Health Watch by Steve Mullenix

The North Jefferson News



Some say it is not the destination, but the journey that is important.

But, if you’ve ever been sick to your stomach on a rocking boat, on a bumpy airplane ride or sitting in the back seat of Uncle Bob’s station wagon, you may disagree.

The journey may include the discomfort of motion sickness. Although it doesn’t cause long-term problems, motion sickness can make life miserable for the duration of the trip.

People can feel sick from the motion in cars, airplanes, trains, amusement park rides or boats. Motion sickness is also called “airsickness” or “seasickness.” Some people experience motion sickness from video games like flight simulators, or looking through a microscope. In these cases, the eyes see the motion, but the body does not sense it.

Children, women and older people seem to be more susceptible to motion sickness. It is rare for children younger than two years of age to suffer from the condition.



Symptoms

• A general feeling of being unwell (malaise)

• Nausea or vomiting or both

• Headaches

• Cold sweats (which means you sweat even though you’re not overheated)

• A pale appearance

Symptoms usually go away after the motion stops. Sometimes it can take a few days for symptoms to totally disappear. When on an extended trip like a cruise, your body may get used to the movement and the symptoms subside. However, when you get back on dry land, the lack of motion may cause the symptoms to return for a short time.

Usually, symptoms go away about three days after the end of the trip. If they don’t, you may need to see your primary care physician to rule out the possibilities of stomach flu or inner ear problems.

The best way to treat motion sickness is to stop the motion, but I don’t think Carnival Cruise Lines would go for that. There are alternatives.

• Sit or lie down in an area of least motion – in the direction of travel if possible

• In an airplane, try to sit near the wings

• On a ship, stay on the decks and look at the horizon

• If on the inside of a ship, move toward the center

There are some pharmaceutical alternatives for the treatment of motion sickness, but these, like most other pharmaceuticals, have some side effects.



Medications

• Scopolamine: This medication is best used before travel and available in a patch called Transderm Scop, or tablets called Scopace. The drugs works by blocking the signals from the inner ear to the brain.

Place the coin sized Transderm Scop behind the ear about four to eight hours before travel. It can be worn for up to three days before removal or replacement. For long trips like cruises, patch replacement is often necessary.

It is important to wash hands with soap and water after placing or removing the patch, otherwise you might rub your eyes and get medication in them, resulting in blurred vision.

The tablet (scopace) should be taken about one hour before travel.

Some of the side effects of scopolamine are sleepiness, dry mouth and blurred vision. Less common side effects are confusion, skin rashes and difficulty urinating. This medication should be avoided in older individuals, pregnant women and people with glaucoma or difficulty urinating.

• Promethazine: This medication, more commonly know as Phenergan, can be taken before or during travel. It is available in tablet, liquid, suppository and injectable forms.

A similar medication, metoclopramide HCL (Reglan), is also used to treat the motion sickness when an upset stomach is the major complaint.

Drowsiness is the main side effect of both of these medications and dizziness can also occur.

• Antihistamines: These are among the most common medications used for the treatment of motion sickness because several are available without a prescription. These medications, like scopolamine, block the motion signals to the brain. They are:

• Dimenhydrinate – (Dramanine) – Available without a prescription

• Diphenhydramine – (Benadryl) – Available without a prescription

• Meclizine – (Antivert or Bonine) – Available without a prescription

• Trimethobenzamide – (Tigan) – Requires a prescription

These medications should be taken before travel and repeated during extended travel according to the directions on the package. Drowsiness is the main side effect. In children, antihistamines may have the opposite effect. They may make children excited rather than sleepy.

People who have glaucoma, high blood pressure, hyperthyroid disease, cardiovascular disease, emphysema or other breathing problems should consult a physician prior to taking antihistamines.

The acupressure approach is a safe non-pharmaceutical alternative. While based on the ancient Chinese principle of acupressure (not to be confused with the acupuncture which uses needles), this practice consists of wearing an elastic wristband. “Sea Bands” is the brand name.

The Sea Bands applies continuous pressure on the P6 (nei-kuan) point on the wrist using a smooth plastic stud. As recently as 1988, reports in The Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine have shown that women in a trial study who used acupressure had suffered less nausea and vomiting that those who didn’t. These have also been used in the treatment of morning sickness in pregnancy. Sea Bands can be purchased from most drug stores, as a set of two, where one size fits all.

If you get motion sickness, the following may help:

• Eat a few dry soda crackers

• Sip on clear, carbonate drinks such as ginger ale

• Get some fresh air

• Lie down, or at the least keep your head still

Enjoy the journey as well as the destination.

Steve Mullenix (R.Ph), co-owns The Pharmacy in Mount Olive with his wife, Sherry Mullenix (J.D., R.N.). They can be reached at 631-1201.