I used to be able to read in the car for hours, but I developed motion sickness in my late teens/early twenties. I find that it is worse when it rains – any idea why that might be? I usually drink soda and eat gingersnaps or plain crackers to try to help it. I find that it’s most annoying when it occurs on the way to a restaurant or something like that, because I’m too sick to eat for a while after arriving.

I also have suffered from motion sickness most of my life. The suggestions Dr. Gupta mentioned have helped me. I always try to sit in the front seat, and drive if possible. I have found ginger to be really helpful, and when I fly, I always ask for ginger ale. Unfortunately even looking out the side window when I am in the back seat can be bad. I highly recommend Ginger. Thanks Dr Gupta for the information.

I’ve had terrible motion sickness as long as I can remember. The only thing I’ve ever found to relieve the symproms once they start is ginger. I never travel now without ginger capsules!

I’ve had a problem with motion sickness for most of my life, though it seems to have gotten worse as I have aged. My father has it too, but in different ways. While he can’t go the aquarium or be on a boat without getting sick, I have problems with the car. I’m fine when I drive, but I’m awful as a passenger or worse, in the back seat. The only way to beat it is to stay hydrated, cool, and eat snacks. When in doubt, knock yourself out with dramamine. I also have trouble with migraines so I can’t do anything in the car to keep me busy like puzzles or read, or even look outside. Whether the motion sickness causes a migraine or the migraine causes motion sickness is anybody’s guess.

I’ve had motion sickness ever since I was a child. One remedy I found as an adult and that often works for me is acupressure bands. One goes on each wrist and pressure is applied to a specific point. I was highly skeptical when my GYN doctor suggested this; she uses it with success for morning sickness in pregnant patients. However, I found the bands to be effective as long as you don’t challenge them too much: I don’t think they would stop sickness on a ride with the Blue Angels! You can get the bands in boat stores and places like Walgreens.

Retired AF Lt Col. Plagued by violent motion sickness on airplanes since the age of 3.

I take dramamine 1/2 hr prior to a flight (don’t try flying the plane under the influence), and although not 100% comfortable, it helps to avoid dizziness and vomitting.

The Air Force had given me Phenargen pills which worked great (to the point of tunnel vision and extreme drwosiness)–all you can do is sleep–the effects seemed to last over into the next day so don’t expect to do anything till your are alert and make sure you have a ride home or to your hotel from the airport. Cutting the pill in quarters seemed to work better. No sensation of dizziness or nausea with this drug.

Scopolomine patches work good on boats–less drowsiness, but they tend to make you a little “hyper”, but better than motion sick.

Ginger and acupuncture/pressure have not have much of an effect.

Ginger is the cure for motion sickness. Take 2 ginger pills or eat ginger root 2 hrs before you need it. Take 1 every 1-2 hrs during. It will calm your stomach down, guaranteed! No side effects since it is a natural substance. It really works!

I get motion sickness really bad! The bad thing….I love to travel. So I use the “Holy Trinity”: Ginger candy, dramanine, and pressure wrist bands. It also helps to have something light in your stomach. On tours, etc. I always ask to sit in the front of the tour bus or car. I hate being high maintenance but it is better than getting sick! Good news is that I did go on a cruise last year and I felt fine!

I developed motion sickness in the past 2 years. I’ve tried ginger tablets and ginger ale, but it did not help. If you look at the ingredients in most commercial ginger ale, there is no ginger. It’s all high fructose corn syrup and carbonated water. Go to Whole Foods to find the real ginger ale. I found that sitting in the front or driving does help.

My motion sickness was terrible as a child and young adult. Now that I am older, either I have mostly outgrown it or I just know how to avoid triggers on a day-to-day basis. I still can’t stomach spinny amusement rides or movies with a shaky, hand-held camera style. Ginger ale and fresh air help once sickness has set in. If I am planning something that I know will cause motion sickness, I rely on the Relief Band device. You wear it like a watch. The gentle electrical pulses it gives off somehow prevent nausea. It works so well that I can go deep sea fishing with it – something I could never do without it.

It’s amazing to me that I have the opposite of “sickness while in motion”…I can only find relief from my continuous sensations of movement when I’m riding in a car (or any other conveyance that is in motion). My persistent symptoms are the result of Mal de Debarquement Syndrome (MdDS) which developed acutely while on a pleasant 7 day cruise…over 3 years ago! Clearly, there are many individual variations in responses to motion. But, it seems that they share one thing in common: they are all curses! I think I’ll try adding ginger to my diet…just in case.

Ginger capsules have worked wonders for me, too. I’ve also found focusing on a stationary object in the distance helps as well. Of course that technique works better in the Plains than it does the mountains or woodlands.

I actually saw this story on cnn headline news this morning (I was hoping for some great prevention tips instead of treatments when I looked for the story online). However, my fiance now believes that I’m not making my ailments up just to get out of ending up squished in the back on long car rides. I will definitely have to try ginger – I had never heard that before. I’m an English teacher and I love to travel – I have always wished that I could read to pass the time. Thank you for the story Dr. Gupta.

Although my motion sickness has abated a bit as I’ve gotten older, I still can’t read in a car (although I usually can on a plane). I always found the front seat the be the greatest help. One of the biggest problems still facing your daughter is that she will likely be forbidden from riding in the front seat in most states until she’s at least 10, due to the risks from airbags — not to even think about school buses. While this is a useful suggestion for adults, what more can be done to help the younger child?

