Scopolamine patch

[kidsdream]

While I have taken the patch, I love the Scopace pills as you can adjust your dose during a trip and their is no risk of getting it in your eye (a serious concern when you apply the patch).

Only when the waves are really bad for a long period do I still feel a bit uneasy. During a crossing back from Darwin in the Galapagos we had really big seas abeam. Only then did I feel iffy, but as long as I stayed in bed I felt reasonable. These were constant 6'+ waves for 14 hours. The pills work great on day trips as if the weather is really bad I just stay ashore.

Hi Wayne-

You might try SOPACE (Motion Sickness - Prevent It and Enjoy Your Travel with Scopace), which is scopolamine in pill form. You can modify dosage (either one or two pills) based on what you're doing and I find it is easier on my system than the patch.

I really recommend it--it works great for me.

Steve

 

[DocVikingo]

I find that 12 hours is not enough lead time for me. I put the patch on 24 hours before I will be getting on the boat. I still get a little bit sick, but generally not sick enough to spoil the fun. In extreme conditions, however, even Scopalomine does not prevent severe sickness for me.

Hi Daniel,

As regards lead time and efficacy, the manufacturer indicates that circulating plasma levels of scopolamine are detected within 4 hours of application of the patch with peak levels being obtained, on average, within 24 hours. By 12 hours a reasonbale therapeutic dose should be achieved, but of course each individual responds in his or her own way.

Regards,

DocVikingo

 

[daniel1948]

Hi Daniel,

As regards lead time and efficacy, the manufacturer indicates that circulating plasma levels of scopolamine are detected within 4 hours of application of the patch with peak levels being obtained, on average, within 24 hours. By 12 hours a reasonbale therapeutic dose should be achieved, but of course each individual responds in his or her own way.

Regards,

DocVikingo

This probably explains why I need 24 hours. I am very susceptible to seasickness and need the full dose. I do notice some benefit if I put the patch on 12 hours ahead, but the benefit is noticeably less than after 24 hours. I once put it on 6 hours ahead, and got no benefit at all. Clearly, the level after 6 hours was too little for me. I can imagine it being effective for someone less prone to seasickness than I am.

I am going to ask my doctor about the pills, for situations when the exposure will be shorter.

 

[lowviz]

Well my trial ended up being putting the patch on the night before......roughly 12 hours before I stepped on the boat. I did eat a small breakfast just to have a little something in my stomach.

And by the way......only real side affects I noticed were a little drowsiness and dry mouth with the patch. I can deal with both of those if the med really works.

12+ hours works for me also. I eat a breakfast that will not leave me hungry, just make sure it is something 'safe'. This was a rough year on the Atlantic, took me several trips to get settled in. The seasick feeling will (should) get less with each trip to where you just fight periods of 'fuzziness'. Check your pupils in the mirror, you may have missed one last side-effect. Also important is to stay near the centerline of the boat. If you have waves and side-to-side sway, make sure you stay central. Watch the horizon in fresh air. -mostly just the hair of the dog that bit you...

 

[daniel1948]

"Hair of the dog" does not work for me. Some people gradually get over seasickness as the voyage progresses, or as they take more and more voyages. Others never do. Charles Darwin was seasick for the entire five year voyage of the Beagle, and Lord Nelson was seasick every time he went to sea.

Staying topside, near the center, and watching the horizon all help, but for me do not prevent seasickness.

I get two principal side-effects from scopolamine:

1. A dry throat which in dry climates can become as painful as a really severe sore throat, but which in humid climates is merely uncomfortable, but tolerable, and

2. Dizziness, which is usually severe when I get up the first morning, but which subsides, and then is not too bad for the rest of the trip, but always at its worst the morning after applying a new patch, which I take to mean that the blood level of the drug is not absolutely constant throughout the 3 days the patch lasts.

In all, if the sea conditions are not too rough, the combination of side effects and residual seasickness are not bad enough to spoil the fun of being on or in the water. If conditions are rough, even scopolamine is not enough, and I get thoroughly miserable. So I always try to select boats designed for stability.