What is Dimenhydrinate? Benefits and side effects of Dimenhydrinate

Diman hydrinate is a medicine for the treatment of nausea, vomiting and dizziness caused by motion sickness (travel) that the doctor prescribes for you before starting the trip. This drug is an antihistamine and antiemetic used to treat motion sickness, motion sickness, and other conditions. This drug is also used to treat dizziness and headache caused by cold or flu. Before using Dimenhydrinate, it is better to get information about its mechanism of action, uses, method of use, precautions and contraindications.

Dimenhydrinate dosage forms

Dimenhydrinate is available in 50 mg tablets, 50 mg/ml injectable solution, and 50 mg chewable tablets. Also, drugs of its group include meclozin and trimethobenzamide.

Dimenhydrinate uses

Dimenhydrinate is an antihistamine used to prevent and treat nausea, vomiting and dizziness caused by motion sickness. This medicine is not used in children under two years of age, its use in children is only possible with a doctor’s prescription. Some uses of this drug are prevention of motion sickness, Meniere’s disease (off-label) and prevention of motion sickness in children and prevention of motion sickness and Meniere’s disease (off-label) in the elderly.

Pharmacological effects and mechanism of action of dimenhydrinate drug

Ethanolamine H1 antagonist containing diphenhydramine and 8-chloro-theophylline, the pharmacological effects are mainly due to the diphenhydramine part. Also, this drug has CNS depressant, anticholinergic, antiemetic, antihistamine and local anesthetic effects. The antiemetic effect may be due to inhibition of vestibular stimulation and inhibition of acetylcholine. Based on data from diphenhydramine, this drug is extensively metabolized in the liver and finally excreted mainly in the urine (as a metabolite).

Dosage of dimenhydrinate

Before taking Dimenhydrinate, check the drug information on the drug package. The manufacturer of the drug has explained how to use this drug for general use. Take this medicine orally with or without food. Measure liquid forms using a special device or spoon. Do not use a household spoon for this as you may not get the correct dose. Chewable tablets should be chewed completely before swallowing. To prevent motion sickness, take the first dose 30 to 60 minutes before starting activities such as traveling. Tell your doctor if your condition does not improve or worsens.

Time to take Dimenhydrinate

The time of use of this drug for the prevention of motion sickness is 50-100 mg orally or by injection every 4-6 hours 30 minutes before exposure to motion, the total amount of use should not exceed 400 mg per day. Also, for Meniere’s disease (maintenance), 25 to 50 mg orally every 8 hours and 50 mg for acute cases are prescribed. To prevent motion sickness in the elderly, 50 to 100 mg orally or by injection every 4 to 6 hours 30 minutes before exposure to motion is used.

Dimenhydrinate dosage in children

1. The general dose for preventing motion sickness in children is 1.25 mg/kg or 37.5 mg every 6 hours orally (tablets or chewable tablets). It should be noted that the total amount of consumption should not exceed 300 mg per day.
2. In order to prevent motion sickness in children aged 2 to 6 years, 12.5 to 25 mg is prescribed orally every 6 to 8 hours, and the total daily intake should not exceed 75 mg.
3. For children 6 to 12 years old, 12.5 to 25 mg should be taken orally every 6 to 8 hours, not to exceed 150 mg per day.

Precautions

Before using dimenhydrinate, if you are allergic to it or to diphenhydramine and its ingredients, avoid using it. This medicine may contain inactive ingredients that can cause allergic reactions or other problems. If you have medical history including breathing problems (such as asthma, emphysema), high eye pressure (glaucoma), heart problems, high blood pressure, liver diseases, seizures, stomach or intestinal problems (such as ulcer, obstruction), overactive thyroid ( hyperthyroidism), difficulty urinating (for example, due to an enlarged prostate), etc. Consult your doctor regarding the side effects and risks of use.

1. This medicine will cause drowsiness in some patients, so avoid doing things that require high alertness. Avoid driving, working with heavy machinery and tools for some time after use.
2. If dizziness or headache occurs in the patient, advise him to avoid alcohol or drugs. Taking these items can cause convulsions, fainting, etc.
3. It may mask the early signs of ototoxicity if used concurrently with ototoxic drugs (such as aminoglycosides).
4. Patients suffering from convulsions, angle-closure glaucoma, enlarged prostate gland, asthma, emphysema, acute liver failure should use with caution.
5. If you miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as you remember. If it is close to the next dose, do not take the missed dose. Never take the same dose twice to make up for a missed dose. Taking too much of this medicine will not increase the speed of your recovery and treatment.

