Medicine Planet: Diving and OTC Medications

— -- The over-the-counter medications you usually take may not be safe to use before scuba diving. Find out what medications are dangerous for scuba divers.

Diving and Over-The-Counter Medications | Alan Spira MD, DTMH |

The over-the-counter medications you usually take may not be safe to use before scuba diving. Find out what medications are dangerous for scuba divers. |

Diving and Over-the-Counter Medications: A SummaryThe over-the-counter medications you usually take may not be safe to use before scuba diving. Although very few medications have actually been tested for diving safety, the known side effects of some common OTC drugs are potentially fatal under water. Sedatives, sleep aids, and antihistamines should never be taken prior to diving. Nasal decongestants in general should be treated with caution as well, but one of the most common, pseudoephedrine (Sudafed), has not been shown to pose any additional risk to divers. Avoid motion-sickness medication that causes drowsiness. Analgesics such as aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil) and acetominophen (Tylenol) are generally safe to use.

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Before You Go:

Consult a diving or travel medicine specialist prior to a dive if you are considering the use of any drug whose effects under water or at pressure are unknown. Avoid medications that are similar to those with unacceptable side effects. Consider alternatives to medications, such as motion-sickness wristbands. Important Information:Drugs that cause drowsiness can intensify the effects of nitrogen narcosis underwater. There are no good non-sedating antihistamines readily available over the counter in the U.S. The injured or ill diver should consider postponing the dive until she or he is off medication and the situation has resolved satisfactorily. | Drugs and Diving Call for Caution

Most people have a few favorite over-the-counter remedies for their stuffy noses, allergies, motion sickness, headaches, sleeplessness, rashes and so forth. If you are a scuba diver, it's important to know that the drugs that work for you on land may not be safe to take before diving.