You may have felt it before when sitting in a boat or cruise ship – seasickness (or motion sickness). That feeling of unwellness that may include nausea, vomiting, and dizziness. One thing’s certain, it could ruin your trip. Unfortunately, unless you’ve been on similar travel adventures in the past, there’s no way to know if you’re going to feel sick.
But great news, there are a few medications and steps you can take to prevent seasickness from happening at all. Read more below.
1. Choose your seat carefully
Choose a seat or cabin on a boat or cruise ship located on the front or middle of the boat to feel more stable.
2.Do not read
Make sure to focus on the horizon or a fixed point. Do not read or look at your phone or tablet while traveling on the water.
3.Try to keep your head stationary
Avoid looking around. Try to rest the back of your head against a seat back or against a wall.
4.Avoid smoking
5.Avoid eating spicy foods, alcohol, and caffeine before your boating or cruise adventure
This will help prevent overheating.
6.Take preventative medications
Antihistamines like Dramamine and Bonine can be taken 30 minutes to 1 hour before boarding to help prevent seasickness. These medications are available without a prescription in the United States. Scopolamine (Transderm Scop patch)is a topical medication patch that can be prescribed by your physician before you travel. It’s used to help with nausea and vomiting associated with seasickness. It’s not used to treat seasickness. You should place one patch behind the hairless area of your ear 4 hours before boarding to prevent seasickness. Each patch lasts about 72 hours.
Make sure to wash your hands after applying the patch to remove any remaining medication from your hands. Medication from the patch can get into your eyes and cause blurry vision. Avoiding drinking alcohol or driving while using the patch. The patch may cause confusion, dizziness, tiredness, and blurred vision. If you have a scheduled MRI or other scans, remove the patch as it contains aluminum and could cause burns to your skin. Don’t cut the patch. This can affect how the patch works. Wear one patch at a time. If you need a patch for more than 3 days, make sure to remove the old patch before placing a new patch.
Remove the old patch before placing a new patch on your skin. Do not use the patch if you have glaucoma, liver or kidney problems, difficulty urinating, or a history of seizures. Consult a physician if you are pregnant or breastfeeding before using the patch.
Scopolamine patches should only be used by adults due to potentially dangerous side effects (e.g., blurry vision and hallucinations).
7.Certain foods may help
When all else fails, and you find yourself seasick after taking precautions, certain foods may help with nausea. Try sucking on candied ginger, eating salted crackers, or drinking a carbonated beverage to help with nausea.