Consumer Reports' ShopSmart: Motion Sickness Fixes

Don’t let a queasy stomach ruin your next cruise, road trip, or flight. The July issue of ShopSmart, from the publisher of Consumer Reports – hitting newsstands Tuesday, May 20 – has tips on what to do when motion sickness hits.

What to bring along when you take to the road this summer, so you can enjoy your lunch – and avoid losing it:

• First, try these: GINGER AND WRISTBANDS Although far from proven, these are safe and worth a shot, especially for mild symptoms. Ginger root, typically sold in candies and capsules, has the most supporting evidence. Occasional use of up to 250 milligrams four times a day is considered safe for most people, including women who might be pregnant. Bracelets such as Sea-Bands, found at drugstores, stimulate acupressure points on the wrist and have been shown to combat nausea in some situations. The evidence that they work against motion sickness is mixed. However, they’re safe and can be used along with other remedies.

• Next, try this: ANTIHISTAMINES Older over-the-counter antihistamines such as dimenhydrinate (Dramamine) and diphenhydramine (Benadryl) have been proven to counteract motion sickness and are approved by the Food and Drug Administration for use by children older than 2. The catch is that they take 30 minutes to an hour to kick in, and they can leave you feeling drowsy or light-headed. Newer, non-sedating over-the-counter antihistamines such as loratadine (Claritin) and cetirizine (Zyrtec p) might relieve allergy symptoms but don’t appear to quell a queasy stomach.<
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