Fight Off Nausea With the Best Sea Sickness Medicines

Buying Guide to Finding Sea Sickness Medicine

While there are prescription medicines that can treat motion sickness, mild to severe episodes can be treated with over-the-counter medicines. But how do you choose the right sea sickness medicine when there are so many options available? We’ve put together this detailed buying guide to simplify your choice so you can pick the perfect sea sickness medicine for your needs.

Types of Sea Sickness Medicines

Prescription medicines

For many people, prescription scopolamine transdermal strips or pills can effectively treat seasickness. While scopolamine minimizes nausea and headaches, it might not be an ideal choice for those with glaucoma, urinary tract problems, gastrointestinal system issues, or breathing problems.

Over-the-counter medicines

Many people find that they can control or completely eliminate the unpleasantness of sea sickness by taking over-the-counter antihistamines, which you can purchase without a doctor’s consultation or prescription. You shouldn’t take any strong antihistamine before driving because it may cause sleepiness, sore throat, trouble urinating, and impaired vision. Even though these side effects are often mild, they can put your life in danger if you’re driving on your own.

We recommend taking an antihistamine roughly half an hour before boarding a plane or heading out on a cruise if you’re prone to seasickness. The efficacy of the antihistamine is significantly decreased if you wait until you feel nauseous before taking it.

Homeopathic sea sickness medicines

The idea behind homeopathic remedies is that even small doses of medicine might actually help cure the symptoms. Although homeopathy is not well supported by science, many individuals report feeling better after using them. Numerous homeopathic remedies for motion sickness often contain nux vomica, an extract from the nux vomica tree’s nuts. If you’re allergic to nuts, these might not be the ideal choice for you.

Tips for Using Sea Sickness Medicines Effectively

Avoid looking in the opposite direction

While many people benefit from sea sickness medicines, the greatest therapy is to prevent sea sickness in the first place. Always look the same way you’re moving and avoid sitting on backward-facing seats on boats, trains, or buses.

Look outside the window

For many individuals, looking at a novel, tablet, smartphone, or other stationary objects inside a moving vessel — such as a boat or bus — makes them feel sick. Instead, you should look at the surrounding beauty or turn your eyes to the sky to avoid motion sickness.

Switch places

While some people feel better standing up, others feel better lying down. If you’re unsure which position suits you best, you should try switching positions whenever you can to see if one feels better than another.

Get some fresh air

If you’re traveling on a cruise that offers open-air seating, try to sit there. You can also try moving onto the boat’s deck since fresh air helps prevent sea sickness.

Distract yourself

Try to talk to someone, listen to music, enjoy the view, or meditate to distract yourself from feeling sick.

Pick your seat carefully

Sit in the most stable position possible in your means of transportation if you usually feel sea sick. We recommend avoiding sitting on the lower decks of a cruise ship. You should also avoid the stern of a smaller boat, which may be more stable than the front, but has a pungent fuel smell that may make you feel uncomfortable.

Eat healthy food before traveling

Avoid fatty, acidic, or heavy foods before your travel, and limit your alcohol consumption. Drink water or fizzy beverages to stay hydrated while traveling, which may help control or mitigate your feelings of sea sickness.