Sea Sickness???

[twister23]

What do you recommend for preventing sea sickness? I have heard of some type of special bracelet, some kind of patch from your doctor, or the good ol' Dramamine (but can make you drowsy). What has worked for you?

[senior cruisers]

I refill my prescription for Meclizine. It is Bonine, but cheaper when I buy it as a prescription for Meclizine.

[capsfan]

There's a new Dramamine formula - non-drowsy formula that worked GREAT for me last cruise. I also wore sea bands,which I swear by. Not sure which one worked, but I never got sea sick (and I am very motion sensitive) on a 7 day cruise where we encountered rough seas several evenings. One night it was so rough that the merchandise in the $10 shop (deck 6-7, not sure which, mid ship) was shifting from side to side on the shelves. It really works but be sure to get the non-drowsy kind. Good luck. I hope you have fair winds and following seas...

[lauren0309]

I take bonine which is over the counter. A box cost about $5.00. I take it the day before to get it into my system. I also buy those elastic wristbands for about $10.00. This all works. I get carsick, airsick and sick on the raft in my pool so that is how sensitive I am. But this works for me!

 

Majesty of the Seas 3/02

Monarch of the Seas 2/03

Serenade of the Seas 11/03

[twister23]

Does Bonine make you drowsy?

 

Where can you buy the wristbands?

 

 

Great info! :)

[lauren0309]

Twister 23:

 

Bonine does not make me drowsey. I even drink with it and have no side effects. The elastic bracelets which are called "seabands" you can get in any drugstore. They come in a little clear plastic case 2" x 2". I've also seen them in my supermarket.

[trbutler]

I swear by the Sea Bands, they work wonders for me. I usually try to be a tough guy and wait till I feel a little ill and then go back to my cabin, put them on and it about 15 minutes I am good to go!

[paylady]

The Transderm Scop patch works for me. If you cruise RCL, they dispense Bonine at the Purser's Desk for free.

[Fatherdav]

Bonine....That's the ticket. Take it with your morning cup of coffee, and you just don't have to worry about it. (The morning of your flight to the ship, too.)

 

10 cruises with some "interesting" seas have just shown me that Bonine works. Ya just don't have to worry about sea-sickess. You don't even think about it when others are quickly buying up the bracelets and patches for behind the ear.

 

You simpley don't care what the seas have to offer. And you can wine and dine to your hearts content. Zip for drowziness.

 

Have a ball....And take your Bonine with your morning cup of coffee.

[ahoughton]

Wal-mart has a non drowsey motion sickness tablet that works just as well as any of the others and it is much cheaper.

[Jacquelyn11]

This is a reprint from a guide I helped Mickey with the disney cruise line create a while back.

 

Dramamine: (Dimenhydrinate di-men-hi-drin-ate) An older motion sickness remedy. Dramamine however has substantial side effects, the most common being drowsiness. Sleeping through your cruiseis almost as bad as being sick through your cruise. Consider another remedy.

 

Bonine: Meclizine HCl (25mg.), Dramamine II, Non-Drowsy Dramamine, Antivert. Causes drowsiness in a very small percentage of patients, is very effective, has only to be taken once per 24 hours in tablets and chew tabs. It’s nothing like the original Dramamine --a totally different chemical! Check with pediatrician prior to your cruise regarding your children and any sea sickness medications.)

 

Both of these drugs are classed as antihistamines. Their most common side effect is drowsiness, Dramamine has a greater incidence than Bonine. These effects are exaggerated considerably with concomitant use of alcoholic beverages. READ THE PACKAGE to learn the side effects.

Bonine also has the advantage of a longer duration of action, allowing for once a day dosing. Dramamine has been used safely in children 2 and older. Both agents are usually taken about 1-2 hours before anticipated travel or activity. If you have never taken these types of medication before it’s a good idea to "try them on dry land" to avoid unforeseen reactions. These agents can also be taken for vertigo (dizziness).

