seasickness with kids

[Mack2]

I have posted this a few times with a few changes and updated information.

 

How come nobody ever thinks to ask the pharmacist?

Pharmacists can recommend over-the-counter remedies (and we can vaccinate people against the flu and other diseases).

 

 

There are few pharmaceutical options for kids.

Bonine, Dramamine (Less Drowsy Formula) which is meclizine

Dramamine Original Formula, Gravol (avail. in Canada) which is dimenhydrinate.

Benadryl which is diphenhydramine.

-----------------------------------------------

Bonine/Dramamine (Less Drowsy Formula) is not recommended for children under the age of 12.

http://www.drugs.com/meclizine.html

This medicine should not be given to a child younger than 12 years old.

 

This is because of the meclizine, it really hasn't been officially studied or submitted to the FDA for the use in children. Doesn't mean it's dangerous for kids... it's just not officially approved for kids. It's an old drug, and nobody wants to spend the money to conduct a placebo-controlled, double-blind, motion-sickness study on the use of meclizine in children. The liability waivers from the attorneys would cost a fortune alone.

This also means that if something bad does happen, the makers of the products are covered by the warning (but I don't think anything bad has happened... except maybe overdosage)

 

Bonine for Children was discontinued by the makers of Bonine. I didn't think that it was a good choice of a drug. It was cyclizine which was the main ingredient of another old remedy called Marezine which I don't think is marketed anymore, either. It caused a lot of drowsiness/dry mouth and was only approved for use in kids 6 and up. I did not like to recommend it.

Sure, take advantage of the Bonine name, but give a drug that is just not as good as it's main competitor (Dramamine) and market it for kids? That's just mean.

------------------------------------

Dramamine Original Formula/Gravol (dimenhydrinate). This medicine has been around a long time and has been studied for children. Dimenhydrinate has recommended doses for kids as young as 2 years old.

http://dramamine.com/products/kids

Directions To prevent or treat all forms of motion sickness, the first dose should be taken 1/2 to 1 hour before starting activity:

 

• children 2 to under 6 years: give 1/2 to 1 chewable tablet every 6-8 hours; do not give more than 3 chewable tablets in 24 hours, or as directed by a doctor.
  
• children 6 to under 12 years: give 1 to 2 chewable tablets every 6-8 hours; do not give more than 6 chewable tablets in 24 hours, or as directed by a doctor.
  

 

Do not use for children under 2 years of age unless directed by a doctor

--------------------------------------------------------------

Benadryl is the unusual one and can be given to kids 2 and up.

Diphenhydramine has been around for a long time. Benadryl used to be used as a cough medicine (Benylin) 50 years ago until it was decided that although it works to suppress coughs, it is a better drug for allergies. So, another one of Benadryl's uses... is motion sickness.

http://www.drugs.com/benadryl.html

Benadryl is also used to suppress coughs, to treat motion sickness, to induce sleep, and to treat mild forms of Parkinson's disease.

 

Sure it has all these other uses, and it's BEST for allergies and sleep, but... in a pinch? You can give it for motion sickness.

Benadryl is the only one you should ask the pediatrician for in regards to the dose for really little kids... in those cases, it's dosed on a milligram per kilogram (dosed by weight) basis.

 

Most infants/toddlers who are just learning to walk or are crawling around don't usually get motion sickness. Motion sickness happens when the balance center of the head doesn't agree with what the eyes are telling the brain. If the child doesn't have much balance to begin with, it doesn't matter as much.

____________________________________________________________

 

You also have some non-pharmaceutical natural remedies.

Ginger - Available as a gum, soft drink, capsules, candy.

I love Altoids... they use to sell the Ginger Altoids domestically... recently had to buy them from Amazon in bulk...

 

Seaband makes a chewing gum

and there's ginger snap cookies that I've read on CruiseCritic that people said have worked.

Sea Bands which work for some and not for others

 

Hopefully, you will have smooth seas and won't even have to think about these remedies, but it doesn't hurt to have a supply just in case. I bring Dramamine and Ginger Altoids with me on cruises... haven't really had to use them often...

Edited April 30, 2014 by Mack2

[jaycat]

Hi - I have a 15 month old. Does any one have any advice about how to treat a baby for seasickness???

 

Hi, my granddaughter will be that age at sail time. Our pediatrician told me she would prescribe something for her.

[Mercury]

Mack2 thank-you so much for your very informative post.

 

It has helped me immensely.

[HLRTX]

I have posted this a few times with a few changes and updated information.

 

How come nobody ever thinks to ask the pharmacist?

Pharmacists can recommend over-the-counter remedies (and we can vaccinate people against the flu and other diseases).

 

 

There are few pharmaceutical options for kids.

