Seasickness patches + any other Patch (nicotine or painrelief)

[cayman diver]

Hi, I was talking to a nurse today, also a diver and trained to use the chamber here in Cayman and he said scopolamine patches (and others for pain relief and even nicotine patches) could be darangerous for diving.

Basically wearing the patches diving, exposed them to the higher pressures and the patches are giving much higher than normal doses (possibly even fatal).

Is this the case, does anyone have any papers on this (medical or dive)

thanks

 

[DocVikingo]

Hi Cayman Diver,

There is nothing about the drug delivery systems of the transdermal patches you mention that would respond to changes in ambient pressure per se, so your friend is misinformed that increased pressure alone would result in increased doses.

However, there are concerns, such as:

1. How the drug delivery system might respond to being soaked.

2. How the drug may behave at increased pressure.

3. How the body may respond to the drug at increased pressure.

4. Possible additive effects of the drug with nitrogen narcosis, etc.

Users of such patches should follow manufacturers' directions. If a drug's use is unclear as regards scuba, the user should inquire of a doctor, pharmacist or the manufacturer's technical center.

This is educational only and does not constitute or imply a doctor-patient relationship. It is not medical advice to you or any other individual and should not be construed as such.

Regards,

DocVikingo

 

[lynny_lynny]

I am a diver and a physician, and have used scopalamine patches exclusively for 20 years. I have yet to see a problem or witness danger in using them. There was a time way back when these used to be OTC when kids would stick them all over their bodies as a recreational drug. The overdosing would cause serious adverse events. It is this reasont that they became a prescription only med. In proper doses, the drug is safe. In the transdermal delivery method, it is equally safe. I advise that you follow recommended dosing and do not exceed, and you will be a safe and non-vomitting diver <which is a godsend for me>