Dimenhydrinate for vertigo: what to know

Dimenhydrinate is an antihistamine that can reduce nausea, vomiting and motion sensitivity linked with some dizzy spells. Relief of symptoms does not identify the underlying cause or remove a problem in the inner ear. Vertigo can occur with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, Meniere's disease, migraine or a middle-ear infection, among other causes.

Sleepiness, slower reactions, dry mouth and blurred vision can occur. Avoid driving, cycling, operating machinery or making safety-sensitive decisions until you know how it affects you. Alcohol and other medicines that cause drowsiness may intensify its effects. Older adults and people with glaucoma, urinary retention, prostate problems, breathing disorders or medication sensitivities should check with a clinician or pharmacist before taking it.

Use dimenhydrinate only according to the package directions or your prescriber's instructions. Do not take extra doses because the spinning continues, and do not combine it with another antihistamine unless a healthcare professional has advised this. Sit or lie down when an episode begins, move your head slowly, and drink fluids if you can keep them down.

Arrange a medical review if vertigo keeps returning, lasts longer than expected, affects hearing, or began after a new medicine or head injury. Treatment may need to target the cause; for positional vertigo, a clinician may assess whether an Epley Manoeuvre is suitable.

Seek emergency care for vertigo with facial drooping, new weakness or numbness, trouble speaking, fainting, severe difficulty walking, a sudden severe headache, chest pain, or new double vision. Urgent assessment is also needed after a significant head injury, or when repeated vomiting prevents you from keeping fluids down.

Contact a clinician promptly for new hearing loss, severe ear pain, fever, persistent vomiting, or symptoms that are worsening rather than settling. Do not use dimenhydrinate to delay assessment when warning signs are present.

Ask whether your pattern of vertigo suggests an inner-ear condition, migraine or another cause; whether dimenhydrinate fits your other medicines and health conditions; how long to use it; and what symptoms should prompt a review. Tell them if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, caring for a child, or taking medicines for sleep, anxiety, pain or allergies.