Motion Sickness: What Works Fast and Keeps You Comfortable

Feeling queasy in a car, boat, or plane? Motion sickness happens when your brain gets mixed signals from your eyes, inner ears, and body. That mismatch causes nausea, sweating, dizziness, and sometimes vomiting. The good news: you can reduce symptoms quickly with a few simple moves and the right treatments.

First—try quick, practical fixes. Sit where motion is least felt: front seat of a car, near the wing on a plane, or mid-ship on a boat. Look at the horizon or a stable point. Fresh air helps, so open a vent or step outside if you can. Avoid reading or staring down at a phone. Eat a light, bland snack and sip water slowly to avoid worsening nausea.

Over-the-counter and prescription options

OTC choices include dimenhydrinate (Dramamine) and meclizine; both reduce nausea and dizziness for many people. They can cause drowsiness, so don’t drive after taking them. Scopolamine comes as a prescription patch you place behind the ear hours before travel; it works well for longer trips but can cause dry mouth or blurred vision in some people. Domperidone and ondansetron are other prescription options sometimes used for severe cases—talk to your doctor or pharmacist before trying these.

If you’re pregnant, breastfeeding, or taking other meds, check with a healthcare professional before starting anything. That’s also true if you have glaucoma, urinary retention, or prostate enlargement—some motion sickness drugs can worsen those issues.

Natural and non-drug solutions

Ginger is a popular natural helper. Ginger candies, ginger tea, or a small ginger supplement can ease nausea for many travelers. Acupressure wrist bands press on the P6 point and help some people reduce nausea without drugs. Slow, deep breathing and focusing on a distant, stable point can calm your brain’s motion signals. Habituation—gradual exposure—works if you regularly face the same motion, like sailors or commuters. Over time the brain adapts and symptoms decrease.

Combine approaches: use a patch for a long boat trip and sip ginger tea before takeoff. Test what works on short journeys before relying on it for long travel.

When should you see a doctor? If motion sickness keeps you from traveling or working, causes repeated vomiting, leads to dehydration, or doesn’t respond to standard treatments, get medical advice. Also see your doctor if symptoms are new and sudden, or come with severe headaches, vision changes, or weakness—those could be signs of something else.

Want a quick checklist? Try these: choose the right seat, get fresh air, avoid screens, try ginger, use an OTC antihistamine if needed, and consult your doctor for stronger options. Small changes usually make a big difference. Safe travels—and may your next trip be smooth and nausea-free.