Treatment of Motion Sickness -- Over-the-Counter Medications
The active ingredients in most over-the-counter (OTC) medications used for the prevention of motion sickness are antihistamines.
Antihistamines are effective for the treatment of motion sickness because they lessen the effects of real or perceived movement on the inner ear. To effectively prevent motion sickness, most experts recommend taking motion sickness medication that contains an antihistamine approximately 1 hour before travel or exposure to your triggers. Common antihistamines include cyclizine, diphenhydramine, dimenhydrinate, and meclizine.
Side effects of antihistamines may include drowsiness, dry mouth, blurred vision, headache, congestion, and confusion. You should not take an antihistamine if you have heart disease, asthma, glaucoma, chronic bronchitis, emphysema, difficulty urinating due to an enlarged prostate, or are pregnant or breast feeding. You should avoid alcohol, tranquilizers, and other sedatives while taking an antihistamine.
Although many antihistamines are available over-the-counter, stronger preparations may be available by prescription.
