Transderm Scop for Canadians

[Needingyou]

Wondering if anyone has found a way to get their hands on Transderm Scop “Patches” for their cruise?  We used to have Transderm-V in Canada, but it was discontinued 18 months ago.  The challenge I’m having is that Transderm Scop is only available by prescription in the US, so it seems impossible to get.  I checked the cruise lines and they confirm that while they have other solutions (Gravol-like), they do not have Transderm on the ship.  

Any help is appreciated as I’m heading on a cruise in a little while and really need these.  
 

thx

[CDNPolar]

We recently did Antarctica and although we have never been seasick, we were concerned with the Drake Passage and what it would do to us.

 

We went to our doctor, and although he was willing to prescribe a patch - don't know what it was called - he advised that we should avoid it if possible.

 

What my message is here, is, that our doctor knew of and would prescribe a patch to us if we wanted.  The one you are looking for by name may not be available, but there is a seasickness patch certainly available in Canada.

[Needingyou]

Thanks very much for the reply.  Quick question for you:

 

1) Are you from Canada (I assume of course, yea, but wanted to check as there must be an alternative then available in Canada, since your doctor was will to prescribe)? 
 

2) If you don’t mind sharing a tad, why did your doc recommend against it? 
 

thx

[broberts]

12 hours ago, Needingyou said:

Wondering if anyone has found a way to get their hands on Transderm Scop “Patches” for their cruise?  We used to have Transderm-V in Canada, but it was discontinued 18 months ago.  The challenge I’m having is that Transderm Scop is only available by prescription in the US, so it seems impossible to get.  I checked the cruise lines and they confirm that while they have other solutions (Gravol-like), they do not have Transderm on the ship.  

Any help is appreciated as I’m heading on a cruise in a little while and really need these.  
 

thx

 

Have you explored online options? Scopolamine is still legal in Canada by prescription.

 

[mom says]

Hmmm. My FP told me it is unavailable in Canada, so best of luck with that. She also said she only ever prescribed  it in the past as an  absolute last resort due to its contraindications  for many  common medical conditions and the frequent occurrence of some nasty side effects.

 

If you will be sailing from a US port, consider getting some Bonine (generic name Meclizine) tablets. They are available OTC at any pharmacy in the US. Walmart generic version is cheap. Unlike Gravol, it only needs to be taken once a day at bed time ( take it the day before embarkation  and daily every day of the cruise) and is less likely to cause drowsiness

[LHT28]

You could ask your pharmacist  if there is an OTC  remedy

 I take ginger  candy with me   it works for me  but I  am not prone to motion sickness  unless the seas are really bumpy

[Needingyou]

Thanks all

[CDNPolar]

12 hours ago, Needingyou said:

Thanks very much for the reply.  Quick question for you:

 

1) Are you from Canada (I assume of course, yea, but wanted to check as there must be an alternative then available in Canada, since your doctor was will to prescribe)? 
 

2) If you don’t mind sharing a tad, why did your doc recommend against it? 
 

thx

 

I did not ask the doctor much beyond his statement that in his opinion we should try to deal with the seasickness without the patch, that some people - actually he said many people - suffer a lot of side effects and he just does not like to prescribe the patch.

 

Yes, I am from Canada and yes there is an alternative, because the doctor said there was a patch that he could prescribe.

 

I also think that you should have a discussion with your friendly neighbourhood pharmacist.  I often talk to my pharmacist before I approach the doctor.  The pharmacist is the expert in drugs and interactions and doctors know only what they know and are not the experts in every drug.  IMO

[YoHoHo]

12 hours ago, broberts said:

 

Have you explored online options? Scopolamine is still legal in Canada by prescription.

 

As you say Scopolamine is legal (injection used for post surgical and palliative care ) but the Scopolamine 1.5 mg transdermal patch has been discontinued in Canada. Northern Health (BC) reported in May 2022 that patch supplies were low and that it was also being used off label for respiratory congestion in palliative care.

 

+1 your suggestion to discuss motion sickness solutions with a local pharmacist. As you say they have greater experience with meds than most Drs. that prescribe. I happily pay a few dollars more supporting my local pharmacist who is very knowledgeable, helpful and keeps an eye on my meds. More than once she has made suggestions that I have taken to my Dr and he has agreed with and acted upon (but then he is also a great doctor who actually listens),

 

Early this year I did discuss with our pharmacist and learned we have very few options now (for meds think Gravol). A friend was to pick up OTC Bonine for us on one of his many (casino) trips stateside but picked up generic gravol equivalent by mistake. It filled the need crossing the Drake and DW prefers it to Bonine for less drowsiness but that is strictly about how this affects her. We were planning on taking both (and lots). She tried a patch ( don't recall it's active ingredient) but prefers pills to control her dose as per anticipated need.

