Motion Sickness Drugs and Alcohol Interactions

Medically reviewed by Leigh Ann Anderson, PharmD. Last updated on Aug 22, 2026.

Key Takeaways

• Motion sickness medicines such as meclizine (Bonine, Dramamine Less Drowsy), dimenhydrinate (Dramamine), diphenhydramine (Benadryl), or scopolamine (Transderm Scop) can cause drowsiness, dizziness, or confusion. Drinking alcohol with these medicines can make these side effects worse.
• Combining alcohol with motion sickness medicines can impair coordination and judgment, making driving, operating machinery or other hazardous activities even more dangerous.
• This interaction may also increase the risk of falls or other injuries, especially in older adults.

What is motion sickness?

Motion sickness, sometimes called travel sickness, can occur during many types of movement or visual motion:

• Traveling by car, boat (“seasickness”), plane, or train
• Riding on amusement park rides
• Reading or using a mobile device while riding in a car
• Playing video games or using virtual reality (VR) devices

Motion sickness is usually temporary and improves when the motion stops. When needed, medicines for motion sickness can help prevent or reduce symptoms, especially when taken before travel or another activity that triggers symptoms.

What causes motion sickness?

Motion sickness occurs when your brain receives conflicting information about movement from your eyes, inner ears, and other parts of your body that sense motion and position. This mismatch can trigger symptoms of motion sickness.

Symptoms may include:

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Dizziness or lightheadedness
• Sweating
• Headache
• Increased saliva

Children and pregnant women are more likely to experience motion sickness.

If you are pregnant or think you may be pregnant, talk with your healthcare provider before taking medicine to prevent or treat motion sickness. Parents and caregivers should follow the age and dosing directions on the Drug Facts label when giving an over-the-counter (OTC) motion sickness medicine to a child.

How can I prevent motion sickness?

Several medicines can help prevent motion sickness (see table below). Common options include:

• meclizine (Antivert, Bonine, Dramamine Less Drowsy)
• dimenhydrinate (Dramamine)
• scopolamine (Transderm Scop)

Meclizine tends to cause less drowsiness than dimenhydrinate or diphenhydramine. All three medicines are available without a prescription. 

Scopolamine (Transderm Scop) is a prescription patch applied behind the ear. One patch can help prevent motion sickness for up to 3 days.

For best results, motion sickness medicines are generally taken before travel begins, but the timing depends on the medicine. Follow the directions on your prescription or Drug Facts label.

Diphenhydramine (Benadryl) and promethazine (Phenergan) are other antihistamines that may be used for motion sickness. Both can cause significant drowsiness, which can be increased by alcohol.

Several motion sickness medicines, including scopolamine and some antihistamines, have anticholinergic effects. These can cause dry mouth, blurred vision, constipation, difficulty urinating, and other side effects. Older adults may be particularly sensitive to them.

Taking more than one medicine with anticholinergic effects may increase the risk of side effects. Check with your doctor or pharmacist before combining these medicines.

Can I drink alcohol with motion sickness medicine?

It is best to avoid alcohol while taking motion sickness medicines such as meclizine, dimenhydrinate, diphenhydramine, promethazine, or scopolamine. Alcohol can increase drowsiness, dizziness, confusion, and impairment caused by these medicines, which may raise the risk of falls, accidents, or injuries.

Because motion sickness medicines and alcohol can cause drowsiness, dizziness, or impaired coordination, you should avoid driving, operating machinery, riding a bike, swimming, diving, or participating in other potentially dangerous activities until you know how the medicine affects you.

If you use a scopolamine transdermal patch system (Transdern Scop), use caution during watersports because you may become confused or disoriented.

Motion Sickness Medicines and Alcohol Interactions

Note: Not a complete list; always check with your pharmacist or other healthcare provider for possible drug-alcohol interactions.

Tips to help to prevent motion sickness

When possible, avoiding activities that trigger motion sickness can help. If you cannot avoid them, medicine and a few simple strategies may help prevent or reduce nausea and dizziness:

• Avoid alcohol, especially if you take medicine for motion sickness, because alcohol can increase drowsiness, dizziness and other side effects. Stay hydrated by drinking water during travel.
• Face forward in the direction you are traveling and choose a seat where you are likely to feel less motion.
• In a car, sitting in the front seat and looking ahead may help. On a boat, stay near the middle of the vessel, where there may be less motion. On a plane, a seat near the wings may help reduce the sensation of movement.
• Look at a fixed point in the distance, such as the horizon, rather than focusing on nearby moving objects.
• Get fresh air when possible and avoid strong odors, smoke, exhaust or other fumes that may worsen nausea.
• Avoid reading, watching videos, playing video games, or using a mobile device while traveling if these activities trigger symptoms.
• Some people try ginger or acupressure wristbands for motion sickness, but research on how well these approaches work is limited or mixed.
• Eat lightly before and during travel. Avoid large, heavy, or greasy meals if they tend to make your symptoms worse.

For cost savings: Review the Drugs.com Price Guide and Discount Card for scopolamine. Meclizine and dimenhydrinate are available over the counter (OTC) as generics or store brands, and FSA or HSA funds can generally be used to pay for these medicines.

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Further information

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

Medical Disclaimer

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