| Item |
Information |
|
Drug Groups
|
approved |
|
Description
|
Dimenhydrinate (Dramamine, Gravol and Vertirosan) is an over-the-counter drug used to prevent motion sickness. It is closely related to diphenhydramine HCl, or Benadryl. It is primarily a H1-antagonist, but also possesses an antimuscarinic effect. |
| Indication |
Used for treating vertigo, motion sickness, and nausea associated with pregnancy. |
| Pharmacology |
Dimenhydrinate is an antiemetics drug combination that contains diphenhydramine and theophylline. It is not effective in the treatment of nausea associated with cancer chemotherapy. Dimenhydrinate directly inhibits the stimulation of certain nerves in the brain and inner ear to suppress nausea, vomiting, dizziness, and vertigo. Diphenhydramine and dimenhydinate both reduce vestibular neuronal excitation due to angular or linear acceleration motions. |
| Toxicity |
Symptoms of overdose include delerium, hallucinations, and excitment. Patients may be violent and confused. |
| Affected Organisms |
| • |
Humans and other mammals |
|
| Biotransformation |
Hepatic (cytochrome P-450 system). |
| Absorption |
Well absorbed after oral administration. |
| Half Life |
1 to 4 hours |
| Protein Binding |
98 to 99%. |
| References |
| • |
Takeda N, Morita M, Hasegawa S, Horii A, Kubo T, Matsunaga T: Neuropharmacology of motion sickness and emesis. A review. Acta Otolaryngol Suppl. 1993;501:10-5.
[Pubmed]
|
| • |
Halpert AG, Olmstead MC, Beninger RJ: Mechanisms and abuse liability of the anti-histamine dimenhydrinate. Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2002 Jan;26(1):61-7.
[Pubmed]
|
| • |
Jaju BP, Wang SC: Effects of diphenhydramine and dimenhydrinate on vestibular neuronal activity of cat: a search for the locus of their antimotion sickness action. J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 1971 Mar;176(3):718-24.
[Pubmed]
|
|
| External Links |
|
|