Vacation time! Who doesn’t love spending a few days with their friends, family, or loved ones in a beautiful corner of the world with no worries and complete relaxation?
We certainly do! But sometimes getting there can be a nightmare.
Some of us are lucky enough to be able to withstand almost any type of motion without any side-effects.
Others aren’t so lucky and get sick within the first few minutes of being on a bus or a plane. For people sensitive to motion, travel can be a real headache.
Unfortunately, these days getting to the most beautiful parts of the world required taking a plane, a bus, or even a ship.
The last option is the absolute worst for people with weak balance-sensing organs. Trust us when we say that very few things are worse than becoming violently sick on a plane or any other method of transportation.
So how do those of us who can’t handle even the wimpiest of roller-coasters at the amusement park deal with it and enjoy ourselves during our time off from work? Most simply try to get through it with the help of time, water, and rest. However, there is a better answer: Dramamine!
What is Dramamine?
Get ready, we are about to throw some science at you!
The medical name for Dramamine is Dimenhydrinate. This wonderful drug is an over-the-counter antiemetic used to help those who are susceptible to motion sickness.
An antiemetic is a fancy way of saying that it helps with vomiting and nausea. In the past, some people thought that antiemetic drugs caused birth defects, but this has been debunked as false and they have been determined as safe to use by those who might be pregnant.
Dimenhydrinate is actually a combination of two different drugs: Diphenhydramine (used to treat allergies, insomnia, common cold, tremors in Parkinsonism, nausea) and 8-Chlorotheophylline (a stimulant drug with similar effects as caffeine).
Now in English, Dramamine is a drug which consists of two different types of drugs, one primary and the other secondary, which help to prevent nausea, vomiting, and motion sickness.
The main anti-nausea effect of Dramamine comes from Diphenhydramine, while the secondary caffeine like effect comes from 8-Chlorotheophylline.
How does Dramamine work?
As you live your life, everything you do affects your balance and perception of the space around you. You brain uses your eyes, sense of touch, vestibular, and inner ear senses to determine your body’s balance in relation to environmental conditions.
A good example of this exchange of information is when you are on a ship or a floating surface, even though your body is being moved in all sorts of directions, you are able to redistribute your weight accordingly to maintain your balance and not fall over.
Motion sickness occurs when one of the senses responsible for sending cues to your brain doesn’t match other cues and your brain gets confused, resulting in nausea, dizziness, misbalance, and eventually vomiting if you experience this misinformation for too long.
A very common situation during which motion sickness is developed occurs when you are in a moving vehicle and you start reading.
Your body is feeling the movement of the car and your ears are supporting this cue, but your eyes are focused on a stationary object. This doesn’t add up with the other cues your brain is receiving and motion sickness is produced.
Dramamine is kind of a sedative. It works to dull your senses and allow your body to give more vague cues to your brain, thus reducing the side-effects of mismatching cues.
Diphenhydramine, the key ingredients in Dramamine, acts to suppress the senses related with motion sickness. It is very effective at doing so, but it also causes drowsiness because of its sedative-like effects.
To counteract the drowsiness, 8-Chlorotheophylline was introduced with its caffeine-like properties.
However, the drowsiness effects of the primary ingredients are much stronger and the latter ingredient wasn’t capable of completely cancelling out the drowsiness.
Still, the boost you get from the stimulant helps reduce the effects of drowsiness and makes you feel more alert.
How to Take Dramamine
Although this excellent drug is over-the-counter, we strongly suggest you consult with your doctor prior deciding on using it during your travels.
The last thing you want is to have an allergic reaction during your vacation and end up in the emergency room.
You can take Dramamine with or without food, although if you are starting to feel the effects of motion sickness, avoiding food at first might be a good idea.
Make sure you read the package direction and follow them exactly unless your doctor has instructed differently. Take note of possible issues and all the warnings on the package.
The first dose of Dramamine should be taken about 30 minutes before you start traveling. If you miss your dose, take one immediately unless your next dose is close. If it is, then skip the missed dose and return to your scheduled dosage time. Never take a doubled dose.
What are some side-effects of using Dramamine?
One of the biggest side-effects of Dramamine is drowsiness and dizziness. You should not drive or consume alcohol while taking Dramamine.
Consuming alcohol during Dramamine use can add to the effects of alcohol and other depressants.
This can lead to serious complications and possible permanent damage. Hot weather, exercise, and alcohol can also cause Dramamine to increase the chance of dizziness. If you experience dizziness, you should lay down until it passes.
While taking Dramamine, it is recommended to get up off of your bed slowly and lay down slowly to reduce the risk of dizziness, especially in the mornings.
Sensitivity to sunlight can also develop due to Dramamine use. Avoid bright lamps, sun exposure, and tanning salons until you know how you react to Dramamine.
Use Dramamine with caution if you are elderly, as you may be more sensitive to its side-effects. Use for children should be as directed by either your doctor or the label on the product packaging.
Children under 2 years of age should not take Dramamine unless you have had a prior discussion with your doctor.
Dramamine Review Summary
Dramamine works wonders for those who suffer from frequent motion sickness, but it does have a few side-effects that should be taken into consideration before and while using Dramamine.
Always talk to your doctor if you intend on traveling and using Dramamine. As long as you follow instructions on the packaging or from your doctor, we are sure that you will have a much better vacation. Now go and enjoy it!
