Travel Sickness Tablets: Everything You Need to Know
Millions of us feel queasy on a car journey, a ferry crossing, or a turbulent flight, and for many travellers the answer lies in a small blister pack in the glove compartment or hand luggage. Choosing the right travel sickness tablets for your journey, your health history, and your family can make the difference between a miserable trip and a smooth one. Understanding your options before you travel is one of the smartest preparations you can make.
Contact us or book an appointment to get advice tailored to your trip.
Alternatively, read on for a complete guide to travel sickness tablets, including how they work, dosage and timing, who should avoid them, and how to keep the whole family comfortable on the move.
1. What Are Travel Sickness Tablets and How Do They Work?
Motion sickness happens when your brain receives conflicting signals from your inner ear (which senses movement), your eyes (which may see a still environment, such as inside a car), and your body. This mismatch triggers nausea, dizziness, sweating, and sometimes vomiting. Travel sickness tablets work by interrupting these signals or calming the part of the brain that controls nausea. Common symptoms they aim to prevent include:
- ⇾ Nausea and vomiting
- ⇾ Dizziness or a spinning sensation
- ⇾ Cold sweats and pale skin
- ⇾ Headache
- ⇾ Excessive yawning or drowsiness
- ⇾ Increased saliva production just before vomiting
The main ingredients used in UK travel sickness tablets each work slightly differently:
Hyoscine hydrobromide: An antimuscarinic that reduces the nerve signals travelling from the inner ear to the brain’s vomiting centre. Often considered one of the most effective options for short journeys
Cinnarizine: An antihistamine that reduces the sensitivity of the inner ear’s balance organs, making it useful for longer trips
Promethazine: A sedating antihistamine that also has anti-nausea effects, generally used for longer journeys where drowsiness is less of a concern
Ginger: A natural remedy some people use to settle mild nausea, though the evidence base is less robust than for licensed medicines
2. Comparing Your Options: Ingredients at a Glance
The table below compares the main types of travel sickness tablets available in the UK, including how sedating they tend to be and roughly how long they last.
| Active Ingredient | Example Brand | Typical Onset | Approximate Duration | Sedation Level | Minimum Age (check product leaflet) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hyoscine hydrobromide | Kwells | 20 to 30 minutes | Up to 6 hours | Low to moderate | 4 years (junior strength) or 10 years (standard), varies by product |
| Hyoscine hydrobromide (patch) | Scopoderm | 6 to 8 hours before travel | Up to 72 hours | Low to moderate | 10 years and over, prescription or pharmacist-supplied |
| Cinnarizine | Stugeron | 2 hours | Up to 8 hours | Moderate | 5 years and over (child dose) |
| Promethazine | Avomine, Phenergan | 1 to 2 hours | Up to 24 hours | Higher | 5 years and over, varies by product |
| Ginger preparations | Various supplements | Variable | Variable | Minimal | Generally considered suitable from childhood, check product |
Age suitability and exact dosing vary between manufacturers, so always check the product leaflet or ask a pharmacist for the version that matches your child’s age and weight.
3. Dosage and Timing: When and How to Take Travel Sickness Tablets
Getting the timing right is often more important than the tablet you choose. Most travel sickness tablets need to be in your system before the nausea signals begin, not after. General guidance includes:
Take before symptoms start: Most tablets are far less effective once nausea has already set in, so take them before you set off, not once you feel unwell
Hyoscine hydrobromide: Usually taken 20 to 30 minutes before travel, with a repeat dose only if the product information allows and enough time has passed
Cinnarizine: Usually taken around 2 hours before travelling for the first dose to take effect
Promethazine: Often taken the night before an early flight or long journey, since it is longer acting and more sedating
Patches (Scopoderm): Applied to dry, hairless skin behind the ear several hours before travel, then left in place for the duration stated on the packaging
Repeat dosing: Always follow the maximum daily dose on the packet. Do not double up because symptoms persist without checking the leaflet or asking a pharmacist first
Combining with other medicines: Avoid taking more than one sedating product at a time unless a clinician has advised this specifically
4. Can I Take Travel Sickness Tablets?
Most adults and children over the specified minimum age can use travel sickness tablets safely, but there are important exceptions. Speak to a pharmacist or clinician before use if any of the following apply:
- ⇾ You are pregnant or breastfeeding, as suitability depends on the specific ingredient and stage of pregnancy
- ⇾ You have glaucoma, particularly angle-closure glaucoma, as antimuscarinic ingredients like hyoscine can worsen this
- ⇾ You have an enlarged prostate or difficulty passing urine, since these medicines can make urinary retention worse
- ⇾ You have a history of epilepsy or seizures, particularly with sedating antihistamines
- ⇾ You have liver or kidney problems, which may affect how the medicine is processed
- ⇾ You are taking other sedating medicines, alcohol, or certain antidepressants, which can increase drowsiness or interact
- ⇾ You are driving or operating machinery shortly after travelling, given the sedating effect of some products
A quick conversation with your pharmacist before you travel can confirm which option is appropriate for your personal health history.
