can travel sickness tablets make you dizzy

Cinnarizine - Brand name: Stugeron

Find out how cinnarizine treats travel sickness, vertigo, tinnitus and Ménière's disease, and how to take it.

• About cinnarizine
• Who can and cannot take it
• How and when to take it
• Side effects
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• Taking it with other medicines and herbal supplements
• Common questions

Related conditions

• Ménière's disease
• Motion sickness

Useful resources

• HealthUnlocked: cinnarizine forum healthunlocked.com
• British Tinnitus Association: charity www.tinnitus.org.uk
• Ménière's Society: charity www.menieres.org.uk

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Cinnarizine tablets

Peer reviewed by Sid Dajani Last updated by Michael Stewart, MRPharmS Last updated 10 Mar 2021

Meets Patient’s editorial guidelines

Cinnarizine helps to prevent sickness (nausea) and dizziness.

It can be taken by adults and by children over 5 years of age.

The most common side-effect is feeling drowsy.

In this article :

About cinnarizine, before taking cinnarizine, how to take cinnarizine, getting the most from your treatment, can cinnarizine cause problems, how to store cinnarizine, important information about all medicines.

Continue reading below

Cinnarizine is used to treat problems affecting the inner ear and balance, such as dizziness and sickness (nausea). It is also helpful in preventing travel sickness .

Nerves situated inside your ear send messages to your brain with information about your movement. Along with messages from your eyes and muscles, these nerves help your body to maintain a good sense of balance. If the nerves in one of your ears send too many, too few, or wrong messages to your brain, it conflicts with the messages sent from your other ear, your eyes, or your body. Your brain then gets confused and this can cause dizziness and a spinning sensation ( vertigo ), and can make you feel sick.

Travel sickness is caused by repeated unusual movements during travelling. These repeated movements, such as going over bumps or around in a circle, send lots of messages to your brain. The balance mechanism in your ear sends different signals to those from your eyes, which results in your brain receiving mixed and confusing messages. This is what causes you to feel sick.

Cinnarizine helps reduce the feelings of sickness and vertigo caused by problems such as these. It is available on prescription, or you can buy it without a prescription at a pharmacy. It can be taken by adults and by children over the age of 5 years.

Some medicines are not suitable for people with certain conditions, and sometimes a medicine may only be used if extra care is taken. For these reasons, before you start taking cinnarizine it is important that your doctor or pharmacist knows:

If you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

If you have prostate problems, or have been experiencing difficulty passing urine.

If you have any problems with the way your liver works or with the way your kidneys work.

If you have any of the following conditions: increased pressure in your eye (glaucoma), epilepsy, or Parkinson's disease .

If you think you may have a blockage in your intestines.

If you have a rare inherited blood disorder called porphyria .

If you are taking any other medicines. This includes any medicines you are taking which are available to buy without a prescription, as well as herbal and complementary medicines.

If you have ever had an allergic reaction to a medicine.

Before you start this treatment, read the manufacturer's printed information leaflet from inside your pack. It will give you more information about the tablets and will provide you with a full list of the side-effects which you may experience from taking them.

Take cinnarizine exactly as your doctor or pharmacist tells you to. It is usually taken three times daily.

If you are taking cinnarizine to prevent travel sickness, take the first dose two hours before you are due to travel. If you are going on a long journey, you can then take further doses every eight hours if needed. If you are giving cinnarizine to a child, check the label carefully to make sure you are giving the correct dose for the age of your child. Make sure you leave eight hours between each dose.

If you are able, take cinnarizine after a meal or with a snack.

Cinnarizine can cause drowsiness. If this happens, do not drive and do not use tools or machines. Alcohol will make the drowsiness worse, so it is best not to drink alcohol while you are on cinnarizine.

If you are having an operation or any treatment (particularly if it is to test for an allergy), tell the person carrying out the treatment that you are taking an antihistamine called cinnarizine.

If you buy any medicines, check with a pharmacist that they are safe to take alongside an antihistamine. This is because a number of other medicines can interfere with the way cinnarizine works and can increase the risk of side-effects.

Along with their useful effects, most medicines can cause unwanted side-effects although not everyone experiences them. The table below contains some of the most common ones associated with cinnarizine. You will find a full list in the manufacturer's information leaflet supplied with your medicine. The unwanted effects often improve as your body adjusts to the new medicine, but speak with your doctor or pharmacist if any of the following continue or become troublesome.

If you experience any other symptoms which you think may be due to the tablets, speak with your doctor or pharmacist for further advice.

Keep all medicines out of the reach and sight of children.

Store in a cool, dry place, away from direct heat and light.

Never take more than the prescribed dose. If you suspect that you or someone else might have taken an overdose of this medicine, go to the accident and emergency department of your local hospital. Take the container with you, even if it is empty.

This medicine is for you. Never give it to other people even if their condition appears to be the same as yours.

Do not keep out-of-date or unwanted medicines. Take them to your local pharmacy which will dispose of them for you.

If you have any questions about this medicine ask your pharmacist.

Report side effects to a medicine or vaccine

If you experience side effects, you can report them online through the Yellow Card website .

