What's good for motion sickness (SAR)?

[Walkman]

I've got my 1st scanner training sortie coming up. I can get a pretty bad case of the spins in the car, so I'm anticipating some of the same on the flight. When I've flown, commercial a fwe times, it wasn't an issue, but the DC9 wasn't flying search patterns either.

So. what the best OTC remedy for motion sickness as aircrew?

[Flying Pig]

When I was on ship we used to eat Saltine crackers. As far as air sickness, it may work.  Maybe do an experiment.

[Short Field]

The Mythbusters show on motion sickness tested various solutions and ginger was the winner - best results with fewest side effects.  The only problem was no dosage levels were mentioned.   – even on the Mythbusters site.  I found the following three recommendations on various sites:

  -- Ginger standardized extract:  250 mg three times daily as needed.

  -- Two 500mg capsules of powdered ginger 30 minutes before traveling – and one or two more after 4 hours if you start feeling nauseated.

  -- Ginger is the perfect treatment for anything that causes nausea. Buy a ginger root at your local grocery story. They can be found in the produce section near the garlic. Slice it up, simmer in water for 15 minutes, and strain. Add honey to sweeten the taste. There is no set recipe for amounts, you can make it as strong or mild as you like. We've used this remedy for years... it stops vomiting instantly!

Thankfully I am not affected....

[dbaran]

In the ARCHER class (bouncing around looking down at a LCD screen in the back of the airplane), some people went with sugared ginger and others had some expensive electronic thing (also on their wrist), and both of those worked.

[IceNine]

I personally have been using Ginger for years, and it is the only that the completely prevents my nausea.  Dramamine only prevents vomiting, not the preliminary symptoms.

I take 2 capsules 1 hour before flight, and then 1-4 hours after that as needed.

[Eclipse]

The advice I always hear is to make sure to eat before you go up.    Motion sickness is worse on an empty stomach.

[Spike]

1 bottle of Ginger Beer.  It is different from Ginger ale.  It is stronger and has a more "burning" taste.  If you are willing to pay 5 dollars for thirty pills, ask you local doc for "Emend" (aprepitant).  It is a different class of Anti-nausea medication, approved by the FDA.  Stay away from over the counter pills.  Tell the doc, you get motion sickness, and will be flying.  Should have no problems.

This is the FULL list of anti-nausea drugs currently on the market (both over the counter and by prescription:

   
• aprepitant (Emend^®) 
• dolasetron (Anzemet^®) 
• granisetron (Kytril^®) 
• ondansetron (Zofran^®)
• palonosetron (Aloxi^®) 
• proclorperazine (Compazine^®)
• promethazine (Anergan^®),(Phenergan^®)
• lorazepam (Ativan^®) 
• metoclopramide (Reglan^®)
• dexamethasone (Decadron^®) 
• famotidine (Pepcid^®)
• ranitidine (Zantac^®)

I would also make an appointment to see a ottolaryngologist (Ear, Nose and Throat Doctor).  Motion sickness is a form of balance control originating in the ear, which affects your other organs.  The actual nausea is brought on by your mind, and the organs react to what your mind think is happening.  It really is a simple fix that most insurance plans cover these days. 

   
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[PHall]

Do you, and the pilot a favor and bring 2 or 3 sealable 1 or 2 quart freezer bags to use as sick sacks in case your precautions don't work.
Puking is bad enough, but puking all over the inside of the airplane is not something you ever want to do. 

[jeders]

Do you, and the pilot a favor and bring 2 or 3 sealable 1 or 2 quart freezer bags to use as sick sacks in case your precautions don't work.
Puking is bad enough, but puking all over the inside of the airplane is not something you ever want to do. 

+1

I personally drink a cup of ginger tea before I fly if I think I'm going to have problems. But if you do, taste test it a little first. The first time I drank it, I nearly spit it out because of the taste. Now, I enjoy drinking it even if I'm not going flying.

But even if I do take precautions to prevent nausea, I still bring some Sic-Sacs along with me.

