Travel Sickness

Travel sickness (motion sickness) happens when your inner ear senses movement that your eyes can't see — in a car, coach, boat or plane — and the mixed signals make you feel dizzy, sweaty and sick. It's very common, particularly in children, and many people gradually grow out of it as they get older.

Kwells (hyoscine) acts quickly and suits shorter trips, while antihistamine options — cyclizine, or promethazine as Avomine tablets or Phenergan liquid — are longer-acting, which helps on all-day journeys. All of them can cause drowsiness, so don't drive until you know how you're affected. Our pharmacist can help you choose, including options suitable for children.

Before you set off. These medicines are much better at preventing sickness than stopping it once it has started, so take them ahead of the journey as the pack directs. For long trips a longer-acting option saves you taking more mid-journey. If you're already feeling sick, fresh air and looking at the horizon help while a tablet takes effect.

Sit where movement is least — the front seat of a car, over the wings on a plane, or mid-ship on deck on a boat. Fix your eyes on the horizon rather than reading or looking at screens, keep cool with fresh air, and try distracting yourself with music. Some people also find ginger or acupressure wristbands helpful.

See your GP if you get dizziness or sickness that isn't linked to travel, if symptoms carry on after the journey ends, or if travel sickness is severe despite trying medicines — occasionally something else, such as an inner-ear problem or migraine, is behind it. Check with our pharmacist first if you're pregnant or take other medicines.