5. Risks and Warnings
Travel sickness tablets are widely used and generally well tolerated, but like all medicines they carry some risks. Be aware of the following:
Drowsiness: Many products cause sleepiness, which can affect your ability to drive or supervise children safely on arrival
Dry mouth and blurred vision: Common with antimuscarinic ingredients such as hyoscine
Confusion in older adults: Sedating antihistamines and hyoscine can occasionally cause confusion or agitation in elderly patients
Paradoxical effects in children: Some children become overstimulated or restless rather than drowsy after taking sedating antihistamines
Alcohol interaction: Alcohol increases the sedative effect of most travel sickness tablets and should be avoided
Skin irritation: Scopoderm patches can occasionally cause local skin irritation or, rarely, pupil dilation if the medicine transfers to the eye from fingers
If you experience severe drowsiness, confusion, an allergic reaction, or any symptom that concerns you after taking a travel sickness tablet, stop use and seek medical advice.
6. Choosing Tablets by Mode of Travel and Destination
Different types of journey produce different patterns of motion sickness, and this can influence which travel sickness tablets suit you best:
Car journeys: Short, stop-start motion often responds well to hyoscine hydrobromide, taken shortly before setting off
Sea and ferry crossings: Longer duration and rolling motion may suit cinnarizine or a Scopoderm patch, applied well in advance
Air travel: Turbulence-related nausea can often be managed with a dose taken before boarding, with promethazine sometimes preferred for long overnight flights
Coach and rail travel: Reading, screens, and tight seating can worsen symptoms, so combining medication with practical measures such as looking at the horizon can help
Winding or mountain roads: Frequent, unpredictable movement may call for the longer-acting protection of a patch or cinnarizine rather than a single short-acting tablet
Cruise holidays: Multi-day sailings are a common reason travellers choose the 72-hour Scopoderm patch over repeated tablet dosing
For advice specific to your itinerary, our travel clinic team can help you plan alongside other pre-travel needs such as vaccinations or malaria prevention.
7. Are Travel Sickness Tablets Safe for Children and Families?
Many travel sickness tablets are licensed for children, but age limits and doses vary significantly by brand and ingredient, so checking the packaging carefully is essential. General points for families include:
- ⇾ Junior formulations of hyoscine hydrobromide are available for children as young as 4, while standard strength products are usually restricted to age 10 and over
- ⇾ Cinnarizine and promethazine children’s doses typically start from age 5, though this varies by brand
- ⇾ Always use the specific child dose stated on the packaging rather than estimating a fraction of the adult dose
- ⇾ Watch for drowsiness or, less commonly, restlessness in children after their first dose, and note how they respond before a longer journey
- ⇾ Ginger-based products are sometimes preferred by parents seeking a non-drowsy option for milder symptoms, though efficacy varies between children
- ⇾ If in doubt about a specific child’s age, weight, or health conditions, ask a pharmacist before travelling
8. Hints and Tips to Protect Yourself and Your Family Beyond Medication
Medication works best alongside sensible travel habits. Consider these additional tips:
- ⇾ Sit where movement is felt least, such as the front seat of a car, over the wing of a plane, or midship on a boat
- ⇾ Look at a fixed point on the horizon rather than reading or using a screen
- ⇾ Get plenty of fresh air and avoid strong food smells before and during travel
- ⇾ Eat a light meal beforehand rather than travelling on an empty or overly full stomach
- ⇾ Stay hydrated, but avoid excess alcohol or caffeine before setting off
- ⇾ Take regular breaks on long car journeys to allow everyone to step outside and reset
- ⇾ Pack a spare set of clothes and sickness bags for young children, just in case
- ⇾ Practise with a trial dose of medication before a long journey, if it is the first time your child is taking it, so you can see how they respond
Frequently Asked Questions About Travel Sickness Tablets
Can I buy travel sickness tablets over the counter?
Yes. Most travel sickness tablets, including hyoscine hydrobromide, cinnarizine, and promethazine, are available over the counter from a pharmacy in the UK, though a pharmacist may ask a few questions to check suitability first.
How long before travelling should I take a travel sickness tablet?
This depends on the product. Hyoscine hydrobromide tablets are usually taken 20 to 30 minutes before travel, cinnarizine around 2 hours before, and Scopoderm patches applied several hours in advance. Always check the specific product leaflet.
Do travel sickness tablets make you drowsy?
Many do, particularly promethazine and, to a lesser extent, cinnarizine. Hyoscine hydrobromide tends to be less sedating for most people, but individual responses vary, so it is worth trialling a product before an important journey such as a flight where you need to stay alert on arrival.
Can pregnant women take travel sickness tablets?
Suitability depends on the specific ingredient, the stage of pregnancy, and individual health history. Pregnant travellers should speak to a pharmacist, GP, or our clinical team before taking any travel sickness medication.
What is the best travel sickness tablet for a long-haul flight?
Longer-acting options such as promethazine or a Scopoderm patch are often chosen for long-haul flights, since their effects last longer than short-acting hyoscine tablets. The right choice depends on your health history and how you respond to sedation, so a pharmacist consultation is recommended.
Can I take travel sickness tablets with other medication?
Some travel sickness tablets can interact with other sedating medicines, certain antidepressants, and alcohol. Always tell your pharmacist or clinician about any medication you are currently taking before starting a new travel sickness product.
Are natural remedies like ginger as effective as medication?
Ginger may help with mild nausea for some people, but the evidence supporting it is weaker than for licensed medicines such as hyoscine, cinnarizine, or promethazine. It can be a useful non-drowsy option for milder symptoms, but is not a guaranteed substitute for licensed medication on longer or rougher journeys.
Ready for a Comfortable Journey?
Whether you are planning a short car trip, a long-haul flight, or a multi-day cruise, choosing the right travel sickness tablets and taking them at the correct time can make all the difference to how you and your family feel on the move.