Antarctica Travel Forum

What was the most effective medication taken to cross the Drake passage. I'm leaving for Antarctica next week and haven't taken care of that yet.

Greetings, I had prescription phenergan as a 'just in case'. I did not get sick, I usually don't but didn't want to risk it. As another fyi, we had about 90 passengers and approx 70 were sick. That said, on a different trip round the horn, i did get sick, and it was less 'weather' than the drake, so you can never be too sure when the mal de mer may hit...Phenergan also will make you quite sleepy, some people took simple draminine and were fine, some used the wrist bands. I would suggest that you have something on hand, just in case. Have a terrific time! I can't wait to go again, Antarctica changed my life!! Heather

I took Stematil (generic name PHENOTHIAZINES) prescribed by my doctor. Luckily I did not get sea sick, but I used it to control car sickness on the windy dirt roads around patagonia and it worked really well. Sea sickness is one of those things where prevention is better than cure because once you get it, it is usually too late to take any thing. The doctors on board usually have an injection they can give you if it gets really bad.

My understanding is that medications will work differently for different people. On the cruise I was on, there were a number of people who had the little patch behind their ear that still suffered some seasickness, while others were fine using the same medication. If you have experience with a particular medication being beneficial to relieving motion sickness, then I wouldn't 'try something new' if I didn't have to :)

Remember - taking seasickness medication after getting sick isn't as effective (if at all effective) so if you're going to take medication, take it before you get sick. I didn't take any medication on my trip, but that's more because I know that a lot of medications have a significant impact on my system, and I didn't want to sleep away the trip!

Most people here obviously don't normally get sick. For those of us who can guarantee motion sickness even on a short trip on a windy road, a solution is the only way some of us can do many trip. I have travelled extensively but also been unable to do certain things such as a sea trip on the Southern Ocean.
A failsafe drug is something I am also looking for. Sadly most make me go to sleep and that defeats the purpose of travelling.