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.

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.

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

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drowsiness</li>
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excitement or hyperactivity (especially in children)</li>
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headache</li>
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new or worsening dizziness</li>
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blurred vision</li>
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ringing in the ears</li>
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dry mouth, nose, or throat</li>
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problems with coordination</li>
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fainting</li>
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dizziness</li>
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nausea</li></ul></p> <p></p> <p>Some side effects can be serious. If you experience the following symptom, call your doctor immediately:

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fast, pounding, or irregular heartbeat</li></ul>Dimenhydrinate may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while taking this medication.</p>

Before taking dimenhydrinate, talk with your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to dimenhydrinate or any other medications. 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. 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. 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 mental retardation), read the package label carefully before taking dimenhydrinate. Dimenhydrinate chewable tablets contain aspartame that forms phenylalanine.

In case of overdose, call your local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222. If the victim has collapsed or is not breathing, call local emergency services at 911. Symptoms of overdose may include:

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