Ways to prevent car sickness

Car sickness is a form of motion sickness. Your eyes, inner ears and body send different signals about movement, and the brain may respond with nausea or vomiting. It can be worse when reading, looking down at a screen or sitting where the road moves strongly in your view. Children may find it difficult to describe the early feeling, so watch for pallor, yawning, sweating or irritability.

Sit where movement is usually steadier: the front passenger seat for an adult, or the middle of the rear seat for a child who is safely restrained and tall enough to see forward. Keep your gaze on the road or a distant fixed point. Open a window when practical, keep the car cool and avoid strong smells. Choose a light meal before leaving rather than a large, greasy meal, and take small sips of water. Plan breaks on longer journeys. If symptoms have happened before, ask a pharmacist or clinician whether a travel-sickness medicine is suitable; some medicines cause drowsiness and need to be taken before symptoms begin.

Seek medical advice if vomiting continues after the journey, you cannot keep fluids down, you become unusually sleepy or confused, or symptoms occur without travel or other movement. A clinician can check for dehydration and other causes. For repeated problems, a travel health consultation can help you choose safe prevention for your route, age and medicines.

Which prevention medicine is appropriate for my age and health conditions? When should I take it, and could it affect alertness or driving? What should I do if vomiting starts?