Motion sickness occurs when there is a lot of motion, such as on a boat, car, airplane, or amusement park ride, and usually affects women and children more frequently. It happens when the brain cannot make sense of all the information it is receiving from the inner ears, eyes, and other body parts, such as the muscles of the arms and legs. As a result, susceptible individuals experience motion sickness (car sickness, seasickness, or airsickness) and frequently feel sick to the stomach. They can also have other symptoms, such as vertigo.

Medications can help prevent motion sickness. Two commonly used medications to treat motion sickness are meclizine and Dramamine. Please continue reading to find out about treatment options for motion sickness, including how meclizine and Dramamine compare.

What are motion sickness symptoms?

Motion sickness symptoms include nausea, vomiting, dizziness, cold sweats, and vertigo in addition to feeling clammy, queasy, or sick to the stomach.

What is the best prescription medication for vertigo?

Vertigo can be described as a dizziness in which you feel you are moving or the world is spinning around you. The causes of vertigo range from motion sickness, inner ear conditions (such as infections or Meniere’s disease), dizziness caused by migraine headaches, and more serious conditions such as a stroke in specific areas of the brain.

The best way to treat vertigo depends on the cause. For example, if migraines cause vertigo, treating the migraines should provide relief from vertigo symptoms. The best treatment for acute vertigo is a medication such as meclizine (Antivert) or dimenhydrinate (Dramamine).

Why is meclizine the preferred medicine for vertigo?

Meclizine is an effective medicine for vertigo. It is available by prescription as Antivert and over-the-counter as Bonine and Dramamine II (Less Drowsy Formulation). This drug is an antihistamine and also has anticholinergic effects. It can reduce symptoms of motion sickness, such as nausea, vomiting, dizziness, and vertigo.

Meclizine comes in the form of a chewable tablet (Bonine) that you should take 1 hour before any anticipated motion sickness inducing activities. The usual dose for adults and children over 12 years of age is 1-2 tablets once daily.

Common side effects of meclizine include headache, upset stomach, constipation, trouble urinating, and drowsiness. Contact your doctor if these side effects last more than a few days. Call your doctor immediately or seek emergency medical care if you develop episodes of fainting, lightheadedness, or a fast heartbeat after taking meclizine.

Does Dramamine work the same as meclizine?

Dramamine is a brand name product with the active ingredient dimenhydrinate. It is an antihistamine and is available over the counter. Dramamine is effective in treating motion sickness symptoms like nausea, vomiting, and dizziness, but it may be less effective against vertigo.

Dramamine comes in the form of a tablet and is approved for use in adults and children 2 years of age and older. This medication can be taken 30-60 minutes before travel or motion exposure. The usual dose in adults is 1-2 tablets every 4-6 hours, with a maximum of 8 tablets in 24 hours. Children 6-12 years old should receive ½-1 tablet every 6-8 hours with a maximum of 3 tablets in 24 hours. Children 2-6 years old should receive no more than ½ tablet every 6-8 hours with a maximum of 1-½ tablets in 24 hours.

Common side effects of Dramamine include dry mouth, dry eyes, blurred vision, drowsiness, and reduced mental alertness.

What precautions should you take while using meclizine or Dramamine?

Meclizine and Dramamine can cause marked drowsiness. Other medications, such as sedatives, tranquilizers, and alcohol, can make the sedative effects of these drugs much worse. If you are using any of these substances in a large amount, notify your doctor if you feel an inability to function or complete everyday tasks after taking meclizine or Dramamine. Do not drive or operate heavy machinery until you know how these medicines affect you.

People who have glaucoma, problems with urination due to an enlarged prostate gland, cardiovascular disease, or breathing difficulties due to lung conditions (such as chronic bronchitis or emphysema) should discuss with their healthcare provider how meclizine or Dramamine can affect them. Pregnant women and women who are breastfeeding should also talk to their healthcare provider before taking these medications.

What other medicines are available to treat motion sickness?

Besides meclizine and Dramamine, the scopolamine transdermal patch is the most common treatment for motion sickness. It works by blocking signals to the inner ears that cause symptoms of motion sickness. This medicine is only available with a doctor’s prescription. However, it is convenient to use despite applying the patch 6-8 hours before motion exposure because it lasts for 3 days.

Which is better for vertigo: meclizine or Dramamine?

One medication may work better for you than the other. Studies have found that dimenhydrinate (Dramamine) is more effective than a single scopolamine patch, and a scopolamine patch is more effective than meclizine in reducing nausea. However, meclizine (Bonine) may be more effective against vertigo for some people compared to Dramamine.

Additional factors to keep in mind when choosing the best motion sickness medicine include that meclizine comes in less drowsy formulations. Also, the scopolamine patch works for 3 days in comparison to taking meclizine chewable tablets once a day. Lastly, Dramamine has the least convenient dosing schedule, and you need to take it every 4-6 hours.

Other antihistamines such as Zyrtec, Claritin, and Allegra are not effective for patients suffering from motion sickness.

What are some natural ways of preventing motion sickness?

These tips may be helpful in preventing motion sickness:

Look at the horizon or a stationary object if you experience motion sickness.
Sit in the front seat of a car, pick a seat that looks over the front edge of an airplane wing, and stay on the lower levels of a boat or ship.
Avoid reading while traveling to prevent motion sickness.
There is minimal evidence, but you can try hard ginger candy.
Consider using a wristband such as Sea-Bands.

References:

https://health.ucdavis.edu/news/headlines/travel-and-motion-sickness-an-expert-weighs-in-on-dramamine-ginger-and-more/2021/07
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/12782-motion-sickness
https://health.osu.edu/health/brain-and-spine/vertigo-treatment
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/drugs/19358-meclizine-tablets-or-capsules
https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=0b4b55cd-063e-4d0e-911c-8e03886e15d3
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/drugs/18256-dimenhydrinate-tablets
https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=f9302a5a-295a-4501-9332-e3f5eb387362
https://www.uspharmacist.com/article/the-pharmacologic-management-of-motion-sickness

Antivert

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