Motion Sickness Medication – Treatment for Kinetosis, or Disorientation in Real and Visual Movements

Motion sickness is a very common problem faced by people while traveling in cars, airplanes and boats. It leads to great discomfort as people feel queasy and uncomfortable while traveling.

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Motion Sickness Medication - For a Comfortable Journey

Motion sickness can make traveling very bothersome as it leads to feeling of nausea, dizziness, vomiting, headache and fatigue. Young children aged 2 to 12 years are especially susceptible to motion sickness. Therefore it is advisable to take motion sickness medication while traveling. Medicines like Antihistamine are generally used to prevent and treat motion sickness. Taking these medicines prevents the feeling of nausea, vomiting and dizziness. These medicines should be taken at least 30 minutes before the journey. Another way to treat motion sickness is by wearing a scopolamine skin patch. The skin patch is put behind the ear and the medicine is slowly absorbed directly into the skin. Skin patch should be applied about four hours prior to the journey. Before using any motion sickness medication it is advisable to consult a doctor first.

Nausea Medicine - Know the Side Effects

Nausea medicine should be a part of all traveling first-aid kits as it is one of the most common symptoms of motion sickness. Presently there are four over-the-counter medicines available in the US - Diphenhydramine, Cyclizine, Dimenhydrinate and Meclizine. The most common side effect of these medicines is drowsiness. In some cases it can also cause dry mouth, blurred vision, and spasms in the neck or jaw. Parents should be careful about giving nausea medicine to their children as all medicines are not safe for young kids. For example, Diphenhydramine and Cyclizine are not safe for kids under the age of 6. Dimenhydrinate is the most popular medicine for travel sickness and is considered safe for kids as young as 2 years old, while Meclizine should not be given to children under the age of 12.

Air Sickness - Symptoms and Ways of Prevention

Symptoms of air sickness include nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, cold sweat, headache, and fatigue. Some people are more susceptible to these symptoms than others like pregnant women, young children, and individuals who have taken alcohol or certain medications during the flight. Travelers can avoid air sickness by choosing seats over the wings in the plane as they are the most stable, eating a light meal, and looking forward instead of reading books or magazines. Taking medicines like Dramamine or Bonine before taking-off and landing also helps.