freewillie
Contributor
Just a quick primer on motion sickness. The term motion sickness refers to a discrepency between what the body expects and what the eyes and vestibular/labrynthine structures (inner ear or semi-circular canals) are telling the brain. When we engage in physical activity the brain will monitor the body and get a sense as to the direction a speed the body is moving. During mormal movement the brain gets consistent messages the the head and body are both moving in an appropriate manner. With vertigo and/or motion sickness the brain gets conflicting messages the the body is doing one thing and the head is doing another. This will create sensations of nausea, upset stomach, burping, dizziness, sweating, and a general sense of just not feeling well.
For example. When you are standing on the deck of a boat your body is telling your brain the you are not moving and standing still. But, your inner ear/semi-circular canals are telling your brain that the deck is pitching and you are indeed moving up and down. This discrepency is then referred to as being motion sick. You can somewhat overcome the input of the inner ears by fixing your gaze on a fixed point either the horizon or land mass. The symptoms may lessen but may not completley go away.
Medications to treat motion sickness fall into two basic categories, either an antihistamines with anticholinergic properties, anticholinergic agents, or antidopaminergic agents. Other medications have been used but to varying degress of success. By far the former are the most common agents used.
Antihistamines fall into several different categories. The include dimenhydramine (Dramamine, Triptone), diphenhydramine (Benadryl), meclizine (Antivert, Bonine.) Neither of the agents are considered narcotics (which are pain killers)
Anticholinergic agents are essentially Scopolamine. It is most commonly used in patch form as Transderm Scop.
Antidopaminergic agents are promethazine (Phenergan, Anergan) and metoclopramide (Reglan).
Antiemetic (anti-nausea) medication such as ondansetron (zofran) has been used as well but just treats the nausea not the vertigo and causes a significant amount of sedation. Personally, I would not recommend for motion sickness. It is also very expensive, and if you are so sick you need a heavy duty nausea rx like Zofran maybe you should be sitting out your dive.
Since antihistamines in general cause sedation as well they should also be used with caution. Meclizine may have the least affect on performance with the above, followed by scopolamine. Phenergan may have the most effect.
Non-medical remedies include ginger and acupressure at the wrist. The sensations can abate over time with repeated exposure to activity - just the excuse you need to dive more !!! so may get better over time.
As to ScubaPink's original question, you don't have to be on a boat to be sea sick. I do have a friend who is very sensitive to motion sickness. When we have been diving he can get sea sick at the surface as well. It seems that the motion of going up and down in the swells with a fully inflated BC at the surface is enough to get him going. Try taking Triptone since you have that already for your next shore dive to see if that makes a difference.
Also, the sensation is created by a discrepency in signals to the brain in what your body is doing and what both your eyes and ears are telling your body. While underwater try and maintain an even horizontal position and avoid quick/rapid head or eye movements. Try not to become disoriented on descent/ascent and either maintain hold of the descent line or have a visual reference while you are going up.
Hope that helps.
For example. When you are standing on the deck of a boat your body is telling your brain the you are not moving and standing still. But, your inner ear/semi-circular canals are telling your brain that the deck is pitching and you are indeed moving up and down. This discrepency is then referred to as being motion sick. You can somewhat overcome the input of the inner ears by fixing your gaze on a fixed point either the horizon or land mass. The symptoms may lessen but may not completley go away.
Medications to treat motion sickness fall into two basic categories, either an antihistamines with anticholinergic properties, anticholinergic agents, or antidopaminergic agents. Other medications have been used but to varying degress of success. By far the former are the most common agents used.
Antihistamines fall into several different categories. The include dimenhydramine (Dramamine, Triptone), diphenhydramine (Benadryl), meclizine (Antivert, Bonine.) Neither of the agents are considered narcotics (which are pain killers)
Anticholinergic agents are essentially Scopolamine. It is most commonly used in patch form as Transderm Scop.
Antidopaminergic agents are promethazine (Phenergan, Anergan) and metoclopramide (Reglan).
Antiemetic (anti-nausea) medication such as ondansetron (zofran) has been used as well but just treats the nausea not the vertigo and causes a significant amount of sedation. Personally, I would not recommend for motion sickness. It is also very expensive, and if you are so sick you need a heavy duty nausea rx like Zofran maybe you should be sitting out your dive.
Since antihistamines in general cause sedation as well they should also be used with caution. Meclizine may have the least affect on performance with the above, followed by scopolamine. Phenergan may have the most effect.
Non-medical remedies include ginger and acupressure at the wrist. The sensations can abate over time with repeated exposure to activity - just the excuse you need to dive more !!! so may get better over time.
As to ScubaPink's original question, you don't have to be on a boat to be sea sick. I do have a friend who is very sensitive to motion sickness. When we have been diving he can get sea sick at the surface as well. It seems that the motion of going up and down in the swells with a fully inflated BC at the surface is enough to get him going. Try taking Triptone since you have that already for your next shore dive to see if that makes a difference.
Also, the sensation is created by a discrepency in signals to the brain in what your body is doing and what both your eyes and ears are telling your body. While underwater try and maintain an even horizontal position and avoid quick/rapid head or eye movements. Try not to become disoriented on descent/ascent and either maintain hold of the descent line or have a visual reference while you are going up.
Hope that helps.