Sea sickness patch

[Kryssa]

My husband is somewhat prone to sea sickness. He told me that years ago he got horribly sick on a deep sea fishing boat so I was a little concerns when we went on our first boating experience together on a small diving boat near Isla Mujares, Mexico. He said he felt it a little in his stomach, but didn't get sick. He dove two days a row on that boat without problems.

Recently he went out two weekends in a row on a small dive boat in Monterrey Bay, CA. The first weekend he was prepared with Dramamine and those nubby wristbands and he said he could feel it a little bit but did not get sick.

The second weekend, he went without me and, of course, forgot both the Dramamine and wristbands and got sick between his first and second dive. He had to sit out the second one, which was a bummer.

In June we are going on a 3 night liveaboard in the Channel Islands. He's considering getting the sea sickness patch so he doesn't have to remember to take any medication throughout the trip and it won't wear off during sleep.

Have any of you used the patch? Good results?

Thanks so much!

 

[Bubbletrubble]

The scopolamine patch can work for some people. It's different from Dramamine (original formula, dimenhydrinate), though. As with all seasickness meds, make sure that your husband tries it out on a non-diving day beforehand to determine whether he can tolerate any potential side effects.

There are other seasickness meds to try: Bonine (meclizine), ginger candy, etc. Tell him to stay away from greasy foods and any alcoholic beverages.

Which boat are you guys going on? The Horizon? I've done some spectacular dives in/around the Channel Islands.

Have a great time...

 

[Herk_Man]

I used the patch that goes behind your ear years ago on a Windjammer cruise. It worked really well. The only side effect I had was that it totally blurred out my near vision. Could not hold my watch far enough away to read it. I'm pretty prone to sea-sickness (go figure since I'm a combat pilot and airline pilot???) and the patch really worked for me.

 

[H2O 70]

Try ginger tea. Get some ginger, grate it up, simmer it for a while and serve it up. I made up two gallons yesterday. The ginger really helps out with the stomach and your consuming liquid. I don't usually have problems with sea sickness. If I do, I pop once and then I'm done. My wife and dive buddy aren't so fortunate, so I've gotten in the habit of taking a couple of Nalgene bottles with me. They do taste nice on the way home!

 

[Bubbletrubble]

I used the patch that goes behind your ear years ago on a Windjammer cruise. It worked really well. The only side effect I had was that it totally blurred out my near vision. Could not hold my watch far enough away to read it. I'm pretty prone to sea-sickness (go figure since I'm a combat pilot and airline pilot???) and the patch really worked for me.

This is a well-known side effect of this particular class of drugs (belladonna alkaloids).

In Renaissance Italy, women would use belladonna alkaloids for the mydriatic effect (big pupils), which was considered attractive at the time. An obvious disadvantage of pupillary dilation is that it's difficult to focus your vision on near objects.

 

[Herk_Man]

This is a well-known side effect of this particular class of drugs (belladonna alkaloids).

In Renaissance Italy, women would use belladonna alkaloids for the mydriatic effect (big pupils), which was considered attractive at the time. An obvious disadvantage of pupillary dilation is that it's difficult to focus your vision on near objects.

Sooooo, if I wear the patch, chicks will dig me? I'm sensing a logic issue here.

 

[BKluever]

I also get motion sick and a colleague put me onto ginger pills (OTC - Walgreens, etc.) a few years ago and the problem is gone, at least for me.

I take two pills a couple of days before a trip and then a couple the morning of and have no problems (knock on wood.)

I echo the other posters comments about avoiding greasy food. Also, avoid OJ and grapefruit juice, the acidity plays a roll.

Hope it helps.

 

[randykiw]

My wife used the patch for the first time this past week on a boat dive. The waves where not too bad but she usually gets sea sick on every boat she has ever been on. She was actually going to give up boat diving until she found these worked for her.

 

[Kryssa]

The scopolamine patch can work for some people. It's different from Dramamine (original formula, dimenhydrinate), though. As with all seasickness meds, make sure that your husband tries it out on a non-diving day beforehand to determine whether he can tolerate any potential side effects.

There are other seasickness meds to try: Bonine (meclizine), ginger candy, etc. Tell him to stay away from greasy foods and any alcoholic beverages.

Which boat are you guys going on? The Horizon? I've done some spectacular dives in/around the Channel Islands.

Have a great time...

We are going on the Truth Aquatics Conception with a group from the Aquatic Discovery Dive Shop in Santa Clara. This will be our first liveaboard diving so we are very excited !!!

 

[Bubbletrubble]

Sooooo, if I wear the patch, chicks will dig me? I'm sensing a logic issue here.

@Herk Man: I'm not so sure what's good for the goose is good for the gander.

AFAIK, women used the belladonna alkaloids (berries of the Deadly Nightshade) to take on the appearance of a "doe-eyed beauty." If a man were to take the same belladonna alkaloid in Renaissance Italy, I don't know what kind of "attention" he'd get. Perhaps Michelangelo would have asked you to pose for him and maybe you would have supplanted Tommaso dei Cavalieri as the apple of the Master's eye. There's no telling what might have happened.

Nowadays, if a person is observed to have dilated pupils outside of an eye exam, suspicions are raised regarding recreational drug abuse (MDMA/ecstasy, amphetamines, cocaine, LSD). Not sure if women would find that attractive.

Personally, I think that it's a good thing when my dive buddy can read his gauges. But that's just me...

I echo the other posters comments about avoiding greasy food. Also, avoid OJ and grapefruit juice, the acidity plays a roll.

@BKluever: Yeah. I can see how acidity might contribute to the nausea. Another thing to keep in mind is that grapefruit juice can affect the metabolism of many other prescription and OTC drugs. I believe it inhibits cytochrome P450 enzymes, which could lead to an increased concentration of the prescription/OTC drug in the body. Something to be mindful of.