I have experienced motion sickness in the past also. What I am experiencing now is sort of “reverse motion sickness” It is called Mal de Debarquement Syndrome. I “feel” motion when I am still, and when “in motion” I feel normal. I rock and sway and bob and weave as if on a boat in choppy water. The only time I do not feel this sensation is when I am in “external motion” ie. bike riding, in a car. My first round with this syndrome lasted 4 months and was brought on be a first time cruise. This episode has been almost 3 months now. There are many sufferers of MdDS out here. We are undergoing many tests but finding no medical answers.

I have a type of motion sickness that came on me after a cruise and flights. For the past three years I never have been frre from the feeling of movement UNLESS I am in a car. It is called Mal de Debarquement and it is a struggle every day. If you have any suggestions, please help! My quality of life is gone.

I have suffered with motion sickness my entire life. As a result, I don’t travel anywhere without dramamine. Everyone knows that when I ride in a car, I get dibs on the front seat unless there is someone else that is cursed with the same malady. When flying, I request an aisle seat – not the window. The view from the window makes things worse. One of the best suggestions came from an old RAF pilot who unfortunately for him had the seat next to mine on my first transatlantic trip. He could easily see my discomfort. First, he opened the vent above my head to its most open capability. Second, he told me to keep my eyes closed the entire time that I felt nauseous. Third, he told me to take long,slow deep breaths. It worked like a charm. I still use this method whenever my dramamine needs an extra boost during extreme air turbulence.

I had motion sickness as a kid–not helped by my parents smoking. I had to sit in the front seat, and look out. It did get better when I learned to drive. I still can’t be in places where I can’t see out, like the last row in an airplane. I also can’t watch an IMAX movie without taking Dramamine.

All these cures! Where were you when I was a child. Every other year we went on a summer vacation to Connecticut. Less than 30 minutes into the trip I was sick as a dog. Fresh air blowing in my face always helped. Trouble was, my dad hated the noise and made me close it. Then everyone knew I was sick.

I tried Dramamine and it worked. On short trips though, like to Pittsburgh, the drowsiness lasted for 8 hours. The trip only took 2 hours. By the time it wore off it was time to go to bed. Hopefully, the return trip wouldn’t fall on the second day!

The best things for me today are driving or at least sitting in the front seat. Oh yeah, and lots of cool, fresh air on my face. I know, sounds like a dog with its head hanging out the window! Maybe that’s why dogs do it?

I have suffered from motion sickness my entire life…the only relief i have ever found is to eat a bit of crystalized ginger prior to my travels.

I once worked as an air courier and traveled 3-4 roundtrips a week. After all of that ginger, i have reached a point where my gag reflex reacts if i even smell ginger! i use the capsules now, but i don’t think they work as well.

I admire that you have not allowed this ailment to deter you from your business travel and great adventure opportunities.

I was recently on a small ship from South America across the Drake Passage to the Antarctic peninsula….that was 36 continuous hours of severe mismatch. Oh, poor me; Oh, my poor travel companion!!!! Oh, then there was the trip back…..

Hi Sanjay,

Interesting article on motion sickness! A topic that I’ve been interested in for quite some time since I’ve also had this problem since I was a child.

As a child, the resolution has always been the same. Sodium. I never thought much of it as a child, I just knew salt worked. Feeling the onset of nausea I would instinctively reach for salt n vinegar potato chips. Eaten extremely slowly, they would help rid the feeling of nausea within an hour unless it was flu.

As a youth, perhaps with the flu, I would use Gatorade (high sodium) and salt n vinegar chips. Again, consumed extremely slowly, they would alleviate nausea over time.

As an adult, Ive continued with this treatment and it does help. Ive never used ginger in any form although most people find that Ginger Ale does help as you mentioned.

Doing some research on sodium and nausea I have come across a few research papers on anaesthetic drugs and post-surgery nausea. From what I recall, the treatment for this is providing the patient with a sodium based drug prior to anaesthetic. Interesting that a sodium based drug is used to combat nausea in this situation. Its provided some foundation to my speculation that sodium actually works in alleviating nausea.

Ive tried the sodium therapy on friends who had nausea and it seemed to work for them also. The tendancy here is for the nauseated individual to guzzle the Gatorade (driven by dehydration or exposure to sodium) so one needs to keep an eye on them!

In addition to those remedies you mention, I find that keeping my face cool – especially with a cool, damp washcloth — helps.

My child, thankfully, does not seem to suffer from motion sickness.

So do people who are blind get motion sickness? I still get motion sickness if I close my eyes the whole time. I think there must be more to it than a mismatch between the eyes and the ears.

I think my motion sickness is a sensitivity to acceleration rather than a mismatch. By acceleration, I mean in the physics sense, changing velocity, including curves.

Certain drivers consistently make me have motion sickness and certain drivers never give me motion sickness. A long time ago, I started paying attention to their driving styles. Those that make me have motion sickness accelerate or decelerate harder.

I get sickest in stop-and-go traffic, back-and-forth wave motion such as boats, and spinning. These are constantly changing velocities.

Sitting backwards makes me sickest, and looking sideways isn’t good either. If I start to feel sick, I try to keep my head as level and centered as possible, aligned in the 3 dimensions, not tilted nor sideways.

Giving my neck extra support so that it’s not whipping or straining as much to compensate for the acceleration helps too. Another thing I noticed is that I would be more likely to get motion sickness if I had an empty stomach and had not drank enough fluids.

