Sea sickness meds?

[Wish-I-Were-Fishn]

Going to Florida in March and would love to go offshore fishing, but I always get sick. What actually works to prevent this, anything? Never happens to me around here, but oceans and great lakes fishing does it every time.

[whitebassman]

There are some options:

OTC, are meclizine and dramamine pills. They can make you tired though. But cheap.

Rx, Scopalamine patches. These you stick behind your earlobe, but you need to do this at least 4 hours prior to exposure, and replace every 3 days as needed. Not as much drowsiness. But need rx of course.

[Brad B]

back in 2003 I spent a week up in alaska and spent 3 of the days on the ocean fishing halibut and salmon. My ex-wife's great uncle had the boat. he told me that if I wanted to keep from getting sea sick I should eat a good breakfast each day and then keep snacking on stuff during the day. he said that having a full stomach does help with preventing sea sickness. if that doesn't help then there is always motion sickness pills like daramamine.

[Wish-I-Were-Fishn]

back in 2003 I spent a week up in alaska and spent 3 of the days on the ocean fishing halibut and salmon. My ex-wife's great uncle had the boat. he told me that if I wanted to keep from getting sea sick I should eat a good breakfast each day and then keep snacking on stuff during the day. he said that having a full stomach does help with preventing sea sickness. if that doesn't help then there is always motion sickness pills like daramamine.

I'm afraid I would only chum the water using that technique!

[harvey lee]

There are some options:

OTC, are meclizine and dramamine pills. They can make you tired though. But cheap.

Rx, Scopalamine patches. These you stick behind your earlobe, but you need to do this at least 4 hours prior to exposure, and replace every 3 days as needed. Not as much drowsiness. But need rx of course.

I have never been sea sick even on very rough, high water on the Pacific ocean.

But, I have always used either the patch or the dramamaine pills.

I do not know if I would have gotten sick but a buddy of mine did and it was not fun for him. The Captain gave him a dram pill and a bit later he was fine.

He also said to not go below in the cabin as it was better to watch the waves as one will get less sea sick. Don't know if that is true as I have never been sick afloat.

[BTL]

I always try to remember to take a dramamine pill before I get on a boat for a day of fishing in the ocean. I've been out countless times, and never been sick.

[CJH]

He also said to not go below in the cabin as it was better to watch the waves as one will get less sea sick. Don't know if that is true as I have never been sick afloat.

This is true, actually. If you can watch the waves/horizon line, it will make you feel more stable, even if you are bobbing up and down, vs just being randomly tossed around. If you are prone to sea sickness definitely take something.

[wahoo]

The best is scopace. this is a prescription pill that uses the same medicine as the patch (scopolomine). The difference is that the patch delivers the same amount of meds to all no matter what the size of the person. With the pill you can split it or take them as needed. Also, if you can keep the pill down--not vomit, it will start to work immediately which is not so with dramamine or bonine. Also, you do not get as drowsy with scopace.

I do not get seasick and spend about 60 days per year on the ocean typically just staying on the boat for 7-13 days at a time so I encounter all kinds of weather. However, I always get some for friends and it has always worked. Scopace is also cheap.

I gave it to my Father when I took him to Alaska. He is prone to motion sickness and had no problems even with waves crashing over the entire boat and 2 hour runs in bad weather to and from fishing grounds.

You do need a prescription.

[Het]

Try Bonine. Works very well, and won't make you drowsy. The thing is to have it in your system before you go out. Taking one at the dock while your untying the boat does nothing. Take one the nite before, then another when you wake up the morning of the trip.

[Stick500]

one more thing to throw out there are the wristbands that put pressure on a very specific spot on your wrist

I know it sounds like snake oil or something but it consistently worked for me- you just have to make sure you put on the exact right spot- I also hear it works better for people with skinny wrists, rather than chubby wrists

there is some actual science behind it too unlike quack remedies

[JohnMickish]

There are some options:

OTC, are meclizine and dramamine pills. They can make you tired though. But cheap.

Rx, Scopalamine patches. These you stick behind your earlobe, but you need to do this at least 4 hours prior to exposure, and replace every 3 days as needed. Not as much drowsiness. But need rx of course.

The patch is the best thing out there. Put it on the night before so the drowsiness will be gone by the time you wake up.

[Duffman]

Try Bonine. Works very well, and won't make you drowsy.

Ditto

I don't feel all loopy like I do with Dramamine.

[Down Deep]

One more thing to mention is that no everyone gets sick. Although the common wisdon is that there are those who get sick and those that will. Luckily I'm one of the people who have fished off shore a lot and have never been sick. I've been in some in some really big water in the Gulf of Alaska. Florida waters are usually pretty calm this time of year especially the Gulf, you might just wing it. But, judging by whay I have witnessed, if you are wrong you will be in for a really long day.

[fitchin_fanatic]

[mainbutter]

I always snack on candied ginger, enjoy the view of the outdoors, and if i ever begin to feel weird get I get my face into the wind and watch the horizon. Never been seasick, even in big seas.

[wahoo]

I fish on an 88 foot boat all along Baja and offshore to 400 -500 miles as well as Alaska in a 27 ft boat. Alaska is the worst for weather when you leave the shore and protected areas. But, have taken waves over the 88 footer. Last year fished 100 miles out of Homer in a base camp. We fished as we were already near Kodiak in a base camp, but Homer boats did not get out for 4 days. Ginger works well for some and is a good alternative. some get sick leaving the dock. The bands and everything listed here can work.

I ran into scopace via a Dr at the Long Beach Sport Show. He said if required, sorry to be crude, a pill can even be inserted thru other orifices if need be and will work. My wife is in Medicine, checked it out and agreed it is a better alternative to the patch.

No, I do not have "stock" in scopace. If you are going for the patch, which requires a prescription, ask the Doc about scopace.

[whitebassman]

As far as I can see, Scopace is not available and discontinued by the manufacturer. So you may not be able to get any tablets from your local pharmacy. But patch is available. Any of the above products will work. And keep in mind, you may not get seasick to start with even.