Motion sickness tablets

One thing that never fails for me is do exactly the opposite of what you feel like - EAT. Keep your system working the right way up by shoveling something else in. As others have suggested, ginger nuts work a treat, or karrs water biscuits (the cheesy ones rock my world (no pun intended)). Keeps energy levels up too
 
Like antihistamines (which many sea sickness tablets are) differnt ones work for different people. Kwells work for me, stugeron have no effect at all. Scopalamine also works but im not keen on the side effects (for me) of dry mouth and crazy dreams.....
Kwells contain hyoscine, which in the US is called scopolamine.
 
One thing that never fails for me is do exactly the opposite of what you feel like - EAT. Keep your system working the right way up by shoveling something else in. As others have suggested, ginger nuts work a treat, or karrs water biscuits (the cheesy ones rock my world (no pun intended)). Keeps energy levels up too

+1 on the ginger nuts..... I also find mint imperials good to suck on, although with salt water hands they take a second or two to go from salt imperials to mint imperials.
Lemonade can help too but for some reason I always crave bananas at sea...... easy to store and bio degradable packaging is a bonus.
 
The responses in this thread support what has tended to emerge from previous discussions - reputable sea-sickness remedies do indeed prevent motion sickness, but all have unwanted effects. There are substantial dose-response differences from person to person for both the desired and the unwanted effects, so treat other people's recommendations with caution. The best thing to do is to experiment to find what works for you, i.e which drug in what dose.

If you are going to do this, check the packet to find out the active ingredient - there is no point in comparing Stugeron 15 with Boots Motion Sickness Tablets when both contain cinnarizine 15mg. Similarly Kwells, Joy Rides and Scopoderm all contain hyoscine (called scopolamine in the US and elsewhere). If a preparation stops you getting sick but you experience troublesome unwanted effects don't necessarily write it off; you may find that (say) half the dose is as effective with fewer or no side effects. Obviously you need to use common sense in experimenting; it would not be sensible to try something new when setting out on a single-handed passage in unfamiliar waters.
 
Great responses guys... one final question... do you find the tablets remove the symptoms completely or just reduce them to a manageable level?

Ian
 
The responses in this thread support what has tended to emerge from previous discussions - reputable sea-sickness remedies do indeed prevent motion sickness, but all have unwanted effects. There are substantial dose-response differences from person to person for both the desired and the unwanted effects, so treat other people's recommendations with caution. The best thing to do is to experiment to find what works for you, i.e which drug in what dose.

If you are going to do this, check the packet to find out the active ingredient - there is no point in comparing Stugeron 15 with Boots Motion Sickness Tablets when both contain cinnarizine 15mg. Similarly Kwells, Joy Rides and Scopoderm all contain hyoscine (called scopolamine in the US and elsewhere). If a preparation stops you getting sick but you experience troublesome unwanted effects don't necessarily write it off; you may find that (say) half the dose is as effective with fewer or no side effects. Obviously you need to use common sense in experimenting; it would not be sensible to try something new when setting out on a single-handed passage in unfamiliar waters.

That very neatly states all that needs to be said. Good post.

However, relying on 'common sense' in such matters can be a problem. I remember someone posting on here that their wife wanted to try the Scopoderm patches, but was nervous - so she cut them in half!
She wondered why she hallucinated.
 
I am usually fine on board. But have been bad on two occasions . One day during Coastal skipper course crossing the channel the day after the remains of hurricane Gonzaga went thorough last year and during Helford LA'berwrach race with light airs but with a rolling 2M swell coming from the stern quarter.

I find it really odd as it comes on in seconds, violent vomiting. If I lay down it goes immediately, if I helm it goes. I've tried to figure out the trigger point and it seems to be that if I concentrate on something on the boat my brain senses the peripheral vision and goes "something not right here, better empty stomach just in case"

I really annoys me as between bouts I'm fine. On the return from L'Aberwrach I took Kwells took the first one 6 hours before leaving. I felt fine but don't know if it was the quells or a different sea state.
 
Motoring in light airs at 90 degrees to a swell is the worst IMHO.
How these sea anglers in small boats cope with rolling at anchor for ages defeats me.
I expect one reason so many sail in the Solent and Scottish lochs is that there is good sailing in reas not open to an ocean swell.
Will now try kwells as I have learned from this thread that they have a different ingredient to Stugeron
Is it still necessary to take em before you start to feel quesy ( accepting they are no good if you throw them up and over the side)
 
Motoring in light airs at 90 degrees to a swell is the worst IMHO.
How these sea anglers in small boats cope with rolling at anchor for ages defeats me.
I expect one reason so many sail in the Solent and Scottish lochs is that there is good sailing in reas not open to an ocean swell.
Will now try kwells as I have learned from this thread that they have a different ingredient to Stugeron
Is it still necessary to take em before you start to feel quesy ( accepting they are no good if you throw them up and over the side)


I would say yes take them before you go and keep toped up. I tried taking them when I was feeling ill, to late.
 
Great responses guys... one final question... do you find the tablets remove the symptoms completely or just reduce them to a manageable level?

Ian
My wife (highly susceptible to motion sickness - even my driving!) claims that she feels no symptoms at all with the lifeboat pills. (which are a different chemistry to any mentioned so far in this thread), and no side effects.
Kwells give a slightly dry mouth as only side effect.
 
Interesting thread this as I often take people out and then they end up being sick.

Can any of these be taken at first sign of sickness or are most an hour or two before going out?
 
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