Dr. Gupta,
A few years ago, while on vacation visiting relatives, an aunt asked my mother how she prevents motion sickness during long-distance car travel. My mother said that the most important thing is the type of car being driven and said that a “heavier car” shakes less. It is especially important if you have young children in the back seat, because a car shakes more in that area because it is further away from the engine area (where it is heavier). The more a car shakes, she says, the greater the likelihood that someone riding in that car will get sick.

The car you used in the video is not considered a “heavy car” and would shake quite a bit (esp in the backseat) at high speeds.

Other suggestions she mentioned:
1. Travel at night whenever possible (if you are asleep, you won’t get sick.)
2. Eat a light snack at least every other hour (avoid having an empty stomach.)
3. Keep car interior at a cool temperature.
4. Wear sunglasses if it is sunny and especially if the car’s windows are not tinted (sunlight can cause fatigue, making any symptoms of motion sickness worse.)

My mother used to give us crackers/cookies and juice on road trips. She usually favored Ritz crackers, because she said that they “melt in the mouth and therefore less likely to cause choking.”

I also think it would help your daughter to ride in the car more often- both short and long trips. This is so her body can get accustomed to riding in a car.

Finally, I suggest that you position her car seat forward-facing- if you have not already done so. I know it is safer for her to ride rear-facing, but riding backwards (for her) is just asking for trouble.

I have “motion sickness” all the time except when I am in a car. It started after a cruise. I still feel like I am on the ship. The only time it leaves is when I am in motion. It has totally changed my life, has made be very depressed at times, confused, difficult to concentrate. Every test comes back normal. I sympathize with those who suffer “car sickness”, but I would be relieved if that were the only time I felt it.

I always ride in the front seat if I am not driving. I keep the window cracked even in heavy rain and I don’t dare look down or turn around.

It is bad in elevators too….no more than 1 time up and down in a day and no more than a few floors.

My daughter is the same way.

Your solutions are best. Look out the window into the distance with the window down. The ginger really helps with nausea.

No boats, no long plane rides, nothing too movable unless I can see where I am going.

It sucks a bit a guess..lol.

I have had Mal de Debarquement Syndrome (MdDS) for 7 months now following a 7-day cruise in Cabo San Lucas. If you can imagine the feeling of constant motion sickness 24×7 except when I am driving, then you understand MdDS. I agree ginger helps with the nausea. Walking across a tile floor has to be the ultimate in creating instantaneous motion sickness and disequilibrium. As a passenger in a car, I have never been able to read. I also have chronic migraine headaches. In fact, MdDS is thought to be a variant of migraine. I will never view motion the same for the remainder of my life and can really sympathize with Dr. Gupta.

I’m 43 years old and still can not ride in the backseat of a car, van, or even a bus. I always sit in the front seat or drive. When a wave of dizziness hits me (car sickness), I usually can’t get my bearings unless I lay down or at least have air hitting me directly in the face. I always seem to crave a soda, too. Now I know why!

As a teacher, I always have another adult go with me on field trips because I can not turn around to check students. The motion of the bus, and seeing the road behind the bus absolutely makes my entire body feel as if I’m capsizing.

There is no way I can look at anything that resembles reading while in a car, regardless of driving or sitting in the front seat. The motion of the vehicle, and me reading road signs is horrible. By the time I have arrived to my destination I’m so sick I can’t enjoy myself -and that is with me driving, too!

I have severe inner ear infections throughout the year, and take medication for the dizziness. I’ve never tried ginger before. I’ll have to find some ginger capsules and see how they work out for me.

I have had motion sickness for years. Driving is the best scenario, but if i am not invited to drive, it is either the front seat, or I will meet you there and take my own car. My daughter, who is 12, has suffered from it for years, too. Even short distances cause her to have symptoms. Meclizine (generic Antivert, or Bonine) really helps. I discovered that by accident when I took Meclizine to help relieve symptoms from Meniere’s disease. Motion sickness can really ruin the rest of your day, but there are ways to cope. Dr. Gupta’s suggestions are great and I am definitely trying ginger next time. If I can go natural, I will! Thanks for this blog.

Good to know about ginger. When I was a kid, I used to drink ginger ale…who knew? Cars are bad, but for me, the worst place is a boat. I took a day cruise in Mexico once and just about threw myself overboard. That was the most miserable day! It is so discouraging, because I feel like it limits what I can do. I want to travel the Hana highway in Maui, but I know that if I take a tour bus, I’ll be sick all day and if I drive, I won’t really enjoy the scenery. I feel for your daughter. I was riding in a van once, on a windy, hilly road watching “Twister” on the dvd. The movie had them driving wildly to outrun the storm, and I could see the winding road we were on out of the front window…not a pretty combination. I have often wondered if reporters who travel like you did for Planet in Peril got carsick on those long dirt roads. I admire you for doing it. Has to be miserable.

I’m prone to seasickness, so at my doctor’s recommendation, I took a combination of bonine (non-drowsy) and ginger capsules on my last cruise. Hint: Begin the regimen 2-3 days prior to the trip and phase it out of your system 1-2 days at the end of the trip. Worked like a charm.

I often have a hard time distinguishing between motion sickness or an imminent migraine while riding in the car. Unfortunately, one of my worst migraine triggers is light flashing through trees. As long as I’m not driving, my best cure for either has been to close my eyes and lean on a pillow. I haven’t tried ginger though – it sounds like its worth keeping in the glove box!

Deep, rhythmic, slow breathing is helpful to me when there are no other options available.

I can remember having it since i was 6 years old. At that time the only thing that I discovered was to crack the window and go to sleep. Now if it happens I close my eyes and try to relax. Thanks for the other tips! I will sure use them.

