What Is the Treatment of Acute or Severe Motion Sickness When Oral Absorption Is Impaired?
In acute or severe motion sickness, gastric stasis can reduce the absorption of oral medications — even in the absence of active vomiting. When this occurs, the standard oral route may be insufficient to achieve adequate drug delivery.
This protocol covers the management of motion sickness in presentations where oral absorption is likely to be compromised and supportive care alone is not sufficient to control symptoms.
Treatment Approach (partial summary)
Management involves a combination of supportive measures — including reassurance, positioning, and attention to hydration — alongside a non-oral route of administration for an anti-motion-sickness agent. The specific agent selection, route, and complete regimen are detailed in the full protocol.
References
- Supportive measures include reassurance and having the patient lie down.
- Ensure adequate fluid and electrolyte intake if the individual is vomiting.
- In acute motion sickness, non-oral routes of administration of anti-motion-sickness drugs may be necessary because absorption of oral medications may be impaired due to gastric stasis, even in the absence of vomiting.
- In severe acute motion sickness, intramuscular injection should be considered.
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