PlanetRx - Learn More - Product Advice - Motion Sickness/Nausea

Stop nausea before it starts

Got a sickening feeling that whatever went down a while ago is going to be coming back up? We've all had that queasy feeling associated with motion sickness and nausea -- from airplane turbulence, a careening taxicab ride, or a pleasure cruise on the S.S. Seasick.

Almost as many home remedies exist to combat that queasy feeling as there are people who have experienced it. It's almost like hiccups -- everybody's had them and everybody's got a "cure." But if those old-fashioned cures can't beat your nausea, try an over-the-counter medication. You'll be ready to ride that upside-down, triple corkscrew rollercoaster in no time.

Why Do I Feel So Nauseated?

Many potential causes of nausea exist, including the following:

Pregnancy: women often experience morning sickness during the first trimester of pregnancy, causing them to have nausea and vomiting.
Motion sickness: when your eyes do not send the same signals to your brain as your inner ear, nausea and vomiting can result.
Overeating: your stomach is too full and is telling you it's not happy.
Spoiled food: you feel lousy because all the microbes you ingested are causing trouble in your intestines.
Medications: a side effect of many medications is nausea.

Using Antiemetics Safely

Antiemetics are in the class of drugs called antihistamines, so the same warnings apply to both.

To combat nausea while traveling, over-the-counter medications are most effective when taken 30 to 60 minutes before departure and then continued throughout the trip.
Before taking antiemetics to relieve nausea, make sure you are not suffering from head trauma or other conditions that may bring on this common symptom.
Antiemetics containing antihistamines may make you drowsy. Do not drive or put yourself in situations that demand you be at your sharpest mentally.
For serious and ongoing cases of motion sickness, contact your doctor. Aside from the more powerful antiemetics available to stop vomiting, there are new forms of treatment. One of the newest is a patch that adheres to the back of a person's ear and can provide relief for up to three days of travel.
Do not drink alcohol when using over-the-counter medications to fight nausea, as it can make you even drowsier.

Check with your doctor before using antiemetics if you have the following conditions:

Asthma
Glaucoma
Obstructive gastrointestinal tract disease
Benign prostatic hypertrophy (enlarged prostate)
Dehydration or weight loss of more than 5% of total body weight due to vomiting

Other Ways to Avoid Nausea

Though folk remedies have not been scientifically proven to prevent or treat motion sickness, doctors advise that you practice some common-sense methods to avoid motion sickness:

When in a car, ride in the front seat, facing forward, and keep your eyes on the horizon.
When in a plane, sit in a window seat over the wings where the plane is most stable and focus on distant landmarks on the horizon.
Don't read while in a moving vehicle.
Keep your mind and your eyes off motion sickness. If another traveler is experiencing nausea or vomiting, look the other way and try to tune it out.
Eat light, since spicy and greasy food can upset your stomach.
Get plenty of fresh air and avoid strong odors.
Acupressure wristbands can prevent motion sickness, studies have shown.

Not Intended for Morning Sickness

Do not use antiemetics (nausea-relieving medication) if you are pregnant or have taken another medication that happens to bring on nausea. If you are pregnant, it is far better to combat nausea -- commonly called "morning sickness" -- by non-pharmaceutical methods:

Eat frequently and lightly; sometimes large, high-fat meals can bring on nausea.
Eat crackers even before getting out of bed in the morning.
Rest and lie down as much as possible.
Track what happens before you experience nausea and avoid the precipitating causes.

Dealing with Dehydration

If you have experienced excessive vomiting, be aware of the signs of dehydration. They include the following:

Dry mouth
Excessive thirst
Little or no urination
Dizziness
Lightheadedness

Antihistamines

The FDA has approved four antihistamines for the prevention and treatment of the nausea, vomiting, and dizziness associated with motion sickness: cyclizine, diphenhydramine, dimenhydrinate, and meclizine. They are thought to work by decreasing the sensitivity within the inner ear's balance center. Take these products 30 to 60 minutes before traveling and continue to throughout the trip. Be aware that antihistamines commonly cause drowsiness; do not drive or engage in tasks that require mental alertness until you know how you react to these medications.