I’ve had motion sickness for most of my life. At times it’s been horible – the need to find a rest room in a hurry. I always felt it was an anxiety attack but always when I’m in the car or plane. I’ll take Dr. Gupta recommendations.

Wow, I don’t suffer from that nor does anyone in my family and, unfortunately, I can’t help much. However, if it is any consolation, we had the opposite problem. Our baby would start bawling in the car at the slightest reduction in speed or motion. Anything below 50 km/h and we were biting our nails. As soon as we spotted a stop sign or a red light in the distance, we knew that there was going to be trouble and not with the police. Labelling a child in a negative manner is one of the worst things that a parent can do. Well, we broke that rule and called her “the need for speed baby”. By the way, flying with the Blue Angels was a crazy but awesome thing to do. I’m still jealous.

Great advice as always, Dr. Gupta!

My heart goes out to your little daughter. Regarding helpful solutions for this problem, I’ve found that looking out helps, but I also try to fixate my sight on something stationary down the road or highway. That really helps!

I use a motion sickness watch that pilots often use. It used to be sold at Walgreens for around $100 (well worth it). It sends electric shocks into your wrist – has 4 levels of strength, of which I always set it to “high”. This is the only thing I’ve found that really works for me. The motion sickness pills make me tired but I’m still nauseated. One time my battery went dead on my watch, un-beknownst to me and next thing I know, my head is in the vomit bag!!!

I had motion sickness from childhood until my late 40s, when a kind soul recommended a $5 set of elastic wrist bands with a small plastic ball at the wrist pressure point. Dr. Gupta, these will look a little goofy under your suit sleeves, kinda like tennis sweat bands for flying, but I’m telling you, the days of discomfort, irritability and grogginess from Dramamine are over. You gotta try these! Mine were made by Travel-Eze, which I found at the traveler’s store at our local Triple-A.

I used to be able to cruise in boats and airplanes without any sickness. Now as I get older, I’m becoming more and more prone to it. Unfortunately ginger doesn’t work that great on me but I have found that smelling a lemon helps me out. I know it sounds weird but it helps (at least for me)! I’m also not a big fan of taking dramamine or bonine so I tried the pressure point bands that you put on your wrists and they have also helped a lot. The bands are more pricey than the pills but I think they are worth it in the end.

I have been suffering from sea-sickness all my life, but I’m fine in cars and planes. I have always been told being outside is best and when I can, I drink Ginger ale. Also wearing as little as possible because I tend to get hot when I’m queezy.

I’ve never found anything that worked for motion sickness other than a double dose of dramamine. I’ve gotten motion sickness on planes, trains, automobiles, boats, motorcycles, riding my horse, and, yes, even watching some action movies! A 3-D movie is out of the question or I start throwing up in the theater:)
I’ve found the only thing to work is an extra dose of dramamine, which means I try to avoid any long-term travel, especially with boats or cars. I’m interested, too, if anyone has any suggestions other than ginger, fresh air, and sitting in the front seat?

I to suffer from motion sickness and it seems to be getting worse as I get older. It has gotten so bad that sometimes it hits while I am driving. I have found that if I support my neck with a rolled up towel or anything that is handy really helps.

I get awful motion sickness. If I am in the back seat of a car and I don’t have Dramamine I feel super sick. Sometimes I may even throw up. Dramamine makes me so dopey. I’ll have to give the ginger a try!

It gets worse specially when flights take off and land. I suddenly start feeling dizzy and nauseated. A clove in the mouth gives relief, and sometimes a chewing gum cinnamon flavoured is the best. Motion sickness prevents me from trying out the rides at six flags and sclitterbahns…. (

.Dr. Gupta, When I was very young I remember that I didn’t have good balance. I would trip and fall all the time. Once, standing still close to a very sharp plant I toppled into it. The cause “you’ll grow out of it’?? I would have migraines growing up.
Still continuing as of my middle 50’s I have been a flight attendant for twenty years and when I first started I was nauseous and another flight attendant told me to drink tomato juice. Eventually the nausea went away.
Until three years ago, when I had a very bad spell of vertigo along with that ,server ear pain. Hearing problems, Disequilibrium,Tinnitus. And a constant feeling of motion once off the aircraft. As if I was still in the air swaying side to side. I have been to Many types of Dr’s and they found nothing to be causing this. I used the Internet and looked under dizziness,motion sickness. And came upon a wonderful site of people that are being treated for Mal de Debarquement Syndrome or MdDS. It’s a wonderful support group. And they all speak of different treatments that they have had. Perhaps you could find one that affects you and your darling young one. Many Blessings, ValerieRose

I have always suffered from terrible motion sickness. I cannot ride in a bus or taxi, and absolutely cannot go out on a boat. Flying is the worst – I spent an entire trip locked in the bathroom, and had to be removed from the plane in a wheelchair as I wasn’t able to walk. The feeling lasts for days, and I am unable to move without feeling horrible. Ginger did not help at all. Occasionally, the scopolamine patch that is worn behind the ear works, but most often it doesn’t. I now will not fly, and must always be in the front seat of a car. Often though, I will still get motion sick, and must move into the driver’s seat.

I HAVE TERRIBLE MOTION SICKNESS AND TO HELP IT YOU HAVE TO LOOK WHERE YOU ARE GOING IN THE CAR LIKE IF THERE IS A TURN UP AHEAD AND YOULL BE FINE. IVE NEVER TRIED THE GINGER THOUGH!