Further reading and references

• Manufacturer's PIL, Stugeron® 15 mg ; Janssen-Cilag Ltd, The electronic Medicines Compendium. Dated November 2019.
• Medicines Complete BNF 85th Edition ; British Medical Association and Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain, London.

Article History

The information on this page is written and peer reviewed by qualified clinicians.

Next review due: 9 Mar 2024

10 mar 2021 | latest version.

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Travel Sickness – 36 Tried and Tested Tips to Help You

• 22 February 2024

I’ve suffered from travel sickness all my life and get sick in cars, on coaches, on planes and on boats.

Over the years I’ve tried all sorts of treatments with varying impacts. Here are all the things that I have found that help.

Links You Might Find Helpful: Private Tour Operator Shore Excursions from Inverness Private Half-Day Car Tour to Loch Ness for Up to 3 People More Private Tour Shore Excursion Options

Travel Sickness

Table of Contents

What is travel sickness?

Travel sickness, sometimes described as motion sickness, is a feeling of nausea and dizziness. It is caused when the brain becomes confused by receiving differing information from your eyes and your inner ear.

1. Travel Sickness – What Is It Like?

It’s pretty grim and it does take the fun out of travelling because all your attention is on trying not to be ill.

Travel sickness symptoms include;

• Nausea (feeling sick) which can lead to being sick
• Mouth watering
• Feeling hot and sweaty
• Having a headache
• Burping (often feeling like you are going to be sick)
• Feeling tired

It can come on quite quickly and be difficult to shift.

Read on for my tips on how to prevent travel sickness in the first place!

2. Can You Cure Travel Sickness?

In my experience, you can’t cure travel sickness. Children may grow out of travel experience but for adults, it is a case of managing the symptoms.

Good prevention techniques and a bit of planning will significantly reduce travel sickness symptoms.

3. How Long Does Travel Sickness Last?

Travel sickness can last longer than the time you are travelling. The fluid in your inner ear can be disturbed and this can take quite a while to settle down.

After journeys that have been long, or perhaps difficult because they have been bumpy or undulating you can feel like you are still moving even when you have stopped.

However, for most people travel sickness will stop soon after you have stopped moving.

4. How Do You Stop Travel Sickness?

You can’t stop travel sickness but you can take steps to reduce the chances of getting it and minimise any potential symptoms.

Here are my tried and tested tips and techniques for preventing and managing various types of travel sickness.

5. Reducing Car Sickness

Here are how I avoid travel sickness when travelling in a car;

• Offering to drive – this is an easy way to never get travel sick in a car but it’s not always that practical if you are travelling with others.
• Avoid getting too hot by turning the air conditioning down, pointing the air vents towards you so there is a breeze on your face, and reducing the sun on your face and head.
• Use a handheld fan to ensure you don’t get too hot.
• Opening the window to get some fresh air in the car.
• Looking out the front window and looking straight ahead as much as possible.
• Avoiding reading whether that be books, online documents or even reading messages.
• Keeping hydrated with regular sips of water – too much water can make you feel a bit sick so be careful.
• Sucking on ginger sweets keeps any early feelings of nausea at bay.

6. Reducing Sea Sickness

Here are the ways I avoid seasickness when travelling by boat/ship;

• Finding a seat that is near the centre of the boat to avoid the extremes of movement.
• Focussing on the view at the front of the boat, but avoiding looking at the front of the boat itself as seeing this going up and down against the horizon can cause sickness.
• Keeping cool by staying out of the sun and finding somewhere to sit with a cooler temperature.
• Sucking on ginger sweets to keep early feelings of nausea at bay.
• Staying outside if the boat is moving around a lot – staying in the cold open air can often prevent nausea, but a coat and hat may be needed if the weather is rough.
• Avoid moving around the boat when it is rough or bumpy.
• Check if there are likely to be any bumpy patches during your journey and planning. For example one of the Scottish ferries crosses a water channel which is always rough and bumpy. To avoid feeling ill I always go outside ahead of arriving at this water channel and come back inside once we have passed through it.
• Avoiding excessive drinking and eating. Eating and drinking too much can make any potential seasickness worse, although not eating enough can also increase feelings of seasickness. If the journey is relatively short then consider your eating plans for the day and make sure you don’t end up being hungry on the boat.
• Drinking excessive alcohol can make travel sickness worse. Ginger beer and tonic water can help minimise feelings of sickness so perhaps consider them instead of alcohol?
• Keeping a handheld fan available to help you stay cool.
• If you are travelling overnight on a ferry then I would recommend a cabin. Being able to lie down is one of the best ways to deal with seasickness.
• Consider taking ginger tablets before you travel by boat/ship. These can help manage feelings of sickness.

