Dimenhydrinate for nausea

It is an antihistamine that dampens signals between the balance system in the inner ear and the vomiting centre in the brain. That makes it more relevant to travel sickness than to every possible cause of nausea.

Sleepiness, dizziness, blurred vision, dry mouth and difficulty passing urine can occur. Alcohol, sleeping tablets, sedating pain medicines and other antihistamines may intensify these effects.

Extra caution is needed with glaucoma, urinary retention, prostate problems, breathing conditions, seizures or heart rhythm concerns. Pregnancy, breastfeeding and treatment for a child should be discussed with a clinician or pharmacist before use.

Read the package directions and use only the dose intended for your age group. Check cold, allergy and sleep remedies for antihistamines so that you do not accidentally double up. Use the measuring device supplied with a liquid product.

Do not drive, operate machinery or undertake work requiring quick reactions until you know how the medicine affects you. For travel, taking it at the time stated on the label allows the medicine to act before motion begins. Persistent nausea needs a cause-based assessment rather than repeated masking.

Get urgent help after dimenhydrinate if there is trouble breathing, facial swelling, fainting, a very fast or irregular heartbeat, marked agitation, hallucinations, a seizure or extreme difficulty waking. Contact a poison service or emergency department if more than the directed amount may have been taken.

Nausea itself requires prompt assessment when vomiting prevents fluid intake, urine output falls, abdominal pain is severe, the vomit contains blood or green material, or headache appears with neck stiffness, confusion, weakness or vision change.

Confirm whether the medicine matches the likely cause of your nausea, whether your regular treatments increase sedation, and how long self-treatment is reasonable. Ask specifically about safe use if you have glaucoma, urinary difficulty, seizures, a rhythm disorder or a job that involves driving.