Motion sickness

[NewbaScuba]

Stay off the drugs,
Bring Ground ginger with you, Find some Canada Dry Ginger Ale (real ginger), mix a couple teaspoons of the ground ginger into the ginger ale and drink up.

Soothes the stomach better than any drug i've seen

 

[Kevrumbo]

Stay off the drugs,
Bring Ground ginger with you, Find some Canada Dry Ginger Ale (real ginger), mix a couple teaspoons of the ground ginger into the ginger ale and drink up.

Soothes the stomach better than any drug i've seen

And even better as a condiment with sushi!

 

[mstevens]

Stay off the drugs,
Bring Ground ginger with you, Find some Canada Dry Ginger Ale (real ginger), mix a couple teaspoons of the ground ginger into the ginger ale and drink up.

Soothes the stomach better than any drug i've seen

Both ground ginger and ginger ale are tedious and potentially messy to lug around. ginger ale has as little ginger as they can get away with and ground ginger from the spice section has generally been heat-dried. It's possible that freeze-dried ground ginger might be more effective, but that's still messy.

I carry little "Tootsie Roll"-like things made of ground up candied ginger called "Ginger Chews" from a company called "Ginger People." I'm sure there are equivalents from other companies. They're delicious, have a very high ginger content, and come neatly wrapped for no-mess use.

 

[DandyDon]

I doubted that ginger ale had much ginger in it these days.

Ginger Chews

Lots of Google shopping sources for the 2 oz size, such as Buy Ginger People - Ginger Chews Original Travel Size - 2 oz. at LuckyVitamin.com

 

[scopace2013]

If anybody is looking for Scopace 0.4 mg tablets, it is no longer manufactured, however Steven's Pharmacy & Compounding Center in California has the ingredients & can compound an equivalent strength & ship directly to you. Their phone # is 800-352-3784. Steven's Pharmacy is a good compounding resource for any of your custom prescription needs. Visit them at Steven's Pharmacy or call them.

 

[sharky60]

Ok, here we go, a subject close to my head & tummy! :-D

I find I have less of a tendency to get sick on the six-packs than I do on a cabin cruiser...probably just me. The cabin cruisers, although are heavier and don't toss as much, they do ROLL quite a bit, and that is what does it for me more than rough seas...gentle rolls! yikes!

Also, usually when I'm on the larger boats, the diesel exhaust seems more prominent, and contributes to me getting sick.

I take 2 Dramamine tablets for motion sickness. I used to take only one, but it only worked occasionally. After reading the directions, I realized a dosage of 2 could be taken. Directions! Who wouldda thunk it!?

DAN's Diver Alert magazine also suggest taking Sudafed and/or Benadryl. I take Sudafed & sometimes a Benadryl as well. Especially if I've been into the Hydroids!!

Seems like a lot, but I've been doing this routine for the past couple years, and it seems to be working.

I only got a little sick after the second dive, once this year over 2 weeks diving (my first day of boat diving, when I was on a cabin cruiser, by the way).

Last year I actually made it until the last day of diving before I got sick ( again 2 weeks of diving morning dives), and I think that it was more to an ear issue than true sea sickness.

Also try to have as full a stomach as possible. An empty stomach or one with just fluids sloshing around can contribute to getting sick. I usually also take a breakfast bar or some crackers onboard, just in case the SI fruit and muffins aren't quite enough, or if I should need something on the way out or before the snacks get broke out.

Oh, hydrate, hydrate, hydrate...see above...and then hydrate.

I also have heard that ginger helps, I tried to find ginger snaps at Mega this past trip to no avail.

Unfortunately, from all the people, like us, that I've talked to, no matter what precautions you take, sometimes it just happens. So do everything you can to prevent it, and go out and have a good time.

We usually go in the Spring (late April - late May), the seas are USUALLY very calm in the mornings, getting somewhat choppy occasionally with the afternoon winds, and then flattening out in the late afternoon.

 

[Peter69_56]

My wife gets sick bad on boats. Tried Travelcalm and a other chemist tablets too but it would make her sleep or not work or both.

Went to bali and was given Antimo and she hasn't looked back. In United States, it is marketed under brand name Dramamine. I don't know the difference between it and the above but they work for her so we bought a heap and use them all the time. One tablet and she is fine all day.

Only time it didn't work was when we were on a liveaboard on the Great Barrier Reef, the ship pitched and rolled at the same time all night and even I thought it was pretty rough. She has been on small boats going diving and very rough water and been fine.

Also what works if not too rough is sucking on a lolly pop or chewing gum for her too, don't know why but it works.

 

[JohnN]

I am an unrepentant 'spewer'. Fish used to come from miles around, just to follow the boat I was in. Bonine or Dramamine helped some, Scop patches work but are hard to use with a wetsuit (and I really hate the dry mouth).

I wouldn't ever recommend Sudafed, there is evidence that it is linked to a higher incidence of DCI.

I have started using Ondansetron (Zofran). [FONT=arial, sans-serif]Prescription only, relatively expensive (but less than a Scop patch and it really works (drug's primary use is for nausea for people going through chemo-therapy)

YMMV[/FONT]

 

[DandyDon]

I am all for Use Whatever Works! When we discuss brand names, I really like to see what the generic is - in part to ensure you always get what you want. Some of you have already mentioned the generics, but here's a list from the last few posts...

Dramamine is dimenhydrinate
​

Antimo is dimenhydrinate
​

Benadryl is diphenhydramine
​

Bonine is meclizine
​

Ondansetron is Zofran

Oh my fav: Claritin is loratadine
​

I also support shopping for generics and getting the cheapest. I get a years supply of 24 hour loratadine for $15 including shipping on Amazon.

Also what works if not too rough is sucking on a lolly pop or chewing gum for her too, don't know why but it works.

It probably helps keep her ear tubes open, like a decongestant - which is why real-Sudafed/pseudoephedrine helps.

I wouldn't ever recommend Sudafed, there is evidence that it is linked to a higher incidence of DCI.

Excuse me, but I have to ask: Where the hell did you hear that garbage? :blush:

Has anyone mentioned getting outdoors and watching the horizon helps? Boat pilots hardly ever get seasick.

 

[JohnN]

Excuse me, but I have to ask: Where the hell did you hear that garbage? :blush:

Gee thanks for the kind words. . . I was only partially confused, there is evidence that Sudafed increases your susceptibility to taking a CNS hit if diving EAN. DAN | Medical Articles

There are better drugs out there for congestion. . . why take the chance ?

Boat pilots hardly ever get seasick.

and there is some sterling logic. . . do you think anyone that chronically suffers from motion sickness is likely to become a boat pilot ??