Dimenhydrinate

Uses

Dimenhydrinate is used to prevent and treat nausea, vomiting, and dizziness caused by motion sickness. Dimenhydrinate is in a class of medications called antihistamines. It works by preventing problems with body balance.

Side Effects Of Dimenhydrinate

Dimenhydrinate may cause side effects. Talk to your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:

• drowsiness
• excitement or hyperactivity (especially in children)
• headache
• new or worsening dizziness
• blurred vision
• ringing in the ears
• dry mouth, nose, or throat
• problems with coordination
• fainting
• dizziness
• nausea

Some side effects can be serious. If you experience the following symptom, call your doctor immediately:

• fast, pounding, or irregular heartbeat

Dimenhydrinate may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while taking this medication.

Warnings & Precautions

Before taking dimenhydrinate:

• talk with your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to dimenhydrinate, any other medications, or any of the ingredients in the dimenhydrinate preparation. If you are taking dimenhydrinate chewable tablets, talk to your doctor if you are allergic to tartrazine (FD&C Yellow No. 5, a color additive) or aspirin. Ask your doctor or pharmacist or check the package label for a list of the ingredients.
• talk with your doctor and pharmacist about what prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking or plan to take with dimenhydrinate. Be sure to mention any of the following: aminoglycoside antibiotics such as amikacin (Amikin), gentamicin (Garamycin), kanamycin (Kantrex), neomycin (Neo-Rx, Neo-Fradin), netilmicin (Netromycin), paromomycin (Humatin), streptomycin, and tobramycin (Tobi, Nebcin); antidepressants such as amitriptyline (Elavil), amoxapine (Asendin), clomipramine (Anafranil), desipramine (Norpramin), doxepin (Adapin, Sinequan), imipramine (Tofranil), nortriptyline (Aventyl, Pamelor), protriptyline (Vivactil), and trimipramine (Surmontil); antihistamines, such as diphenhydramine; cough and cold medications; ipratropium (Atrovent); medications for anxiety, irritable bowel disease, mental illness, Parkinson’s disease, seizures, ulcers, or urinary problems; narcotic or strong pain relievers or muscle relaxants; sedatives; sleeping pills; and tranquilizers. Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects.
• talk with your doctor if you have or have ever had asthma; shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, including chronic bronchitis (swelling of the air passages that lead to the lungs) or emphysema (damage to air sacs in the lungs); difficulty urinating due to enlargement of the prostate (male reproductive organ); glaucoma (an eye disease that can cause vision loss); or seizures.
• talk with your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding. If you become pregnant while taking dimenhydrinate, call your doctor.
• if you are having surgery, including dental surgery, tell the doctor or dentist that you are taking dimenhydrinate.
• you should know that dimenhydrinate may make you drowsy. Do not drive a car, operate machinery, or participate in potentially dangerous activities until you know how this medication affects you.
• avoid alcoholic beverages or products containing alcohol while taking dimenhydrinate. Alcohol can make the side effects of dimenhydrinate worse.
• if you have phenylketonuria (PKU, an inherited condition in which a special diet must be followed to prevent mental retardation), read the package label carefully before taking dimenhydrinate. Dimenhydrinate chewable tablets contain aspartame that forms phenylalanine.
• talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of taking dimenhydrinate if you are 65 years of age or older. Older adults should not usually take dimenhydrinate because it is not as safe or effective as other medications that can be used to treat the same condition.

Dimenhydrinate Dosage

Dimenhydrinate comes as a tablet and chewable tablet to take by mouth with or without food. To prevent motion sickness, the first dose should be taken 30 minutes to 1 hour before you travel or begin motion activity. Adults and children older than age 12 may usually take dimenhydrinate every 4 to 6 hours as needed to prevent or treat motion sickness. Children under age 12 may usually be given dimenhydrinate every 6 to 8 hours as needed to prevent or treat motion sickness. Follow the directions on the package carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Take dimenhydrinate exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than directed by the package label.

Do not give dimenhydrinate to children younger than 2 years of age unless your doctor has told you to do so.

Other

Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about dimenhydrinate.

It is important for you to keep a written list of all of the prescription and nonprescription (over-the-counter) medicines you are taking, as well as any products such as vitamins, minerals, or other dietary supplements. You should bring this list with you each time you visit a doctor or if you are admitted to a hospital. It is also important information to carry with you in case of emergencies.

Source

All information on dimenhydrinate has been provided courtesy of MedLinePlus from the National Library of Medicine and from the FDA.