I always applied the patch about 12 hours before going on the boat, because it takes that long for the serum level to reach strength. I wake up extremely dizzy and dry-throated, sometimes to the point of sore throat. In very humid climates, the dry throat is mild enough to be easy to ignore, but the dizziness is extreme.I guess a good patch tip is to always apply it the night before the dive. That way you've "slept off" any sleepy side effects there might be. Now that I think about it, I probably put it on around 10pm the night before...so if it's a 8am boat, it's been on for around ten hours. I have not experienced any of the side effects some of you have mentioned. But if I had, I would have slept through them anyway.
Happy Diving!
The first day I don't get seasick unless conditions are very rough. The second day the side effects have moderated considerably, but the protection from seasickness is also somewhat reduced. The third day the side effects are tolerable, but the protection is only moderate. The patch is supposed to be good for 3 days. And I have to put up with the side effects in the afternoon and evening of the first and second days.
With the Scopace tablet, I only had to take it an hour before departure, though an hour and a half was better. It lasted 8 hours, so I had no effects from it in the afternoon after getting off the boat.
I am going to ask both my pharmacist and my doctor, to make sure. But unless they tell me not to, I am going to try it.I have never been able to find it in a store so I buy it on-line. I'm like you, I had never heard of it until my buddies told me about it. We went to Cocos this past August and several folks were taking meds before we left for the crossing. I took a Marezine the morning of the departure and one every 8 hours until we arrived. Even though the crossing was really easy, several of the folks on the other meds got sick. I never once felt bad in even the slightest way. I don't think you can find a better motion sickness med than this.