 

Scopolamine Patch: This medicine may be prescription or over the counter (usually out of US) depending upon your area. It is available in oral and transdermal patch formulations. This patch is placed in a hairless area behind the ear. It takes up to 6 hours to be effective and lasts for 3 days. It produces less drowsiness than Bonine, but a greater number of other side-effects including dry mouth, dizziness, ocular disturbances, disorientation, irritability (in children), slowed heart rate, psychosis, and amnesia. These effects were usually reversed when the product was removed. It has been shown to provide greater protection against motion sickness than Dramamine. If you haven't had success with the above agents, this might be a

choice to explore with your doctor. Wash your hands well after handling the patch. The Scopolamine will cause your pupils to dilate if you get some on your hands and then touch your eyes. This makes you sensitive

to light for a few hours. Also, there have been reports some older folks not doing well with the patch. Typically these were small older women. This is because older people have thinner skin and too much of the drug got absorbed at once, and the dose is somewhat weight related for an "average adult". It is sold in a package of 4. The catch is you MUST put the patch on 4-5 hours BEFORE you travel. If you wait until you have motion sickness it will not work for 2-3 hours.

 

Ginger: Found in Ginger snaps and commonly used in Chinese cooking. An herbal preventative with few side effects. Ginger root has also been studied as an agent to help with nausea after surgery. It was superior to placebo in reducing the frequency post-operative nausea. There have been no formal studies with motion sickness. The effect seems to be short acting and would need to be taken at least 3 to 4 times a day.

 

Sea Bands: This is a wrist band that uses acupressure to stimulate a spot on your wrist that is to prevent motion sickness. We know of no scientific studies proving their effectiveness, but we have heard a lot of anecdotal evidence attesting to their effectiveness. There are also no known side effects. They’re inexpensive and don’t have any side effects except that they don’t coordinate well with shimmery evening dresses. If they work for you, great.

 

Jacquelyn :D

[NeedstoCruise]

What about solutions for children? Are these remedies ok for kids???

[moofus]

I don't usually get seasick, but I have been on a few rough cruises and it isn't much fun. So, I take meclazine right before I get on the ship around 11:00. Never had a problem on the way out.

If I feel motion a day or so into the cruise, I take it again.

I have my doctor order phenergan ( anti nausea )pills and a few suppositories for the rare event that I am deathly ill and hugging the toilet,:( if you know what I mean. This would save me a ton of money at the "sickbay" on the ship. But, I don't know if most MDs would prescribe that for most patients. I am an RN and my doc knows that I know when to take what.

 

I am interested in the seabands... for my travel partners. Do you wear one at a time or two? I thought they came one to a package, but that would look strange, I think.

[Jacquelyn11]

For kids, the best thing to do is as your pediatrician. BUT, as a pharmacist, this is what I recommend.

 

If the child is under 4yo, don't give anything! Young children generally don't get sea sick. From what I've found it is truly because their center of gravity is "closer" to the source of the motion, and their bodies just "go with the flow".

 

5yo-12yo. Dramamine is the only recognized therapy for children. It does come in a liquid and is available or can be ordered by most pharmacies. HOWEVER, it still causes more drowsiness than Bonine, and has to be given more often. For this group too, see if motion sickness occurs prior to prophylactically giving them medication.

 

NOW, for my own two kids, during our 1st DCL cruise when my kids were 6 & 8, wt about 50 lbs, I gave my kids 1/2 of a chewable Bonine. That cruise in September was the rockiest I've taken and neither of them showed any signs of motion sickness. I did have one evening that I felt it, but I took another bonine and felt fine in about an hour. Didn't miss Disney Dreams! You can take up to 75mg (3 tabs) of bonine a day, that is the upper dose limit on prescription meclizine, the generic name for Bonine.

 

There are other prescription meds used for nausea, like Phenergan, Reglan, Zofran, but they have not been proven to prevent sea sickness, only help the nausea and vomiting you may get afterwards.

 

Hope this helps! :)

 

Jacquelyn :D

[Chris4205]

Any suggestions for post cruise? That is when I have the most trouble.

Thank you

[Jacquelyn11]

I experienced this after one of my cruises. It's where your body acts as if it is still "on the ocean" when you are on dry land. If you have a tendency for vertigo you might me more prone to this also.

 

Believe it or not, the motion sickness meds can provide some relief during this period. Taking them for 3 - 5 days post cruise may help. If you still having problems after that you should check with your physician.

 

Jacquelyn :D