Transderm Scop

Vegas · 06-12-2008, 08:04 PM

So far so good!
I went to the doctor, got my perscription, and have done alot of research on the potential side effects.

We're going out on the No Respect this weekend for two days to Anacapa Islands, and though I don't ever really get horribly sick, it does take ALOT for me to keep my stomache settled. Dramamine helps but makes me SOOOO drowsy, and Bonine barely helps me at all.

So I've stocked up on ginger capsules, ginger gum, Emergen-C, and am running my "still on land" test run of the Scop-patch behind my ear.

I'm delighted to report that I've noticed no ill side effects in the first 24 hours of wearing this patch!

I'm going to run by a pharmacy before we leave and pick up some "waterproof" band-aids. I have read that if you cut off one side and put it over the Scop patch it'll help keep it on while diving.

So please cross your fingers for me! I'll keep you posted, and hopefully next week I will come back with a fun and happy dive trip report for you all!

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**Scuba Mama** · 06-12-2008, 08:56 PM

I have used the patch before, I found dry mouth was the worst with it and I felt tired. Good luck with the patch.

Scuba Mama

**MgicTwnger** · 06-12-2008, 09:44 PM

I've been using the patch for years, it's the only thing that really works for me.

ryan · 06-13-2008, 12:32 AM

I used the patch once on a midshipmen cruise from Annapolis to Charleston, SC. I loved it because I get violently sea sick, but I hallucinated twice. Granted, I was operating on zero sleep, but I haven't taken it since and the Navy won't prescribe it generally because of that.

So, since I work on a ship these days, and I get violently sick in even the calmest of seas, I take a trifecta - bonine, 500mg ginger root pills, and the bracelets. My body has gotten pretty used to the seas, so the bonine works just fine now. Dramamine does make me really drowsy. When it gets real bad though, 20ft+ seas, I'll where the bracelets. I don't take ginger root anymore because I constantly eat when I'm on it.

The bracelets would work in the water because of the pressure point thing. Also, I remember a Mythbusters episode saying that ginger root was generally the best thing you can take. It depends on the person though.

**MgicTwnger** · 06-13-2008, 10:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by karp2381

but I hallucinated twice.

I take that as an added bonus.

**dalehall** · 06-13-2008, 01:56 PM

I'm so glad I've never had to deal with that.
Thumbs up to all you that have to deal with and still go out on boats/ships to dive.

ryan · 06-13-2008, 05:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MgicTwnger

I take that as an added bonus.

haha, i was making lasagna in the hold and I thought a puppy brushed my leg...it was the trash bag. Then, in the cockpit, I thought a kitten was pawing a can of miller light, but it was rope slapping one of the winches.

Vegas · 06-16-2008, 06:17 PM

Hi!
I cannot wait to tell you guys all about my trip!!

but for this thread I'll just stick to the topic.....

Noon Wednesday I applied the patch, starting Friday morning I
added minimal doses of dramamine and ginger (powder in a capsule
from the vitamin section of Walgreens).

I had complete relief from motion sickness all day Friday and Saturday.

Saturday night I stopped taking the ginger capsules only because I had
a little trouble swallowing them (I'm not very good at getting pills to
go down).

Sunday morning the boat was rocking, and the eggs we had for breakfast weren't agreeing with a few of the folks on board. Still taking minimal doses of dramamine, and relying on that and the Scop, I wasn't 100%, but
pretty close to it! I woke with dry eyes so I left out my contacts, and
did notice greater sensativity to the sunlight, so even when it was cloudy I
kept my shades on.

Thinking back now, it seems there might have been just a bit of mild confusion, or short-term memory impairment - really mild though....just some of that "now what was I looking for in here again?"

It wasn't until Sunday night - on the ride home, after removing the patch - that I noticed I was having trouble reading the tiny words on the screen of my cell phone. Today my vision is improving again, slowly but steadily, and I feel a little "jumpy" - like I would if I drank too much coffee.

I believe I will have to put a 3 day maximum time limit on myself for wearing those patches - because beyond that it just gets a little weird. -- but I was
free from the "Yucks" the entire trip......hooray!

ryan · 06-16-2008, 10:09 PM

Did you feel hungry when you were on the ginger root? I think it makes me hungry, so I stopped taking it. I would wolf down food non stop.

Vegas · 06-16-2008, 10:39 PM

I didn't notice being hungry from the Ginger.....I think the Scop patch lessened my apetite a little though...

...and the very slight dry-mouth from the patch kept me drinking LOTS of water - I usually down no less than one bottle of water before every dive - but on this trip I averaged two or more bottles of water per dive and then some!