Motion sickness

If you've ever been sick to your stomach on a rocking boat or a bumpy airplane ride, you know the discomfort of motion sickness. It doesn't cause long-term problems, but it can make your life miserable, especially if you travel a lot.

Children from 5 to 12 years old, women, and older adults get motion sickness more than others do. It's rare in children younger than 2.

Motion sickness is sometimes called airsickness, seasickness, or carsickness.

Motion sickness can cause:

• A general feeling that you're ill.
• Nausea.
• Vomiting.
• Headache.
• Sweating.

Symptoms will usually go away soon after the motion stops.

You can take medicine to prevent or reduce nausea and vomiting. These include:

• Scopolamine, which comes as a patch you put behind your ear.
• Medicines called antiemetics, which reduce nausea. Examples are ondansetron (Zofran) and prochlorperazine (Compazine).
• Certain antihistamines, such as dimenhydrinate (Dramamine) and meclizine (Antivert, Bonine). These may make you drowsy.

Some of these medicines require a prescription. Most work best if you take them before you travel.

These tips may help you feel better when you have motion sickness:

• Eat a few dry soda crackers.
• Sip on clear, fizzy drinks such as ginger ale.
• Get some fresh air.
• Lie down, or at least keep your head still.

• If possible, have your child press his or her head into a headrest. This keeps the head still.
• In a plane, try to have your child sit near the wings.
• If you stay overnight on a boat, have your child try to stay in the middle of the boat.
• In a car, boat, or plane, try to make sure that your child:
  • Looks at one place far away, such as the horizon.
  • Gets as much fresh air as possible.
  • Does not read or watch TV.
  • Eats a small meal ahead of time.
• If your child feels sick, try a few crackers and a fizzy drink.
• Try ginger, ginger tea, or ginger ale before your child travels.
• Ask your doctor if it’s okay to give your child an over-the-counter medicine. These include dimenhydrinate (Dramamine), diphenhydramine (Benadryl), and meclizine (Bonine). These medicines are taken about an hour before travel. They may make your child feel sleepy.
• Get a prescription medicine from your doctor. Be safe with medicines. Give your child medicines exactly as prescribed. Be aware that these medicines may make your child sleepy.