I started motion sickness in my mid twenties & boy do I ever get sick, it is so heart wretching b/c I miss roller coasters & being able to go out on a boat – it’s worse on a boat, my literally starts spinning if I try to go below! It’s really the pits!

I have horrible motion sickness. A long time ago, on a 12+ hour car ride, my doctor prescribed Trans-Scop patches which helped out a lot. I usually try to sit in the front seat (or drive, as he suggested). I also don’t try to put myself in situations that I know will start the symptoms (like going to amusement parks). I’d rather not have a day of fun over feeling sick to my stomach!

I suffer from another type of motion sickness and am wondering if there is anyone else out there like me. I get very dizzy and sick when I’m in a room with a ceiling fan moving. Because they are so common this can be a problem. I can’t enjoy a meal in a resturaunt that has lots of fans going on the cieling. Any suggestions? Thank You

My sister suffers from motion sickness and if she is not driving she has to sit in a seat on the right side of the car. She still suffers but it is not as bad. Anyone have any idea why that would make a difference?

I have suffered from motion sickness all my life as well. Back seat of a car, boats, and airplanes can make my head spin with just the thought. What is even worse is the combination of flying and smelling food being served in the plane at the same time. I have to carry a handkerchief with a splash of perfume, or a bag of dry tea and keep it on my nose at all times during a flight, it helps. I also need to keep my head as tight as possible to the seat and never try to get up during a flight, it’s a big mistake. My doctor prescribed ear patches, which I tried the last few times I took red-eye flights. It does help, but it leaves your mouth dry. I really don’t think there is anything we can do to cure it, and I do think that each person needs to try and discover the strangest methods that can help minimize the horrible feeling.

I have had it my entire life. The only way to avoid it in my experience is to take some Dramamine before a long drive and sleep from start to finish. I find that I am especially sensitive to the smell of food in the car–this really exacerbates the nausea. Also, if I am hungry during the ride, or full from a meal I just ate, I know the motion sickness will be terrible.

I haven’t been able to find a way to get rid of the feeling after it’s onset. I usually have to wait it out.

I used to be the Director of Technical Operations for the Zero Gravity Corp. I flew on nearly 80 flights on a Boeing 727 that flew in a parabolic flight profile to recreate a few seconds of microgravity at the time. Not once did I ever get sick, or use medication.

Most of us that flew the roller-coaster regularly had iron-stomachs, but about 1-2 customers a flight would loose their cookies. A bad flight would often have more. Typically ZERO-G would offer the customers a scopolamine, caffeine, and chlorpheniramine compounded prescription if they desired it, but often times Dramamine or the scopolamine patch was the drug of choice.

In flight, we’d often have a ginger candies available for people to chew if they felt a little quesy, worked more often than I had ever expected.

I have motion sickness. I find Bonnie works better than Draminine as it does not make me sleepy. Like others I drive or sit in the front seat if I can. Cheez-its have helped to settle my stomach.

Everything you stated happens to me as well. I don’t have much advise except stay clear of winding roads, drive if you can, don’t sit in the back seat of the car, don’t go on amusement park rides if the ride spins. I have been told I have narrow ear canals, would that have anything to do with it? My father also had equilibrium problems.

I never realized how awful motion sickness could be until I developed a “reverse motion sickness” of sorts, called Mal de Debarquement syndrome five years ago. I feel as if I’m in constant motion — a rocking and bobbing sensation — when I am still, particularly noticeable when I’m sitting with no distractions or trying to go to sleep at night. I was canoeing off and on for three days on a family vacation when I first noticed it; it was worse after a 12-hour car drive… I can’t help but wonder if motion sickness and MdDS have something in common, as some doctors have speculated about a sensory mismatch in our cases. I have also wondered about how acceleration and turning impacts people with MdDS, just as some one else here posts about its impact on motion sickness. I hope some day soon doctors will be able to find some clues that will help us all …!

I have also had motion sickness all my life. On my honeymoon in St. Lucia a mountain biking tour in the jungle became a nightmare because of the hour long bus ride on the windiest roads on the steepest hills I have ever seen. When we stopped to pick up other passengers- I had to run to the bathroom and throw up. Sitting in the front seat helped on the way back. I also find that works fairly well in the car, but it is best if I drive. For me Drammamine does not work, but I have never tried ginger. I will try that next time and hopefully it helps. When my husband and I went to Jamaica in June we pretty much stayed at the resort the whole time because I was so afraid of getting sick on the bus ride!

I’ve had motion sickness all of my life. It was worse when I was a child, riding in the back seat and not able to see out of the windows. I actually stayed behind a couple of times when my family went on vacation. I would rather miss the vacation then spend hours in the car. My mother taught me to breathe deeply and slowly and that did help – mostly because I was concentrating on my breathing; a sort of self hypnosis. I’m better now that I can ride in the front, or better yet if I can drive as then I am totally focused ahead. There have been times I have hardly felt ill at all and other times I am sick for hours after the trip is over. I have not been able to figure out why. I find that it usually is not so bad at night. I think it is because I can’t see things passing by out the side window in my peripheral vision. I never look backwards or try to read. It’s not so bad in a jet, but little planes are awful. I don’t like motor boats, except a pontoon. The problem definitely limits options and fun. I’ve passed up helicoptor rides and boat trips (and family vacations as a child!). My husband would love to go on a cruise but it is the last thing I would want to do! I get sick on a swing (even the ski chair lifts, when they first take off swinging, make me dizzy) and I do not watch much TV or movies. The shaky or flashing film styles makes me sick. Watching the credits roll at the end of a movie makes me sick! I love this article and all of the comments. I think people that do not have motion sickness get impatient with people who do. I am tickled to see comments describing exactly how I feel! It validates my observations and feelings. Dr. Gupta, you are smart to realize that your baby is suffering from motion sickness. I think most people wouldn’t think of that and would wonder why the baby is so fussy in the car. Perhaps you can somehow elevate her car seat, and fasten it in the middle of the back seat (not behind the front seats!) so she can see better. Ginger definitely helps, and I find that any carbonated drink will help especially riding through the mountains.

