Reviewed by medical experts • For informational purposes only
Motion sickness in pregnancy, children and older adults: safer choices, medicine cautions and when to see a doctor.
Motion sickness can affect different groups in different ways, and the safe choices change.
Pregnancy
Women are often more sensitive in pregnancy, and nausea from pregnancy can add to it. Eat small, frequent, bland meals, stay hydrated, sit in the front seat and open windows. Ginger in food amounts is generally used, but ask your doctor about supplements. Check with a doctor before taking any travel sickness medicine. Severe vomiting that does not stop needs medical care.
Children
Motion sickness is most common between 2 and 12 years.
Babies under 2 rarely get motion sickness. Repeated vomiting in a baby needs a doctor.
Older adults get motion sickness less often, but side effects from medicines are more likely, including confusion, dry mouth, drowsiness and falls. Scopolamine and sedating antihistamines need a doctor's advice. New dizziness in an older person may be due to inner-ear, heart or brain problems.
Emergency (112 or 102)
Vertigo with weakness, slurred speech, chest pain, fainting or sudden severe headache.
Key point
Take extra care with medicines in each of these groups and ask a doctor first.
Written By
Dr. Daksh
BDS
Reviewed By
Dr. Varun Gupta
MD Pharmacology, MBBS
Last updated on
27 Sep 2022 • 06:23 PM (IST)
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