best sea sickness med

[DocVikingo]

Hi EZHOOPS,

If you mean the ReliefBand http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0001B8BGS/104-3744257-9891116?v=glance&n=284507 or similiar device using electrial stimulation, they can be found for less online. However, be aware that they are slightly water resistant but not waterproof. Also, the purchases usually are nonrefundable. Probably not the best gizmo for a scuba diver.

Regards,

DocVikingo

 

[justleesa]

Well yesterday was the big test for my Relief band. I purchased a generic motion sickness pill at Walwart. These were the first ones that didn't work for me. We headed for a place called china wall, which was very close to the shore line. We were popping like a cork. I tried to think of other things, even held on to the railing in such a way that it really hurt - to no avail. Big time sick. Did the dive - came back to the surface and got sick all over again. My buddy (again, thanks soooooo much Matteo!) went and got my Relief Band out of my box...I had it set all the way up to 4 - I wasn't feeling great, but much, much better ( I guess my stomach was suffering from the traumatic experience...lol). I was able to talk again and put my gear together. Until now I would say that I can't say if the band works or not, but after yesterday I can say it works for me. YMMV

 

[DocVikingo]

Hi justleesa,

Or it could have been that your mal de mer was already resolving spontaneously and its attenuation coincided with application of the ReliefBand.

Still, it may well work for you and if so that is a very good thing.

The research to date, however, has not been promising, e.g.:

1. Aviat Space Environ Med. 2004 Mar;75(3):227-34.

Efficacy of acupressure and acustimulation bands for the prevention of motion sickness.

Miller KE, Muth ER.

Department of Psychology, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634-1355, USA.

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this study was to examine whether acupressure and acustimulation prevent motion sickness, taking into consideration whether or not the acupressure and acustimulation are administered properly. These techniques claim to reduce nausea through stimulation of the P6/Neiguan acupuncture point by applying acupressure or electrical acustimulation. METHODS: The Acuband and ReliefBand were used to administer acupressure and acustimulation, respectively. There were 77 subjects who were assigned to 1 of 5 conditions: Acuband trained or untrained; ReliefBand trained or untrained; or placebo. Subjects were exposed to a 20-min baseline and a maximum of 20 min of optokinetic drum rotation. Untrained subjects read the device directions, used it as they deemed appropriate, and completed a usability analysis following drum exposure. Trained subjects read the device directions and were trained to use the device appropriately prior to drum exposure. Symptoms and gastric myoelectric activity were monitored during baseline and rotation. RESULTS: In all conditions, symptoms of motion sickness and gastric tachyarrhythmia increased, and 3 cpm gastric myoelectric activity decreased, during drum exposure. The only difference found between conditions was a potential delay in symptom onset for the ReliefBand compared with the Acuband. While the Acuband was found difficult to use (0 untrained subjects used it correctly) and only a few minor usability issues were identified for the ReliefBand, usability had no impact on efficacy. DISCUSSION: Neither band nor placebo prevented the development of motion sickness, regardless of whether the bands were used correctly or incorrectly.

2. Anesth Analg. 2006 Feb;102(2):581-4.

Transcutaneous acupoint electrical stimulation with the ReliefBand for the prevention of nausea and vomiting during and after cesarean delivery under spinal anesthesia.

Habib AS, Itchon-Ramos N, Phillips-Bute BG, Gan TJ; Duke Women's Anesthesia (DWA) Research Group.

Department of Anesthesiology, Box 3094, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, 27710. habib001@mc.duke.edu

We randomized 94 patients undergoing cesarean delivery with spinal anesthesia to receive transcutaneous acupoint electrical stimulation using the ReliefBand at the P6 point (active group) or an active ReliefBand applied to the dorsum of the wrist (sham control group). The ReliefBand was applied 30-60 min preoperatively and left in place for 24 h. There was no statistically significant difference between the active and sham control groups in the incidence of intraoperative/postoperative nausea (30% versus 43%/23% versus 41%), vomiting (13% versus 9%/26 versus 37%), need for rescue antiemetics (23% versus 18%/34% versus 39%), or complete response (55% versus 57%/51% versus 34%). There was also no difference between the two groups in nausea scores, number of vomiting episodes, or patient satisfaction with postoperative nausea and vomiting management.

Regards,

DocVikingo

 

[justleesa]

Thanks for the response DocVikingo! interesting research results.....