7. Reducing Coach Sickness

Here are my tried and tested ways to deal with coach sickness;

• Sit at the front of the coach if possible or sit towards the front of the coach, ideally ahead of the axle on the coach.
• If there is a toilet and door in the middle of the coach then the seat behind the toilet has a better view out of the window. This seat can have less legroom sometimes so beware. If the toilet is being used on the coach then this may not be a good option because over time the toilet can smell which can increase the chances of sickness.
• Sit in the middle of the back seat on the coach. This seat has a view right down the aisle of the coach and this can often help with coach sickness. However, if the coach is travelling along a twisty or bumpy route then sitting at the rear of the coach can be extremely bumpy so is likely to make you feel worse. Also, beware that sometimes the engine is at the back of the coach and this can make it warmer or noisier.
• Sit in an aisle seat as it is easier to see out towards the front of the coach rather than looking out of the side windows.
• Keep cool by using the air vents which should be located overhead. If the temperature is too hot then tell the guide/driver so they can adjust this. If air is not circulating around the coach very well it can help if everyone has their air vents open and they can point them at the window if they don’t want air blowing on them directly.
• Have a handheld fan so that you can keep yourself cooler.
• Avoid sitting in the sun on the coach.
• Have layers so you can adjust between the temperatures inside and outside of the coach.
• Sucking on ginger sweets can help keep early feelings of nausea at bay.
• Consider taking ginger tablets, especially if travelling on twisty or bumpy roads, as these can help. If you are unsure about road conditions check with your driver or guide – they will be happy to help.
• Keep some headphones with you. Having headphones in can help reduce feelings of sickness.
• Avoid reading if it is likely to make you feel sick – this includes books and being online.
• Watching something on a tablet like a TV show or a film can often help with travel sickness by helping you to avoid the moving horizon or the view out of the side window.
• Avoid alcohol and eating too much as this can make feelings of travel sickness much worse.

8. Things That Have Helped Me

Ginger sweets.

These ginger sweets are the best I have found. They are travel sweets so they won’t all stick together and they are not too strong. If ginger sweets are too strong they can make you feel quite sick which is the opposite of what we are trying to achieve.

Ideal for helping minimise low-level travel sickness symptoms. A pleasant ginger taste that isn’t overpowering.

Rechargeable Travel Fan

This fan might look tiny but it certainly puts out a pleasant breeze and it can operate for quite a long time on one charge. It’s very small and compact. It can easily be tucked into the seat back in front of you or easily held in your hand. It charges using a USB cable.

Super quiet, tiny, powerful and rechargeable. This travel fan will help keep you cool and you can easily take it anywhere.

This is on my list for my next trip to somewhere that is likely to be a bit warmer and sunnier. It’s a rechargeable fan that blows air into your face and also around your neck. It’s £23.99 but if it is as good as it looks then it is well worth it! It’s got great reviews and it also seems to help well with hot flushes too.

Ginger Tablets

These ginger tablets are strong, but not so strong that you leave you getting ginger flavoured indigestion all day long. They are Vegan society approved and £5.99 for 90 tablets. They are also available for Prime Delivery.

These ginger tablets are great at preventing travel sickness. They don’t have any side effects either.

Travel Sickness Patches

I haven’t tried these yet but have just ordered some. They have good reviews and look to give relief from travel sickness without any side effects.

There are very reasonably priced wireless earbuds. They help me with travel sickness.

Silicone Ear Plugs

These silicone ear plugs fit over the ear rather than in the ear. They are much better for all night use and there is no risk of damage to the ear canal. I take them every time I stay in a hotel!

Travel Sickness FAQs

How do you stop travel sickness?

Medication can stop travel sickness. Some medications can cause drowsiness. There are various other options including ginger tablets, sweets, fans, wristbands, patches and headphones.

How long does travel sickness last?

You can experience travel sickness symptoms for up to 4 hours after you have stopped moving.

Travel Sickness Tablets

Many people I have travelled with over the years have tried travel sickness tablets. However, the vast majority have advised that they often feel as bad or sometimes worse when taking these tablets.

They have given my guests a low level of nausea which has affected their enjoyment of their day and this nausea has often continued after we stopped travelling.

Travel Sickness Bands

Often people will wear travel bands. These wristbands use acupressure and are worn around the wrists. Some people swear by these and some people report no effect at all.

At £3 for 2 pairs, they are probably worth a try if you haven’t done so already.

These travel bands come with full instructions to help you position them correctly on your wrist. They are also available for Prime Delivery.

Travel Sickness – NHS Help and Information

If you want to know more about travel sickness (motion sickness) then check out the NHS website. This gives more information on symptoms and treatment, plus medicines available for severe sickness.

Further Reading

If you have found my Travel Sickness article helpful you might like my tips if you suffer from a fear of flying as well.

You might also like some tips for other things to help you travel more comfortably – check out my Travel Essentials page.

If you have trouble sleeping when travelling then check out my Sleep App for Travelling (and just great for travellers when not travelling too!)

Other Articles

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Travel Sickness: The Ultimate Guide – Symptoms, Causes & Treatment

What is travel sickness.

Travel sickness is a general term used to describe motion sickness experienced when travelling by car, plane, train, or boat.

What causes travel sickness?

Travel sickness happens when our eyes tell our brains that we’re not moving but our inner ears sense motion of travel and the conflicting information in the brain causes the sick feeling.

