seasick remedy?
 

I was seasick for the first time a year ago while on a snorkling trip and it was awful. I've never been sick before, but I don't want to take a chance while in St. Maartin b/c we would like to go out on a boat again. Other than Dramamine, which knocks me out, what remedies do you recommend? I've heard of Bonine. I need something that won't make me sleepy.

Dramamine has the same effect on me, too, so I compromise by taking a half dose before going to bed the night before and then another half dose before leaving that morning for a daysail. This has always done the trick for me and never put me to sleep or in La-la-land.

Some people swear by the wrist bands or by essential oils rubbed into the temples.

Other sure fire ways of helping nausea once it hits you are drinking a ginger ale that has a higher percentage of ginger than, say, Schweppes or Canada Dry. Or adding several drops of plain bitters to flat or fizzy water and drinking it. Both of these remedies are likely to be availabe on board if you do start feeling nauseous.

Have you tried the non-Drowsy version of Dramamine? It's called Dramamine II, and the active ingredient is meclizine, which is also the active ingredient in Bonine. (Dimenhydrinate is the active ingredient in regular Dramamine). I, too, tend to get seasick, which could be a real problem for someone who spends just about every summer weekend sailing, plus at least one week-long sailing vacation per year. I find Dramamine II so free of side-effects that I routinely take one every morning when sailing, regardless of whether I think I'll need it.

I've tried all of the other remedies suggested, and for the most part they work sometimes but are just not reliable. The only other remedy (besides Dramamine II) that was similarly effective was the scopalamine patch -- but that's serious medicine which requires a prescription.

Of course, your mileage may vary. Practical Sailor magazine did a test of various seasickness remedies a few years ago. Since seasickness can depend on conditions, they did the testing by having the test subject ride in the front seat of a car while reading at the same time -- which guaranteed motion sickness but for some remedy. The conclusion in that test was that Dramamine was the most effective remedy. Paradoxically, their tester got drowsy on the Dramamine II, and not on the regular kind. Just goes to show that everyone's body chemistry is different and that it's worth a little personal experimenting before it really matters.

Calaloo, that's good to know about the Dramamine II. I don't remember seeing that around, but I'll be sure to check it out before my next time out on the water.

I sometimes get seasick (or close to it)when on boats too and would like to take medication to eliminate that possibility. I was wondering, though, about side effects and interactions between various motion sickness medications and alcohol, since rum punch usually is a staple on Caribbean boat excursions.

Bonine should not make you sleepy. I sail a lot and it still surprises me that sometimes I can get the queasies - and sometimes they can last for days! I use the wristbands, and keep a stash of chewy ginger drops with me - those seem to help when it's acute. A few other tips: don't go below - stay on deck - the fresh air will help - if there's something you can do on deck, even better. Laying down on deck also works for me sometimes (if there's nothing to do.) A beer may help, as will ginger ale, but rum punches and other sweet drinks will NOT help! Like ejcrowe, I'll often take a dramamine and a bonine before bed and usually feel fine the next morning, as the effects last about 24 hours.

So, let me be sure I get this straight: You take Bonine or Dramamine the night before you are going to be on a boat and it still keeps the queasies away?

The only time I've gotten seasick was on a snorkeling trip. It's because I accidentally took a good swallow of sea water. 20 years later, despite a good number of rough trips that had others puking, and it's never happened again.

stotz,
The Bonine and Dramamine are good for 24 hours so yes...you can take them when you go to bed and they'll help you the next day.

<font color="blue">I always get the non-drowsy dramamine - otherwise I will conck out as well. It's always worked good for me! I take it for flights sometimes as well.</font>

Never been sailing...but I do get motion sickness in cars. I take dramamine - the non-drowsy dramamine.

Maybe I'm the only one this happens to. It works great for about three hours or so and then...I start to feel reeeeally sleepy. Does this happen to anyone else?

Bonine is the ONLY thing that works for me and it does not make me sleepy like Dramamine. Yes, I scuba dived with it too.

Oddly enough, snorkeling in waves made me far more woozy than scuba diving ... it is relatively calm underwater even if the surface is really rough.

beachdreams3 - I took non-drowsie Dramamine on a power boat day trip to the BVI's. I had 2 drinks all day(painkillers - I had to try one at the Soggy Dollar Bar) and was fine until I returned at 5:00 PM. I never felt so sleepy and out of it in my life. It didn't help that I had been up very early the 2 mornings before the day trip. You might check with a pharmacist. I don't drink a lot but I like to try island specialties.

lovethecape - Thanks for your response; I don't drink much either and was concerned about the possibility of the kind of reaction you experienced. It probably is worth asking a pharmacist or doing a little experimenting before my trip to see how the medication affects me, with and without alcohol. I think both types of dramamine are just antihistamines, but I don't usually take those either.

If both forms of dramamine have antihistimines, that may be what's causing the sleepiness. That's what they put in Tylenol PM or Advil PM (its just benedryl really), so I'll check the ingredients before I buy the dramamine II. I think I'll try regular dramamine the night before (may as well get a good night's sleep) and then bonine and ginger drops for the day out on the boat.
When I get back I'll post how it worked out.

If y ou remember as a child if you had an upset stomach your mother gave you gingerale.. Go to a health food store and buy ginger capsules.. they work the same.. I take one as I step foot on a boat.. and taking no chances take one at each meal at sea.. It works. Also, in Bermuda I bought Sturgeron which is what the cruisemen use. at a pharmacy

Bonine does not make me tired. I would maybe test it before though to make sure it does not. It always works really well for me :) GL

These don't solve the problems but they &quot;help&quot;
1. Chew gum, it keeps the juices flowing so it cuts down on throwing up.
2. If you sit outside towards the back of the boat, less chance for motion.

Since motion sickness is a big issue with me, I had to add my comments.

Before a cruise, I start taking Dramamaine II a few days early. That way I get my &quot;sleepyness&quot; over before the trip starts.

Let's say I'm leaving on Saturday for a cruise. On Wednesday night about 10:00, I take ONE Dramamine II. At 10:00 a.m. the next morning, I take one more. I'm always sleepy and &quot;goofy&quot; feeling on that Thursday.

I repeat the process by taking one Dramamine every 12 hours and stop a few days after I get home. (Oddly, I have had motion sickness AFTER a cruise if I stop taking the Dramamine II. I felt like I was still rocking and would become quesy.)

By Friday, I'm not as sleepy and by Saturday...the day I leave for the cruise, I'm not sleepy at all! It's in my system and I feel no affects at all.

I experimented with this until I found the right formula for me. I was finding myself begging to go to sleep shortly after we'd start our cruises because I would take TWO Dramamine II a few hours before boarding. Now I'm ready to party!

Oh, I do drink reasonable amounts of alcohol on the cruises and haven't found it to be a problem mixing it with the Dramamine II.