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From: sdyer@bbnccv.UUCP (Steve Dyer)
Newsgroups: net.med
Subject: Re: Long term effects of Dramamine(tm)?
Message-ID: <212@bbnccv.UUCP>
Date: Sat, 13-Jul-85 11:47:37 EDT
Article-I.D.: bbnccv.212
Posted: Sat Jul 13 11:47:37 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 13-Jul-85 23:56:31 EDT
References: <2972@nsc.UUCP>
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Organization: Bolt Beranek and Newman, Cambridge, MA
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> I am rather susceptible to motion sickness, so I take one-half tablet
> of Dramamine(tm) before boarding transit.  Are there any long-term effects
> of the stuff that I should know about?
  
Dramamine (dimenhydrinate) is simply a salt of diphenhydramine, an antihistamine
also known as Benadryl.  If you're not having any immediate side-effects from
the drug, you probably don't have anything to worry about.  Both products have
been in use for almost 30 years without any serious side-effects being
reported.  Of couse, all things being equal, one prefers not to take ANY drug
chronically, no matter how safe it appears.  You should at least discuss this
with your doctor.  Short-term effects would include drowsiness and dry mouth,
though 1/2 tablet is small enough that you might be avoiding these.

>      Also, are there any types of foods that I can eat to prevent the motion
> sickness in the first place?  Are there any Dramamine(tm) clones that are
> better and/or less expensive?
  
I don't know about foods, but it has been shown that drivers are much less
likely to suffer from motion sickness than passengers.  Something about
focusing on the horizon in the direction of travel.  Maybe you could
gaze out the front of the train?  Both Dramamine and Benadryl have been
available in generic form for years, though these forms rarely appear on
consumer shelves.  Ask your pharmacist.  If you decide to take Benadryl
(or its generic equivalent), it contains approximately twice as much
diphenhydramine per milligram of drug as Dramamine, so you'd want to
cut your dosage in half.

The only other anti-motion sickness drug available OTC in the US is
Bonine (meclizine), it has the advantage of a long duration of action
(12-24 hours) but has been associated in some studies with birth defects
when taken during pregnancy.  The label warns about this.  If you only
need this for a short transit ride, meclizine is probably overkill.
I think it is also available in generic form.
-- 
/Steve Dyer
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