This happens in a place in the body called the vestibular system which coordinates balance and passes signals from the inner ear to the brain.

You can find out more about what causes specific types of travels sickness below:

• About car sickness
• About sea sickness
• About motion sickness

Who can suffer from travel sickness?

Travel sickness can affect more people than others, and it is unclear why this is.

Children under the of age two are said to be almost immune to the feeling, however children between the age of two and 12 are most commonly affected.

Many are known to grow out of it altogether.

What are the symptoms of travel sickness?

Travel sickness symptoms include  dizziness, feeling cold, feeling weak, headaches, nausea, pale skin, sweating.

How to relieve travel sickness

You can reduce travel sickness symptoms by taking various preventative actions.

If you reduce the impact of motion on your body by sitting in the front of a vehicle or in the middle of a boat, this may help to reduce any feelings of nausea. This will be helped by fixing your gaze on one spot.

Fresh air also helps to reduce the symptoms of travel sickness.

You can also try:

• Breathing exercises
• Drink ginger-based drinks to settle your stomach
• Listening to music
• Take regular breaks, if possible

Travels sickness pills

Pills, such as Kwells travel sickness tablets , can help to relieve symptoms of travel sickness.

Our travel sickness tablets contain Hyoscine Hydrobromide 300mcg which temporarily reduces the effect of movement on the balance organs of the inner ear and the nerves responsible for nausea.

If you have been prescribed medication by your doctor, always follow any instructions they may have given you.

Travel sickness tablets are available at your local pharmacy or online.

Related blog posts

• Where can you buy Kwells travel sickness tablets?
• Tips for preventing travel sickness
• Tips for helping kids with travel sickness
• How to prepare for your first cruise
• Tips for avoiding travel sickness on a staycation
• 10 tips to avoid travel sickness in a car
• Top tips for avoiding travel sickness at christmas
• Tips for managing travel sickness & autism

Kwells 300 microgram tablets. For the prevention of travel sickness, suitable for adults and children aged 10+. Contains Hyoscine Hydrobromide 300 microgram. Kwells Kids 150 microgram tablets. For the prevention of travel sickness, suitable for children aged 4+. Contains Hyoscine Hydrobromide 150 microgram. Always read the label

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Travel-Ease

Generic name: meclizine [  MEK-li-zeen  ] Brand names: Antivert , Bonine , Bonine Max, Dramamine Less Drowsy , Dramamine Nausea Long Lasting, Travel-Ease Drug class: Anticholinergic antiemetics

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com on Aug 29, 2023. Written by Cerner Multum .

What is Travel-Ease?

Travel-Ease is used in adults and children aged 12 years and older to treat or prevent nausea , vomiting and dizziness caused by motion sickness .

Travel-Ease is also used in adults to treat symptoms of vertigo (dizziness or spinning sensation) caused by disease that affects your inner ear.

Travel-Ease may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Travel-Ease side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction : hives, difficult breathing, swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Common side effects of Travel-Ease may include:

drowsiness ;

dry mouth ;

vomiting; or

feeling tired.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Use only as directed. Tell your doctor if you use other medicines or have other medical conditions or allergies.

Before taking this medicine

You should not use Travel-Ease if you are allergic to it.

Do not give Travel-Ease to anyone younger than 12 years old without medical advice.

Tell your doctor if you have or have ever had:

breathing problems such as asthma , emphysema , or chronic bronchitis ;

an enlarged prostate or urination problems;

recently used alcohol, sedatives, or tranquilizers; or

liver or kidney disease.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

How should I take Travel-Ease?

Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets. Use the medicine exactly as directed.

Swallow the tablet whole and do not crush, chew, or break it.

You must chew the chewable tablet before you swallow it.

To prevent motion sickness, take Travel-Ease about 1 hour before you travel or anticipate having motion sickness. You may take this medicine once every 24 hours while you are traveling, to further prevent motion sickness.

To treat vertigo, you may need to take Travel-Ease several times daily. Follow your doctor's instructions.

Store at room temperature away from moisture, heat, and light.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Travel-Ease is used when needed. If you are on a dosing schedule, skip any missed dose. Do not use two doses at one time.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

What should I avoid while taking Travel-Ease?

Avoid driving or hazardous activity until you know how Travel-Ease will affect you. Your reactions could be impaired.

Avoid drinking alcohol. Drinking alcohol with this medicine can cause side effects.

What other drugs will affect Travel-Ease?

Using Travel-Ease with other drugs that make you drowsy can worsen this effect. Ask your doctor before using opioid medication, a sleeping pill, a muscle relaxer, or medicine for anxiety or seizures .

Sometimes it is not safe to use certain medicines at the same time. Some drugs can affect your blood levels of other drugs you use, which may increase side effects or make the medicines less effective.

Other drugs may affect Travel-Ease, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins , and herbal products . Tell your doctor about all other medicines you use.

