What is Motion Sickness?
Before learning about how the motion sickness patch works, you must understand what causes motion sickness. Motion sickness is a bodily response to real or perceived movement. The inner ear senses movement while your eyes tell you that you are standing still. These cross signals confuse the brain, causing dopamine levels to increase, and you experience motion sickness. Common symptoms are dizziness, fatigue, nausea, and vomiting. After 36-72 hours of continuous motion exposure, motion sickness usually subsides.
Some of the most common causes of motion sickness are airplane rides, boat rides, car rides, and amusement park rides. Motion sickness can also occur as a response to simulated motion, such as flight simulators and video games.
Who Gets Motion Sickness?
Not everyone experiences motion sickness. Children between the ages of four and ten are most susceptible, while children younger than two years old rarely experience motion sickness. Women—especially those pregnant, menstruating, or using oral contraceptives—are more susceptible than men. People who frequently experience anxiety are also more likely to experience motion sickness.
How Does the Patch Work?
Prescription motion sickness patches contain an anticholinergic agent (usually the drug scopolamine) between a polyester film and a layer of adhesive. You apply the patch to the skin behind your ear, and it delivers a continuous dose of medication, usually for about three days. The drug prevents the balance center in your inner ear from reporting to your brain. Therefore, there are no conflicting signals. For best results, the patch should be applied four hours prior to motion exposure. The patch is recommended for periods of motion exposure over six hours.
What are Possible Side Effects of the Patch?
Possible common side effects of the motion sickness patch include dilated pupils, blurred vision, and dry mouth. Impaired mental alertness is also common. If the patch is worn long-term, withdrawal symptoms such as nausea, dizziness, and headache may occur. Ask your doctor about other possible side effects. The patch should not be worn by children, pregnant women, or the elderly, or those with glaucoma or urinary obstruction.
Other Possible Solutions
Many other solutions exist for minimizing or eliminating motion sickness. Fear and anxiety can increase the likeliness that you will experience motion sickness. Try to relax before your trip or avoid situations that you know will cause anxiety. If you begin to feel motion sickness, attempt to move to an area with less motion (such as the interior of a ship). When riding in a car or a plane, face forward and look outside. Limiting head movement may also help.
Over the counter medications (such as Dramamine or Bonine) can prevent motion sickness when taken an hour before a short trip (less than six hours).
Several alternative medicine remedies have gained popularity for motion sickness treatment, although there is no proof of their effectiveness. Ginger root (usually in the form of capsules or tea) is the most recommended herbal treatment. Other popular home remedies include drinking apricot juice, carrot juice, or peppermint tea. Another unproven yet popular method of motion sickness prevention is the acupuncture wristband. It is thought that stimulation of a pressure point in your wrist will prevent motion sickness.
