Highlights & Basics
- Motion sickness is a common condition provoked by transportation or visual motion.
- Characterized by nausea/vomiting, possibly accompanied by other symptoms such as dizziness or headache.
- Controlled breathing is helpful during episodes.
- Drug therapy includes antimuscarinics and antihistamines; however both may have significant adverse effects (notably drowsiness) and impede habituation (desensitization).
- Habituation and cognitive behavioral therapy may be useful for people who must undergo repeated provocative motion (e.g., for their occupations).
Quick Reference
History & Exam
Key Factors
Other Factors
Diagnostics Tests
Treatment Options
Definition
Epidemiology
Etiology
Pathophysiology
Citations
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. CDC Yellow Book 2024: health information for international travel. Section 8: Travel by air, land & sea - motion sickness. May 2023 [internet publication]. [Full Text]
Spinks AB, Wasiak J. Scopolamine (hyoscine) for preventing and treating motion sickness. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2011;(6):CD002851.[Abstract][Full Text]
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