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MEDICAL INFORMATION
Motion Sickness Key Facts
Motion Sickness is a condition that affects some people when travelling. It may be referred to as seasickness, airsickness, carsickness, space Motion Sickness, or space adaptation syndrome, depending on the form of travel. Here, we will take a closer look at the causes, symptoms, and treatments for Motion Sickness.
What is Motion Sickness?
Motion Sickness occurs when the eyes, inner ears, muscles, and joints, receive conflicting information to the brain, leading to disorientation. Common symptoms of Motion Sickness include nausea, dizziness, headaches, vomiting, pale skin, a cold sweat, and an increased production of saliva.
Causes of Motion Sickness
Motion Sickness is caused by conflicting information received by the central nervous system. This can be caused by different forms of travel, such as cars, buses, trains, airplanes, or boat, as well as amusement park rides, virtual reality experiences, or while reading in a moving vehicle. This mismatch of signals from the vestibular, visual and somatosensory systems all add to the symptoms of Motion Sickness.
Risk factors affecting Motion Sickness
Susceptibility to Motion Sickness will vary based on several factors. Women, children, and those with a history of migraines are most likely to experience Motion Sickness, but age, fitness, and changes in the balance of hormones also plays a role.
Prevention of Motion Sickness
Various strategies can help reduce the risk, these include:
- Choosing the right seat: Taking the front seat in a car, sitting over the wing of an aeroplane, or choosing a cabin at the front or middle of a boat
- Focusing on the horizon to reduce sensory conflict. Also, avoiding reading or using electronic devices
- Avoiding triggers such as amusement park rides, strong odors, greasy food, and cigarette smoke
- Getting fresh air
- Maintaining a proper diet and hydration: Eating light meals low in calories and drinking plenty of water can help relieve symptoms. Also, limit alcohol before and during travel
- Mind-body techniques such as, deep breathing exercises, meditation, and acupressure wristbands
Medications for Motion Sickness
Sometimes, medication may be needed for the treatment of Motion Sickness. These include:
- Over-the-counter antihistamines, such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl) and dimenhydrinate (Dramamine), block histamine receptors in the brain, reducing signals that trigger nausea and vomiting. These can however cause drowsiness, dry mouth and blurred vision as a side effect. Other over-the-counter options include cyclizine and promethazine
- Prescription medications may be recommended for more severe symptoms of Motion Sickness. These include, scopolamine, which as a patch, can be applied behind the ear before travel. Meclizine is another option, but is not currently available in the U.K.
Natural remedies and alternative therapies
Natural remedies and alternative therapies may also offer some relief from Motion Sickness. These include:
- Ginger: Consumed as raw ginger, ginger ale, ginger tea, or ginger candies. Speak to your doctor before using ginger if you are taking blood-thinning medications or have any other medical conditions
- Peppermint: Consumed as peppermint tea or inhaled through its aroma. Those with certain gastrointestinal conditions should consult their healthcare provider first
- Acupuncture and acupressure bands to stimulate specific points on the body to alleviate symptoms
Motion Sickness in adults
Adults may develop coping mechanisms to certain types of motion, but susceptibility to Motion Sickness can still occur in adults. Those with other medical conditions such as migraines or vestibular disorders may be more susceptible to Motion Sickness. Preventive measures, medications or alternative treatments can all help manage Motion Sickness symptoms in adults.
Motion Sickness in the elderly
Older adults may also experience a reduction in Motion Sickness due to certain types of motion. However, changes in the vestibular system and other physiological factors can make some older adults more prone to Motion Sickness. Remember to be aware of age-related conditions or medications when taking medication for Motion Sickness in the elderly.
Motion Sickness in pregnant women
Pregnancy may cause changes in hormone levels that may increase the risk of Motion Sickness in women, and pregnant women should be cautious when deciding which medication or alternative therapy to use. Speak with your healthcare provider to ensure the safety of any medications taken.
Migraine and Motion Sickness
Many who suffer from migraines also report Motion Sickness. Both involve a disturbance in the vestibular system which causes similar symptoms. Management of migraines and Motion Sickness can help relieve symptoms in those with this both these conditions.
Vestibular disorders and Motion Sickness
Meniere’s disease or vestibular migraine, can increase the risk of Motion Sickness. Management of both the underlying condition and Motion Sickness is essential for those with vestibular disorders.
Parkinson’s disease and Motion Sickness
Parkinson’s disease can also increase the likelihood of Motion Sickness symptoms. Management of Parkinson’s disease and Motion Sickness can help improve the overall quality of life for those with this condition.
Conclusion
Understanding the causes, symptoms, and treatments available for Motion Sickness is essential when managing and preventing Motion Sickness.
Preventative strategies, medications or the use of natural remedies can effectively alleviate Motion Sickness symptoms, helping you have a more comfortable journey.
