Dimenhydrinate

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.

🔔 How should this medicine be used?

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 uses for this medicine

Dimenhydrinate is also sometimes used to treat Meniere’s disease (condition of the inner ear which causes extreme dizziness, loss of balance, ringing in the ears, and hearing loss) and other inner ear problems. Talk to your doctor about the risks of using this medication for your condition.

This medication may be prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

🔔 What special precautions should I follow?

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. Be sure to mention any of the following: aminoglycoside antibiotics such as 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 from dimenhydrinate worse.
• if you have phenylketonuria (PKU, an inherited condition in which a special diet must be followed to prevent damage to your brain that can cause severe intellectual disability), 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.

🔔 What special dietary instructions should I follow?

Unless your doctor tells you otherwise, continue your normal diet.

Americans see their primary care doctors less often than they did a decade ago. Adults under 65 made nearly 25% fewer visits to primary care providers in 2016 than they did in 2018, according to National Public Radio. In the same time period, the number of adults who went at least a year without visiting a primary care provider increased from 38% to 46%.

🔔 What should I do if I forget a dose?

This medication is usually taken as needed. If your doctor has told you to take dimenhydrinate regularly, take the missed dose as soon as you remember it. However, if it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and continue your regular dosing schedule. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one.

🔔 What side effects can this medication cause?

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.

🔔 What should I know about storage and disposal of this medication?

Keep this medication in the container it came in, tightly closed, and out of reach of children. Store it at room temperature and away from excess heat and moisture (not in the bathroom).

It is important to keep all medication out of sight and reach of children as many containers (such as weekly pill minders and those for eye drops, creams, patches, and inhalers) are not child-resistant and young children can open them easily. To protect young children from poisoning, always lock safety caps and immediately place the medication in a safe location – one that is up and away and out of their sight and reach. http://www.upandaway.org

Unneeded medications should be disposed of in special ways to ensure that pets, children, and other people cannot consume them. However, you should not flush this medication down the toilet. Instead, the best way to dispose of your medication is through a medicine take-back program. Talk to your pharmacist or contact your local garbage/recycling department to learn about take-back programs in your community. See the FDA’s Safe Disposal of Medicines website (http://goo.gl/c4Rm4p) for more information if you do not have access to a take-back program.

🔔 In case of emergency/overdose

In case of overdose, call the poison control helpline at 1-800-222-1222. Information is also available online at https://www.poisonhelp.org/help. If the victim has collapsed, had a seizure, has trouble breathing, or can’t be awakened, immediately call emergency services at 911.

Symptoms of overdose may include:

• large pupils (black circles in the centers of the eyes)
• flushed face
• drowsiness or sleepiness
• excitation or hyperactivity
• hallucinations (seeing things or hearing voices that do not exist)
• difficulty understanding reality
• confusion
• difficulty speaking or swallowing
• unsteadiness
• seizures
• unresponsiveness or coma (loss of consciousness for a period of time)

🔔 What other information should I know?

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.