• Basic Info
• Top Questions
• Clinical Info
• Interactions

What is dimenhydrinate?
Dimenhydrinate is used to prevent and treat nausea, vomiting, dizziness, and vertigo associated with motion sickness. Dimenhydrinate may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.

Back to Top

What is the price of this medication and similar alternatives?

This pricing information is subject to change at the sole discretion of DS Pharmacy. For the most current and up-to-date pricing information, please visit drugstore.com.

Back to Top

What are the possible side effects of dimenhydrinate?

Stop taking dimenhydrinate and seek emergency medical attention if you experience an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of your throat; swelling of your lips, tongue, or face; or hives).

Other, less serious side effects may be more likely to occur. Continue to take dimenhydrinate and talk to your doctor if you experience

• drowsiness or dizziness;

• restlessness, excitation, nervousness, or insomnia;

• blurred or double vision;

• dry mouth, nose, or throat;

• decreased appetite, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea;

• difficulty urinating; or

• an irregular or fast heartbeat.

Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.

Back to Top

How should I take dimenhydrinate?
Take dimenhydrinate exactly as directed by your doctor. If you do not understand these directions, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to explain them to you. Take each dose with a full glass of water. To ensure that you get a correct dose, measure the liquid form of dimenhydrinate with a special dose-measuring spoon or cup, not with a regular tablespoon. If you do not have a dose-measuring device, ask your pharmacist where you can get one. Dimenhydrinate is usually taken every 4 to 6 hours as needed. Do not take more than 400 mg of this medication in one day.

Back to Top

What is the most important information I should know about dimenhydrinate?
Use caution when driving, operating machinery, or performing other hazardous activities. Dimenhydrinate may cause dizziness, drowsiness, or blurred vision. If you experience dizziness, drowsiness, or blurred vision, avoid these activities. Use alcohol cautiously. Alcohol may increase drowsiness and dizziness while you are taking dimenhydrinate.

Back to Top

What happens if I miss a dose?
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take only your next regularly scheduled dose. Do not take a double dose of this medication.

Back to Top

What other drugs will affect dimenhydrinate?
Dimenhydrinate may increase the effects of other drugs that cause drowsiness, including antidepressants, alcohol, antihistamines, sedatives (used to treat insomnia), pain relievers, anxiety medicines, and muscle relaxants. Tell your doctor about all medicines that you are taking, and do not take any medicine unless your doctor approves. Drugs other than those listed here may also interact with dimenhydrinate. Talk to your doctor and pharmacist before taking any prescription or over-the-counter medicines.

Back to Top

Can I take this if I am pregnant or trying to get pregnant or if I am breastfeeding?

Dimenhydrinate has been assigned to pregnancy category B by the FDA. Animal studies have failed to reveal evidence of teratogenicity. There are no controlled data in human pregnancy. Dimenhydrinate is only recommended for use during pregnancy when benefit outweighs risk.

Dimenhydrinate is excreted into human milk in small amounts. The manufacturer recommends that due to the potential for serious adverse reactions in nursing infants, a decision should be made to discontinue nursing or discontinue the drug, taking into account the importance of the drug to the mother.

Back to Top

Who should NOT use this medication?

• Dimenhydrinate contains 53–55.5% diphenhydramine. Concomitant use with other preparations containing diphenhydramine, including oral and topical preparations, is contraindicated.
• Known hypersensitivity to dimenhydrinate, other antihistamines with similar chemical structure, or any ingredient in the formulation.

Back to Top

What does my medication look like?
Dimenhydrinate is available with a prescription and over the counter generically and under many brand names as tablets, chewable tablets, capsules, a liquid, and an injection. Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about this medication, especially if it is new to you.

Back to Top

What happens if I overdose?
Seek emergency medical attention. Symptoms of a dimenhydrinate overdose include drowsiness, seizures or convulsions, difficulty breathing, and death.

Back to Top

Who should not take dimenhydrinate?
Before taking this medication, tell your doctor if you have kidney or liver disease, an enlarged prostate, difficulty urinating, bladder problems, glaucoma, asthma, or an irregular heartbeat or any other type of heart disease. You may not be able to take dimenhydrinate, or you may require a lower dose or special monitoring during treatment if you have any of the conditions listed above. Dimenhydrinate is in the FDA pregnancy category B. This means that it is unlikely to harm an unborn baby. Do not take dimenhydrinate without first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant.

Back to Top

Can I stop taking the medication if I feel better?
As a general rule, you should always take your medications exactly as prescribed and do not change the dosage or stop taking the medication without first discussing it with your healthcare provider.

Back to Top

I am on so many medications; do I have to take them all?
This is called polypharmacy—many different medications being used at the same time by one person. Sometimes, being on multiple medications is acceptable and appropriate but at other times it may be problematic. If you are receiving your medications from multiple physicians you need to ensure that they all know what medications you are taking. The best way to do this is to make a list of all the medications you are currently using, including all nutritional supplements, homeopathic remedies, vitamins and over-the-counter drugs (if possible, also include all the diseases you have been diagnosed with). Give a copy to every doctor who takes care of you so they have it on file, this way they can avoid duplicating medications and perhaps even try to consolidate some. After every doctor's visit remember to update the list accordingly. Also, as much as you possibly can, try to use the same pharmacy to fill all your prescriptions, this way any potential drug interactions can be caught and averted.

Back to Top

Where can I get more information?
More Information

Back to Top