[Eclipse]

Another thing is making sure you're keeping your eyes outside so that your visual perception of motion matches your physical sensation.

[Walkman]

Great info everyone!

I'm really interested in GSAR, but seeing as we don't get much of that work out here if any, I thought I'd get aircrew going as well. I've been nervous because of the motion sickness, though, so I'm feeling better now.

Any more ideas, keep 'em coming.

[Stonewall]

You're not aircrew until you puke. Don't let it discourage you.  Puke and get back up in the air.

I never get air sick.  I just don't.  It wasn't until a Mountain Flying Clinic, after hours of circles around mountain peaks, that I lost it; and not until final approach for landing.  Sometimes you just have to hurl.

[Gunner C]

I've never ralphed but I've come close.  Bring a bag.  I take a folded 50 gallon trash bag.  I figure if it's big enough for my head to fit in, I won't bespoil the aircraft.

I ran an aircrew course that an old SF team mate attended.  Even though he had more than 1,000 jumps and had spent countless hours in a C-130 flying nap of the earth, he barfed all over himself.  For graduation, he refused to change his flight suit - he thought of his besotted flying togs as part of the price to get his wings.  I've kept that picture of his graduation.  The look on his face (huge smile) said it all.

[EMT-83]

Do you, and the pilot a favor and bring 2 or 3 sealable 1 or 2 quart freezer bags to use as sick sacks in case your precautions don't work.
Puking is bad enough, but puking all over the inside of the airplane is not something you ever want to do. 

If you're only going to remember one piece of advice, this is the one. Never, ever, try to hurl out the window!

I have yet to get air sick; but I know it's a matter of when, not if. I make sure to eat, but keep it light. No ham and eggs or greasy pizza before takeoff.

[cap235629]

my best advice is.......................GTM3     

[MSgt Van]

I've used ginger with good results. Now I keep that electronic watch-type gizmo in my flight bag. Keeps me stable during extended hours of flying around Maxwell in August (hot, muggy, bouncy) while working with  ARCHER students.

ARCHER rule #1 - don't barf on the keyboard.

[MSgt Van]

I take a folded 50 gallon trash bag.  I figure if it's big enough for my head to fit in, I won't bespoil the aircraft.

  :clap:

[Gunner C]

ARCHER rule #1 - don't barf on the keyboard.

Keyboard is less expensive than the C-MIGITS.  Now that'll just ruin your day. 

[MSgt Van]

That's a good point.

[flyerthom]

1) Eat before you go. It settles the stomach.
2) Motion sickness nausea comes from the inner ear. The best OTC for this is meclizine. The OTC versions are Bonnie, Bonamine, Postafen. Prescription version is Antivert. You may also find it as Dramamine - less drowsy formulation. Funny thing is that med has no Dramamine  in it. Look in the ingredients for meclizine.
3) Ginger does work and makes you less drowsy than any of the anti emetics.
4) Put some kitty litter in the bottom of your um convenience bag. It will absorb fluids and if you use a better kind some of the smell.
   4a) if you have the bags you won't need them
5) Don't use binoculars.
6) If you are taking photos - a camera with a real eye piece will give you a better photo and and cause less nausea.

[FastAttack]

1 bottle of Ginger Beer.  It is different from Ginger ale.  It is stronger and has a more "burning" taste.  If you are willing to pay 5 dollars for thirty pills, ask you local doc for "Emend" (aprepitant).  It is a different class of Anti-nausea medication, approved by the FDA.  Stay away from over the counter pills.  Tell the doc, you get motion sickness, and will be flying.  Should have no problems.

This is the FULL list of anti-nausea drugs currently on the market (both over the counter and by prescription:

   
• aprepitant (Emend^®) 
• dolasetron (Anzemet^®) 
• granisetron (Kytril^®) 
• ondansetron (Zofran^®)
• palonosetron (Aloxi^®) 
• proclorperazine (Compazine^®)
• promethazine (Anergan^®),(Phenergan^®)
• lorazepam (Ativan^®) 
• metoclopramide (Reglan^®)
• dexamethasone (Decadron^®) 
• famotidine (Pepcid^®)
• ranitidine (Zantac^®)

I would also make an appointment to see a ottolaryngologist (Ear, Nose and Throat Doctor).  Motion sickness is a form of balance control originating in the ear, which affects your other organs.  The actual nausea is brought on by your mind, and the organs react to what your mind think is happening.  It really is a simple fix that most insurance plans cover these days. 

