MedicinePlanet: Treating Motion Sickness

— -- Motion sickness is not actually a disease, but rather a collection of symptoms that can occur when your body, inner ear and eyes all send confusing signals to the brain.

When riding in a car, for example, your inner ear will sense motion, but your body is sitting still and your eyes only see the inside of the vehicle. These mixed signals confuse your brain and can lead to nausea, dizziness, lightheadedness and general malaise.

Most people can effectively manage their motion sickness with readily available OTCs (such as Bonine or Dramamine) or with simple herbal remedies such as ginger tea. Many report success with using specific acupressure points or homeopathic remedies.

But these measures are ineffective in some cases, and stronger medicine is needed. Fortunately, there are a number of prescription medications that can help with motion sickness, but travelers must be sure and tell their care providers if they are pregnant, nursing, have any serious medical conditions or are taking any other medications.

Prescription Motion Sickness Medications

Many people avoid becoming carsick or seasick by simply and steadily watching the road or the horizon. Some travelers, however, cannot alleviate their motion sickness by these methods, and their symptoms can be severe enough to cause real misery. While motion sickness is rarely life-endangering, the fear of spending several hours aboard a plane, bus, or car suffering acute nausea or vertigo might be enough to deter even the most ambitious traveler from taking a prolonged trip.

Fortunately, effective prescription medications are available. There are many to choose from, but they must be used with caution. Prescription drugs tend to be more powerful than herbs or OTC medicines, and can have significant and even dangerous side effects. These can vary tremendously, depending on the type of drug and the individual, and you should discuss them in advance with your health-care provider. Make sure your provider is also aware of any other medications that you are taking, both OTC and prescription, because drugs can occasionally interact unfavorably with each other. It’s a good idea to take a trial dose of the medication in the weeks prior to your trip in order to monitor any side effects that may occur.