For me, I was feeling very miserable - maybe it was just the hope and belief in the band that made me feel better....I was just thankful that it seemed to make a difference for me.

 

[DocVikingo]

My pleasure, justleesa.

I'm with you--don't underestimate the power of placebo.

ReliefBands can do no apparent harm [except maybe to your wallet ] and if they seem to help, go for it. Just remember to remove the device prior to entering the water.

Regards,

DocVikingo

 

[cra2]

Reliefbands ROCK!

well, for that matter, ginger rocks, if it works for ya.
like doc said at the beginning - whatever works for ya is best.
and noone can tell ya what that'll be or what your symptoms will be.
like the tiny little text says on each package - try it on shore first, because you may or may not have any or all of the following list of symptoms... 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and so on.

Some people like the scope patch, others like the ginger, others like the pressure bands, others like the dramamine, others like the bonine, others like the... and on and on and on...
Sadly, you just have to try one, and then keep trying them til you find one you can tolerate.

Ironically, after going through most of them myself, I find that the Reliefbands work wonders.

Doc, (one of) the studies you point to was done on post-op patients. Perhaps, for whatever reason, the reliefbands are more effective fighting actual motion-sickness than sickness due to anesthesia or whatever.
Or, maybe - just like the hit-or-miss of bonine and ginger, it's just a matter of individuality. For some people, rememdy A. doesn't do a thing, while remedy B. does wonders. The same thing can be said of all the OTC and prescrip meds. I've seen people for whom dramamine doesn't do a thing, and yet for others - it's a miracle.
Go figure.
So I s'pose it's the same with the reliefbands.

I know the scope patch worked for me - but at a nasty cost; blurred vision and dry mouth among them. (why in the heck would I pay for a $50 boat dive to look at fish when my eyes are blurry???? And dry tissue and diving are a DAN no-no.)

So, I tried other things, ... well, almost EVERYthing.
Then, wound up trying the reliefband.
That was the FIRST boat trip I'd been on where I didn't get sick.
Instant results. For me AND my spouse.
And the instant I got off the boat back on the dock - felt 100% and ready to go out again. (whereas, on ANY of the drugs, even the non-drowsy formulas, I usually feel tired and buzzed)

We've since used the reliefbands on two more trips AND tested it reading while sitting in the car on a road trip. Flawless so far (knock on wood). I'll let ya know if anything changes.

So Justleesa, I'm with you, girl.
Figuratively AND literally.
We'll be in Hawaii a week from tomorrow and we are DEFINITELY packing the relief bands and extra batteries.

cra2

 

[DocVikingo]

Hi cra2,

You state, "Doc, the study you point to was done on post-op patients. Perhaps, for whatever reason, the reliefbands are more effective fighting actual motion-sickness than sickness due to anesthesia or whatever."

In my post I cited two separate studies from two separate journals. The first one (Aviat Space Environ Med. 2004 Mar;75(3):227-34) is a high quality work that in fact assessed the effects of the ReliefBand on motion sickness.

Is one of us missing something here?

Regards,

DocVikingo

 

[cra2]

Hi cra2,
The first one (Aviat Space Environ Med. 2004 Mar;75(3):227-34) is a high quality work that in fact assessed the effects of the ReliefBand on motion sickness.
Is one of us missing something here?
Regards,
DocVikingo

yep, that's what I get for skimming. lol.
sorry.
However, putting them in the optokinetic drum rotator is going to make ANYONE puke who has ANY susceptibility to motion sickness. That's just as torturous and unrelenting as you can dream up. Are there any studies showing the scope patch working under THOSE conditions?

 

[pterantula]

Just thought I'd add my own experience - even if only to lend credence to the idea that everyone is different (on the inside, at least...).

I never had any issues with seasickness before, and so recently went off to the first of 6 boat dives in a row without them, not even thinking about it. I will never do that again.

The advice I was given, and it worked, which I therefore happily impart it to you:
for motion-sickness medication to work, it needs to be entrenched in your bloodstream (makes sense; it's the same with antibiotics and antidepressants). I took one "Wal-amine" (Walgreens' generic Dramamine) before bed, one when I got up, one when the boat left the dock, and one during our surface interval (all 2-tank dives).

This may be overkill for some, but was well within the safety limits on the box and worked perfectly all week. I'd like to try ginger pills - I love all things ginger - so we'll see about that in the future....

cheers,
t

 

[justleesa]

weren't you sleepy?