i am 50 years old and can’t remember a time I didn’t get car sick. I can’t even watch the merry-go-round at a fun park. No back seat for me, if I try and be brave for a short distance, I am immediately reminded I shouldn’t be there. I break out in a cold sweat, shake and vomit.
I am alright if I drive, but still feel dizzy after hours on the road.
This really is a pain of a condition.
T

I didn’t start suffering from motion sickness until I was in my twenties. I’m now in my thirties and seem to have identified a path that works for me. If I am going on a long flight (over 5 hours) I will take a Bonine the day before and the day of. I scuba dive now and have discovered I must start the day before as well or the boat ride will kill me. Bonine doesn’t make me tired and works better for me than Dramamine. I have noticed most people wait until they have symptoms to take a pill, and that just doesn’t work for motion sickness. The worst thing for motion sickness is constraint and heat. Babies must be strapped in correctly (which is pretty snug) and must be rear facing for quite awhile, so that is a challenge. Dress them in light “travel” layers, and double check their air flow. And give her ginger ale in a sippy cup (with ice), starting before you get in the car. Dilute it with water if you want to avoid a lot of sugar. And work on fun things to improve her balance. I do think there could be a connection. For adults, even gaining 10 pounds can affect their balance. It sounds odd, but most people I know who have motion sickness cannot close their eyes and stand on one leg and balance for very long. Those I know who don’t get sick, can. Just a thought.
And as for the lady that wants to go to Hana. Rent a convertible and drive it with the top down. You never go over 35 anyway, you will love it!

I also have been suffering from Mal de Debarquement Syndrome
(MdDS)
since a 7 day cruise in Feb. of 2006. It took me almost 2 years to be diagnosed because most doctors do not know of this life altering disorder. I sometimes wish I only had seasickness instead of the “landsickness “that I have had everyday since my cruise. It would be wonderful if someone like you could bring this to the forefront because there are so many of us suffering not knowing a cause or a cure. I wish I could drive in my car forever since my symptoms are so much better with the motion of the car, I am really sorry about you and your daughters problem.

My wife and daughter and grandchildren all take ginger root tablets before going anywhere in a car or plane or anything else. I learned that it was being given to passengers on board ships instead of dramamien which causes severe drowsiness in some people. I found that it worked well for me and passed it on. I take several tablets and feel no ill effects. My wife and daughter and kids take the same and it works for them to the point where before leaving thr house the grandkids ask for a ginger root tablet. Good luck, I hope it works for you and yours.

Interesting article. I have had motion sickness all my life. The only thing that works for me is that I have to drive myself. I tried sitting in the front, wrist band, dramamine, putting a bandaid over the bellybutton, fresh air, looking ahead etc. Sometimes, when the ride is short, it works, but when the ride is long or with an upset stomach, none of them works. When I go on a cruise or plane, I tried to do everything I know helps, but sometimes I still got sick. I’ll have to try the ginger and electric band.

I get motion sickness just reading about it. I avoid drinking coffee before any trip that might include a “scenic highway”. I take Dramamine before stepping on a ship or boat. Surprisingly planes do not bother me. Dramamine helps but it makes me very drowsy. Ginger tea ..not too sweet, helps. Soda crackers also help. We must be careful though, sometimes morning sickness can have other causes than eye and ear being out of synch. My sister at age 60 was diagnosed with Chiari 1 malformation. This diagnosis explained why turning her head caused nausea and unexplained tingling in the face. I wish Dr. Gupta would do a show on Chiari malformation.

I have suffered from motion sickness my entire life. I have tried all the remedies and nothing, NOTHING has ever worked for me but a physician prescribed patch called Derm-Scope. With the patch I have been able to travel on small ships, boats and busses. Things I would never have attempted before.

I also suffer .. however, it is something I developed later in life and can no longer tolerate the things I used to enjoy. Driving the car is a must..
Does anyone know why it worsens with age?

I have had motion sickness all my life and the older I get the worse it gets.

Even as a baby I threw up riding in a car. On a 5 mile trip to town,
I would have to throw up. A two-hour trip to the mountians meant I would throw up at least three times – both ways.

If I drive say to work, I’m fine but if I drive anywhere that I’m not familiar with the route or I have to turn my head constantly, I will be sick.

I’m sick for a week after a plane ride. I can’t watch someone else rocking back and forth in a chair. If I have anesthesia for surgery, I’m so motion sick when I wake up that I can’t stand the bed to be moved. It makes me worse to even move my eyes. Receiving extra medication for nausea or taking Draminie 12 hours before is useless.

I’ve tried looking out as if I were driving, the patches, ginger, enough Draminine to sink a ship, Bonnine. The patches made me sicker than the motion sickness.

The only thing I’ve found to help is make myself throw up and go to sleep.