Bonine, Dramamine (Less Drowsy Formula) which is meclizine

Dramamine Original Formula, Gravol (avail. in Canada) which is dimenhydrinate.

Benadryl which is diphenhydramine.

-----------------------------------------------

Bonine/Dramamine (Less Drowsy Formula) is not recommended for children under the age of 12.

http://www.drugs.com/meclizine.html

 

 

This is because of the meclizine, it really hasn't been officially studied or submitted to the FDA for the use in children. Doesn't mean it's dangerous for kids... it's just not officially approved for kids. It's an old drug, and nobody wants to spend the money to conduct a placebo-controlled, double-blind, motion-sickness study on the use of meclizine in children. The liability waivers from the attorneys would cost a fortune alone.

This also means that if something bad does happen, the makers of the products are covered by the warning (but I don't think anything bad has happened... except maybe overdosage)

 

Bonine for Children was discontinued by the makers of Bonine. I didn't think that it was a good choice of a drug. It was cyclizine which was the main ingredient of another old remedy called Marezine which I don't think is marketed anymore, either. It caused a lot of drowsiness/dry mouth and was only approved for use in kids 6 and up. I did not like to recommend it.

Sure, take advantage of the Bonine name, but give a drug that is just not as good as it's main competitor (Dramamine) and market it for kids? That's just mean.

------------------------------------

Dramamine Original Formula/Gravol (dimenhydrinate). This medicine has been around a long time and has been studied for children. Dimenhydrinate has recommended doses for kids as young as 2 years old.

http://dramamine.com/products/kids

 

--------------------------------------------------------------

Benadryl is the unusual one and can be given to kids 2 and up.

Diphenhydramine has been around for a long time. Benadryl used to be used as a cough medicine (Benylin) 50 years ago until it was decided that although it works to suppress coughs, it is a better drug for allergies. So, another one of Benadryl's uses... is motion sickness.

http://www.drugs.com/benadryl.html

 

 

Sure it has all these other uses, and it's BEST for allergies and sleep, but... in a pinch? You can give it for motion sickness.

Benadryl is the only one you should ask the pediatrician for in regards to the dose for really little kids... in those cases, it's dosed on a milligram per kilogram (dosed by weight) basis.

 

Most infants/toddlers who are just learning to walk or are crawling around don't usually get motion sickness. Motion sickness happens when the balance center of the head doesn't agree with what the eyes are telling the brain. If the child doesn't have much balance to begin with, it doesn't matter as much.

____________________________________________________________

 

You also have some non-pharmaceutical natural remedies.

Ginger - Available as a gum, soft drink, capsules, candy.

I love Altoids... they use to sell the Ginger Altoids domestically... recently had to buy them from Amazon in bulk...

 

Seaband makes a chewing gum

and there's ginger snap cookies that I've read on CruiseCritic that people said have worked.

Sea Bands which work for some and not for others

 

Hopefully, you will have smooth seas and won't even have to think about these remedies, but it doesn't hurt to have a supply just in case. I bring Dramamine and Ginger Altoids with me on cruises... haven't really had to use them often...

 

 

Mack2 - excellent information.... thank you so much.

[092306]

DS, 3.5, gets very car sick on rides with highway. Called the pediatrician and they said to give children's Dramamine. Looked all over for it in several stores and couldn't find it. Asked the pharmacist today and turns out they (CVS) don't carry it anymore. Children 2-6 can take 1/2 a tab of the adult version. Thanks Mack2 for the info above, pharmacists are a great resource.

[herbanrenewal]

Mack2 's post should be a sticky for this thread. The topic recurs from time to time, and his is the best most concise answer I've seen.

[alj1208]

As one who gets seasick, I am a strong believer in medication. Of course, I am an adult. I take scopolamine pills (same medicine in the patches but you can control the dose better so you're not over-drugged). They work great for me, but I am not sure if there is a pediatric dose. It's a prescription medicine.

 

My son didn't get sick on our cruise, but my pediatrician said both Bonine and Dramamine were fine for him in proper pediatric doses. I would ask your pediatrician, and if you are offered medication, give it before you get on the boat.

[rebeccalouiseagain]

Actually Bonine and Children's strength Bonine does not have to be taken ahead of time. It can be used if and when one is queasy.

 

My son and I have only been on one cruise (out of 25+ plus) where I felt queasy. I went immediately to the youth program and sure enough he was feeling green. We both popped the Bonine and were better in 10 minutes and never needed it again. This was on a cruise down the East Coast out of Bayonne to the Caribbean. So it does happen- even with seasoned cruisers.

 

They sell Bonine in the gift shops and give it out in the medical center. There was no drowsiness with it.