Sea Sickness

[DocVikingo]

Now I'm really confused.

In response to your first post, where you state, "(like dramamine but without the sleepiness), " I asked , "There are two chemically different kinds of "dramamine," Dramamine Original (50 mg of dimenhydrinate) and Dramamine Less Drowsy (25 mg of meclizine HCL). To which product are you referring?"

In follow up to that question you state, "I'm not referring to either," yet go on to indicate, "I do know that 'dramamine' knocks me out."

Obviously you are referring to one type of Dramamine or the other, and apparently to both at different points in your discussions.

It seems that you are trying to say that Dramamine Original makes you sleepy. And also that Bonine, which is exactly the same as Dramamine Less Drowsy in all but name, doesn't have that effect on you.

Have I got it?

Regards,

DocVikingo

 

[sasscuba]

There are two chemically different kinds of "Dramamine:" Dramamine Original (50 mg of dimenhydrinate) and Dramamine Less Drowsy (25 mg of meclizine HCL). One has been proven to have increased adverse effects at increased pressure. To which product are you referring?

Regards,

DocVikingo

I have always used the regular dramamine.

 

[DocVikingo]

Hi stangscuba98a,

It's good that "regular dramamine" (Dramamine Original; dimenhydrinate) works well for you without bothersome side effects.

However, before recommending it to others both you and they might wish to read (with particular attention to the Conclusion section):

"Pharmacotherapy. 2000 Sep;20(9):1051-4.

The psychometric and cardiac effects of dimenhydrinate in the hyperbaric environment.

Taylor DM, O'Toole KS, Auble TE, Ryan CM, Sherman DR.
Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: To examine the psychometric and cardiac effects of dimenhydrinate at 1 and 3 atmospheres (atm) of pressure (0 and 66 feet of sea water, respectively), and to make recommendations about the drug's safety in the diving environment.

DESIGN: Double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study

SETTING: Monoplace hyperbaric chamber of a university hospital.

SUBJECTS: Thirty active divers (mean age 38 yrs).

INTERVENTIONS: A bank of seven tests was used to assess cognitive function during four different dive combinations: placebo-1 atm, placebo-3 atm, dimenhydrinate-1 atm, and dimenhydrinate-3 atm.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Heart rate and cardiac rhythm were recorded during all dives. Repeated-measures multivariate analysis of variance was used to analyze the effects of dimenhydrinate, depth, and drug-depth interaction. Dimenhydrinate resulted in a significant decrease in scores of mental flexibility (trail-making, part B, p<0.05) but had no effect on scores in the six other psychometric tests (p>0.05). It had no effect on mean heart rate (p>0.05), although frequent unifocal ventricular ectopic beats occurred in two subjects after ingestion of the drug. Depth resulted in a significant decrease in verbal memory test scores (p=0.001) and mean heart rate (p<0.001).

CONCLUSION: Dimenhydrinate adversely affects mental flexibility. This effect, when added to the adverse effect of depth on memory, may contribute to the dangers of diving."

Regards,

DocVikingo

 

[sasscuba]

I have been using it for 25 years of diving and it is ok for me and I will continue to use it. To each his own.

 

[DocVikingo]

No one is asking you stop using a drug which works well for you, stangscuba98a, as is evidenced by my opening comment to you, "It's good that 'regular dramamine' (Dramamine Original; dimenhydrinate) works well for you without bothersome side effects."

What you are being requested to do is to take care about recommending drugs to others that you do not fully understand and that have published research showing they "may contribute to the dangers of diving."

Seems reasonable enough, doesn't it?

Regards,

DocVikingo

 

[sasscuba]

No one is asking you stop using a drug which works well for you, stangscuba98a, as is evidenced by my opening comment to you, "It's good that 'regular dramamine' (Dramamine Original; dimenhydrinate) works well for you without bothersome side effects."

What you are being requested to do is to take care about recommending drugs to others that you do not fully understand and that have published research showing they "may contribute to the dangers of diving."

Seems reasonable enough, doesn't it?

Regards,

DocVikingo

If you read my post I never recommended using dramanine. The original OP's post wants to know what works for you? I use dramamine.

 

[DocVikingo]

Actually, stangscuba98a, what the original poster asked was: "I have a tendency to get sea sick so was wondering what some of you experienced people have found works best? Last thing I want is to be the new guy hanging over the rail of the boat! Is there a product that is specifically designed not to interfere with the rigors of Scuba Diving?"

There is research to suggest that "regular dramamine" (Dramamine Original; dimenhydrinate) in fact may interfere with the mental demands of scuba.

Regards,

DocVikingo

 

[Diveral]

I tried using the scop patch, and it usually works very well for me when I'm not diving. For some reason, while diving, I got really sick on my surface interval. Two other divers on the boat said they had similar experiences. I ahd used it a few times, and never had the best results while diving. I stopped using it, don't know if that was the cause or not. Where do you all put the scop patch to keep it from coming off underwater? I've also never had one stay on me.
Jason

Never had those problems. I put it behind my ear. Make sure you clean the area and apply the patch before applying any sunscreen.

 

[DocVikingo]

Hi Pyrofish,

For best adhesion, select a spot directly behind the ear where there is very little to no visible hair. Gently shave the spot just to make sure. Then wipe the area with rubbing alcohol immediately prior to application. Attempt to protect the patch from mechanical dislodgement during donning/doffing of hoods and the like. It is okay to apply a second patch if the initial one falls off, but don't apply two simultaneously.

Hope this helps.

DocVikingo

 

[sasscuba]

Post said..."I have a tendency to get sea sick so was wondering what some of you experienced people have found works best?

I said dramamine.....let it lie.