How to Deal With Motion Sickness on Rides

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Motion sickness on amusement parks rides takes the amusement right out of the experience. Our eyes, inner ears, muscles, and joints senses these motion changes and transmits the information to our brain. When the ride begins to rock, these different parts of our bodies send different information, which disorients our brains and leads to queasiness, dizziness, and in the worst situations, projectile vomit. Roller coasters aren't the only place that this can occur, so the advice for dealing with motion sickness on rides is applicable to boats, trains, planes, and motor vehicles. In order to overcome motion sickness, you can take medication or adjust other aspects of your life that might exacerbate motion sickness, like diet and body position.

Method 1
Method 1 of 2:

Taking Medication for Motion Sickness

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  1. Dimenhydrinate (Dramamine, but brand names vary) is an antihistamine drug that can be purchased at most grocery stores and pharmacies. These drugs block receptors in the brain associated with nausea and vomiting. You can purchase dramamine in two tablet forms — drowsy and non-drowsy. Non-drowsy is best for amusement parks. If you are taking a train or a plane long distance and can sleep, the drowsy kind will work well. [1]
    • To prevent motion sickness, the first dose should be taken 30 minutes to one hour before you go to the amusement park. Adults and children older than age 12 can usually take dimenhydrinate every four to six hours as needed to prevent or treat motion sickness. Children under 12 can usually be given dimenhydrinate every six to eight hours or as needed to prevent or treat motion sickness, but talk to your child's doctor before using medications on young children. [2]
    • There are a few other similar medications used for motion sickness. check with your doctor or pharmacist on which medication may be best for you.
  2. You'll need to see a doctor to get a prescription for this medication. Generally, this medication is saved for those who aren't helped by dramamine. Most of the time, scopolamine is administered in a patch form. [3]
    • Talk to your doctor about potential side effects of this medication, which can include drowsiness, disorientation, dry mouth, or hallucinations.
    • People with glaucoma or certain other medical problems may not be able to use scopolamine, so make sure to tell your doctor about any medical problems you have.
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  3. The patch should be applied as directed on the package. Normally, it should be placed on the back of the ear, at least four hours prior to when it is actually needed. Wash behind your ear before applying. Remove the patch from the protective packaging. Place on the skin. Wash your hands thoroughly afterwards. Leave on for as long as you need it or as long as the package prescribes. [4]
  4. Ginger (zingiber officinale) is cheap and effective. You can consume ginger raw or in lozenge/pill form. You can purchase ginger at any grocery store or pharmacy. [5]
    • If you want to take raw ginger before you get on a ride, just peel it and dice it into a small cube. Picture a piece of gum and try to make your raw ginger resemble that size. Know that many find the aftertaste of ginger to be pungent and generally unpleasant. If this is you, choose the pill or lozenge form.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 2:

Riding Strategically to Avoid Motion Sickness

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  1. Either before you get on the ride or when you get off the ride, find somewhere to eat something that will soothe your stomach, like crackers or ginger ale. Bland food, high in carbohydrates and low in fats are best for motion sickness. Eat foods with ginger in them or breads, cereals, grains, or fruits. [6]
    • Spicy and acidic foods can irritate the stomach lining, making your whole system more susceptible to problems.
  2. Depending on the vehicle, this will change. Generally, the most stable part of a roller coaster is the middle. The back and front of the ride tend to whip around more than the middle. In cars, the most stable part is the front seat. On boats and planes, the most stable part is the middle again. [7]
  3. Since motion sickness is often caused by conflicting signals from various parts of your body, try to keep your head and neck straight at all times. By keeping your body in a straight line, you'll keep your head from bouncing around more. On roller coasters, this is especially important if you want to avoid head and neck injuries. [8]
  4. You are more likely to get dizzy if your eyes are swirling around in front of you. Keep your eyes on a fixed point wherever you are. [9] If you are on a roller coaster, it helps to stare at the car in front of you or simply to close your eyes. If you are on a boat, stare at the horizon. This will reduce sea-sickness. [10]
  5. Simplicity is best for motion sickness. Obviously, this doesn't really apply to amusement park rides, where multitasking is nearly impossible. But on planes, trains, boats, or in cars, try to do less. Stop reading your book or watching a movie. Just sit back and relax to cure motion sickness. [11]
  6. The acupuncture point known as Pericardium 6 is said to relieve general nausea. It is on the inside of the wrist, a little more than an inch up the arm from the center of the wrist crease. [12] Many travel stores sell wristbands with built in buttons that apply pressure to this point. Scientific studies have shown the effectiveness of this method on motion sickness. [13]
    • There is still some debate as to whether the pressure point or the act of pressing the point helps reduce nausea. [14] Either way, give it a try.
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References

  1. ↑ https://www.drugs.com/mtm/dramamine.html
  2. ↑ https://www.seattlechildrens.org/conditions/a-z/motion-sickness/
  3. ↑ https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a682509.html
  4. ↑ https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a682509.html
  5. ↑ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12576305/
  6. ↑ https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/12782-motion-sickness
  7. ↑ https://familydoctor.org/condition/motion-sickness/
  8. ↑ https://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/issues/2014/0701/p41.html
  9. ↑ https://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/issues/2014/0701/p41.html
  1. ↑ Tal D, et al. Artificial Horizon Effects on Motion Sickness and Performance. Otology & Neurotology. 33:878.2012.
  2. ↑ https://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/issues/2014/0701/p41.html
  3. ↑ https://www.uptodate.com/contents/image?imageKey=PI%2F72347
  4. ↑ Stern RM, et al. Acupressure relieves the symptoms of motion sickness and reduces abnormal gastric activity. Alternative therapies in health and medicine. 2001 Jul-Aug;7(4):91-4.
  5. ↑ Miller KE, Muth ER. Efficacy of acupressure and acustimulation bands for the prevention of motion sickness. Aviation, Space and Environmental Medicine. 2004 Mar;75(3):227-34.

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      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      To prevent motion sickness on a roller coaster, find a seat that offers the most stability to reduce movement, which is usually somewhere in the middle. Keep your neck and head straight to keep from becoming disoriented, and focus your eyes on a fixed point, like the car in front of you. Additionally, take medication designed to treat motion sickness beforehand, like Dramamine. You can also eat foods that often settles the stomach, like crackers or ginger ale. For more ways to reduce motion sickness from our Medical reviewer, like how to deal with motion sickness in cars, keep scrolling!

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