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What medication is used for cruise dizziness?

DIMENHYDRINATE (dye men HYE dri nate) prevents and treats nausea, vomiting, and dizziness caused by motion sickness. It works by helping your body maintain its sense of balance.



To combat "cruise dizziness"—commonly known as seasickness or Mal de Mer—travelers typically turn to antihistamines or anticholinergics. The most common over-the-counter options are Meclizine (found in Dramamine Less Drowsy or Bonine) and Dimenhydrinate (original Dramamine). For more severe cases or long voyages, many cruisers swear by the Scopolamine patch (Transderm Scōp), a prescription-only adhesive placed behind the ear several hours before departure that lasts for three days. If you experience "land sickness" (Mal de Débarquement Syndrome) after the cruise, where you feel like you are still rocking while on solid ground, standard motion sickness pills often don't work; doctors may instead recommend physical therapy or, in persistent cases, low-dose benzodiazepines. Natural remedies like ginger (capsules, tea, or candies) and acupressure "Sea-Bands" are also widely used by passengers who prefer to avoid the drowsiness associated with medicinal treatments.

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According to many of our guests, some of the best seasickness tablets for a cruise include Dramamine or Bonine. These medications can be taken before nausea arises to help lessen the severity. They may also be taken to ease the feeling of sickness as it occurs. Be aware that these may cause drowsiness in some guests.

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Scopolamine belongs to the group of medicines called anticholinergics. It works on the central nervous system (CNS) to create a calming effect on the muscles in the stomach and bowels (gut). This medicine is available only with your doctor's prescription.

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The most commonly prescribed medication, though, is scopolamine, which comes in a patch that you wear behind your ear. It's a preventative medication, so you apply it before you set sail, and one patch works for 72 hours.

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The factors that contribute to motion sickness are not well understood, but susceptibility to the condition does seem to be partly genetic. When motion sickness occurs, it likely results from a mismatch in signals about movement coming from different parts of the body.

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