[3Shelaghs]

I have a long history with Scopolamine patch (Transform V). I have used it for many cruises.

There were side effects, which for me were far better than Mal d'mer!

I had one very strange day, so scary, I never used it again, and began to fully understand why the US did not approve.

As I aged, it became more important "not" to use again.

When we were planning the North Atlantic cruise,(August) I visited the idea once again, both with GP, cardiologist and 3 pharmacists. ALL told me, it's "no longer available in Canada, Americans were smart never to have approved it". It had it's uses historically preoperatively, and on the QT for palliative care, but not for routine population use.

I'll be honest, it worked really well for me, but you actually had to be very careful, and was not to be used for longer than one week at a time. Cruisers just slapped a disc on and did whatever (me included), but we were playing Russian roulette with it...LOL live and learn.

Bonine/Meclizine does zero for me.Promethazine/Phenergen does zero for me.Antivert/Benadryl/Dramamine all zero. Gravol works slightly, but I have felt sicker with it. Gravol without active ingredient is probably psychological also. My go to is...... seabands, whether it help psychological or not, zero alcohol, fresh air, no coffee, cold fresh food, lie down til the swells change.

Good luck... I feel your anxiety!! Here's to calm winds.

 

 

[Needingyou]

Great insights.  Thanks for sharing

[millybess]

10 hours ago, 3Shelaghs said:

I have a long history with Scopolamine patch (Transform V). I have used it for many cruises.

There were side effects, which for me were far better than Mal d'mer!

I had one very strange day, so scary, I never used it again, and began to fully understand why the US did not approve.

As I aged, it became more important "not" to use again.

When we were planning the North Atlantic cruise,(August) I visited the idea once again, both with GP, cardiologist and 3 pharmacists. ALL told me, it's "no longer available in Canada, Americans were smart never to have approved it". It had it's uses historically preoperatively, and on the QT for palliative care, but not for routine population use.

I'll be honest, it worked really well for me, but you actually had to be very careful, and was not to be used for longer than one week at a time. Cruisers just slapped a disc on and did whatever (me included), but we were playing Russian roulette with it...LOL live and learn.

Bonine/Meclizine does zero for me.Promethazine/Phenergen does zero for me.Antivert/Benadryl/Dramamine all zero. Gravol works slightly, but I have felt sicker with it. Gravol without active ingredient is probably psychological also. My go to is...... seabands, whether it help psychological or not, zero alcohol, fresh air, no coffee, cold fresh food, lie down til the swells change.

Good luck... I feel your anxiety!! Here's to calm winds.

 

 

Great post!  I use meclizine and it has worked very well for me.  I have always been prone to motion sickness.  

 

I have known a few people who have used the scopolamine patch and all have said that the sickness was debilitating for a several days after they arrived back on land and were off the patch.  Did that happen to you?

[3Shelaghs]

"Sea Legs" happen to me no matter what. I'm a terrible sailor, and absolutely love it, so I still do it.

[tammy&gary]

I have ordered from Amazon their patches.   Work great!  Have used them many times for many different types of travel 

[tammy&gary]

On 9/27/2023 at 11:43 AM, broberts said:

 

Have you explored online options? Scopolamine is still legal in Canada by prescription.

 

I haven gotten the patches on Amazon.  Work great for me, for all types of travel.  Always a couple in my purse

[Ex-Airbalancer]

On 9/27/2023 at 11:46 PM, CDNPolar said:

 

I did not ask the doctor much beyond his statement that in his opinion we should try to deal with the seasickness without the patch, that some people - actually he said many people - suffer a lot of side effects and he just does not like to prescribe the patch.

 

Yes, I am from Canada and yes there is an alternative, because the doctor said there was a patch that he could prescribe.

 

I also think that you should have a discussion with your friendly neighbourhood pharmacist.  I often talk to my pharmacist before I approach the doctor.  The pharmacist is the expert in drugs and interactions and doctors know only what they know and are not the experts in every drug.  IMO

My daughter went to her GP and ask for something for up coming TA , has she had problems last time she did a cruise 

He just said there is nothing and end of debate 

I believe going to talk with her pharmacist 

 

[CDNPolar]

14 minutes ago, Ex-Airbalancer said:

My daughter went to her GP and ask for something for up coming TA , has she had problems last time she did a cruise 

He just said there is nothing and end of debate 

I believe going to talk with her pharmacist 

 

 

I fully support the pharmacist discussion!  Go there first, and see where you go next.  I don't believe however that a Pharmacist in Canada can prescribe the seasickness patch, so you will have to go back to the GP if you want it. Or, go to a walk in clinic and get a doctor there to prescribe - if they will.

 

However get the pharmacist to explain all the possible side effects and what the doctor's concerns are.

