What's good for motion sickness?

[Chicago526]

DH and I are going to Disneyland in a few weeks, and I'm considering taking something everyday for motion sickness.

I'm rather embarassed. I used to be a roller coster comando with the best of 'em, but it seems my age (I'll be 30 in May) has caught up with me. Our last trip to WDW, if I went on too many high speed rides in a row, I'd start to get queezy. "Spin" rides (teacups, for example) have made me sick (barfing up sick) since I was a teen, but I've always been able to do coasters, motion simulators, and other "rough" rides, no problem. It seems that is wearing off too.

Last two times I was in WDW, I took Dhramamine on the day we went to Epcot so I could ride Mision Space. It worked great, but I was so sleepy that I feel asleep during UOE (on both trips!) and was groggy the rest of the day.

So, can anyone recomend an over the counter medication for motion sickness that won't make me sleepy? I see that Dhramamine makes a non-drosy formula, does that work as well as the original?

 

[snappy]

I have really good luck with Meclizine. It is the generic for Bonine. I have bought it at Sams' (you have to ask the pharmicist for it) for $5.48 for a bottle of 100. It is a lot cheaper than Bonine, although the strength is lower so I take 2 instead of 1.

I also always make sure I have eaten something a while before taking the med and going on a ride. Something like a bagel, crackers, etc. Not anything heavy or too sweet, and definitely not coffee or tea (Diet coke is ok).

 

[Tigger&Belle]

I can't take Bonine, which is the same thing as non-drowsy Dramamine. It knocks me out for 24 hours and does the same thing to my DH and my DD.

I take ginger capsules. I've had the best luck with concentrated capsules from GNC, but I don't think they sell the ceoncentrated ones any more. They have other ones, though, but a person has to take more. Check with your pharmacy--they might have to order them. I can check to see the mg of my concentrated ones if you would like.

There are no side effects, other than a gingery taste and they really seem to help. I take them at home, too, if I'm starting to feel a little sick (won't help a true stomach virus).

If you want to try the "non-drowsy" Dramamine (or anything else, for that matter) make sure you try it out at home to see how you react.

 

[Disneyglobegirl]

My BIL swears by Ginger tablets. He says it helps his motion sickness without making him drowsy like the dramamine or meclizine.

 

[Crankyshank]

ginger gum is excellent to combat nausea.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

Other ginger products can help in mild cases (we've used the candy and ginger cookies), but the amount of ginger is small. It's a good supplement to the capsules or good for a mildly upset stomach. My DH needs the big guns--the gum or candy might be enough for me.

I was just reading about the concentrated ginger capsules and according to what I was reading it is absorbed easier than the non-concentrated ginger. That's what it seemed to me when taking both, but I'd never read it to know that it was really true (so it wasn't my imagination! ). So if you try the ginger, get the concentrated stuff. It can be ordered via the internet if your pharmacy doesn't have it or can't order it. Froggle concentrated ginger capsules and you'll get some hits.

 

[UP Disney]

We bought ginger root tablets from Walmart before our trip in March because as I've gotten older I also can't handle the roller coasters. My DH has always had trouble with motion sickness. Dramamine non-drowsy even makes him drowsy. We started taking them the day before we flew down. One in the morning and one at night for the entire trip. My DH rode all 3 mountain rides as MK with no side effects. Normally, he would have been sick after only one. I rode EE at AK, all 3 mountains at MK, and TOT at MGM with absolutely no problems. I recommend the ginger root tablets to anyone that has had problems with motion sickness.