Off-Vertical Axis Rotational Assessment of Transdermal Scopolamine for Motion Sickness Prophylaxis

Abstract

Abstract The objectives of this study were to evaluate transdermal scopolamine for motion sickness prophylaxis, and to evaluate off-vertical axis rotation (OVAR) as a laboratory model of motion sickness. This was a randomized, prospective, double-blind study design, set in a vestibular research laboratory. The experimental subjects consisted of 12 patients – 7 male, 5 female – ages 21 to 57, with normal auditory/vestibular function. The intervention was off-vertical axis rotation 20 degrees in the dark after administration of transdermal scopolamine or placebo. The main outcome measures were time duration of tolerated off-vertical rotation, and subjective symptom reporting during rotation at one-minute intervals on a 0–4 scale. Results were as follows: patients treated with transdermal scopolamine had statistically significant improved tolerance time to off-vertical axis rotation. Reported symptom-atology on the 0–4 subjective symptom scale was significantly improved, as compared to placebo, and was dose-dependent. Conclusions are as follows: off-vertical axis rotation is a useful modality for the evaluation of motion sickness medications. Transdermal scopolamine showed statistically significant dose-dependent effects in mitigating OVAR-induced motion sickness symptomatology and was well tolerated.