travel sickness

[Kenm traveler]

At present, I only travel a couple of times each year, but I'm hoping to change this over the coming years. One thing that holds me back is that I often, although fortunately not always, suffer from travel sickness when flying. I find it particularly afflicts me when there is turbulence while ascending after takeoff. When that occurs, I'm often sick for the duration of the journey. I'm looking for members' views on the most effective medications. I had been prescribed a medication designed to settle a sick stomach, but I find it rather ineffective once I'm already sick.

 

[Anna]

Ginger tablets from a pharmac_ work for me, although I'm more likely to use them on a small boat than on a plane.

 

[Quickstatus]

Just as driving a car rather than being a passenger substantially helps with motion sickness, being a pilot should solve your motion sickness when flying

If that is not possible, then:

Eat sparingly before a journey and only small amounts, maybe not at all. Carbs are better.
Stay hydrated, no alcohol
Seating should not be at the rear, anywhere over the CoG (centre of gravity) which is generally anywhere over the wings
Window seat
Point the airvents yourself
Dont read a book or watch a movie because one part of your brain thinks these are not moving while another part of your brain says otherwise
Instead listen to an audiobook
Use an eye mask

Meds:
Ginger foods/drink - ginger ale, ginger tablets
Antihistamines
some antinausea/antiemetics dont work for motion sickness - such as Zofran
Acupressure
Anything that contains Hyoscine (AKA scopolamine). Some compounding pharmacists will make scopolamine cream applied behind ear.

Psychology:
Psychological treatments sometimes helpful

 

[auriga]

I take Stugeron before every long haul flight.

 

[yld200]

My wife takes, and swears by Phnergan. Comes in 10mg and 25mg. It's an antihistamine which also assists with nausea. For her, it has the additional benefit of knocking her out during flights

Can get it over the counter.

 

[JohnK]

My wife suffers from motion sickness. Car, bus, ferry and airplanes.

She takes Travacalm from Chemist Warehouse and it's very effective.

 

[Quickstatus]

Travacalm

Which one?- there are 3:

Travacalm original
Travacalm HO which is 150% hyoscine dosage of original but none of the other ingredients in the original
Travacalm ginger

The original has dimenhydrinate = this is the old Dramamine. And caffeine (about a fifth of a usual cup of coffee)

 

[JohnK]

Which one?- there are 3:

Travacalm original

We've only tried the original.

 

[Human]

Some years ago, Mythbusters did a segment on natural preventatives for travel sickness. To their surprise they found that ginger actually works. But, as the above posters noted, there are effective non-natural remedies as well that you can get from a pharmacist.