Scopoderm

S

Spuddy

Well-Known Member
Joined
8 Jul 2003
Messages
1,958
Location
Kent
Visit site
Checking through first aid stuff for the haul down channel. Scopoderm patches have been brilliant for anybody with the queasys - stick em on even when the punter is heaving. However, I can't find any in chemists. Anybody know where they've gone ?
 
Had trouble getting them myself, but they are still available. Found it was better to try small independent chemists, boots/superdrug didn't stock them. Didn't like them myself, gave me blurred vision, food tasted oversalted, and the vino tasted undrinkable - not a goer for me, good points, they did stop the queazy's....
 
Stugeron seems to work OK, but needs to be taken before symptoms. My partner takes some crystallised ginger with her when sailing, and it seems to work for her.
 
They were withdrawn about 2-4 years ago because of problems with the dosage, they are now back.

Some chemists around Lymington have them, well they would wouldn't they? MrsE uses them, if you have problems finding a source PM me and I'll find out where she gets her supply.
 
They have potential side effects that can be dangerous. On STS Lord Nelson anyone wearing patches is not allowed aloft.
 
I picked some up recently, as suggested above in a little independent chemist, and thought they worked until a run round the coast with a F7 on the nose proved otherwise. Got some Kwells and they seem as, if not more, effective. A dead run across the channel 2 weeks ago gusting 25 knots aparrent should have taken it's toll on me but I was fine.

Not noticed any side effects with the patches and the Kwells seemed to not make me drowsey as other pills have.
 
yes but.........

as an avid fan of both ginger and Stugeron; and a hopeless sufferer of motion sickness for far to many years I tried these patches last week for the first time.

Was heading to Alderney Tuesday am, returning Friday, fishing all the daylight hours but, critically, leaving the boat for a B&B each night.

Have to say they proved a fantastic hit ie they worked. Sorting out the inevitable tangles bouncing around in a 25ft boat is as good a test as you can get; add the late (liquid) nights, breakfast detiorating from full english the first day to toast and coffee the last I was about a classic case as ever left the harbour. Only a slight queasyness around midday Wed, at which time I quickly established the damm thing had got snagged on a roll neck jumper! Re affixed the symptoms left quickly and left me regretting the 6th cider aand lack of fish but no motion sickness.

They are availbale again but have been in short supply since Christmas.

They are expensive.
 
Alchohol and Scopoderm are a BIG no no....(don't you read the instructions?)

Patches used to be perscription only (and need to be taken 5 hours before setting off), but now that can be bought over the counter of most chemists....if you're doing a long passage patches are best, (but stick a plaster over them - stops them coming off ) if it's just a short hop (6-12 hours) Kwells are the way to go

They both have the same active ingredient (hyoscine hydrobromide), but Kwells are taken orally every 6 hours, either chewed or sucked and they are absorbed into the lining of the mouth unlike Stugeron which has to be swallowed.

Kwells are great because the are fast acting (15-30mins) and you don't have to take them before you set off. You can give them to people who start to feel sick, unlike stugeron, cos the odds are if you give them stugeron when the are feeling sick they'll usually be sick before the tablet's absorbed in the stomach...this leaves you clueless about whether the tablet has been absorbed or not, and unable to offer another dose just in case.

Most chemist should stock the patches, if they don't they can usually order them in for you...always worth asking, cos they are not always on display
 
Sorry lads, but remedies for mal de mer are something you shouldn't generalise about - every remedy is personal and is good/bad/soso depending on the individual. ALL can have side effects and come with appropriate warnings (no machinery, no booze etcet.)
It's a case of keep on trying until you find something that suits YOU. In my experience people don't admit to the danger and start taking pills far too late, by which time the only solution is a patch or an enema. That's why I always have Scopoderm patches on board for sufferers; they have a fantastic track record of turning misery into happiness within a couple of hours (tho' happiness may be comfortable in your bunk sometimes . . . the operative word being 'comfortable'.)
Yes, they ARE back on the market, even here in down-town Hayling. But at £8 for two I prefer to perfect the art of throwing up a.s.a.p and getting on with the task in hand. My secret? Tomato and sugar sarnies - which taste almost as good coming up as going down.
Sadly, a modest meal and no booze are also beneficial. But as I sed, I just throw up and get on. And it DOES get better, promise!
CJH
 
I was agreeing with you until the last bit when you seem to be suggesting thst tuffing it out is better than a few bob for the patches and no, for some it doesn't get better, at least not for a long time. MrsE once spent 3 days chukking up before she eventually found her sealegs and at the end of it she was very weak, Nelson used to take to his bed for 7 days before he found his.

I wouldn't advocate SD for everyone but those that have serious mal de mer I have yet to see anything that is so effective.
 
Checked around variety of chemists. None in stock and no interest in ordering except for Boots - however, prescription only ! Got some from the online outfit linked by Danners (thanks). Filled in a simple questionaire and got the approval by their doc. Bit pricey but can spare some horrible days acclimatising so good to have in the med box for crew or for me if needed.
 
just dont cut the patches in half to try get half a dose - apparently it may release the drug more quickly than it is supposed to. Scopoderm patches not the same as nicotine patches!
 
In the Philippines, not here I know that thanks, they gave me "Bonamine", incredible, they had to lash me to a chair, no more sickness and only half conscious as well. I have no idea how long we travelled, I was so out of it.
 
Spuddy said:
Checking through first aid stuff for the haul down channel. Scopoderm patches have been brilliant for anybody with the queasys - stick em on even when the punter is heaving. However, I can't find any in chemists. Anybody know where they've gone ?
Click to expand...

SD patches have worked well so far for swmbo but they have not been tested yet in real heavy weather. They have transformed her pleasure on a boat. The local chemist orders them.
 
As has been mentioned, Scopoderm patches and Kwells have the same active ingredient, Hyoscine Hydrobromide.
Kwells have two major advantages. Firstly they are cheap and secondly they can be taken as and when required. Sucked under the tongue they take about 15 minutes to enter the blood stream and they have a pleasant taste. Nor is there any need to wait 6 hours between doses. Simply divide the tablet into quarters and suck a quarter when you start to feel queezy and repeat every couple of hours. This avoids much of the unpleasant side effects of taking a larger dose in the same way as the patches do until worn for a long time.
I have recommennded this regime to dozens of people with a fantastic success rate.
 
Interesting point about scopoderm in a post by Gludy in the Mobo forum, see his 11th post in here

Going to get myself some kwells based on the info in this post; I've only been seasick once but it was for five-six hours across the channel and I have rarely felt so useless, so now, even though I don't think I am really prone, I usually take Stugeron prophylactically, which can't be a good thing and I find it makes me feel slightly detached
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top