best sea sickness med

[DocVikingo]

Morning Foo,

Given no specific reason not to, it generally is safe to use appropriate amounts of ginger in combination with another motion sickness medication.

Unless prescribed by a physician, it generally is not a good idea to use more than one patented motion sickness drug at a time, e.g., Bonine (meclizine) plus Triptone (dimenhydrinate), Dramamine Non-Drowsy (meclizine) plus Transderm Scop (scopolamine), Antivert (meclizine) plus Dramamine Original (dimenhydrinate). There are several concerns regarding such combinations,
over-sedation/excessive drowsiness the most prominent among them.

Helpful?

This is educational only and does not constitute or imply a doctor-patient relationship. It is not medical advice to you or any other individual and should not be construed as such.

Regards,

DocVikingo

 

[Foo]

Doc,

Thanks so much for the reply! I'll stick with one motion sickness drug and the ginger pills. Helpful? You bet!! Thanks again.

 

[EZHOOPS]

Yeah, I bought some Ginger pills and intend to take them (already am) along with the patch and keep fingers crossed for calm waters.

I intend to use the patches on dry land first to test them out.

thanks

 

[snhrph]

Yeah, I bought some Ginger pills and intend to take them (already am) along with the patch and keep fingers crossed for calm waters.

I intend to use the patches on dry land first to test them out.

thanks

The patch is a preventative measure, it takes some time for it to exert it's effect, so you will need to put it on BEFORE you board the boat. As a consequence, the medicine (scopolamine) will be in your blood stream, regadless of whether you need it or not, while on the boat, during the dive, after the dive, the following day, etc... you get the picture, until you remove the patch. The patch is designed to last 3 days.

In comparison, Meclizine (sold as Bonine, Antivert, several others) or Dimenhydrinate (Dramanine Original) can be used as an abortive measure and is usually (not a guarantee) very effective in controlling seasickness even if you already experience the symptoms.

There is also a third option: wrist bands that apply pressure to a specific point on your wrists. I can't remember the specific Brand, but any Pharmacy sells them. They work well and, unlike any of the products mentioned before, do not have any side effects (except for feeling the pressure on your wirsts).

Also, make sure that you are well hydrated.

Good luck.

 

[Foo]

Got my ginger pills today... thanks for the advice, all.

 

[clarissa1]

I suffered a lot from seasickness and it was so bad that I almost dreaded go diving every time!!

I have tried everything, from ginger to not eating greasy foods, no caffeine, medicines like Serc, Stiguron, taking pills 2 days in advance...NOTHING WORKED!!

Then I went back to a simple medication that everyone told me would never work. I have always suffered from motion sickness in cars and planes as a child and decided to try it despite everyone else's opinion that it would never work.

I took ONE valoid about an hour before the dive and ONE Rennie just before getting on the boat....and it worked like a bomb!!!

I was even able to stand up on the rubberduck and gather my own gear, didn't wish for the DM to hurry up with his briefing so we could get in the water NOTHING! it was heaven and I finally enjoyed my dives so much more!

Try it! ...I also gave the rennie suggestion to another diver and she tried it and it also worked great for her (even after the bacon and eggs!)

 

[snhrph]

I took ONE valoid about an hour before the dive and ONE Rennie just before getting on the boat....and it worked like a bomb!!!

These products are not available in US.

Valoid is a brand of cylcizine (antihistamine), which is similar to meclizine that is sold in US as Antivert, Bonine, and other brands.

Rennie is an antacid constisting of Calcium carbonate and Magnesium carbonate. US marketed Rolaids would be close to Rennie, but not exactly the same.

 

[DocVikingo]

Hi snhrph,

Not sure about you pharmacists, but most of us doctors think spelling is important, e.g., Valoid is a brand of "cyclizine;" carbonates of metals, e.g., magnesium and calcium, typically aren't capitalized, nor are chemical names like "dimenhydrinate" and "meclizine."

As regards your mention of Dramamine Original Formula (dimenhydrinate), are you recommending a drug that under conditions of increased atmospheric pressure may adversely affect mental flexibility and which when added to the known adverse effect of depth on memory may contribute to increased risks during diving? (See: "The psychometric and cardiac effects of dimenhydrinate in the hyperbaric environment." Pharmacotherapy. 2000 Sep;20(9):1051-4.)

You state, "wrist bands that apply pressure to a specific point on your wrists" work well. Last time I reviewed the literature there was very little real research, e.g., major peer-reviewed medical or other journals, which taken in the aggregate supported their efficacy. Perhaps you have something more recent?

Thanks,

DocVikingo

 

[clarissa1]

Yip, thought it might not be....but it is so well-known here that I thought it might be well-known there as well. sorry guys..

 

[EZHOOPS]

Yeah, I've tried the wrist bands and well uh, they suck big time. I won't even dare to buy that expensive one for over $100 that they sell at some stores.

So I should put the patch on the day before any actual diving or boating? How often do I need to change it? I'm sure my Doc will answer these ?'s I see him on thursday and leave on friday.

thanks for all the help