   
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As a med student and former pharmacy tech, I can tell you none of the above should be prescribed for motion sickness.

I could go into detail into their primary uses, but in broad spectrum they are for nausea caused by an illness , chemo, radiation, pregnancy, sedation and some of them that you listed are for acid reflux. Not for inner ear or vertigo induced nausea.

Ginger works for some,
for some others sea bands work ( non medicated)

I for one as a scuba diver I use Bonine or Dramamine 2 ( which is meclizine 25mg) Antivert is also meclizine, contrary to some notion you can get Antivert OTC as meclizine 25mg just ask a pharmacist to special order it for you. In most states meclizine is a schedule 8 drug.

If none of the above is working for you then you should ask the doctor to prescribe you Transderm Scope Patches aka Scopolamine patches.

The other way of getting around motion sickness is to become a pilot
it worked for me , especially when i fly gliders.

But even as a pilot I make sure that: ( which i know someone just listed)
1) I don't drink the day before I fly.
2) Drink Plenty of fluids the day before i fly.
3) The morning of , I avoid all products containing caffeine ( its a mild dieuretic )
4) Have a good breakfast not containing heavy fats and oils
5) Drink plenty of water before the flight.
6) Drink water while I fly.

I also don't fexiate on items inside the airplane to much, and when turning as a passanger I avoid looking directly at the turning wing, while turning just look at the horizon. Like a car you don't look at the curve you look at were you are turning.

Anyhow let us know how it works out for you.

Have fun

[desertengineer1]

1) Eat before you go. It settles the stomach.
2) Motion sickness nausea comes from the inner ear. The best OTC for this is meclizine. The OTC versions are Bonnie, Bonamine, Postafen. Prescription version is Antivert. You may also find it as Dramamine - less drowsy formulation. Funny thing is that med has no Dramamine  in it. Look in the ingredients for meclizine.
3) Ginger does work and makes you less drowsy than any of the anti emetics.
4) Put some kitty litter in the bottom of your um convenience bag. It will absorb fluids and if you use a better kind some of the smell.
   4a) if you have the bags you won't need them
5) Don't use binoculars.
6) If you are taking photos - a camera with a real eye piece will give you a better photo and and cause less nausea.

Motion sickness is due to the physiological deviation from "normal" conditions the body and brain are wired for.  Susceptability varies.  Most agree that you want to eat something prior to flying.  Empty stomach = no breakfast = no nutrition = makes it worse.

There is no "one stop" shop quick cure.  Some things help certain people a little.  Ginger works for some people.  Crackers work for others. 

But there are several universal factors such as hydration, alcohol, (both mentioned previously) and certain physical positions to avoid.   Turning your head to get something in the back of the airplane at the same time the pilot enters into a turn is one example of what NOT to do (Did that on a SAREX.  Bad.  Even with ~1,000 hours of overall aircrew time since 1998, I was sick within 90 seconds)

It isn't the inner ears alone, but the accelerations sensed by the inner ears, and the "does not compute" response from your brain that causes the nausea.  How quickly and how intense this occurs can be minimized by a few things.   

Some factors that make it worse:

Dehydration ---> believed to affect inner ear acceleration sensations and neurological response magnitude.  Look at it as a misery multiplier.

Alcohol --> (should be obvious)  Neurological and inner ear acceleration sensors (ever had the spins?).  Another tidbit - Alcohol stays inside the inner ears much longer because the fluid is more deeply "compartmentalized".  This is why you still have the spins in the morning (with the hangover).  See the "disconnection" factor mentioned above.

The Navy taught us one univeral method: flight time.  The more time in the air, the more time your body rewires itself to be less sensitive to it.