Dimenhydrinate is used to both prevent and cure motion sickness-related nausea, vomiting, and dizziness. Antihistamines are a group of drugs that includes dimenhydrinate. It functions by preventing issues with equilibrium.

There are pill and chewable forms of dimenhydrinate that can be taken orally with or without food. The first dose should be given 30 to 1 hour prior to travel or the start of any motion-based activity to prevent motion sickness. To prevent or cure motion sickness, adults and children over the age of 12 can typically take dimenhydrinate every 4 to 6 hours as needed. Dimenhydrinate may typically be administered to children under the age of 12 every 6 to 8 hours as needed to prevent or cure motion sickness. Ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any instructions you do not understand, and carefully follow them. Just as prescribed, use dimenhydrinate. Never take it in amounts greater than recommended on the box label, nor should you take it less frequently.

Dimenhydrinate should not be administered to children under the age of 2 unless specifically instructed to do so by your doctor.

Other inner ear issues, such as Meniere’s illness, which causes extreme dizziness, loss of balance, ringing in the ears, and hearing loss, are occasionally treated with dimenhydrinate. The dangers of using this drug for your illness should be discussed with your doctor.

Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more details if you believe this drug should be used for something else.

Before taking dimenhydrinate,

• If you are allergic to dimenhydrinate, any other medications, or any of the substances in the dimenhydrinate preparation, discuss it with your doctor and pharmacist. If you are taking tartrazine (FD&C Yellow No. 5, a colour additive) or aspirin, let your doctor know before taking dimenhydrinate chewable tablets. For a list of the ingredients, consult your physician or pharmacist or look on the label of the container.
• Your prescription and over-the-counter medications, vitamins, dietary supplements, and herbal products should all be discussed with your doctor and pharmacist. Incorporate any of the following: antibiotics known as aminoglycosides, include streptomycin, paromomycin, gentamicin (Amikin), kanamycin (Kantrex), neomycin (Neo-Rx, Neo-Fradin), netilmicin (Netromycin), and tobramycin (Tobi, Nebcin); amitriptyline (Elavil), amoxapine (Asendin), clomipramine (Anafranil), desipramine (Norpramin), doxepin (Adapin, Sinequan), and imipramine are examples of antidepressants (Tofranil), antihistamines such diphenhydramine; the tricyclic antidepressants nortriptyline (Aventyl, Pamelor), protriptyline (Vivactil), and trimipramine; drugs for colds and coughs; ipratropium (Atrovent); narcotic or powerful painkillers or muscle relaxants; sedatives; sleeping pills; and tranquillizers. Medicines for anxiety, irritable bowel syndrome, mental illness, Parkinson’s disease, seizures, ulcers, or urinary difficulties. The dosage of your drugs may need to be adjusted, and your health may need to be closely watched for any negative effects.
• If you have or have ever had asthma, shortness of breath, or breathing problems such as chronic bronchitis (swelling of the airways leading to the lungs) or emphysema (damage to air sacs in the lungs), difficulty urinating brought on by an enlarged prostate (male reproductive organ), glaucoma (an eye condition that can result in vision loss), or seizures, discuss them with your doctor.
• If you are currently breastfeeding a baby or intend to become pregnant, discuss this with your doctor. If you become pregnant while taking dimenhydrinate, call your doctor.
• You should inform your doctor or dentist that you are taking dimenhydrinate if you are having surgery, including dental surgery.
• You need to be aware that dimenhydrinate might make you feel sleepy. Prior to understanding how this drug affects you, refrain from operating machinery, engaging in potentially hazardous tasks, or driving a car.
• While taking dimenhydrinate, stay away from alcoholic beverages and items containing alcohol. Dimenhydrinate adverse effects can be exacerbated by alcohol.
• Before using dimenhydrinate, carefully read the package label if you have phenylketonuria (PKU), a genetic disorder requiring a particular diet to prevent brain damage that could result in severe intellectual incapacity. Aspartame, which creates phenylalanine, is present in chewable tablets of dimenhydrinate.
• If you are 65 years of age or older, discuss the advantages and disadvantages of taking dimenhydrinate with your doctor. Dimenhydrinate is typically not recommended for usage by older adults since it is less reliable and less efficient than alternative drugs that can be used to treat the same disease.

Keep eating normally unless your doctor instructs you otherwise.

Usually, this drug is consumed as required. Take the missing dose as soon as you remember it if your doctor has instructed you to take dimenhydrinate on a regular basis. Skip the missed dose and carry on with your regular dosing plan, nevertheless, if it is almost time for the subsequent dose. Never take two doses at once to make up for missing ones.

Side effects from dimenhydrinate are possible. If any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away, consult your doctor:

• Drowsiness
• Hyperactivity or elation (especially in children)
• Headache
• Increasing or new wooziness
• Distorted vision
• An earache that ringers
• Throat, nose, or mouth aridity
• Lack of cooperation
• Fainting
• Dizziness
• Nausea

Certain adverse effects can be very harmful. Call your doctor right away if you have any of the following symptoms:

• Hammering, rapid, or erratic heartbeat

Further negative effects of dimenhydrinate are possible. If you experience any strange issues while taking this medicine, contact your doctor right away.

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

Although many containers (such as weekly pill minders and those for eye drops, creams, patches, and inhalers) are not child-resistant and are simple for young children to open, it is crucial to keep all medications out of sight and out of reach of children. Always lock safety caps and promptly stash medication up and away from young children where it is out of their sight and reach to prevent poisoning. http://www.upandaway.org

Unused prescriptions must be disposed of carefully to prevent pets, kids, and other people from ingesting them. You should not, however, dispose of this medication in the toilet. Instead, utilising a medicine take-back programme is the easiest approach to get rid of your medication. To find out about take-back programmes in your area, speak with your pharmacist or the garbage/recycling department in your city. If you do not have access to a take-back programme, see the FDA’s Safe Disposal of Medications website at http://goo.gl/c4Rm4p for additional information.

Call the poison control hotline at 1-800-222-1222 in the event of an overdose. Moreover, information can be found online at https://www.poisonhelp.org/help. Call 911 right once if the person has collapsed, experienced a seizure, is having difficulty breathing, or cannot be roused.

Overdose symptoms could include:

• Large eyes (black circles in the centres of the eyes)
• Clean face
• Sleepiness or drowsiness
• Excitement or agitation
• Hallucinations (seeing things or hearing sounds that do not exist)
• Confusion
• Speaking or swallowing challenges
• Unsteadiness
• Seizures
• Unresponsiveness or coma (loss of consciousness for a period of time)

If you have any inquiries about dimenhydrinate, ask your pharmacist.

It is vital for you to keep a documented list of all of the prescription and nonprescription (over-the-counter) drugs you are taking, as well as any items such as vitamins, minerals, or other dietary supplements. This list should be brought with you whenever you see a doctor or are admitted to the hospital. You should always have this information with you in case of emergencies.