From the bench · 15 Nov 2025

Motion Sickness

By Nick Buete

The Benefits of Compounded Medicines for Motion Sickness

Motion sickness can turn holidays, long drives, ferry trips or flights into uncomfortable experiences. While many people manage symptoms with over-the-counter products, these options aren’t always suitable—especially for children, people who cannot swallow tablets, those who experience excessive drowsiness, or individuals needing tailored dosing.

Compounded medicines offer flexible, personalised options to help prevent or manage motion sickness safely and effectively. Below is a clear overview of how compounding can improve comfort for both adults and children.

What Causes Motion Sickness?

Motion sickness occurs when the inner ear, eyes, and sensory nerves send conflicting signals to the brain. This mismatch triggers symptoms such as:

  • Nausea

  • Vomiting

  • Dizziness

  • Sweating

  • Headache

  • Pallor

Most treatments aim to calm the signals from the vestibular (balance) system or reduce nausea.

Why Compounded Medicines Can Help

Compounding allows pharmacists to create personalised formulations not available commercially. This includes:

  • Custom doses

  • Alternative strengths

  • Combination medicines

  • Child-friendly formulations

  • Non-oral routes for people unable to swallow

For motion sickness, these benefits can make a significant difference.

1. Transdermal Options for People Who Cannot Swallow

Swallowing tablets can be difficult for young children, people with disabilities, or anyone feeling nauseous. Compounded transdermal preparations provide gentle, steady absorption and avoid the need for oral intake.

Transdermal Scopolamine

Scopolamine has long been used for motion sickness prevention because it helps block signals from the inner ear to the vomiting centre in the brain.

Commercial patches are not always available in Australia, so compounding pharmacies can prepare custom scopolamine transdermal gels or creams.

Benefits:

  • No need to swallow medication

  • Steady, long-lasting effect

  • Useful for long car trips, flights, and cruises

  • Can be tailored to adult or child-appropriate doses*

*Dosing for children requires careful assessment by a prescriber.

Transdermal Promethazine

Promethazine is an antihistamine commonly used for motion sickness, but oral tablets can cause drowsiness and are not always suitable for young children.

Compounded promethazine transdermal cream offers:

  • A non-sedating or lower-sedation alternative depending on dose

  • A practical option when swallowing is difficult

  • Adjustable strengths for individual needs

2. Tailored Combinations to Reduce Drowsiness

Many commercial motion sickness products contain diphenhydramine or dimenhydrinate, both of which can cause significant drowsiness. Some travellers prefer better alertness, especially during day trips, outdoor activities, or when supervising children.

Compounding allows pharmacists to create targeted combination formulations, such as:

Scopolamine + Caffeine + Ginger

A commonly compounded combination includes:

  • Scopolamine – prevents motion-related nausea

  • Caffeine – counters drowsiness and improves alertness

  • Ginger – well-established natural anti-nausea support

This blend aims to:

  • Reduce sedation compared with diphenhydramine-based products

  • Maintain effectiveness

  • Support comfort during long trips

  • Provide a more “balanced” anti-nausea effect

Such formulations can be prepared in capsules, lozenges, or transdermal creams depending on the patient’s needs.

3. Options for Children

Children may struggle with:

  • Tablets that are too large

  • Sedating antihistamines

  • Bad-tasting liquids

  • Maintaining steady symptom control on long trips

Compounding offers flexibility such as:

  • Child-appropriate strengths

  • Pleasant-flavoured liquids or gummies

  • Transdermal preparations for children who refuse or cannot tolerate oral medication

Every paediatric formulation is made specifically to match the prescriber’s instructions and the child’s age, weight, and clinical needs.

4. Custom Doses for Sensitive Adults

Adults who experience side effects from standard-strength commercial medicines can benefit from:

  • Lower starting doses

  • Slow-release capsules

  • Adjustable titration under prescriber guidance

  • Combination preparations that target symptoms without unnecessary sedation

For example, some individuals only require a low dose of scopolamine or promethazine, while others benefit from small additions of caffeine or ginger to maintain wakefulness.

5. Different Routes for Different Types of Travel

Compounded medicines can be tailored depending on the type and duration of travel:

Type of TravelHelpful Compounded OptionsLong car tripsTransdermal scopolamine or promethazine, ginger + scopolamine capsulesCruisesLonger-acting transdermal gels, slow-release capsulesFlightsLow-sedation combinations (e.g., scopolamine + caffeine + ginger)Children in the back seatChild-friendly transdermal preparations, flavoured liquids

This flexibility can make a major difference in comfort and adherence.

Safety and Consultation

While compounding provides many benefits, motion sickness treatments—particularly scopolamine, promethazine, and caffeine—must be used appropriately and under prescriber direction.

Your pharmacist will ensure:

  • Formulations are appropriate for age and medical conditions

  • The dose is tailored to the individual

  • Interactions and safety considerations are reviewed

  • Clear instructions are supplied

Conclusion

Motion sickness doesn’t have to be an unavoidable part of travelling. Compounded medicines provide personalised, flexible solutions for adults and children—particularly when commercial products are inappropriate, unavailable, or poorly tolerated.

Whether you need a transdermal option, a low-sedation combination, or a child-friendly formulation, compounding can offer practical and effective alternatives to improve comfort during your journey.