The tiniest thing in my carry-on is also the most important — why I never fly without motion sickness medicine

• I always pack Dramamine, a motion sickness medicine, in my carry-on for a flight.
• If I don't, I feel nauseous and can't do anything but cling to a barf bag the whole time.

From rocking chairs to airplane seats, motion makes me sick.

According to the National Library of Medicine, one in three people experience this, and let me tell you, it can be brutal — especially if you're a travel reporter, like me. I spend dozens of hours on flights each year, and while my motion sickness medicine is the smallest thing I pack in my carry-on, it's easily the most crucial thing to keep me feeling well enough to travel.

When I forget to pack the medicine, I feel nauseous during flights. This keeps me from eating, looking at screens, or reading, as they add to my nausea so ultimately, I end up leaning back with my eyes closed the whole trip, sick bag in hand. And upon arrival at my destination, I feel lethargic and indifferent about the adventure ahead of me for the next few hours.

To avoid this, I always pack a skinny bottle of Dramamine that's about two inches tall. Although you should talk to a healthcare professional before taking, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends Dramamine as well as Benadryl for motion sickness, though both are also known for causing drowsiness.

Infectious disease doctor Natascha Tuznik outlined more potential side effects of Dramamine for UC Davis Health Traveler's Clinic in 2021, like dizziness and insomnia. I haven't experienced this personally, but according to Tuznik, you're likely to get similar side effects each time you take it.

Because I typically want to fall asleep on flights, a side effect like drowsiness tends to work out just fine. But if the flight is short or I need to get some work done, I pack the non-drowsy version of Dramamine.

The Dramamine label says you should take one dose 30 minutes to one hour before the motion, so I typically take a pill when I get to my gate.

According to the CDC, there are other ways to prevent motion sickness on a flight if you're prone to it, such as sitting in a window seat, staying hydrated, and snacking on ginger candy. According to the National Library of Medicine, ginger reduces nausea.

I haven't tried ginger, but I've found having enough water and a window seat are also key in keeping my head feeling steady in the air.

Since it's the smallest thing in my carry-on, carrying medicine with me is easy to forget, a mistake I've learned that can be detrimental to my wellness let alone the trip in front of me.