Sources
- NHS Motion Sickness
- Better Health – Motion Sickness
- Familydoctor – Motion Sickness
- Mayoclinic – Motion Sickness symptoms and causes
- NIH – Motion Sickness
- Medicalnewstoday – Motion Sickness
Medical Disclaimer
NowPatient has taken all reasonable steps to ensure that all material is factually accurate, complete, and current. However, the knowledge and experience of a qualified healthcare professional should always be sought after instead of using the information on this page. Before taking any drug, you should always speak to your doctor or another qualified healthcare provider.
The information provided here about medications is subject to change and is not meant to include all uses, precautions, warnings, directions, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or negative effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a particular medication does not imply that the medication or medication combination is appropriate for all patients or for all possible purposes.
Related Articles
Service Guide
Everything You Need to Know About Getting Treated Privately for Motion Sickness
What does the Get Treated Privately service for Motion Sickness do?
The Get Treated Privately service is a private prescribing service which is designed for adults aged 18 years and over, who are experiencing health issues and who would like to receive a fast-track assessment and if applicable, a treatment plan from a qualified prescribing clinician. Treatments for Motion Sickness are dispensed and delivered to your home or workplace from our regulated online pharmacy.
Is this a safe Motion Sickness prescribing service?
Yes. Our formulary of medications prescribed for Motion Sickness are controlled, governed, and continuously risk-assessed by our Medical Director, Dr Ihtesham Sabri. Unlike other prescribing services which operate using faceless questionnaires, our Motion Sickness prescribing service is conducted through remote video consultations, also known as synchronous consultations. This builds patient safety and prescribing appropriateness into our service, ensuring our prescribing clinicians can be satisfied with who and what they are treating. There is no guarantee of supply of medications, and any prescriptions supplied are at the sole discretion of our clinician prescriber. There is no charge for the Motion Sickness consultation.
What is a prescribing clinician and is it safe for me to use them on the NowPatient platform?
Our prescribing clinicians are board-certified pharmacists, nurses, or doctors who can also prescribe any medicine for any medical condition, subject to accepted accreditation and good clinical practice. They are all registered with their respective regulatory bodies. For example, a pharmacist independent prescriber is registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC). Each prescribing clinician undergoes an extensive background check including a disclosure and barring service check (DBS). In addition, they undergo a rigorous license verification process. When you book an appointment with our prescribing clinicians you will see their full name, license number, and any specialized credentials they have.
Is the service available worldwide?
Yes, you can get treated privately for Motion Sickness worldwide.
Do I need to pay for this service?
Yes. This is a private service. You do not need to pay for the consultation. You only pay for the cost of the Motion Sickness treatment that you are prescribed.
How do I book a consultation?
Once you have logged into your account, you will need to navigate to the Get Treated Privately service card which is located as a service item on the dashboard.
Using the action button on the service card, you can select one of the following – ‘Search Treatments’ or ‘Search Conditions’. From here you can search for Motion Sickness.
Depending on the search type and the product/condition that you would like to get treated, you will be taken to a consultation booking screen. Follow the simple steps to complete your booking. During the booking confirmation, you will be able to select a date and time that is convenient for you, along with the preferred language and gender of the prescribing clinician you wish to choose. You will then see a list of all available expert clinicians who are trained to assess the medication or condition chosen. Once you have confirmed your booking, you will see a summary of the appointment including preliminary information about the consultation. At this point, you will also be able to add a reminder to your calendar. Always ensure your account health profile is up to date before any consultation. This ensures that our clinicians have the most up-to-date information about your current health status and anything that may influence their prescribing decisions. You will receive a push notification, SMS notification and email reminding you of your consultation, 30 minutes before the virtual consultation is due to start.
Depending on certain medications which require our clinicians to have your up-to-date blood pressure readings, you may be required to submit a virtual blood pressure check, using your smartphone or device. We will provide you with full instructions, when this is required.
What happens during the remote video consultation?
During the consultation, the clinician will ask you a series of questions that will allow the clinician to assess your condition and potential treatment options for Motion Sickness. At the end of the consultation, the clinician will decide which treatment options are safe and suitable option for you.
If it is, the clinician will discuss the treatment option, so that you can jointly agree on the treatment plan. Once you have jointly agreed on a treatment plan, the clinician will issue a prescription treatment for your Motion Sickness which will be available in your Cart at the end of the consultation.
Also, with your consent, the clinician may wish to inform your doctor of the treatment that was prescribed. We recommend that you agree to this since your doctor is responsible for your overall care and they should have a record of this consultation and medication prescribed. In addition, our clinician may take the opportunity to advise you on your overall health including advice on healthy living or stop smoking.
What happens at the end of the Motion Sickness consultation?
At the end of the consultation, you will receive a notification which will summarise the outcome. It will also advise you if any referrals were made to your doctor, along with any other advice that was given to you by the clinician.
If a referral letter was issued to your doctor, you will be able to view a copy of this in the ‘Documents’ section of the dashboard.
If you were prescribed a treatment, it will now be available in your Cart.
