Tradipitant in the Treatment of Motion Sickness: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study

Introduction: There is a pressing need for new therapies to treat motion sickness due to the limited effectiveness and bothersome side effects of currently approved treatments. Neurokinin-1 (NK1) receptor antagonists may offer a promising approach, given the role of Substance P in nausea and vomiting pathways, as well as the presence of NK1 receptors in the gastrointestinal system. In this study, we evaluated the efficacy of tradipitant, a novel NK1 receptor antagonist, in preventing motion sickness under varying sea conditions.

Methods: The Motion Sifnos study involved 126 adults who were assigned to one of seven boat trips lasting approximately four hours on the Pacific Ocean. Participants were randomized in a 1:1 ratio to receive either tradipitant (170 mg) or a placebo, and they completed the Motion Sickness Severity Scale (MSSS) every 30 minutes, along with other assessments. The severity of motion sickness was evaluated based on the incidence of vomiting and the MSSS scores.

Results: Participants receiving tradipitant experienced a significantly lower incidence of vomiting compared to those on placebo across all boat trips (tradipitant: 17.5%, placebo: 39.7%, p = 0.0039). In trips with rough sea conditions, the difference was even more pronounced (tradipitant: 15.79%, placebo: 72.22%, p = 0.0009). Additionally, motion sickness symptoms were significantly milder in the tradipitant group compared to the placebo group (tradipitant: 3.19, placebo: 4.57, p = 0.0235).

Discussion: Tradipitant shows promise as an effective therapy for preventing vomiting and treating nausea in individuals experiencing motion sickness.