 

I do know that some doctors may be hesitant to prescribe certain medicines that are elective and asked for by the patient in case there could be significant issues, because they don't want to get sued.

 

I have a deep tissue massage every three weeks and have had for decades now.  I require a prescription from my doctor for my benefits to cover the cost.  I have had TWO doctors in the past that would not write me a prescription for massage.  When asked, one said he just did not believe that massage had benefits, and the other said that if I ever suffered any kind of injury from massage that I could sue him for the recommendation.

 

 

[Ex-Airbalancer]

3 minutes ago, CDNPolar said:

 

I fully support the pharmacist discussion!  Go there first, and see where you go next.  I don't believe however that a Pharmacist in Canada can prescribe the seasickness patch, so you will have to go back to the GP if you want it. Or, go to a walk in clinic and get a doctor there to prescribe - if they will.

 

However get the pharmacist to explain all the possible side effects and what the doctor's concerns are.

 

I do know that some doctors may be hesitant to prescribe certain medicines that are elective and asked for by the patient in case there could be significant issues, because they don't want to get sued.

 

I have a deep tissue massage every three weeks and have had for decades now.  I require a prescription from my doctor for my benefits to cover the cost.  I have had TWO doctors in the past that would not write me a prescription for massage.  When asked, one said he just did not believe that massage had benefits, and the other said that if I ever suffered any kind of injury from massage that I could sue him for the recommendation.

 

 

Wow , no prescription for massage 

our GP is not pill write but anything like that he has no problem to write a yearly prescription for any treatment my benefits would cover

i miss my benfits 😢

[3Shelaghs]

On 10/21/2023 at 7:16 AM, Ex-Airbalancer said:

My daughter went to her GP and ask for something for up coming TA , has she had problems last time she did a cruise 

He just said there is nothing and end of debate 

 

 

^^ This is accurate. You can not buy Scopolamine from Amazon or the internet. The patches other poster is referring to is herbal, no pharmaceutical active ingredient in it. Scopolamine was discontinued in Canada a few years ago. 

[broberts]

54 minutes ago, 3Shelaghs said:

^^ This is accurate. You can not buy Scopolamine from Amazon or the internet. The patches other poster is referring to is herbal, no pharmaceutical active ingredient in it. Scopolamine was discontinued in Canada a few years ago. 

 

It was not Scopolamine that was discontinued. Rather the patch manufacturer stopped selling it in Canada. Scopolamine can still be prescribed in Canada. That said, I don't believe it is available in a formulation that is useful on a cruise.

[Ex-Airbalancer]

This maybe sometime for her to get before our cruise ,

 

https://farmaciarubino.net/en/over-the-counter-drugs/164-travelgum-10-chewable-gums.html

[3Shelaghs]

• Sorry folks, but Pfizer discontinued it, and another company picked up the patent for making injectable only.(Omega Labs).
• The above link mentioned is Gravol, we would take 1 (25mg) tabs or 1 50mg tablets, or 1 100mg long acting. We sell chewable, suppositories, tablets, caplets, and gel caps, but no gum.
• The Gravol with ginger does not contain the active ingredient that Gravol does (dimenhydrinate), therefore you are looking at herbal stuff

Edited October 22, 2023 by 3Shelaghs

[Ex-Airbalancer]

3 minutes ago, 3Shelaghs said:

• Sorry folks, but Pfizer discontinued it, and another company picked up the patent for making injectable only.(Omega Labs).
• The above link mentioned is Gravol, looks like equivalent to 2 (10mg) tabs. We sell chewable, suppositories, tablets, caplets, and gel caps, but no gum.
• The Gravol with ginger does not contain the active ingredient that Gravol does (dimenhydrinate), therefore you are looking at herbal stuff

Our cruise starts in Italy , they may have different options there 

like I wrote , I am looking for my daughter, we been in 15 m swells and didn’t have a problem 😁

My wife said if the they had a lullaby music station we would have sleep like babies that night 🤣

[3Shelaghs]

Here's a photo of common Italian antinausea options. Maybe someone who speaks Italian could translate. I know one of them is Gravol.

https://www.farmaciaitalia.it/en/26-nausea-seasickness-and-motion-sickness

[cbr663]

Used the patches for years and like others, did have side effects.  Since no longer available in Canada, I have switched to Meclizine (Bonine) and have great results without any noticeable side effects.

 

My sister also used to use the patches and when I told her that the patches were discontinued in Canada she immediately visited her local pharmacy to see if they had any available.  It didn't.  Unbeknownst to her though, the pharmacy was a compounding pharmacy and they compounded Meclizine for her to take on her trip.  So Meclizine may be available in Canada through a compounding pharmacy.

 

We will be cruising from San Diego in November and I plan to pick up some more Meclizine while there.