Sea sickness

Scopolamine is effective in the prophylaxis of kinetosis (motion sickness, sea sickness, see p. 330) it is well absorbed transcutaneously. Scopolamine (plblood-brain barrier faster than does atropine (pKa = 9), because at physiologic pH a larger proportion is present in the neutral, membrane-permeant form. 

Derbyshire s Patent Exxxbroca-tioxL for Preventing Sea-Sickness. Boil 2 ounces opium, 2 drachms extract of hen-bano, 10 grains macc, and 2 ounces mottled soap, in 3 pints of water for 4 hour. TYbcn cold, add 1 quart of rectified spirit and 3 drachms spirit of ammonia. 

To Relieve Sea-Sickness. Take camphorated spirit, sal-volatile, nud Hoflhian a anodyne, a few drops of each, mixed in a small quantity of water, or upon a small lump of sugar. This often relieves when other prescriptions fail. 

Based on the above reports we investigated the possibility of using "hairy root" cultures in studies of secondary metabolism. We focused on the tropane alkaloids, synthesized in the roots of various Solanaoeae genera (Atropa, Datura, Brugmanaia, Hyosayamua, and Duboisia). Hyoscyamine and scopolamine are widely used in narcotic medicine as sedatives and in the treatment of sea sickness. Scopolamine tilso happens to be the best known antidote against nerve gas. 

University, one patient suffering from car sickness reported alleviation of his symptoms. Further studies were then conducted, and it was discovered that the mixture of compounds was effective in treating other forms of motion sickness, including air sickness and sea sickness. Marketed under the trade name Dramamine, this formulation quickly became one of the most widely used drugs for the treatment of motion sickness. It has since been replaced with a newer drug, called meclizine, which is sold under the trade name Dramamine II. 

The capacity of the skin to absorb lipid-soluble chemicals is both a blessing and a curse. Transdermal medicated adhesive patches, for example, take advantage of the capacity of the skin to absorb small lipophilic compounds in order to administer chemicals such as scopolamine, the anti-sea sickness drug, and nicotine. Unfortunately, urushiol, the active ingredient found in poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac, also takes advantage of the skin s capacity to absorb small, lipophilic chemicals, and is absorbed via the dermal pathway. 

Persons being transferred should be in good health—in particular, they should not be suffering from sea sickness. 

The problem occurred not just at sea. Riverboats reported considerable sickness, as when assistant surgeon Penrose aboard the U.S. steamer Harriet Lane reported the unwelcome visitation of diarrhea to his commander ... 

Price NM, Schmitt LG, McGuire J, et al. Transdermal scopolamine in prevention of motion sickness at sea. Clin Pharmacol Ther 1981 29 414—419. 

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