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Pharmaceutical use by U.S. astronauts on space shuttle missions
L Putcha1, K L Berens, T H Marshburn
1Life Sciences Research Laboratories, NASA-Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX, USA.
Aviation, Space, and Environmental Medicine
|July 23, 1999
Summary
Astronauts frequently use medications for space motion sickness and sleep disturbances during space missions. Intramuscular promethazine proved most effective with minimal side effects for in-flight symptom management.
Area of Science:
- Space Medicine
- Aerospace Medicine
- Astronaut Health
Background:
- Astronauts experience various physiological challenges during spaceflight.
- Medication use is common for managing in-flight symptoms and ensuring mission success.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the in-flight use of medications by astronauts.
- To identify common reasons for medication use, administration routes, and perceived effectiveness.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of astronaut debriefing records from 79 U.S. Space Shuttle missions.
- Review of 219 person-flight records detailing medication use and side effects.
Main Results:
- 94% of flights involved medication use, primarily for space motion sickness (47%) and sleep disturbances (45%).
- Oral administration was most frequent, followed by intranasal, intramuscular, and rectal routes.
- Promethazine administered intramuscularly showed high effectiveness with minimal side effects.
Conclusions:
- Astronauts commonly use medications for space-induced conditions, with varying effectiveness and side effect profiles.
- Further research should incorporate objective measures to assess therapeutic efficacy during spaceflight.