Question:
Does anyone have a suggestion as to what medication would be appropriate for
a 4 year old to help with motion sickness?
We called our Dr. and he said nothing could be dosed appropriately for a 4
year old, so we'd have to "ride it out" if it became a problem.
Is this guy a quack?
Answer:
While the Physician's Deck Reference does not contain any reference to a
child's dosage, the blanket statement that children are not susceptible to
motion sickness it pure bunk.
I can't tell you how many times I've had to clean up the bus aisle after
children on our field trips have gotten motion sickness.
And I distinctly remember being sick myself as a child day after day after day
on cross country trips, until Mother finally stuck little dramamine tablets in
my Hostess cupcakes.
Nothing is worse than being sea sick... once you get it.... the only thing
which will cure it is an expensive shot of compazine which hurts like hell.
My friend Ivy has a 5 year old daughter who is prone to motion
sickness. When she was very young, her Dr. recommended Liquid
Children's Dramamine, and the directions say it's good for children as
young as 2 years of age. She now uses the Dramamine chewable tablets,
and the instructions for the chewables say "Children 2 to under 6: 1/4
to 1/2 tablet every 6 to 8 hours, not to exceed 1 1/2 tablets in 24
hours or as directed by a doctor."
I am not a Dr., but I must say your Dr.'s advice has me puzzled. All
children are different, and this was a telephone consultation with your
Dr., not an office visit. I do not know your son, but if your Dr. knows
him well, maybe he has reasons for not recommending it. You may want to
get a second opinion, or like someone else said, ask your pharmacist for
advice.
If you do try the Children's Dramamine, I would try it out at home,
first. Chances are, you won't need it. Have a great cruise.
