Does dramamine make you sleepy and/or tired?

I've never needed to take any dramamine out on the bay even in small craft advisory conditions. However, given the warnings about swells, I decided to take some on my ocean trip. The entire time out on the water I was really drowsy, and once on land I felt very tired as if sapped of all strength. It could have just been the exhilaration of being out on the water that drained me but just wondering what your experiences are? I'm thinking of skipping the dramamine altogether on the next trip.

Sounds like taking dramamine.  Supposedly if you take it the night before it’s a little better on you

Nope, but I always stack doses so the initial drowsiness may come when I'm already asleep. Take a dose at bedtime the night before and then another as soon as you get up and see if that helps.

I've been taking a 1/2 dose 1 hour before I hit the water.  A small cup of coffee in the a.m. vs a large cup and I bring some jolly rancher to lozenge on the water...some protein and light carb before hitting the water and yes ultra hydration...

Everyone react different. You have to find what works for you. If I know I need it I take a dose the night before and a dose or 2 in the morning. It does make me tired and dry. Some folks have no side effect.

Totally knocks my son on his ass.  I will try some of these suggestions to see if it helps him.

There is a kids' chewable formula

I think it's similar to my half dose...more than that and I'm hatin' the drowzy...nasty tongue...lulled and mad and useless yet gotta fish.  I'd rather chum and deal than feel that druggy downer...6 hours of sleep is a great start....

Try the different medications and find the one that works for you without the downside. Regular Dramamine destroys me. The chewy ones work and don’t have as bad of side effects.

Now I take one right after dinner. It helps me sleep good and not get sick on the water and it wears off on the drive home. I used to take it on the drive to the fishing ground but it makes me sleepy on the drive home.

If you have to use Dramamine, try countering it with say 6 (for me) shots of espresso to eliminate the drowsiness.
That's what I used to do when I went chartering.
Ever since I got into kayaking, so far so good I never had to rely on motion sickness pills. Only time I feel queezy is when I'm doing heavy tying of my rigs or messing too much with ff settings/setup. Good luck finding a solution.

Try different medications. I had a very bad experience with Dramamine some years back, so that was the last for me. Have you tried Bonine? It’s another otc meds that works for some people. I’ve been using it lately since I’ve ran out of scopace. Scopace is a wonderful drug, but with some side effects like dry/cotton mouth and acid reflux so bring lots of water and maybe Tums. Some people get really tired afterwards but your experience may vary. They don’t make them anymore (only patch), but you can go to a compounding pharmacy and they can make a batch for you.

I haven't tried it in the kayak yet. I'm usually in the bay with choppy rather than rolling conditions, and I have less trouble in small craft.

But I've had the same reaction to Dramamine. I use Bonine instead and haven't noticed any symptoms of drowsiness.  I follow the one dose the night before, one in the morning, plan.

No alcohol the night before and like with any of this stuff, if you wait until you're already seasick, it will make you worse, not better.

  You might not need anything at all, but it certainly varies from person to person.  I know some people who get woozy in elevators.  I guess I should try some of the ideas suggested above on a non-fishing day to see if I can avoid the weird sensations sea-sickness pills give me.
  For me, fairly bland large mid-day meal the day before with light supper, no alcohol; light fishing day breakfast of protein drink and a piece of toast.  Get a good night's sleep.  Bowel movement in morning.
   Short steep cross-swells can get to me, otherwise the most I take is some ginger candy chews. 

There has been a similar discussion on Coastside recently. I seems that a lot of people prefer the scopolamine pills however they are not available here except by having them compounded at a specialty pharmacy. Bayer in Berkeley makes Kwells and they are sold over the counter in Australia. pharmacyonline.com.au will ship to the US.   

I hadn't had a problem with sea sickness in the kayak until I spent 5-6 hours in heavy swells at Shelter Cove. Once I get sick it takes awhile to get my tolerance back up, so I have been taking Dramamine but don't like the overall feeling it get. I tried the non drowsy formula but don't like it either. I ordered some of the Kwells and will give them a try. I will get a prescription for scopolamine from my doctor. 

Well I went out yesterday without dramamine or any meds. I definitely felt queasy the first few hours but eventually it went away and I didn't blow chunks! Woooo!