Anti-sea sickness drugs

[BarryNL]

Does anyone know of any good anti-motion sickness medication which doesn't cause drowsiness. I use cinnarizine or cyclizine and these work fine but I find I get very tired when they start to wear off after about 8 hours.

Has anyone with similar problems found a better medication?

 

[Spoon]

Does anyone know of any good anti-motion sickness medication which doesn't cause drowsiness. I use cinnarizine or cyclizine and these work fine but I find I get very tired when they start to wear off after about 8 hours.

Has anyone with similar problems found a better medication?

we have something here called bonamine. works wonders.

 

[Doc Intrepid]

Does anyone know of any good anti-motion sickness medication which doesn't cause drowsiness. I use cinnarizine or cyclizine and these work fine but I find I get very tired when they start to wear off after about 8 hours.

Has anyone with similar problems found a better medication?

Dunno where you're located (fill out your profile), but in the US you can get TripTone - which is one of the "-mine" based drugs but which works better for me than the rest. Its going to be individually determined (and this one works best when you start taking it the day before the dive day...).

One thing to consider, however, is that after 8 hours involving a couple strenuous dives and having the snot knocked out of you during the 2-3 hour rides out and then back on the charter boat, uh...its somewhat normal to feel very tired!

 

[KBeck]

I use prescription Scopolamine patches--patch that goes behind your ear; good for up to three days.
Requires a prescription (which I had to explain to my doctor, who'd never apparently heard of it), and it's not cheap.......I currently pay almost $50 for a box of 4.
But, it's the best stuff I've found.

 

[DiveMaven]

I use the patch as well, and won't use anything else. If you don't want to get a prescription from your doctor for it, you can order it on-line from Canada. I paid about $80 for 18 patches recently, and they are identical to the ones I used to get in the US. I can get them cheaper here using my medical insurance, but by the time I visit the doctor, pay the deductable/copayment, etc., it seems to be about the same as getting the Canadian version.

As a caution for the patch though, I've seen many divers who have left the boat with one stuck behind their ear, only to return without it. Because of this, I use the ends of a very waterproof bandaid to stick over my patch so it'll last the full 3 days, regardless of how much diving I do.

 

[Taxgeek]

I'll "third" the patch. Works great. Virtually no side effects on me aside from very slight thirsty feeling, but your mileage may vary. I know somebody whose equilibrium was all messed up for days from the thing. Test it out beforehand for a couple of days.

My patch also falls off if I wear it on my ear. So I wear it under my bathing suit instead. Stays put there. My doctor assured me it doesn't matter what body part you apply it to, as long as it has skin contact.

Good to know about ordering from Canada - in case I ever end up sans insurance.

Taxgeek

 

[samara]

I actually started with the patch, still got seasick (and when putting on a new patch after the 3 days, got too much of the scop in my system and had dialated eyes for about 8 hours). I've started using dramamine and haven't had any problems yet. It's going to depend on how you react to each drug. I will second the recommendation to start taking it the day before you dive; that way it's in your system before you hit the boat.

 

[DrDave]

I've had good luck with prescription Scopace pills (scopolamine hydrobromide). As I understand, it's the same stuff as in the patch but in pill form. Take 1 (or 2 if necessary) an hour before the boat ride and it lasts for around 8 hours.

Dave

 

[teknitroxdiver]

I also use the Scop patch...it's a lifesaver. In fact I have one on now. While the directions say not to, I always cut the patch in half, which still delivers enough of the medicine while reducing side effects and doubling how many patches you have. If you do get the Scop patches, after you put it on be sure and wash your hands...if you touch your eyes with the medicine on them, it will dialate your eyes and make you feel even worse. Best time to put it on is right before bed the night before, then change every other day.

 

[vladimir]

On liveaboards, I've found that once I get past the first day and get my sea legs I don't have to worry anymore. I use Dramamine the night before and on day 1.