About Motion Sickness

Just about anyone can get motion sickness—even astronauts get it. Children ages 2 to 12 very easily get motion sickness, while infants and toddlers seem relatively immune. But for everybody else, the sense of motion, whether from riding in a car, boat, airplane, (or space shuttle) brings on those queasy feelings. Motion sickness comes on quickly, but quiets down when the motion stops. Still, if you’re prone to it, you can be in for an unpleasant ride.

Causes

People tend to get motion sickness on a moving boat, train, plane, or car, but it’s also possible to get it when watching a moving scene on the big screen. Some people can get nauseous even thinking about take-off on a plane or boat.

Motion sickness happens when the inner ear, the eyes, and the deeper tissues of the body’s surface, called proprioceptors (pronounced proh-pree-uh-sep-ters), send conflicting signals to the brain. The signals don’t get scrambled, though, when we walk, or move our bodies on our own.

But when we’re moving in a car, boat, or plane, the signals received by the eyes or the proprioceptors don’t match with those transmitted by the inner ear. And our sense of balance is thrown off.

Symptoms

Motion sickness is awful to go through, though for as horrible as it may feel, it’s usually a temporary, minor problem. However, if you travel frequently, it can be a big problem.

The most common symptoms of motion sickness include:

Nausea
Dizziness
Sweating
Vomiting
Headache
Fatigue

Treatment

There are medications and some preventive measures you can take to treat motion sickness. Some even believe that continually exposing yourself to motions that bring on motion sickness will help you get over it. But if you’re like most people, that idea may not have a lot of appeal. If you do choose to take a medication, remember to take it before you travel, because once motion sickness starts, it’s hard to bring under control.

Medication and non-medication treatments for motion sickness include:

Antiemetics—such as Bonine^® once daily travel tablet—are over-the-counter medications that help relieve nausea and vomiting associated with motion sickness.
A patch for motion sickness is also available. It contains another type of active ingredient.
Acupressure bracelets, some of which contain magnets, may help in the same way as acupuncture—putting pressure on certain points of the body.
Ginger, a traditional remedy for nausea, may help with motion sickness. However, some people find it has no benefit.
Peppermint is another herb that may help.

Bonine^® Products

NEW - Bonine® Ginger Softgels

A non-drowsy dietary supplement that contains concentrated ginger in the form of an easy to swallow softgels. Clinically proven to prevent nausea and vomiting, one Bonine® Ginger softgel matches the potency of two Dramamine Natural capsules.

Available in 10 count package

Bonine^® Travel Size

A chewable once daily tablet for adults in a convenient travel case so that you can carry it with you wherever you go.

Available in a 12 count travel case.

Bonine^®

A chewable once daily tablet for adults that helps prevent and treat nausea, vomiting or dizziness associated with motion sickness.

Available in an 8 and 16 count package

View Our Commercial

Directions

Ingredients

Warnings

Dosage should be taken one hour before travel starts. Adults and children 12 years of age and over: take 1 to 2 tablets once daily or as directed by a doctor.

Download Product Fact Sheet

Active ingredients (in each tablet)
Meclizine HCI 25 mg.

Inactive ingredients:
Croscarmellose sodium, crospovidone, FD&C red #40 lake, lactose, magnesium stearate, raspberry flavor, silica, sodium saccharin, stearic acid, vanilla flavor.

Other Information:
Store at room temperature 20° - 25°C (68° - 77°F)

Do not use for children under 12 years of age unless directed by a doctor

Do not take unless directed by a doctor if you have:

Glaucoma
Trouble urinating due to an enlarged prostate gland
A breathing problem such as emphysema or chronic bronchitis
Do not take if you are taking sedatives or tranquilizers, without first consulting your doctor

When using this product

Do not exceed the recommended dosage
Drowsiness may occur
Avoid alcoholic drinks
Alcohol, sedatives and tranquilizers may increase drowsiness
Be careful when driving or operating machinery
If pregnant or breast-feeding, ask a health professional before use

Keep out of reach of children. In case of overdose, get medical help or contact a Poison Control Center right away.

Poison Exposure? Questions?
Call Your Poison Center at:
1-800-222-1222

Travel Tips

Taking Bonine^® right before you travel can help keep motion sickness at bay. For other ways to stop motion sickness from being your traveling companion, pack this handy list of DOs and DON'Ts:

DOs

Choose your seat carefully. Sitting in the front seat of a car or bus, sitting over the wing of a plane, or being in the central cabin on a ship can help you feel less motion.
If you're traveling by car, offer to drive. Driving instead of riding in a vehicle can help reduce symptoms.
Breathe deep through your mouth, not your nose.
Turn the air vent toward your face if you're traveling by car or plane.
Look out the window at some stationary point.
If you're in a boat, look at the horizon.
Drink caffeinated beverages (ginger ale is particularly calming).
Carry some mint or ginger flavored lozenges with you. They may help with nausea.
Chew on dry crackers.
Eat light meals or snacks low in calories 24 hours before air travel.

DON'Ts

Avoid reading in the car, particularly on a winding, bumpy road. You don't need to add motion when your body is having trouble dealing with it.
Don't smoke. (Smoking can make a lot of things worse!)
Avoid big, greasy meals and alcohol before travel.
Don't overeat.
Avoid traveling on an empty stomach. An empty stomach can be just as bad as one with the wrong foods in it.
Don't bring strong-smelling foods or snacks.
Avoid rear seats on a plane or in a car.
Don't sit backwards either (this goes for riding the train).
Don't go below if you're out on a boat. Stuffy quarters without a view of the horizon may make you feel a lot worse.
Don't forget to take a motion sickness medication—like Bonine^®.