The day you’ve been waiting for is finally here — your big cruise vacation! You board the ship and with an umbrella drink in hand, watch dry land slip further and further away. Suddenly, you start not to feel so good. You start to feel a bit dizzy and your skin gets clammy. Then you start to feel nauseous and need to sit down. The symptoms get worse until a cruise ship employee gets you some motion sickness medicine and finally, you start to feel better.
Why did you get motion sick? And how does motion sickness medicine help alleviate symptoms? Let’s answer both of these questions.
What is motion sickness?
Motion sickness occurs when conflicting sensory signals are sent to the brain due to certain types of motion. For instance, when you’re on a cruise ship, your inner ear senses that you’re moving side-to-side and up-and-down with the waves. However, your eyes see the ship as holding steady. This conflict is what causes you to start feeling sick.
This same issue can arise when you’re in the car, on a plane, or an amusement park ride. One part of your body senses one thing, while another part senses something else. This causes conflicting messages to your brain and boom — you’re suddenly not feeling well.
The main symptoms of motion sickness include:
- Cold sweat and/or clammy skin
- Dizziness
- Inability to eat
- Lethargy
- Headaches
- Nausea
Motion sickness can affect anyone, even those who have never experienced it before. However, it is more prevalent among children, pregnant women, individuals with balance problems, and people taking certain medications such as antibiotics and birth control pills.
What motion sickness medications are available?
Two main types of medications help with motion sickness.
Antihistamines
Antihistamines are a class of medications that are typically prescribed to alleviate allergy symptoms. However, these drugs have also been found to be effective in treating motion sickness. The most commonly used antihistamines for this purpose are Dramamine and Benadryl, both of which are available over-the-counter. There are also prescription antihistamines your doctor may prescribe.
The one issue with using antihistamines is they make most people drowsy. Other side effects include dry mouth and blurred vision.
Scopolamine Patch
The scopolamine patch is another preventive medication for motion sickness. The medication scopolamine is administered through a patch placed behind a person’s ear at least four hours before traveling. The patch can be left on the skin for up to three days. The medication helps reduce the symptoms of motion sickness.
Scopolamine is in a class of medications called antimuscarinics. It works by blocking the effects of a certain natural substance (acetylcholine) on the central nervous system.
The potential side effects of the scopolamine patch are the same as those of antihistamines: drowsiness, dry mouth, and blurred vision.
If you’ll be traveling soon and have questions on how to prevent motion sickness, Passport Health is here to help. Call 937-306-7541 or book online to schedule your appointment today.
Written for Passport Health by Corrie Pelc. Corrie Pelc is a freelance writer in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. She has a passion for health and wellness, having written for publications including Exceptional Parent, DAYSPA, INVISION, Eyecare Professional, and Hepatitis Magazine.
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