Dimenhydrinate contraindications

1. Documented hypersensitivity to diamine hydrinate or diphenhydramine
2. Lower respiratory tract diseases, eg asthma (controversial)
3. Premature babies and infants
4. Women nurses

Dimenhydrinate side effects

Drowsiness, constipation, blurred vision or dry mouth, nose and throat are some of the common side effects of dimenhydrinate. If any of these effects persist or worsen, tell your doctor or pharmacist right away. To relieve dry mouth, use hard candy (sugar-free) or ice chips, gum (sugar-free), water, or a saliva substitute. Most people who use this drug do not experience serious side effects. Serious side effects of this drug include mental or behavioral changes (such as restlessness, confusion), rapid and irregular heartbeat, tremors, difficulty urinating, etc.

1. The side effects of this drug are extensive and vary from person to person.
2. Diarrhea, vomiting, nausea and constipation
3. Headache and dizziness
4. Drowsiness, lethargy
5. blood pressure
6. Dry mouth, nose and throat
7. Urination or urinary retention
8. Blurred vision or visual disturbances
9. Trembling, nervousness, irritability
10. Chest tightness, wheezing
11. Tachycardia, palpitations ECG changes (eg widened QRS)
12. Arrhythmia (such as extrasystole, heart block)
13. Rare cases include cholestasis, hepatitis, liver failure, liver dysfunction, jaundice

Dimenhydrinate drug interactions

1. Category X interactions (avoid): glycopyrrolate (oral inhalation), glycopyrronium (topical), ipratropium (oral inhalation), levosulpiride, orphenadrine, oxatomide, oxomazine, paraldehyde, pitolisant, potassium chloride, potassium citrate, rufenacin, thalidomide, tiotropium, omeclidinium, Aclidinium, azelastine (nasal), bromperidol, simtropium, eloxadoline
2. Dimenhydrinate reduces the effects of drugs: acetylcholinesterase inhibitors, benzylpenicilloylpolylysine, betahistine, gastrointestinal agents (prokinetics), hyaluronidase, itopride, levosulpiride, nitroglycerin, pitolisant, secretin.
3. Reduction of dimenhydrinate effects by drugs: acetylcholinesterase inhibitors, amphetamines
4. Enhancement of the effects of drugs by dimenhydrinate: potassium citrate, pramipexol, ramosterone, rofenacin, ropinirole, rotigotine, SSRIs, suvrexant, thalidomide, thiazide and thiazide-like diuretics, tiotropium, topiramate, zolpidem, blonanserin, brexanolone, buprenorphine, simtropium, clozapine, inhibitors CNS, eloxadoline, flunitrazepam, glucagon, glycopyrrolate (oral inhalation), methotrexate, metyrosine, mirabegron, opioid agonists, orphenadrine, oxycodone, paraldehyde, pyribedil, potassium chloride, tanol, amzinium, anticholinergics, azelastine (nasal)
5. Increased effects of dimenhydrinate by drugs: ipratropium (oral inhalation), kava kava, lemborexant, lofexidine, magnesium sulfate, methotrexate, mianserin, minocycline (systemic), nabilone, oxatomide, oxomazine, prampanel, pramlintide, rufinamide, sodium oxybate, tetrahydrocannabinol, tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol, trimerazine, omeclidinium, aclidinium, alizapride, amantadine, products containing botulinum toxin, brimonidine (topical), bromoprid, bromperidol, cannabidiol, cannabis, chloral betaine, chlormethiazole, chlorphenesine carbamate, dimindene (topical), doxylamine, dronabinol, droperidol, sketamine

Consumption of dimenhydrinate during pregnancy and breastfeeding

The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has placed dimenhydrinate in pregnancy category B. This means that animal studies have shown that the drug does not pose a risk to the fetus, but there have not been enough studies in pregnant women to confirm this finding. Limited studies have been conducted on the effects of Dimenhydrinate in pregnancy. Some studies have shown that this drug increases the risk of heart defects in the fetus. Other studies have found no association between the use of dimenhydrinate and birth defects. In general, the use of this drug during pregnancy is recommended only if necessary and with a doctor’s prescription.

Dimenhydrinate storage conditions

Dimenhydrinate should be stored at room temperature and away from light and moisture. Also note that all chemical and herbal medicines should be kept out of the reach of animals and children.

The last word of Dimenhydrinate medicine

As described in this article from Positive Green Online Pharmacy magazine, the mechanism of action of Dimenhydrinate as an antihistamine is effective in reducing the accumulation of histamine in the body and improves allergic symptoms and sensitivities through the inhibition of histamine H1 receptors. When taking this medicine, regular and accurate use of the doctor’s prescription is essential to avoid the side effects and risks of the medicine. To control the side effects of this drug, you can use the drug information on its packaging.

Site source: Medscape