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Tame the Technicolor Yodel: Managing Mal de Mer
Doc Vikingo's Sea Sickness Remedies
Regards,
DocVikingo
Doc Vikingo's Sea Sickness Remedies
Regards,
DocVikingo
sea sickness!!
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"Dramamine?"
There's Dramamine Less Drowsy® and Dramamine Original®, and they're not the same (http://www.dramamine.com/). The active ingredient in the former is mecilizine, while in the later it's dimenhydrinate.
Those who use the original formula (or take other meds containing dimenhydrinate, e.g., TripTone®) might find the following informative:
"The Psychometric and Cardiac Effects of Pseudoephedrine and Dimenhydrinate in the Hyperbaric Environment, Taylor et al, Pharmacotherapy 2000:20;(9):1045-1054
Abstract:
STUDY OBJECTIVES: Pseudoephedrine (Sudafed®) and dimenhydrinate (Dramamine®) are often used by recreational scuba divers to avoid ear barotrauma and to control seasickness, respectively. However, these drugs have been little studied in the hyperbaric environment. This study examines the psychometric and cardiac effects of pseudoephedrine and dimenhydrinate at one (100 kPa, sea level) and three (300 kPa, 20 m) atmospheres absolute (bar).
METHODS: A double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover trial was carried out in the monoplace hyperbaric chamber of a university hospital. Thirty active divers (mean age 38 years) were studied. A bank of seven tests was used to assess cognitive function during four different dive combinations: placebo/ 1 bar (100 kPa, sea level), placebo/3 bar (300 kPa, 20 m depth) , drug/1 bar (100 kPa, sea level)and drug/3 bar (300 kPa, 20 m depth). Heart rate and cardiac rhythm were recorded during all compressions (dives). Repeated measures ANOVA was used to analyse the effects of drug, depth and the drug-depth interaction.
RESULTS: There were no significant, independent effects of pseudoephedrine on any of the seven psychometric tests scores (p>0.05), although the drug tended to increase Anxiety scores (p=0.092). Increased depth (pressure) resulted in a significant increase in Anxiety scores (p=0.021) and a significant decrease in Verbal Fluency test scores (p=0.041). Pseudoephedrine caused a significant increase (p=0.036) in mean subject heart rate while depth (3 bar) caused a significant decrease (p=0.013). Dimenhydrinate resulted in a significant decrease in scores of mental flexibility (Trail Making, part B) (p<0.05). It had no effect upon mean subject heart rate (p>0.05). Depth resulted in a significant decrease in Verbal Memory test scores (p=0.001) and a significant decrease in mean subject heart rate (p<0.001).
CONCLUSION: Pseudoephedrine does not cause significant alterations in psychometric performance at 3 bar pressure (300 kPa, 20 m) that might increase the risk of diving. Dimenhydrinate adversely effects mental flexibility at depth. This effect, when added to the adverse effect of depth on memory, may contribute to the dangers of diving. Depth causes significant adverse effects upon anxiety levels and semantic memory at 3 bar."
Regards,
DocVikingo
There's Dramamine Less Drowsy® and Dramamine Original®, and they're not the same (http://www.dramamine.com/). The active ingredient in the former is mecilizine, while in the later it's dimenhydrinate.
Those who use the original formula (or take other meds containing dimenhydrinate, e.g., TripTone®) might find the following informative:
"The Psychometric and Cardiac Effects of Pseudoephedrine and Dimenhydrinate in the Hyperbaric Environment, Taylor et al, Pharmacotherapy 2000:20;(9):1045-1054
Abstract:
STUDY OBJECTIVES: Pseudoephedrine (Sudafed®) and dimenhydrinate (Dramamine®) are often used by recreational scuba divers to avoid ear barotrauma and to control seasickness, respectively. However, these drugs have been little studied in the hyperbaric environment. This study examines the psychometric and cardiac effects of pseudoephedrine and dimenhydrinate at one (100 kPa, sea level) and three (300 kPa, 20 m) atmospheres absolute (bar).
METHODS: A double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover trial was carried out in the monoplace hyperbaric chamber of a university hospital. Thirty active divers (mean age 38 years) were studied. A bank of seven tests was used to assess cognitive function during four different dive combinations: placebo/ 1 bar (100 kPa, sea level), placebo/3 bar (300 kPa, 20 m depth) , drug/1 bar (100 kPa, sea level)and drug/3 bar (300 kPa, 20 m depth). Heart rate and cardiac rhythm were recorded during all compressions (dives). Repeated measures ANOVA was used to analyse the effects of drug, depth and the drug-depth interaction.
RESULTS: There were no significant, independent effects of pseudoephedrine on any of the seven psychometric tests scores (p>0.05), although the drug tended to increase Anxiety scores (p=0.092). Increased depth (pressure) resulted in a significant increase in Anxiety scores (p=0.021) and a significant decrease in Verbal Fluency test scores (p=0.041). Pseudoephedrine caused a significant increase (p=0.036) in mean subject heart rate while depth (3 bar) caused a significant decrease (p=0.013). Dimenhydrinate resulted in a significant decrease in scores of mental flexibility (Trail Making, part B) (p<0.05). It had no effect upon mean subject heart rate (p>0.05). Depth resulted in a significant decrease in Verbal Memory test scores (p=0.001) and a significant decrease in mean subject heart rate (p<0.001).
CONCLUSION: Pseudoephedrine does not cause significant alterations in psychometric performance at 3 bar pressure (300 kPa, 20 m) that might increase the risk of diving. Dimenhydrinate adversely effects mental flexibility at depth. This effect, when added to the adverse effect of depth on memory, may contribute to the dangers of diving. Depth causes significant adverse effects upon anxiety levels and semantic memory at 3 bar."
Regards,
DocVikingo
I'm glad I searched threads here on ScubaBoard before deciding to try Dramamine Less Drowsy and to just ask the pharmacist for a bottle of the active ingredient in it (Meclazine) much cheaper than the brand name
(I did try it first before diving to see if I had any noticable issues)
(I did try it first before diving to see if I had any noticable issues)
Marek K
Contributor
Yow. Bad news for my wife, who seems to be rather susceptible to side effects.
OK, what about meclizine?
diver 85
Contributor
start shore diving, exclusively?......
I have the most effective results when I use dimenhydrinate. (Triptone, original Dramanine).
I take one the night before, one in the morning and one before heading out. No problems with motion sickness.
The side effect which kicks my ass however is the drowsiness.
When I finish my day with a couple beers, it is all I can do do get my gear home and into my rinse tank. LOL
A great tip which was mentioned earlier...abstane from consuming an abundance of alcohol the night before.
I take one the night before, one in the morning and one before heading out. No problems with motion sickness.
The side effect which kicks my ass however is the drowsiness.
When I finish my day with a couple beers, it is all I can do do get my gear home and into my rinse tank. LOL
A great tip which was mentioned earlier...abstane from consuming an abundance of alcohol the night before.
NC Wreck Diver
Contributor
How true about NC Diving...........6 foot plus white caps to the Naaco. What a ride. I wanted to fake a bends hit just to get choppered off the boat (just kidding!). But, it's all worth it because the diving and the spearfishing is World Class. And you NC folks are real friendly too. We drive 9+ hours one way just to get to Morehead City. But it's really the best diving I have ever done. What a feeling when the seas are flat, the vis is great (I can see the wreck as soon as I wait for my buddy at 15 feet). I also like to ride the hook down to the wreck and tie in. That's always the best time to bring home some good Grouper or Flounder for the grill that night.
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