Motion sickness is no fun for anyone.
Nausea, pale skin, cold sweats, fatigue, increased heart rate – the whole experience can feel debilitating, especially when it strikes at the worst possible moment. But whether you’re struggling with a plane flight, a boat trip, twisty mountain roads, or some other turbulent transit, hope is here.
Introducing: Nereus.
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In the past, old drugs like dimenhydrinate (Dramamine), meclizine, or the scopolamine patch were all people had. These medications remained largely unchanged since the 1970s, meaning that if they didn’t do the trick for you, you were basically stuck.
But now, thanks to the 2025 FDA approval of Nereus (tradipitant), motion sickness sufferers have their first new prescription in decades.
Road trips, cruises, and flights don’t have to disturb you anymore.
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Here’s everything you need to know about Nereus, so you can talk to your doctor about potential options and find the best course of treatment.
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What It Is & What It Does
An oral capsule from Vanda Pharmaceuticals, Nereus, is specifically for individuals who suffer from disruptive nausea and vomiting during travel. It works differently from the drugs that have been on the market for years.
In terms of drug classification, Nereus is what is known as a selective neurokinin-1 (NK-1) receptor antagonist. This means that it blocks substance P, a neurotransmitter involved in the brain’s nausea and vomiting pathways. Because motion sickness arises from conflicting signals between the eyes, inner ear (vestibular system), and body position sensors, blocking this neurotransmitter is key to addressing the symptoms.
By targeting NK-1 receptors centrally, Nereus interrupts the cascade that leads to these issues. Not just that, but it does it more directly than older antihistamines and anticholinergics, which often cause drowsiness as well.
If you suffered from sleeping spells or extreme drowsiness in the past, Nereus could be a game-changer.
Let’s break down the pros and cons…
Pro 1: Substantial Reduction in Vomiting Risk
In two pivotal Phase 3 studies, Motion Syros and Motion Serifos, Nereus was tested on boats with participants prone to motion sickness. In Motion Syros, vomiting occurred in fewer than 20 percent of people taking Nereus compared to 44 percent in the placebo group.
In the Motion Serifos study, the results were even better. Only 10-18 percent of people using Nereus reported vomiting, compared to 38 percent in the placebo group.
Across trials, Nereus prevented vomiting in up to 80-90 percent of susceptible individuals in choppy conditions. Not too shabby!
Pro 2: A Targeted, Non-Sedating Alternative
Unlike many over-the-counter options that rely on antihistamines, Nereus targets NK-1 receptors specifically linked to emesis, or vomiting. This is because antihistamines cross the blood-brain barrier and cause drowsiness, while Nereus has a different mechanism of action.
If you’re somebody who is a driver, pilot, operates machinery, or just needs to stay sharp, Nereus is a top option. Although some drowsiness occurred in trials, it was milder and less frequent than with traditional drugs.
Pro 3: Ends a Long Drought in Treatment Options
Motion sickness affects millions, but for some reason, innovation in this area has been lacking. Nereus fills this gap. It is the first novel agent grounded in contemporary neuropharmacology. In other words, it’s particularly suited for adults with recurrent, severe motion sickness impacting travel. Whether on family vacations, business trips, or adventure outings, many people can benefit from this medication.
It’s a new tool for patients who don’t respond well to existing treatments.
Con 1: Strictly Prophylactic
One of the main drawbacks of Nereus is that it is approved only for prevention. So, if you start experiencing severe symptoms, it’s unlikely to work as some sort of emergency treatment. It won’t help once the vomiting and/or nausea begin.
For best results, you must take it on an empty stomach one to two hours before travel. If symptoms hit unexpectedly (like sudden turbulence), you’ll need backup options like ginger, acupressure bands, or existing meds.
Because of this, you’ll always have to plan ahead if you’re using Nereus.
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Con 2: Potential Side Effects
The most common side effects of Nereus are drowsiness, fatigue, and headache. Although these are typically mild in most people, they can affect alertness, disrupting activities that require clean, clear focus.
It’s also important to note that certain people shouldn’t take it. If you have kidney or liver issues, you’re best advised to avoid it. Also, it’s not advised during pregnancy or breastfeeding, as there is not enough data to support its use.
Other medications, such as CYP3A4 inhibitors or other CNS depressants, should not be used with it, as they could worsen side effects.
Con 3: Limited Scope, Dosing Restrictions, and Unstudied Uses
Again, Nereus is approved solely for preventing motion-induced vomiting in adults—not for treating nausea alone, or non-motion nausea. It’s also not recommended for long-term use. It’s strictly an acute, event-driven therapy. You take one dose per 24 hours max.
Users should also remember that no pediatric data exists, so it’s for adults only. Because it’s meant for acute use, long-term safety data are sparse. If you’re a chronic sufferer of nausea and related issues, Nereus is not for you.
Just keep these things in mind as you do your research and speak to healthcare providers. While Nereus represents a welcome evolution in motion sickness management, it is not a cure-all. So make sure you know what it does and doesn’t do.
What it does do is offer targeted prevention with solid evidence from boat-based trials. Of course, boat travel is different from plane, car, train, and other forms of travel. This is important to recognize, in case your motion sickness is triggered by other forms of travel and you find that Nereus isn’t working as you hoped.
Also, don’t forget proper dosing and timing. If you aren’t using it exactly as you should, you may experience more side effects, fewer benefits, and so on. As much as we’d all like to have some miracle pill, that is not the case with Nereus.
Non-drug strategies, such as focusing on the horizon, fresh air, and small snacks, should also be implemented as part of a broader treatment approach.
Do your research. Take your time. Talk to your doctor. Make sure you have realistic expectations. Although Nereus shows great promise for many people, it’s always important to stay grounded.
If you’ve been struggling with motion sickness, Nereus is certainly an option worth exploring. You never know, it may just be the ultimate change you’ve been seeking all along…
