Dealing with nausea on a flight

October 18, 2017 11:33 AM

I have been experiencing nausea since starting new medication last week. Tomorrow, I have to take a flight (a few hours in the air) and am dreading it, since I already get motion sickness on flights and other transportation. Any tips for coping?

Things I already have on hand: ginger, dramamine, dimenhydrinate (gravol), acetaminophen (tylenol), those pressure point wristbands that may or may not do anything. Assume that it is not feasible to switch medications before the flight, nor to cancel it. Thanks.

posted by cat potato to Health & Fitness (21 answers total)

Sour candies, peppermints, cold air in the face. Lots of barf bags.
posted by Ms Vegetable at 11:36 AM on October 18, 2017 [2 favorites]

For me, Benadryl does a better job of keeping my motion sickness at bay (especially on flights) than Dramamine.
posted by phunniemee at 11:36 AM on October 18, 2017

My credentials for answering this question is that i'm emetophobic and I hate to travel.

Most physicians will prescribe benzos for flights for anxiety, but Lorazepam/Ativan are also great anti-emetics. I'd get 1-2 mg for the flight and take 1/2 hour before flying. Also: they're benzos, so even if you *did* get nauseated you likely wouldn't care as much.

My ideal combo is Ativan+Dramamine/Gravol

Just make sure you do NOT DRINK ALCOHOL while on Ativan.
posted by Dressed to Kill at 11:37 AM on October 18, 2017 [3 favorites]

Meclizine is another OTC medication that works well for nausea and motion sickness. However, if the nausea is due to your new medication, are you able to take it with food to mitigate nausea, or delay the dose so it's after your travel? Alternately, is it possible to get a new prescription for a prescription-strength anti-nausea medication?
posted by stillmoving at 11:37 AM on October 18, 2017

saltine crackers are an old standby for morning sickness. I can attest that they do help relieve nausea
posted by supermedusa at 11:42 AM on October 18, 2017 [1 favorite]

If you can keep your eyes closed 100% of the time you're in flight, that usually works for me. You know the end of Raiders of the Lost Ark, where Indy's like, "SHUT YOUR EYES, MARION! WHATEVER YOU DO, DON'T LOOK!" Do that. Only ideally with a nice playlist of podcasts or an audiobook or something playing in your ears so you don't get bored.

It's super-inconvenient, but it can really really work. Motion sickness is mostly your brain getting confused about stimuli from your eyes conflicting with stimuli from your inner ear etc. Remove one of the stimuli, brain is like, "Oh we're moving around, I know about this."
posted by mskyle at 11:44 AM on October 18, 2017 [1 favorite]

can't you ask your doctor for a real anti-emetic? I had Zofran for pregnancy nausea and it is a miracle drug.
posted by fingersandtoes at 11:52 AM on October 18, 2017 [3 favorites]

Yes definitely miracle zofran. I take it before a weekly outpatient procedure and it's easy to get a prescription.
posted by colorblock sock at 11:56 AM on October 18, 2017 [1 favorite]

Third for Zofran.
posted by pearlybob at 12:05 PM on October 18, 2017

Nthing diphenhydramine and ondansetron
posted by brevator at 12:21 PM on October 18, 2017 [2 favorites]

Ginger is very effective for some people's motion sickness, including me. I bring a small bag of candied ginger on flights. I also have this aromatherapy inhaler because often the smell of things on planes (bathrooms, airline food, other people's perfume/lotion/wtf) makes me feel extra gross, and whether it's really effective or not at least this thing smells like fresh peppermint.
posted by oneirodynia at 1:05 PM on October 18, 2017 [3 favorites]

Zofran zofran zofran.
posted by bile and syntax at 1:36 PM on October 18, 2017

OMG zofran. I'm flying next month and it's literally on the top of my packing list. It's wonderful stuff.
posted by mochapickle at 1:51 PM on October 18, 2017

And I also tend to pick up a bottle of 7up or ginger ale before boarding. The bubbles help.
posted by mochapickle at 1:52 PM on October 18, 2017

This is a small potatoes suggestion compared to the meds, but a big drink with tons of ice really helps me when I'm feeling motion sick (which is 100% of my time as a passenger in cars and about 10% of airplane time). Cold just helps it feel so much better somehow.
posted by snaw at 2:27 PM on October 18, 2017

A product called Motioneaze really seems to help me, and I'm not a woo-woo essential oils type of person. It is an oil that you rub behind your ears about 30 minutes before take-off. It smells a bit like patchouli and peppermint, so I always dab some on while waiting in the boarding area so I don't overpower anyone with nasal issues.

My link goes to Amazon, but I've purchased it at Wal-Mart and Walgreens before.
posted by tacodave at 3:27 PM on October 18, 2017

I've had surprising success with the B6 preggo pops.
posted by emkelley at 3:53 PM on October 18, 2017 [1 favorite]

Yas to Zofran. I have chronic nausea. It's a miracle for me. A walk in should be able to get you some.
posted by Crystalinne at 4:43 PM on October 18, 2017

Have a doctor prescribe you a scopalamine patch. Miracle drug, it is. (in appropriately small doses)
posted by wierdo at 6:40 PM on October 18, 2017 [1 favorite]

Zofran is awesome, but if you take it make sure you have some laxatives available!
posted by beandip at 7:31 PM on October 18, 2017

nthing ginger. Ginger ale, ginger candy, ginger pills. Also the mint + cold water trick witchen mentions above as well as making sure you get some air flow on you when you get situated on the plain. Coolness/mintyness helps to beat back the sick/gross feelings.
posted by koucha at 7:50 AM on October 20, 2017