Pyridoxine

This B vitamin may help relieve some symptoms of nausea.

Phosphorated carbohydrate solution

Contains a mixture of glucose, fructose, and phosphoric acid. Believed to help control nausea by putting pressure on the stomach and relaxing the muscles there.

Bismuth subsalicylate

Approved for the relief of nausea associated with acid indigestion, heartburn, and gas due to overeating. Thought to work by coating the inside of the gastrointestinal tract, bismuth-containing products can darken the tongue and make the stool look black.

Ingredient		Description
Antihistamines
Meclizine	?	Safe and effective in the treatment of motion sickness, but may cause drowsiness. Should not be taken with alcohol. One dose lasts up to 24 hours. Meclizine is closely related to cyclizine.
Cyclizine	?	Safe and effective in the treatment of motion sickness, but may cause drowsiness. Should not be taken with alcohol. One dose lasts up to 24 hours. Closely related to meclizine. Not commonly found in nonprescription products.
Diphenhydramine	?	Safe and effective in the treatment of motion sickness and relatively free of side effects, although some users experience drowsiness. Should not be taken with alcohol.
Dimenhydrinate	?	Safe and effective in the treatment of motion sickness and relatively free of side effects, although some users experience drowsiness. Should not be taken with alcohol.
Pyridoxine
Ingredient		Description
Pyridoxine (Vitamin B-6)	?	May provide relief from nausea and vomiting in pregnant women.
Phosphorated carbohydrate solution
Ingredient		Description
Phosphorated Carbohydrate	?	A mixture of levulose, dextrose, and phosphoric acid. Effective for nausea associated with intestinal flu, food indiscretions, and emotional upset, but shows no advantage over other drugs in treatment of nausea associated with pregnancy. Should not be used by people with hereditary fructose intolerance, and diabetics should use it with care.
Bismuth subsalicylate
Ingredient		Description
Bismuth subsalicylate	?	Effective for the relief of nausea caused by dyspepsia, heartburn, and fullness (gas) from overindulgence in food and drink. Avoid this drug if you are also taking drugs which may react with salicylates. Children suffering from viral influenza or chickenpox should never use it.

FDA-Approved Uses

Antiemetics

For the prevention and treatment of the nausea, vomiting, and dizziness associated with motion sickness.

Recommended Dosage

Drug	Adults & Children Over Age 12	Max. Daily	Children Ages 6 to 12	Max. Daily	Children Under Age 6	Max. Daily
Antihistamines
Meclizine	25-50 mg every 12 to 24 hrs	50 mg	Not recommended		Not recommended
Cyclizine	50 mg every 4 to 6 hrs	200 mg	25 mg every 6 to 8 hrs	75 mg	Not recommended
Diphenhydramine	25 to 50 mg every 4 to 6 hrs	300 mg	12.5 to 25 mg every 4 to 6 hrs	150 mg	Refer to package or consult a physician
Dimenhydrinate	50 to 100 mg every 4 to 6 hrs	400 mg	25 to 50 mg every 6 to 8 hrs	150 mg	Refer to package or consult a physician
Pyridoxine
Drug	Adults & Children Over Age 12	Max. Daily	Children Ages 6 to 12	Max. Daily	Children Under Age 6	Max. Daily
Pyridoxine (Vitamin B-6)	25 mg every 8 hrs	75 mg	Refer to package or consult a physician		Refer to package or consult a physician
Phosphorated Carbohydrate solution
Drug	Adults & Children Over Age 12	Max. Daily	Children Ages 6 to 12	Max. Daily	Children Under Age 6	Max. Daily
Phosphorated carbohydrate	15 to 30 ml (1 to 2 tbsp) at 15-minute intervals until vomiting stops. Do not exceed 5 doses in 1 hour.	Refer to package or consult a physician	Refer to package or consult a physician		Refer to package or consult a physician
Bismuth Subsalicylate
Drug	Adults & Children Over Age 12	Max. Daily	Children Ages 6 to 12	Max. Daily	Children Under Age 6	Max. Daily
Bismuth subsalicylate	525 mg every 30 to 60 minutes	4.2 grams	Refer to package or consult a physician		Refer to package or consult a physician