More about Travel-Ease (meclizine)

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Antivert , Bonine , Dramamine Less Drowsy , Meclicot , ... +3 more

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Further information

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

Medical Disclaimer

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7 Cures for Vertigo and Motion Sickness

rmgadmin General Posts , Motion Sickness , Vertigo

Does the prospect of a road trip make you uneasy? Do twisted rural roads cause your stomach to lurch? Are you adamant to make sure you’re always the one driving or riding “shotgun?”

Motion sickness and vertigo can make anyone miserable. Certain people seem prone to these conditions, and we’ll take a detailed look at the causes behind them and how our internal medicine physicians can help you.

What’s The Difference Between Vertigo and Motion Sickness?

Vertigo is a specific type of dizziness that comes from problems deep within the inner ear. Vertigo can occur regardless of whether or not you’re in a moving vehicle or on a plane. In fact, vertigo can occur even if you’re lying down.

Motion sickness frequently occurs in response to either your motion or the motion in the environment.

Many of the reasons behind vertigo and motion sickness center on what’s happening in the inner ear. We’ll review its role in balance, the difference between vertigo and motion sickness, and what you can do about it.

What Is Vertigo?

Vertigo gives a severe, false sense of spinning. It’s usually centered on problems with the fluid in the inner ear, which plays a vital role in balance. It usually comes in short bursts lasting for several seconds. Symptoms include:

• A feeling that the world is spinning

In certain types of vertigo, this spinning occurs whenever you move your head.

Do You Get Nauseous With Vertigo?

Yes, it’s not at all unusual to get nauseous with vertigo.

What Causes Vertigo?

Sometimes there is no cause. Other times it centers on carbonite crystals in the inner ear that have become dislodged (we’ll explain in more detail when we talk about the inner ear at the end of this article).

We do know that vertigo is more common in the elderly, and it can even be seen after major or mild head trauma.   Ménière’s disease  and labyrinthitis (an inner ear infection) are also common causes.

What Causes Dizziness and Motion Sickness?

We don’t have to explain what motion sickness is—you may have undoubtedly experienced it either riding in a car or on an amusement park ride.   But the causes of dizziness and motion sickness are more nuanced.

First, let’s separate these two conditions.

Dizziness can have several different causes. It’s a symptom and not a disease in itself. If you’re experiencing dizziness, we’re in a unique position to help you as internal medicine doctors in Raleigh.

We’re able to look at your overall health and determine which of your body’s systems are influencing others. This is one of the things that separates internal medicine physicians in Raleigh from other physicians.  We look at how these systems interact with the understanding that one disorder can have a “domino” effect on the others.

While motion sickness can cause dizziness, every case of dizziness isn’t due to motion sickness.

Motion sickness occurs when your brain can’t separate conflicting information. This happens when there’s a disconnect between what you see, what you feel, and what your muscles are experiencing.

Consider this example:

You’re flying when the plane goes through turbulence. While your muscles feel the movement and the balance organs in your ear detect a shift, your eye can’t see what is causing the motion. In many cases—especially if you are in an aisle seat—your eyes may not see anything “moving” at all.

These conflicting messages cause the nausea found in motion sickness.

The Inner Ear and Its Role in Balance

To fully understand the far-reaching effects of vertigo and motion sickness, we have to take a closer look at the inner ear , which is considered the balance center of the body.

In your inner ear are several tiny, fluid-filled canals .  They also have hair-like sensors that let your body know if you’re standing upright or where the body is in relation to your center of gravity.

At the base of these canals, sensory cells can help you distinguish between motions such as up and down (if you’re in an elevator or an airplane) or forward and backward. They also tell your body if you’re upright or lying down.

These sensors relay their messages to the brain, which can then enable the body to change direction to balance itself or make a different direction in motion.

Can You Take Motion Sickness Pills for Vertigo?

For certain types of vertigo, motion sickness pills may help. However, for other types—such as Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV)—motion sickness pills will not address the underlying issue, and may even delay your recovery.

What Is the Treatment for Motion Sickness and Vertigo?

We evaluate each individual case and recognize that there is no one treatment that is effective for everyone. However, in general, the following can be effective to help those with motion sickness or vertigo.

1. Repositioning

BPPV vertigo can be treated through “repositioning.” This procedure, often done in your doctor’s office, involves placing you in a position that induces vertigo, then turning you carefully into another position.

This change allows fluid and crystals in your inner ear to realign. This treatment has a good success rate.

2. Medications

There are several different medications to treat motion sickness . Contact your medical provider who will explain the benefits of each one and make a recommendation based upon your individualized needs.

U se caution when giving medication to children. Speak with their pediatrician first.

3. Determine Where You Sit

This can be a useful preventative technique when combating motion sickness. Wherever you decide to travel, make sure that you can see some type of motion. By ship that may mean getting a cabin near the water level, while on a plane , it may mean a seat over the front edge of a wing.

Opting to drive or sitting in the upfront passenger seat can help.

The goal is to give your eyes a chance to relay the message of motion to your brain, so that the “signals” between your muscles, eyes and inner ear balance without conflict.

Keep your focus, too. Try to look at the horizon and keep your head still.

If at all possible, avoid sitting around smokers.

4. Consider Ginger

Ginger supplements or even ginger ale can help combat nausea that accompanies motion sickness.

