Steps
Tips for Travel
General tips:
- Always face forward.
- Do not read, type on your phone or computer, or watch videos while in motion.
- Avoid eating a heavy meal or drinking alcohol right before travel.
Car travel:
- Sit in the front passenger seat or drive. Drivers are less likely to experience car sickness.
- Keep the windows down for plenty of fresh air.
Boat travel:
- Keep your eyes on the distant horizon instead of looking at the water.
- For cruises, choose a lower-level cabin, and stay near the middle of the ship.
Plane travel: Try to sit in the wing section.
Natural Options
Natural approaches are a great solution if you want to avoid medication or can be used along with medication.
Try:
- Acupressure wristbands
- Sucking on ginger or peppermint candies to reduce nausea
- Biofeedback for recurrent motion sickness
Over-the-Counter Medication Options
If the above tips do not work to prevent your motion sickness, you can try an over-the-counter medication.
They work best if you take them before you feel sick. You should only take one of these at a time. Do NOT mix medications!
If you take medications for other conditions, please check with us about any potential medication interactions.
Options include:
- Dramamine: 1 to 2 tablets every 4 to 6 hours, as needed. This works best taken at least 30 minutes before your trip.
- Meclizine 25 mg: 1 tablet every 24 hours.
- Benadryl 25 mg: 1 tablet every 4 to 6 hours, as needed.
Warnings:
- Do not use both Dramamine and meclizine within the same 24-hour period, as they can cause serious side effects when combined.
- All of them can cause drowsiness. Do not drive or operate machinery after taking these medications.
Read the package instructions and follow the directions to be sure you're using them safely.
Try these techniques to reduce motion sickness without a prescription.