After a life of misery with motion sickness…coming home from the hospital as a newborn, hanging over the front seat of parents station wagon, taking dramamine every time I flew as an airline hostess, sleeping across country in the front seat of my new husband’s car going from Albuquerque to Iowa and Minnesota to meet my husband’s family..I have always suffered until we moved to Baton Rouge, LA and a hypnotherapist solved my problem at age 47…and now at 60 only the smell of diesel fuel on an old fishing boat on a deep sea fishing trip do i get sick…but other people did too…HYPNOSIS IS A NON INVASIVE WONDERFUL SOLUTION…YOU DON’T EVEN HAVE TO THINK ABOUT IT..YOUR SUBCONSCIOUS TAKES CARE OF IT…NO JOKE!

My 3 year old son used to fly without incident but last year began throwing up during landing on all flights. Both doctor and pharmacist dissuaded me from Dramamine because of his age. Fine I didn’t want to do it anyway. After reading the possible side effects it was clear he would not be able to report them to me at 2 or 3. We tried the wrist bands. No help. I now successfully use ginger suspended in honey (one brand from Whole Foods is New Chapter Organics Ginger Honey Tonic). I put 1-2 tablespoons in a sippy cup fulled half way with cranberry juice. The ginger is pretty spicy and if I put in too much my son just coughs a lot and won’t drink more. I start giving it to him to drink as soon as I feel the plane start to descend. He still feels some sickness sometimes but never throws up. He is so much happier. No drugs and no wait for them to wear off. Very nice.

I have had the severe motion sickness problem for my whole life, but I have almost totally cured it by taking Ginger capsules as follows: 1 in the morning with breakfast, Ginger tea after lunch and another Ginger capsule after dinner. If I go on a trip by plane, boat, or want to ride roller coasters, I take 2 capsules just 20 minutes before the event. The 2 capsules last me the whole day. Honestly, I found the solution to my problem on Dr. Weil’s website a few years ago as I approached middle age.

I personally do not have motion sickness anymore. When I was younger I use to, but I spent a few summers on a fishing boat with my grandfather and I have not had the issue since.

My friend and her children however, have a terrible time with motion sickness. They are of Chinese decent and introduced me to something that helps them when they have motion sickness called Crack Seeds.

Personally I find Crack Seed a little too salty for my taste. I did watch her children on the boat and when they were looking a little off she would give them one of the seeds and their color would come back.

I have several kinds of motion sickness as the result of a likely viral infection and vestibular nerve damage. At its worst it was total space sickness, a lack of sense of where up is – in both my body and the world. Vestibular rehab training and some medication have helped. The specialized rehab training is the most essential…..

Bonine has been a lifesaver for me! It is chewable and pleasant tasting. For me it works far better than Dramamine and best of all — no drowsiness! The fact that one tiny pill lasts 12 hours doesn’t hurt either. I discovered it when I took a cruise for my honeymoon 15 years ago and have not been without it since!

I’ve had motion sickness since I was a child. Boats & buses create the biggest problem with other cars coming in a close second. In a car, I’m either the driver or I’m sleeping. Scopalamine patches work the best for severe situations. For mild motion sickness peppermint candies help, but I’ve found that it needs to be real peppermint, not the sugar-free variety. I’ve tried ginger, but not found it to be helpful since I think the taste of ginger is slightly nauseating…

Hi everyone– I noticed a lot of you keep saying that dramamine makes you sleepy– me too. However, after deciding falling asleep and being very cranky wasn’t going to work for me every time I was going on a long trip, I went to the foodstore, and found a non-drowsy dramamine! I’ve never had any problems with feeling sleepy with this non-drowsy version, and it works great for me.

My daughter has horrible car sickness. We have a boat and she has never had an issue on this. She is 8. We use Sea-Bandz found at pharmacies. They are bracelets that have a small round pressure point that exerts pressure on the inside of your wrist for the nausea. We use them and they work. My folks are 1300 miles away which is definitely trying. They cost about $10 for a pair. Good luck.

I’ve had motion sickness my whole life. I took a day trip on a catamaran in the caribbean from island to another. That day was stormy, though iIprepared with a scopalamine patch and dramamine. These were not effective when we hit 5 foot swells. On the way back a friend gave me a lime and made cuts in the rind. He said to smell the rind every time you start to feel sick. So I tried this method, and on the way back I was fine. I found out it’s an island remedy to smell citrus to get rid of motion sickness.

When I was a child I suffered from motion sickness all the time on buses. Later I came down with anxiety/panic attacks and even fear of leaving my home. To this day (and it’s been several decades) I’m afraid of flying, fast cars etc., and take medications for Generalized anxiety disorder. I think these conditions are related to a sensitized nervous system. Forget about ginger, acupuncture etc. Antianxiety medications definitely do help though. Thank You Marta

When I started dating my husband 35 years ago, I took him on a tilt-a-whirl at a fair and then he went out back and threw up! I guess he was trying to impress me Even watching a washing machine makes him dizzy. We have one child who suffers with it. I gave her ginger and used seabands, with success, for her.

After much research about how it would affect his motion sickness, Hubby somewhat reluctantly agreed to take a cruise with me to Mexico last Oct. He took Bonine and wore seabands. He had no trouble whatsoever.

Ironically, it was ME who came away with Mal de Debarquement, as described in several posts above. I’ve had constant rocking since the day we stepped off the Carnival Pride 8 months ago. My neurologist says there is no treatment and that it has to go away on its own.

I can be prone to motion sickness on buses (coaches, or even a long ride on a city bus) and have found that preventive measures are my best defense. I use ginger preventively, and I have to use a lot of it (4 to 6 capsules, or 2 thumb-sized pieces of pickled ginger), but it works fairly well for me. I take it about 45 minutes before the motion starts, and bring along extra in case the first dose wears off.

