What medications can prevent vomiting while traveling?

Medications to Prevent Vomiting While Traveling

For motion sickness prevention in adults, scopolamine transdermal patch is the FDA-approved prescription medication of choice, applied behind the ear at least 4 hours before travel. 1

FDA-Approved Prescription Option

Scopolamine transdermal system is specifically FDA-approved for preventing nausea and vomiting from motion sickness in adults. 1

• Apply one patch to the hairless area behind the ear at least 4 hours before travel begins 1
• Wear only one patch at any time 1
• The patch provides sustained medication delivery throughout your journey 1

Important Contraindications and Precautions

Do not use scopolamine if you have:

• Angle-closure glaucoma 1
• Allergy to scopolamine or belladonna alkaloids 1

Use with caution if you have:

• Open-angle glaucoma (remove immediately if you develop eye pain, blurred vision, or see halos around lights) 1
• History of seizures or psychosis 1
• Urinary retention problems 1
• Stomach or intestinal problems 1

Critical safety warnings:

• Avoid alcohol while using the patch, as it increases risk of serious side effects 1
• Do not drive or operate heavy machinery until you know how it affects you 1
• Be especially careful during water sports, as the medication can cause disorientation 1
• Limit water contact while swimming/bathing, as the patch may fall off 1

Over-the-Counter Antihistamine Options

While the evidence provided focuses primarily on dimenhydrinate for postoperative nausea rather than motion sickness specifically, dimenhydrinate (Dramamine) and similar antihistamines are traditional options for motion sickness prevention, though their efficacy data comes mainly from surgical settings. 2

• Dimenhydrinate has demonstrated a relative benefit of 1.5 for preventing nausea and vomiting overall, with a number-needed-to-treat of 5 2
• The optimal dosing and timing for motion sickness prevention remains less well-established than for postoperative use 2

Common Pitfall to Avoid

Do not confuse motion sickness prevention with traveler's diarrhea treatment. The guidelines provided extensively cover antibiotics like azithromycin for traveler's diarrhea 3, 4, but these are completely unrelated to preventing motion sickness-related vomiting. Motion sickness requires anticholinergic or antihistamine medications, not antibiotics.

Pediatric Considerations

The safety and effectiveness of scopolamine transdermal system has not been established in children. 1 For pediatric motion sickness, alternative antihistamine options would need to be considered, though specific evidence for this indication was not provided in the available guidelines.