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Motion Sickness

Andrew J. Richardson, MD Reviewed 05/2023
 


BASICS

DESCRIPTION

  • Motion sickness is a physiologic response in affected individuals to a situation in which sensory conflict about body motion exists among visual receptors, vestibular receptors, and ...

DIAGNOSIS

HISTORY

Presence of the following signs and symptoms in the context of a typical stimulus (2): 
  • Nausea

  • Vomiting

  • Stomach awareness (feeling of fullness in epigastrium)

  • Diaphoresis

  • Facial and perio...

TREATMENT

  • Follow guidelines under “General Measures” section to prevent motion sickness (2)[C].

  • Premedicate before travel with antidopaminergic, anticholinergic, or antihistamine agents (2)[A]:

    • For ex...

ONGOING CARE

DIET

  • Eat before travel, avoid empty stomach; eat light, soft, bland, low-fat, and low-acid foods.

  • Avoid alcohol.

PROGNOSIS

  • Symptoms should resolve when motion exposure ends.

  • Resistance to moti...

REFERENCES

1
Leung AK, Hon KL. Motion sickness: an overview. Drugs Context. 2019 Dec 13;8:2019-9-4.
2
Brainard  A, Gresham  C. Prevention and treatment of motion sickness. Am Fam ...

SEE ALSO

Algorithm: Dizziness 

CODES

ICD10

T75.3XXA Motion sickness, initial encounter 

SNOMED

  • 37031009 Motion sickness (disorder)

  • 17783003 Car sickness

  • 18530007 Sea sickness

  • 33902006 Air sickness

CLINICAL PEARLS

  • The scopolamine transdermal patch is first line for prevention of motion sickness. It should be applied at least 4 hours before travel, although it is most effective if placed 12 hours...

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