Sesha and I just love traveling to the hills in India. But the thing is both of us have motion sickness and rely heavily on Avomine (anti-nausea medicine) to have a smooth road journey. In December 2006 I went to Khurpatal, near Nanital in Uttranchal. So, I bought a strip of Avomine in Gurgaon and took one before the journey. I slept for most of the way to Khurpatal but when I woke up in the morning, I felt slightly dizzy. Anyway we were almost there, and I did not think about it much. The next day, we traveled a short distance (10km) to Nanital. As usual, I took an Avomine an hour before I had to sit in the jeep.
After taking the medicine, I feel very confident and did not think much about getting sick. I thought I was feeling slightly queasy on the way to Nanital. I tried to ignore it but after 20 minutes I asked my colleagues if they could stop the jeep for a while as I was not feeling well. As soon as I was out of the jeep, I threw up my lunch. Thankfully, after that I lasted till we reached Nanital. My first purchase at Nanital was another strip of Avomine. I used this new strip for the return journey of Khurpatal to Gurgaon and had no problem.
Then came my Sikkim trip (My complete Sikkim article is now available at Gonomad). After reaching New Jalpaiguri, it was once again Avomine time. I was using the same leftover Avomine from the Khurpatal trip. By the number of tablets used, I knew which strip was from Nanital and which one was purchased in Gurgaon.
We had no problems in Sikkim till we were using the Avomine from the lot purchased in Nanital. But it got over and we used the Gurgaon ones on our way back from Gangtok to New Jalpaiguri. After a trip to the hills the thought of returning to Delhi anyway leaves me flat but on this jeep trip both of us were feeling real bad. Once again the Avomine did not seem to work and we were getting dizzy. Thankfully, the jeep stopped for tea after an hour and I ran to a medical shop to purchase new lot of Avomine. They said they had a substitute brand and I was desperate enough to try anything. We took the new medicine and felt better after a while and reached safely.
Now when I think about it, I feel that the Avomine that I purchased at Gurgaon from the neighborhood medicine store was spurious. Scary thought, because it is one thing that we cannot afford to get wrong. It is because of Avomine that we are able to enjoy the hills.
I too suffer from terrible motion sickness. Even Avomine doesn’t work for me. Thought I’d share a recent discovery with you. If you stick one of those hot medicated plasters that people usually use for sore backs or muscles over your belly button (I don’t know if you get them in India but the Japanese ones and Tiger Balm brand are good), for some strange reason it prevents motion sickness. I can’t explain it and neither could the person who recommended it to me. I was skeptical when I first heard it but I tried it on my last trip to Sikkim (with my pills* on standby ….. just in case) and what do you know? I took those twisty-turny mountain roads like a pro! * I swear by Kwells (hyoscine hydrobromide). It’s chewable and acts very quickly. Also non-drowsy. Although they tell you to take it half an hour before the journey, I’ve taken it when I was already feeling nauseous and the nausea went away quite quickly.
For me, a bottle of soft-drink that I keep sipping from, works just as well.Cracking the window open every now and then, to let in some cool breeze, also helps.
Phebes, thanks a lot for stopping by my blog. I wonder if you too blog? I was not aware of both the alternatives that you have suggested but I am willing to give Kwells a try. But how does it taste? Motion sickness is such a terrible thing.Sidhu, you are lucky that you can get away with a cold drink. I would be scared to try that. But I do keep open the window just a bit to get some air.
Hi, I can share one trick with you all fellow travelers… it has worked well for me … Try to keep shifting your focus to long distance objects and back to short distant objects. IT fools you mind to “think” that you are not moving… nausea is generally due to your mind losing a sense of balance… hence this works to an extent. Happy journey!
Leaf on the Breeze thanks for the tip. Bu I do not have th courage to try it, I man 10 minutes without avomine and I throw up!