I have also had reliable success with the Relief Band, mentioned above–I bought mine at Magellan’s. Acupressure bands don’t work as well for me. I use Dramamine preventively for situations such as embarking on a hydrofoil ride when I know there’s a good chance of rough seas. Dramamine puts me to sleep but it sure beats seasickness. Scopalamine gives me auditory and kinesthetic hallucinations and so I’ve put it on my “never try this again” list, but I have plenty of friends who use the “Scope patch” and it works fine for them.

Interesting to see that somebody else mentioned Mal de Debarquement. I’ve had it three times, and it tends to last for months with me. It’s been brought on by extended ferry rides or river cruises. One thing that has worked surprisingly well for me in dealing with it has been R-Lipoic Acid, 100 mg. twice a day. It can definitely take the edge off, and appears to shorten the duration. Nobody understands how MdDB really works, so I figure my remedy is as good as anyone else’s. But I haven’t found any real magic bullet for this condition.

At least I know now that if I spend four hours on the water I can probably expect four months of rocking sensations, day and night, and fortunately I don’t experience nausea with it. If it should happen again, no doubt I’ll take the opportunity to experiment further with antioxidant and fatty acid supplements, to see if I find anything else that works for me.

I too have had motion sickness since childhood. My advice is for young children, what worked for me is I sucked on barley sugar lollies and sang songs out loud, like bah bah black sheep and I even made up a song called barley sugar as I loved it so much as I related it to getting better!! We would drive up to the grandparents farm every weekend along a very long and winding road. We would stop at the top of the range so I could get out and be sick. Then we would walk up and down and sign a song. Eventually after a few weeks my body got used to the drive and no longer vomited, but continued to have motion sickness. Let your children who have motion sickness sit in the front until they stop vomiting! I wish my parents had of done that for me! Also keep the radio on or their favourite CD and sing songs. The walking and the music still helps me now now that I have Mal de debarquement.

As a child, I suffered terribly from motion sickness. Airplane, boat or car travel made me instantly sick. Dramamine or Bonine both worked fantastically IF taken at least a half hour before the trip. I’m surprised that people haven’t discussed these more, since they are widely available. After becoming sick, nothing worked but getting off the moving vehicle as quickly as possible. Of course, you should never read and always look out to minimize the symptoms.

The best thing I found that works is just making myself fall sleep. Bring a nice pillow and blanket, turn on the A/C high, and fall asleep. Dramamine and Bonine work for mild situations and help you fall asleep, however, I have been in bad situations where nothing worked. Then I just try to keep my mind on something else other than the sickness… doesn’t usually happen, though.

Dr. Gupta, I am a lifelong severe sufferer of motion sickness. I can’t ride buses for more than five minutes, and as a child I would regularly vomit on car rides… it got better as I got older, but never completely goes away.

The only thing I don’t see mentioned in your reports on motion sickness is the “Relief Band” device, which is FDA approved to treat motion sickness. It actually does work for me, although not perfectly. It works best if you start it before you get sick… and the downside is that it does deliver a regular mild shock to your wrist, which is irritating… but NOT as irritating as being incapacitated from motion sickness.

I have no affiliation with the company that makes this product, I’m just happy that there is something out there to help when I don’t want to or can’t take medications.

If you haven’t heard of it, check it out!

I have found that the seasick bands for the wrists have worked the best for me. The key to their effectiveness is 1) make sure they are in the correct place on the wrists according to the directions and 2) put them on at least 15 minutes BEFORE you need them. This means before you get on a boat, ride in a car, etc. I have found that once the mothion sickness starts, the only thing that stops it is stopping the motion. But if you put these things on before you need them, they always work.

Suffered all my life. Here’s what helps:

1. While traveling, look FORWARD or close the eyes. This will not help with a kid who needs glasses.
2. As soon as travel is over, ginger ale. The kind with calories. Followed by loud belching.

Avoid getting overly warm, or traveling when ravenous or stuffed.

My kids can manage by slowly letting gingersnaps dissolve in their mouth during travel.

This is regarding my son, who is now 5 yrs old. He has had motion sickness for quite sometime. We usually manage by giving light meals, avoiding milk right before travel etc. Just recently however, he got nauseous and threw up when he was getting out of the school bus and school nurse said that since he threw up, he cannot come to school for 24 hrs ie.the next day either. I told her, he does not have any virus. He had a big breakfast and my son said the sunlight made him sick. School nurse insisted it is the school policy. He has been fine and now he missed his second day of school due to the ’school policy’. Has anybody had a similar experience?

I’ve had motion sickness all my life that has worsened as I’ve gotten older. Over the counter medicines weren’t working for me. I’ve found the Relief Band and prescription Scopace pills very helpful. I saw a product called Queasy pops that may be an option for children. I haven’t tried them myself. Fortunately my 3-year old doesn’t suffer with my problem.

To the person posting Dec. 3–that school policy doesn’t seem fair. Maybe you should get a written note from your child’s doctor about his motion sickness problem.

Well, I went on a short drive to take a picture of a house. I passed up the address and had to turn around, back up, and then go forward. It hit me right after I started forward. I barely made it back to my office, threw up twice in the toilet; put 2 chairs together and waited an hour, then drove home thinking this must be how drunks feel; ran into the house straight to the bathroom to throw up again. Finally made it to the bed and slept for 2 hours. It took me 30 hours to feel “normal” again. I didn’t even think to take the Dramamine I keep in my purse! It was just a short drive, with me driving. I am so sick of taking Dramamine!