From the FDA Drug Label
The FDA drug label does not answer the question.
From the Research
For travel-related nausea, scopolamine patches are the most effective option, applied behind the ear 4-8 hours before travel and lasting up to 3 days, as they have been shown to reduce the incidence and severity of motion sickness by 60-80% 1. When considering the treatment of travel-related nausea, it's essential to weigh the efficacy, safety, and convenience of various options.
- Scopolamine patches have been demonstrated to be significantly superior to placebo in reducing motion sickness symptoms, with a faster onset of action compared to oral medications like dimenhydrinate and meclizine 1, 2.
- The recommended dosage for scopolamine patches is a single patch applied to the postauricular area at least 6-8 hours before the anti-motion sickness effect is required, with the option to combine with oral scopolamine for faster protection 1.
- While dimenhydrinate and meclizine are commonly used over-the-counter medications for motion sickness, they may have more side effects, such as drowsiness and dry mouth, compared to scopolamine patches 3, 4.
- Non-medication strategies like sitting in the front seat of a car, focusing on the horizon, avoiding reading, and staying well-ventilated can complement medication use, but scopolamine patches remain the most effective option for preventing motion sickness 1.