I know the side effects of scopolamine get worse with drinking. Can I wear the patch, take it off to drink for a while, and then put it back on after a few hours? I already get some pretty bad side effects with the patch, so I don’t want to make it worse. Would it be okay if I put the patch back on its plastic backing or just use a new one?
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The person who posted this is asking if they can wear a scopolamine patch, take it off to drink, and then put it back on after a few hours. They are worried about the side effects since they already get pretty bad reactions to the patch.
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You’re right to be cautious about scopolamine side effects, but I don’t think your plan will work. The transdermal patch has a half-life of about 9 hours. That means it’s in your system for a while after exposure.
@Arin
It actually takes about 30 hours for the patch’s amount to drop to 10% of the normal dose, with a half-life of 9 hours.
Is scopolamine the only medication that works for you? Meclizine (commonly known as Bonine) doesn’t make you drowsy and doesn’t mix badly with alcohol. It’s been great for me, and I get seasick even walking through a puddle…
Once the patch comes off, it doesn’t really work again. I just drink with the patch on. I get a little dry mouth toward the end of the trip, but the side effects aren’t that bad for me.
I used to get sick until I started cruising on Royal Caribbean’s bigger ships. You can’t feel the ship rock unless you’re in a hurricane (like we were last time). The Wonder of the Sea is huge, over 1,180 feet long and 200 feet wide, with more than 8,000 people on board (including 2,000 crew). It’s tough to get sick on a ship like that. I’d also recommend getting an ocean-view balcony to relax outside on reclining chairs.
No, you can’t do that. With scopolamine patches, the medication builds up slowly and leaves your system slowly too. That’s why you put them on ahead of time, and why you can’t just take them off for a few hours.
I drank with the patch on and didn’t notice much difference. The patch makes my mouth dry, but that went away after the first day.