When you go to your Cart, you will be able to select the treatment, checkout and make payment. Once the checkout is complete, your prescription order will be sent to our regulated online pharmacy for processing.
What if the prescriber does not prescribe a treatment for Motion Sickness?
We operate a safe prescribing service. This means that our prescribing clinicians always exercise their clinical judgment when prescribing . Unfortunately, we do not operate a self select service where you can choose a medication and simply buy. If the clinician that sees you does not prescribe anything, then you will not be charged.
Will I get status updates for my order?
Yes. When your Motion Sickness treatment is approved, and after you have checked out and paid for your order, we will keep you fully updated with the status of your order. Every time the status of your order changes, you will be notified immediately. These notifications will appear in the ‘Notification Feed’ section on the dashboard.
How will my Motion Sickness treatment be delivered?
All orders are shipped in discreet and unmarked packaging. This means it is suitable for delivery wherever you require (home, work, or a neighbour).
For thermo-sensitive orders (e.g. Insulin or weight loss injections) we use cold chain-validated packaging. Your parcel will normally receive an estimated delivery window from the courier on the day of delivery.
For your protection and safety, your first order can only be delivered to the address that is registered with NowPatient. Future orders can be delivered to any other address, for example, your workplace.
Do you ship cold-chain or temperature sensitive products?
Yes. We use a specialist courier service for all thermo-sensitive deliveries. This is to ensure that cold chain integrity is always maintained and thus the product quality, safety and efficacy.
Learn more about how we handle the delivery of temperature sensitive products.
Where do you deliver?
We currently deliver to all postcodes/zipcodes worldwide. Some postcodes in rural areas may have a slightly longer delivery time.
When will my order arrive?
We aim to ship all orders placed Monday – Friday before 3pm on the same day. Orders placed outside these times will be shipped the next working day. All deliveries are shipped by Royal Mail, which delivers Monday through Saturday in the UK. For deliveries outside of the UK, please check with your national postal service for accurate delivery days.
Our delivery options have the following delivery times:
- UK – Royal Mail Tracked 24 & Signed for Delivery – Next day delivery
- Europe – Royal Mail Tracked – Typical delivery of 3-5 working days
- Worldwide – Royal Mail – Typical delivery of 5-7 working days. If a tracked option is available for your country via Royal Mail, this service will be applied.
What should I do if my order has not arrived?
Delivery is normally made promptly after your dispatch notification is received. You can check the tracking details of your Motion Sickness order in the ‘Notification Feed’ section of the dashboard, at any point after dispatch.
Unfortunately, packages can sometimes get lost in the delivery system. If after 10 days you have not received your delivery, please contact us and we will do all we can to resolve the problem.
Can you prescribe GLP-1 weight loss injections?
Yes. However, with GLP-1 weight loss medications, the license requires that there are support resources put in place as part of the plan including coaching for a healthy lifestyle, exercise, and diet. Our clinicians will discuss this with you, if you are prescribed this type of treatment.
You can learn more on our Weight Loss Programs feature page.
What’s included with my order?
If you are ordering a treatment for Motion Sickness, your order will contain your medication only.
If you are ordering weight loss injections, your order will contain:
- Your prescription of pre-filled weight loss injection pens
- Needles
- Sharps bin for safe disposal of needles (if ordered as part of the bundle)
Can I reorder my medication, if I have already been prescribed a course?
Yes. However, as a responsible prescribing service, we do not issue more than one monthly cycle of medication at a time.
This means that, if you would like to reorder, you will need to rebook a consultation.
This is important, because it allows our clinicians to keep track on the progress of your treatment plan and ensure that the medication remains safe and effective for you.
What is the earliest I can reorder my medication or treatment?
14 days after you have received your first monthly supply of medication, we will send you a notification to advise you that you are eligible to reorder your medication. To ensure that we are able to safely prescribe the Motion Sickness medication for the next supply, you will need to rebook a consultation.
This ensures that our clinician can check in on your treatment plan and ensure it is working as intended and continues to be safe, suitable and appropriate for you.
How do I reorder my Motion Sickness treatment?
When you are eligible to reorder your next Motion Sickness prescription, we will send you a notification reminder. This notification reminder will request that you book a consultation with a NowPatient Clinician.
You should book a suitable time and date for the consultation.
At the end of the consultation, the clinician may advise you to either
- Stop the treatment
- Stay on the current dose
- Increase the dose
If our clinician deems it safe for you to continue the medication used to treat Motion Sickness, the prescription will be added to your cart, from where you can checkout.
Delivery will be made in line with our delivery timescales.
As a responsible prescribing service, we will always monitor your Motion Sickness treatment plan to ensure that it remains safe, effective and suitable for you.
How do I reorder weight loss medication?
Our weight loss programs are built to closely monitor treatment progress and safety. Please refer to the Weight Loss Programs Service Guide that explains how you can reorder or step edit your dose.






