Motion Sickness Relief & Treatment
What is motion sickness?
Long, winding roads through the hills… Gently rocking waves at sea… Soaring serenely through the clouds… Sounds heavenly, right? Not always! When the best-laid travel plans get you all sweaty and green, it’s time to tackle motion sickness before you set sail.
Motion sickness – also called travel sickness – is that unwell or sick feeling you can get when you’re in a moving vehicle such as a car, plane, or boat. That sick feeling in your stomach (called nausea) happens when what you are seeing or feeling doesn’t match what you are expecting to see or feel. Other signs of this mismatch of senses include sweating, burping or yawning, headaches, and vomiting. You can learn more about the causes of motion sickness here.
Can I prevent this feeling with motion sickness medication?
Yes – medications are available to help prevent motion sickness. These travel sickness tablets, which might also be called sea sickness tablets or car sickness tablets, are best taken before you travel to stop you from feeling sick in the first place.
You can get motion sickness medication from the pharmacy. These include a category of medicines known as sedating antihistamines (that can make you drowsy) and hyoscine hydrobromide. Both types work by blocking messages being sent to a part of your brain that’s called the ‘vomiting centre’. Because prevention is better than a cure, it’s best to take motion sickness tablets before you travel, although they can also help to relieve symptoms if you take them when your symptoms first start.
When you’re looking for a long-lasting motion sickness medication for your next trip, SEA-LEGS chewable tablets have you covered. They contain the antihistamine meclozine, which blocks sensory signals from reaching the part of your brain that controls vomiting – stopping that sick feeling before it gets going.
Whether travelling by car, plane, boat, train or coach, SEA-LEGS chewable tablets are specially formulated to provide effective and long-lasting motion sickness relief for adults and children from 6 years of age. Taken the night before travelling or 1 hour before travelling, SEA-LEGS chewable tablets work for up to 24 hours – perfect for those long-haul trips!
Are there natural ways to prevent getting motion sickness?
If you know that you or one of your travel buddies are likely to get a bit of motion sickness, planning your trip ahead of time could help your journey run a little smoother. You might choose to drive a less hilly or twisty route or avoid travelling during bad weather that might cause turbulence or poor visibility. Try starting your trip when conditions are calm, as this can help you get used to the movement of the vehicle.
Alas, the weather and how to get where you’re going are things you can’t always control, so think about how you can prepare yourself for your trip. Choose comfortable clothes to wear while travelling and make sure you get enough rest before you leave. It’s also a good idea to eat before you leave, but make sure to avoid heavy or greasy foods and drinks that might make your tummy uncomfortable while you’re on the move. As well as helping to prevent or reduce your motion sickness symptoms, this preparation can help your motion sickness medication do its job.
Are there other ways to relieve motion sickness once it’s started?
If motion sickness does happen once you’re travelling, the key to reducing or relieving your symptoms involves trying to limit that mismatch of senses. Some things you can try to help you feel better include:
– Sitting in the part of the vehicle that moves the least (e.g., the car’s front seat) and always face forward
– Pick a spot out in front of you to focus on (e.g., the horizon)
– Don’t look at phones, tablets, or books while you’re moving
– Wear sunglasses, close your eyes, or sleep
– Get fresh air and breathe normally
You could also consider trying some natural motion sickness remedies, such as ginger or vitamin C. Acupressure – where you press down on a particular spot on the inside of your forearm between your elbow and wrist – may also help relieve queasy feelings while travelling.
Whether it’s that round-the-world adventure, the family’s annual road trip, or just a lazy spot of fishing, don’t let motion sickness get in your way – and don’t forget your SEA-LEGS!
Always read the label and follow directions for use.
Frequently asked questions about motion sickness treatment
If you’ve had motion sickness before, the bad news is that you’re more likely to get it again. The good news is that symptoms usually go away completely a day or two after you stop moving, and you can help prevent motion sickness from happening in the first place with motion sickness medications.
When taken before you travel, a motion sickness medication such as the meclozine in SEA-LEGS chewable tablets can effectively prevent symptoms of motion sickness for up to 24 hours. If taken after symptoms have already started, especially vomiting, motion sickness tablets can be less effective.
Yes – SEA-LEGS chewable tablets are suitable for adults and children aged 6 years and over.
If motion sickness hits when you’re already travelling, ways to find some relief include picking a fixed spot in the distance to focus on, sitting in the part of the vehicle that moves least, avoiding watching screens or reading, and getting some fresh air.