Motion sickness

[Blastman4444]

My wife becomes very sleepy with the scopalamine patch she is really unable to even get up and walk around much. I doubt the pill will be much different for her this also happens from any cold medicine she takes same effect very sleepy almost like a knockout drug. The bonine is suppose to not do this as much but we will test this out before we go on our next trip. We went to grand Cayman last week and went out on the east side bad idea because the ocean rolled about 6 feet as were just over the reef where you swim out to the wall dive. I think she could handle small movement with a little help of one of the drugs that won't make her sleepy.

 

[DandyDon]

Bonine (meclizine) is a non-drowsy antihistamine that many find helpful. Good luck.

 

[Acanthurus]

Ginger works for some IF you take it well in advance. In Australia they do not sell gravol but instead sell ginger tabs. Worth a try - I took them on a liveaboard and although did not really feel hungry was certainly not seasick.

Good luck

 

[Pelagicsal]

Many of the Cozumel dive ops do surface interval at a beach club. If I have a touch of mal de mer, it seems like we are arriving at the beach club before it gets unbearable.

I also like meclizine. Works for me and doesn't make me sleepy at all.

Maybe a combo of meds and short boat times?
Good luck! Sea sick is MISERABLE.

 

[deepstops]

Most navies of the world (including the US Navy) use meclizine (Bonine).

 

[morecowbells]

I unfortunately suffer from a wicked case of mal de mer. While the Bonine did not make me tired, it did not help as much as the regular Dramamine. I pack some or the candied ginger(avialable as most supermarkets, I get mine at Trader Joe's), Pepperment candy, and ginger ale made from real ginger. While these measures have helped me, I still do get queasy, but not as bad. I have read that increasing your vitamin B a few weeks ahead can help. It did not seem to make any difference to me.

The Scopalimine patch sounds tempting but I am not sure how the different depths and presure may affect the amount of med absorbed. It sounds like the Scopal may be worth a try. I would recommend trying any of these things the day before you go diving just to be familiar with how you will react to them. Also with the Dramamine or Bonine, these work best when started the night before and taken on a regular basis.

For some reason, the smaller boats do not affect me as bad as the larger boats. I am fine until I put my bcd on and read my guages-then it hits me like a mac truck. I keep my eyes on the horizon as long as possible, sit away from the deisel fumes on the boat, and try to be the first off the boat.

 

[DandyDon]

BTW, there are hundreds of great threads on this subject in Dive Medicine and Basic Scuba, even tho not Coz specific.

 

[xnomadx]

I use Bonine, Ginger capsules, and chew peppermint gum.

 

[robint]

ginger tablets work very well, you can get them at health food store in vitamin section or at many dive shops.

summer in Cozumel has flat seas...I would go then.

as far as big boats vs small boats... yes and no to what others said. I have found that people tend to get seasick when they just sit there on boat and think about it bouncing. Big boats offer the opportunity to get up, walk around, talk to people - a big distraction, which is very helpful. Also, shade is key. Sitting in hot sun, fumes from the boat, all contribute. Another factor is being well hydrated. Drink lots of water! Yes, I know it makes you have to pee, but hydration is important. Staring at horizon works, but distractions work so much better. Get busy setting up gear, chat with others on the boat about what they want to see, where they have been before... anything to keep you mind off being on a boat. Ginger tablets work very well for most people, too. They settle the stomach and have no side effects!!!. Oh, and don't eat greasy foods before getting ont he boat. Pass on the bacon and sausage, stick to the waffles or toast and scrambled eggs.

robin

 

[mstevens]

Most of the seasickness remedies, including:

diphenhydramine / Benadryl
meclizine / Bonine, Antivert
cinnarizine / Sturgeron
scopalamine / Transderm-Scop, Scopace

work by blocking acetylcholine receptors. That means that, if you take enough to work, you're reasonably likely to get other anticholinergic effects including dry mouth, blurred vision, bladder outlet obstruction, short-term memory impairment, etc.

I'll use meclizine if I'm having a bad run of seasickness, but usually use candied ginger (smished up and formed into Tootsie Roll-like form for ease of transport by Ginger People) in order to minimize anticholinergic side effects.