While motion sickness is not an issue for everyone, it can ruin a cruise or sailing experience. However, there are strategies to help prevent motion sickness symptoms, so don’t worry. Do you think you should take over-the-counter motion sickness pills? Or maybe anti-motion sickness patches are more your style. There are a few crucial elements to take into account before making any selections.
This simple guide will help you discover that today. Let’s recap what motion sickness pills are before moving on. These medications are typically categorized as first-generation antihistamines. They can also help with motion sickness, although they were originally licensed to treat allergy issues.
Some of the most often used over-the-counter motion sickness pills include dimenhydrinate, meclizine, and diphenhydramine. The main purpose of cetirizine and other more modern antihistamines is to treat allergies. In this respect, you shouldn’t expect them to help with motion sickness.
The bulk of motion sickness pills work by blocking two chemicals in the brain, acetylcholine and histamine. These chemicals trigger your brain’s vomiting region. Through their blocking of motion sickness nausea, they can help prevent it. Most medical experts recommend taking a dosage 30 to 60 minutes before the activity that causes it. They only last a few hours, so you’ll need to take several doses for all-day coverage. You shouldn’t be concerned about this when taking meclizine because it lasts longer and one dose should last you most of the day.
This raises the question, “What are anti-motion sickness patches?” One of the most popular motion sickness patches on the market is scopolamine. Once positioned behind your ear, this patch can be worn for up to three days. This makes it a great option for long-term relief from ailments like sea sickness while on a cruise.
The majority of anti-motion sickness patches are believed to work by blocking acetylcholine. This helps you avoid feeling nauseous by preventing the activation of the vomiting area of your brain. A hairless patch behind one ear is the ideal place to apply a scopolamine patch. You will need to apply it at least four hours in advance of when you expect to develop motion sickness. You have three days to remove the old patch and apply a fresh one if needed.
Note that both motion sickness patches and pills suppress acetylcholine, which can lead to a number of frequent side effects. Headaches, constipation, dry mouth, blurred vision, drowsiness, and urinary problems are some of these. Consider avoiding activities that need awareness while taking motion sickness medication until you have a better understanding of how it affects you. Even “less drowsy” alternatives could have a greater impact on certain people than others.
Furthermore, adverse effects like drowsiness and blurred vision could make driving dangerous if you’re on a road trip. Learn more about anti-motion sickness patches before using them.