5. Eat Lightly

Avoid having a large meal before traveling. You might want to have some plain crackers to nibble on to help settle your stomach. Carbonated drinks—without caffeine—are also a good idea. Don’t drink alcohol.

6. Acupressure

While research into alternative therapies is ongoing, there is some evidence that a small amount of pressure on your wrist can alleviate nausea. However, other studies have shown mixed results.

7. Fresh Air

If you feel motion sickness coming on, roll down a window or, if possible, go outdoors.   Alternatively, you may wish to turn air vents toward you. Essentially, blowing cool air on your face or around your forehead may provide some relief.

Chronic Motion Sickness? Contact Us for An Appointment

Fortunately, most cases of motion sickness can be easily alleviated. However, if you’re having extensive trouble with nausea that resists treatment , it may be a symptom of another condition. 

For more than 20 years, we’ve served the Raleigh area as the leading internal medicine doctors in the Triangle area. Contact us  for solutions to your motion sickness and vertigo problems.

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5 common misconceptions about vertigo, dizziness

Many adults have experienced dizziness. It could have occurred after standing up too quickly, after a carnival ride, after taking a medication or during a migraine. Many body systems, including your muscles, bones, joints, eyes and the inner ear, must work normally for you to have normal balance. When these systems aren't functioning well, you can experience balance problems.

About one-third of Americans  at some point experience short-term bouts of feeling foggy, unsteady and lightheaded or feeling a spinning sensation. However, if these sensations recur or affect your life, it is time to talk with your health care provider.

Vertigo vs. dizziness

First, it is important to outline the differences between vertigo and dizziness. While these words are often used interchangeably, they describe different sensations. Dizziness is the feeling of being lightheaded, foggy or unsteady. Vertigo, which is less common than dizziness, is an overall spinning sensation.

Causes of vertigo and dizziness

Several conditions can cause balance problems, and these problems are usually related to a specific sign or symptom. Your health care team can identify the causes of your symptoms.

The most common cause of vertigo is when calcium crystals in your inner ear become dislodged from their normal position. This is called benign paroxysmal positional vertigo. Other causes of vertigo include inflammation of the nerves in your inner ear, migraine, head injury, Meniere's disease, noncancerous tumor or motion sickness.

Often, the feelings of faintness or lightheadedness are caused by a significant drop in blood pressure, such as if you stand or sit up too quickly. Cardiovascular disease is another common cause.

Joint, muscle or vision problems, or nerve damage to your legs, frequently cause feelings of unsteadiness. Other causes could include medications you take, abnormalities in your inner ear or a neurological condition, such as Parkinson's disease.

Finally, dizziness can be caused by medications, abnormalities in your inner ear or psychiatric disorders. It also can occur if you are hyperventilating or breathing rapidly.

Common misconceptions

These conditions often are misunderstood. here are some common misconceptions about vertigo and dizziness:.

• Dizziness is always related to ear crystals. While benign paroxysmal positional vertigo is a common cause of vertigo, it is not associated with symptoms of dizziness. There are many other potential reasons for spells of dizziness.
• Home remedies, like performing the canalith repositioning procedure or flushing your ears, will fix the problem. Not only can this be harmful, it can cause more problems. Attempting to reposition crystals without instruction from your health care provider can cause the crystals to be moved incorrectly. There have been instances where patients have given themselves a concussion during the process or damaged their eardrums from flushing liquid into their ears.
• Dizziness is all in your head. Unfortunately, some people are told that their symptoms of dizziness or vertigo are not real or a result of mental illness. They are given advice to ignore it, and it will go away. Long-term dizziness and vertigo should not be ignored. Rather, a health care provider should treat these conditions.
• Antihistamines, such as meclizine, solve dizziness. Meclizine is used to prevent and control nausea, vomiting and dizziness caused by motion sickness. It works to block the signals to the brain that cause these symptoms. However, if you have recurring vertigo or dizziness, taking antihistamines is not a good long-term solution. Meclizine can make you feel drowsy, which results in many people falling asleep until the episodes are over. In this situation, the medication is covering the symptoms, but it is not treating the condition.
• You just need to deal with this because there are no long-term treatment options. Recurring vertigo or dizziness can significantly affect your life, such as missing social activities, or disrupting your abilities to drive or work. There is hope. Work with your health care team to identify the correct treatment option for you.

If you experience sudden vertigo with a decrease in hearing or ringing in your ear, seek emergency medical treatment. These are symptoms of sensorineural hearing loss, an inflammatory disorder probably caused by a virus that affect the nerves in the balance and hearing portions of your inner ear.

Mindy Zenke is a nurse practitioner in Ear, Nose & Throat  (ENT/Otorhinolaryngology) in La Crosse , Sparta  and Tomah , Wisconsin.

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Dizziness is a term used to describe a range of sensations, such as feeling faint, woozy, weak or unsteady. Dizziness that creates the false sense that you or your surroundings are spinning or moving is called vertigo.

Dizziness is one of the more common reasons adults visit their doctors. Frequent dizzy spells or constant dizziness can significantly affect your life. But dizziness rarely signals a life-threatening condition.

