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Phenytoin for the prevention of motion sickness

Edi G Albert
Med J Aust 2003; 178 (11): . || doi: 10.5694/j.1326-5377.2003.tb05362.x
Published online: 2 June 2003

A 43-year-old woman sought advice about the treatment of her sea-sickness. A sea-kayaking enthusiast, she suffers disturbing motion sickness in big seas. The usual remedies have either been ineffective or made her drowsy. A scuba-diving instructor recommended that she try taking phenytoin the night before going kayaking, and she wonders whether there is any evidence to support this recommendation.


  • Discipline of General Practice and Department of Rural Health, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS.


Correspondence: Edi.Albert@utas.edu.au

  • 1. Chelan W, Kabrisky M, Hatsell C, et al. Use of phenytoin in the prevention of motion sickness. Aviat Space Environ Med 1990; 61: 1022-1025.
  • 2. Woodard D, Knox G, Myers KJ, et al. Phenytoin as a countermeasure for motion sickness in NASA maritime operations. Aviat Space Environ Med 1993; 64: 363-366.
  • 3. Knox GW, Woodard D, Chelan W, et al. Phenytoin for motion sickness: clinical evaluation. Laryngoscope 1994; 104: 935-939.
  • 4. Chelan W, Ahmed N, Kabrisky M, Roger S. Computerized task battery assessment of cognitive and performance effects of acute phenytoin motion sickness therapy. Aviat Space Environ Med 1993; 64: 201-205.
  • 5. Stern RM, Uijtdehaage SH, Muth ER, Koch KL. Effects of phenytoin on vection-induced motion sickness and gastric myoelectric activity. Aviat Space Environ Med 1994; 65: 518-521.
  • 6. Diving Medicine Online. Available at: http://www.scuba-doc.com/moresea.htm (accessed Mar 2003).

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