Diving while wearing seasickness patches?

[Foo]

We will be going on a cruise soon, and we usually wear seasickness prevention patches (I'm sorry I can't think of the actual name of the med- I'm sure some of you have worn them before?). This time, however, we plan to dive at each of 4 ports. Does anyone know if this is a problem to use the med? I tend to get seasick, so I was also thinking that it would be good to help me on the diveboats. Then it struck me that perhaps mixing diving with the patches is a no-no. I am a newbie, I'm sorry if this issue has been broached a hundred times before (hopefully not). Thanks in advance to all who respond!
Foo

 

[Genesis]

Some people experience drowsiness or other side effects with the patch. If you do, then obviously diving with it is probably not a good idea...

If not, then sure. I know a couple of people who dive with them on and don't have trouble with it. It keeps them from getting the yacks on the way out to the dive site.

 

[Damselfish]

This would be the Transderm Scop patch. I've heard of some some people having problems with it and others no problems. My husband swears by it and has no problems other than a little dry mouth. On the other hand, I have a friend who tried it in anticipation of a dive trip and it _made_ her nauseous.

If you've already used it when not diving and not had side effects that's a good start. If you hadn't already tried it, I'd say try it outside of diving first to see how that goes, don't dive on your first use of it.

 

[cyklon_300]

and had no problems diving. For me, the drymouth side-effect is very noticeable, but it beats hurling. And you can get seasick even while wearing the patch, it's not 100% effective in all cases.

I read on another board there's an oral version of the scopalimine medication available now, but haven't tried it.

 

[No Fish]

Diving medicine article

I have used "the Patch" and find it works great for me.

 

[Foo]

Thank you all who replied! I have never had any problems with the TransDerm (yes, that's it!) patch, and am prone to seasickness, especially on the smaller boats like the dive boats. I'm glad to know that I can wear the patch without it causing me some kind of dive-related problem. Like Genesis so eloquently put it, I would much rather deal with dry mouth, than yak.
Foo

 

[Big Blue One]

We used to be able to get them from Australia but not anymore. If you can get them in the states (as I see by the location of the contributors) then where do you go to get them and what to I ask for ?

 

[MikeS]

If you can get them in the states (as I see by the location of the contributors) then where do you go to get them and what to I ask for ?

In the states a doctor's prescription is required, I suspect it's because of potential interaction with other medication; my doctor gave me a prescription over the phone.

It does make me drowsy at first so I take it the night before. That way I get a good night's sleep and the drowsiness is worn off by the next morning.

Mike

 

[MgicTwnger]

I just got back from a week in Coz, and used the patches for the first time. Aside from some dry mouth for the first couple of days, I noticed no side effects, and they seemed to work great. I did a couple of hairy boat rides, no problemo. I lost a patch before my last dive day and decided to go without. I really noticed the difference.
BTW, I got them by mail from Canada, no prescription needed. Bless you, brothers and sisters to the North!

 

[SDAnderson]

The scopalamine patch is good stuff but has some drawbacks, especially for underwater use. There is a new tablet form that addresses many of these issues.

Vis-a-vis the patch:

• Won't fall off
• Flexible dosage
• Twice as effective
• Less side effects
• Faster acting
• Shorter duration
• Much, much cheaper

Read more: Scopace (scopalamine tablets)

Steven