Treatment of dizziness depends on the cause and your symptoms. It's usually effective, but the problem may recur.

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People experiencing dizziness may describe it as any of a number of sensations, such as:

• A false sense of motion or spinning (vertigo)
• Lightheadedness or feeling faint
• Unsteadiness or a loss of balance
• A feeling of floating, wooziness or heavy-headedness

These feelings may be triggered or worsened by walking, standing up or moving your head. Your dizziness may be accompanied by nausea or be so sudden or severe that you need to sit or lie down. The episode may last seconds or days and may recur.

When to see a doctor

Generally, see your doctor if you experience any recurrent, sudden, severe, or prolonged and unexplained dizziness or vertigo.

Get emergency medical care if you experience new, severe dizziness or vertigo along with any of the following:

• Sudden, severe headache
• Difficulty breathing
• Numbness or paralysis of arms or legs
• Double vision
• Rapid or irregular heartbeat
• Confusion or slurred speech
• Stumbling or difficulty walking
• Ongoing vomiting
• A sudden change in hearing
• Facial numbness or weakness

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• Inner ear and balance

Loop-shaped canals in your inner ear contain fluid and fine, hairlike sensors that help you keep your balance. At the base of the canals are the utricle and saccule, each containing a patch of sensory hair cells. Within these cells are tiny particles (otoconia) that help monitor the position of your head in relation to gravity and linear motion, such as going up and down in an elevator or moving forward and backward in a car.

Dizziness has many possible causes, including inner ear disturbance, motion sickness and medication effects. Sometimes it's caused by an underlying health condition, such as poor circulation, infection or injury.

The way dizziness makes you feel and your triggers provide clues for possible causes. How long the dizziness lasts and any other symptoms you have also help pinpoint the cause.

Inner ear problems that cause dizziness (vertigo)

Your sense of balance depends on the combined input from the various parts of your sensory system. These include your:

• Eyes, which help you determine where your body is in space and how it's moving
• Sensory nerves, which send messages to your brain about body movements and positions
• Inner ear, which houses sensors that help detect gravity and back-and-forth motion

Vertigo is the false sense that your surroundings are spinning or moving. With inner ear disorders, your brain receives signals from the inner ear that aren't consistent with what your eyes and sensory nerves are receiving. Vertigo is what results as your brain works to sort out the confusion.

• Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV). This condition causes an intense and brief but false sense that you're spinning or moving. These episodes are triggered by a rapid change in head movement, such as when you turn over in bed, sit up or experience a blow to the head. BPPV is the most common cause of vertigo.
• Infection. A viral infection of the vestibular nerve, called vestibular neuritis, can cause intense, constant vertigo. If you also have sudden hearing loss, you may have labyrinthitis.
• Meniere's disease. This disease involves the excessive buildup of fluid in your inner ear. It's characterized by sudden episodes of vertigo lasting as long as several hours. You may also experience fluctuating hearing loss, ringing in the ear and the feeling of a plugged ear.
• Migraine. People who experience migraines may have episodes of vertigo or other types of dizziness even when they're not having a severe headache. Such vertigo episodes can last minutes to hours and may be associated with headache as well as light and noise sensitivity.

Circulation problems that cause dizziness

You may feel dizzy, faint or off balance if your heart isn't pumping enough blood to your brain. Causes include:

• Drop in blood pressure. A dramatic drop in your systolic blood pressure — the higher number in your blood pressure reading — may result in brief lightheadedness or a feeling of faintness. It can occur after sitting up or standing too quickly. This condition is also called orthostatic hypotension.
• Poor blood circulation. Conditions such as cardiomyopathy, heart attack, heart arrhythmia and transient ischemic attack could cause dizziness. And a decrease in blood volume may cause inadequate blood flow to your brain or inner ear.

Other causes of dizziness

• Neurological conditions. Some neurological disorders — such as Parkinson's disease and multiple sclerosis — can lead to progressive loss of balance.
• Medications. Dizziness can be a side effect of certain medications — such as anti-seizure drugs, antidepressants, sedatives and tranquilizers. In particular, blood pressure lowering medications may cause faintness if they lower your blood pressure too much.
• Anxiety disorders. Certain anxiety disorders may cause lightheadedness or a woozy feeling often referred to as dizziness. These include panic attacks and a fear of leaving home or being in large, open spaces (agoraphobia).
• Low iron levels (anemia). Other signs and symptoms that may occur along with dizziness if you have anemia include fatigue, weakness and pale skin.
• Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia). This condition generally occurs in people with diabetes who use insulin. Dizziness (lightheadedness) may be accompanied by sweating and anxiety.
• Carbon monoxide poisoning. Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning are often described as "flu-like" and include headache, dizziness, weakness, upset stomach, vomiting, chest pain and confusion.
• Overheating and dehydration. If you're active in hot weather or if you don't drink enough fluids, you may feel dizzy from overheating (hyperthermia) or from dehydration. This is especially true if you take certain heart medications.

