space motion sickness/back pain

Medication usage by crewmembers in the preflight and inflight mission periods is common in the Shuttle Program. The most common medical reports for which medication is used are: space motion sickness (SMS), sleeplessness, headache, and backache. A number of medications are available in the Shuttle

Medications have been taken since the first Mercury flight in 1967 and, since then, have been used for several indications such as space motion sickness, sleeplessness, headache, nausea, vomiting, back pain, and congestion. As the duration of space missions get longer, it is even more likely that

We evaluated in-flight use of medications from astronaut debriefings after 79 U.S. Space Shuttle missions. From the 219 records obtained (each representing one person-flight), 94% included some medication being taken during flight; of that number, 47% were for space motion sickness, 45% for sleep