Spouse has developed Motion Sickness. Suggestions?

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Spouse has developed Motion Sickness. Suggestions?

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My 81-year-old husband who has dementia has suddenly developed carsickness, never a problem before. This began about a month ago; during a 20-minute drive he said he was feeling dizzy, then was nauseated when we got home, clammy, shaky. This was at night; he went to bed and was fine the next morning.
He has complained of dizziness and shakiness a few times since then after short rides. I’m afraid to take him out for fear he’ll get really sick while we are in a movie or restaurant. Should I try Dramamine? Is this possibly indicative of a more serious problem?

Alzheimer's & Dementia Senior Health

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AHWilson, it is either motion sickness or a panic attack. Both have similar symptoms.

Due to motion sickness, I no longer go to the movies because sure enough something will appear on the screen that will trigger it, like the picture flipping upside down, striped wallpaper, high ocean waves, etc. As for the vehicle I was riding in, I hated to drive my parents in their car, I could get motion sickness just backing that Queen Mary ship sized sedan down the driveway. No problem with my older model Jeep which was built on a truck chassis.

Eye sight can also cause such issue. A good friend of mine gets motion sickness due to glaucoma.

But first, find out if it motion sickness, a panic attack, or eye issue. Calming meds can help with the panic attack. The doctor can prescribe the same meds that is used in non-drowsy Dramamine, which your Rx insurance will pay.

Hope you and hubby can figure out the cause.

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Two things I have to add, Is he closing his eyes more in the car than he used too or is his distance vision worse? Sometimes either being able to see what’s around them or the opposite not having eyes open helps when a person experiences this. My other suggestion is one of those sea sickness bands that uses a pressure point on your wrist that really helps nausea. I don’t think they are very expensive and certainly worth a try! Good luck

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My elderly mother with dementia developed severe car sickness which morphed into VERY bad vertigo in short order. She also has very bad hearing in one ear, so it was all tied in, I believe. Many many trips to the ENT doctor for the Epley Maneuver and several years later, she became wheelchair bound b/c of neuropathy (which was at the root of it ALL) and that's when all the issues disappeared.

If this doesn't clear up, I suggest a trip to the Ear Nose & Throat doctor (ENT) for a check up.

Good luck!

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Check for ear infection first. I've have only two episodes of ear problems in my life - an ear ache as a kid and fluid in inner ear as adult. Earlier this year I was dizzy every time I moved (post covid infection). Went to dr when it didn't clear up and was told I might have a 'misplaced crystal'. Never heard of that. There are exercises to get it back in place, however they make you twice as dizzy and may not be an option for your husband. On the other hand, he might just have an infection or fluid that could be treated with and Rx

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i had this after a covid jab, i stumbled around for 2 days then i forced myself to go for a walk about a mile and i felt a lot better, so i walk a lot more often now

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Please have him evaluated by a doctor. It could be as easy fix like and ear infection or an indicator of something deeper in his brain. The doctor can advise you best and direct you to the correct treatment.

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Thank you for all these helpful insights. Yesterday we took a short (4-mi) drive to do some shopping and he was fine. I drove slowly on surface roads since the original problem had been on a freeway. He had eaten and had liquids before we left. I think perhaps dehydration was a factor before. But: if there is a recurrence, it’s off to the doctor for evaluation. Thank you!

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My spouse is in his 60s, has hearing and balance issues. Dehydration and fatigue are definitely factors for him. He does take medication (as directed by MD) and has had PT for vertigo.
For your husband, PT or meds may not be realistic interventions.
Is he able to get around and walk outside? That just helps everything work a bit better...if it can be done safely.
Visual processing is impaired by dementia, so it may be that freeway speeds gave him too much visual input to process and led to dizziness/nausea.
Same process as going on a very rapid carnival ride that moves riders around in circles...and a percentage of them have dizziness, nausea, and sometimes vomit.

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Does he ever get dizziness any other time, for instance when lying down and turning over, or when looking up at the ceiling bending his neck back to do so? Dramamine may well make him sleepy (Cinnarazine is better - chew one 15 minutes before travelling), but in particularly the first option makes him dizzy then I think he should see his General Doctor, I doubt it would make any difference to the drug used but as we get older we often get problems with the inner ear and its probably a good idea to have any problems recorded on his records.

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Agree that this sudden change should be checked out medically, but a good non- medication based intervention is SeaBands. I get twrribly seasick even on ferries and these do the trick. I am told they work with motion sickness as well.

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These work for one of my grandsons, too. He frequently gets carsick.

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Yes, I would check with his Dr. Car sickness has to do with the inner ear fluid. I get sick, my husband doesn't.

I take Bonine. It does make you tired so I take it at night and it last 24 hrs. Been on cruises with no problems.

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hi!! :)

much better to ask a doctor.

by the way dizziness can be caused by many things.
...ear infection (lose balance; dizziness)
...dehydration (very important for elderly people to drink a lot of water)
...sudden hearing loss
...medicines side-effects (THIS can cause motion-sickness in cars)

if you're worried, better to ask a doctor.

in the example i know, the elderly person has low blood pressure. this can cause dizziness too. getting up from lying down, to seated position creates dizziness. in the example i know, it's nothing worrying, because the low blood pressure is not verrry low.

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Maybe there's been some change with the dementia affecting his spatial awareness? Or perhaps he's having inner ear issues? I would run him over to his PCP to get checked out.

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I assume he's riding in the front seat, and not the rear seat, as sitting over the wheel can cause dizziness. I learned that when I was 17. I also experienced it when I had a Girl Scout troup, we were on a field trip, and one of the girls sitting in a back seat became nauseous. My co-leader was brilliant, and experienced. She moved the girl to a different position (to the middle of the back seat if I remember correctly) and the problem resolved itself.

Given that your husband has dementia (and may be on meds for that) I would never consider trying Dramamine or anything else w/o having him examined by a doctor, possibly a neurologist. W/o knowing what other meds he's on, and researching them or better yet asking a doctor, he might be compromised by negative interactions.

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Spouse has developed Motion Sickness. Suggestions?

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