Risk factors

Factors that may increase your risk of getting dizzy include:

• Age. Older adults are more likely to have medical conditions that cause dizziness, especially a sense of imbalance. They're also more likely to take medications that can cause dizziness.
• A past episode of dizziness. If you've experienced dizziness before, you're more likely to get dizzy in the future.

Complications

Dizziness can increase your risk of falling and injuring yourself. Experiencing dizziness while driving a car or operating heavy machinery can increase the likelihood of an accident. You may also experience long-term consequences if an existing health condition that may be causing your dizziness goes untreated.

• Walls RM, et al., eds. Dizziness and vertigo. In: Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 9th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Elsevier; 2018. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed Aug. 5, 2018.
• Dizziness and vertigo. Merck Manual Professional Version. https://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/ear-nose-and-throat-disorders/approach-to-the-patient-with-ear-problems/dizziness-and-vertigo. Accessed Aug. 5, 2018.
• Dizziness and motion sickness. American Academy of Otolaryngology — Head and Neck Surgery. https://www.entnet.org//content/dizziness-and-motion-sickness. Accessed Aug. 5, 2018.
• Flint PW, et al. Peripheral vestibular disorders. In: Cummings Otolaryngology: Head & Neck Surgery. 6th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2015. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed Aug. 8, 2018.
• Bope ET, et al. Dizziness and vertigo. In: Conn's Current Therapy 2018. Philadelphia, Pa.: Elsevier; 2018. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed Aug. 8, 2018.
• Branch WT, et al. Approach to the patient with dizziness. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed Aug. 5, 2018.
• Heat injury and heat exhaustion. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00319. Accessed Aug. 5, 2018.
• Muncie HL, et al. Dizziness: Approach to evaluation and management. American Family Physician. 2017;95:154.
• Moskowitz HS, et al. Meniere disease. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed Aug. 5, 2018.
• Migraine information page. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. https://www.ninds.nih.gov/Disorders/All-Disorders/Migraine-Information-Page. Accessed Aug. 5, 2018.
• Shepard NT (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. June 4, 2018.
• Rohren CH (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. July 4, 2018.
• Important facts about falls. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/homeandrecreationalsafety/falls/adultfalls.html. Accessed Aug. 5, 2018.
• Carbon monoxide poisoning FAQs. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/co/faqs.htm. Accessed April 9, 2020.

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Eclipse Sickness: People Claim To Have Side Effects Like Headaches, Dizziness, And Nausea—Doctors Weigh In

"True illness from experiencing the eclipse is unlikely."

“Any of u also experiencing headache bc of the solar eclipse?” one person wrote on X , formerly Twitter. “Honestly same. I just realized 😭 it's sooo bad and painkillers won't even work omg,” another said in the comments.

“This just has me wiped out, feeling weird,” someone else wrote on X . People even linked weird menstrual cycles to the eclipse. “Did anyone else get their period today?” a concerned person wrote. “I’m 2 weeks early and have only had an irregular cycle like 4 times in my life. #Eclipse.”

Overall, people have linked headaches, nausea, irregular periods, and a slew of other side effects to the eclipse. But is eclipse sickness for real? Doctors say nope.

"True illness from experiencing the eclipse is unlikely," says Nicholas E. Kman , MD, an emergency medicine physician at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. "It’s possible that the body might be affected by travel, anticipation, or adrenaline from the experience, but true illness is probably unrelated."

“There is no data or reason to think that this would be real,” adds Lewis Nelson, MD, chair of emergency medicine at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School. “The eclipse involves same sun and moon that you see every day—they just happen to align in a very specific way.”

Nelson says that symptoms of eclipse sickness are probably due to “pre-conceived ideas of what might happen during an eclipse.”

Women’s health expert Jennifer Wider, MD , agrees. “There is no scientific evidence for ‘eclipse sickness,’” she says, adding that this is largely “superstition, mixed with a bit of hypochondria.”

As for the wonky period claims, this is “not rooted in science,” says Christine Greves, MD , a board-certified ob/gyn at the Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women and Babies. “If changes in the menstrual cycles are not normal for you, make sure you’re not pregnant and contact your ob/gyn if you have concerns,” she says.

What can come out of the eclipse, though, is the possibility of vision damage if you stared at the sun without wearing proper eye protection. The eclipse can cause something known as solar retinopathy, which is essentially a sunburn on your retina, the light-sensitive layer of tissue at the back of the eyeball, says Bavand Youssefzadeh, D.O., an ophthalmologist at Global Lasik and Cateract Institute in Huntington Beach, CA. Symptoms of that include watery eyes, headaches, sensitivity to light, blurred vision, eye pain, and blind spots, according to the Cleveland Clinic . “It can leave permanent damage,” Youssefzadeh says.

If you started feeling off when the eclipse happened, Nelson recommends remembering that things can still happen to you during the astrological event—it’s just highly likely that your symptoms are unrelated to what was happening in the sky.

“I’m sure that when the moon and sun aligned, somebody had a heart attack,” he says. “But it wasn’t because of the eclipse. Somebody just happened to have a heart attack.”

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