the second time.

I agree with this!

Sayhello

 

[wdwwishes]

I am a sufferer of motion sickness, can barely do a rocking chair. I've always used the patch with no problems however on our cruise in March we all started getting blurry vision which we found out is a side affect of the patch. We were on the Fantasy, had left port Sunday and this started Wednesday. We took the patches off, the problem cleared and it was smooth sailing the rest of the trip. For our upcoming cruise I'll use the patch the first night then I'm going to try to go with the ginger candies etc. I've also read that green apples and a full tummy help.