Warnings

Antihistamines

Consult a physician before using or do not use if you have:

Allergy to any antihistamines
Chronic respiratory conditions
Enlarged prostate
Glaucoma
Urinary obstruction

Or if you:

Are pregnant or nursing
Are a senior; you may require a lower dosage
Are administering to a child under age 6
Drive or operate machinery requiring alertness, dexterity, or quick reflexes

Or if you are taking:

Alcohol: increases antihistamine side effects
CNS depressants, such as:

Diazepam (Valium): increases antihistamine side effects
Phenobarbital (Luminal): increases antihistamine side effects

Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (a class of antidepressants), such as:

Phenelzine (Nardil): increases antihistamine side effects
Tranylcypromine (Parnate): increases antihistamine side effects

Other antihistamines: increases antihistamine effects

Bismuth compounds

Consult a physician before using or do not use if you have:

Allergy to aspirin, salicylates, or any NSAIDs
Allergy to any bismuth compounds
Kidney impairment
Stomach ulcers

Or if you:

Are administering to a child or teenager with a viral illness, due to the risk for Reye's syndrome
Are pregnant or nursing
Are a senior; you may require a lower dosage
Are administering to an infant or are debilitated; there is an increased chance of fecal impactation
Have symptoms that do not improve after two days

Or if you are taking:

Aspirin (Ecotrin): increased aspirin toxicity
Fluoroquinoiones, such as:

Ciprofloxacin (Cipro):

Norfloxacin (Noroxin): if taken at the same time, will decrease noroxin absorption
Tetracycline (Sumycin): may decrease tetracycline absorption and effects
Warfarin (Coumadin): may increase risk of bleeding

Phosphorated carbohydrate solution

Consult a physician before using or do not use if you have:

Allergy to any component of phosphorated carbohydrate solutions
Diabetes
Fructose intolerance

Or if you:

Are administering to a child under age 2
Do not experience symptom relief after five doses

Common Side Effects

Antihistamine

Drowsiness
Thickened mucus

Bismuth subsalicylate

Black stools
Darkened tongue

Phosphorylated carbohydrate solutions

None anticipated

Infrequent to Rare Side Effects

Antihistamine

Diarrhea
Dry mouth
Headache
Nausea
Nervousness
Tiredness
Vomiting

Bismuth subsalicylate

Confusion
Headache
Muscle spasms
Ringing in ears
Slurred speech
Weakness

Phosphorylated carbohydrate solutions

Stomach upset

Effects of Overdose

Antihistamine

Confusion
Hallucinations
Loss of consciousness
Loss of coordination
Seizures
Severe agitation
Severe drowsiness

Bismuth subsalicylate

Confusion
Nervousness
Persistent ringing in ears
Rapid breathing
Seizures
Severe drowsiness

Phosphorylated carbohydrate solutions

Abdominal pain
Diarrhea

What to Do in Case of Overdose

Antihistamine

If you suspect that you or someone you know has taken an overdose of this medication, immediately STOP USING THE MEDICATION and SEEK MEDICAL HELP.

Bismuth subsalicylate

If you suspect that you or someone you know has taken an overdose of this medication, immediately STOP USING THE MEDICATION and SEEK MEDICAL HELP.

Phosphorylated carbohydrate solutions

It is unlikely that an overdose of this medication will cause life-threatening symptoms. If you are still concerned, please seek the advice of your health professional.