Managing motion sickness

#### Summary points Motion sickness is a syndrome of nausea and vomiting, pallor, sweating, headache, dizziness, malaise, increased salivation, apathy, drowsiness, belching, hyperventilation, and stomach awareness. Symptoms can be provoked by externally imposed motion, or implied self motion from a moving visual field, such as in a cinema. The condition has been recognised from the early days of sea travel and the word for sickness, “nausea,” derives from the Greek word νανς, meaning “ship.” Travel by car, train, or other transport is part of everyday life for most people, and motion sickness is a common problem. Estimating its prevalence is complex because reported symptoms depend on variables such as previous avoidance and exposure, as well as presumed inherent susceptibility. Some estimates are presented in table 1⇓. Motion sickness may have an important effect on occupational activity for some people, such as airline pilots, those in the armed forces, and emergency services staff. General practitioners may frequently encounter patients who report difficulties in work or daily life related to motion sickness, or those seeking advice about prevention before a forthcoming journey. We review the management …