Dramamine Dosages: Your GoodRx Guide

Motion sickness — an unfortunate hassle of traveling for many people. Movement, such as riding in a car, plane, or boat, can confuse your senses and make you feel sick. You may experience nausea, dizziness, and vomiting. Fortunately, there are medications available to help prevent and treat motion sickness.

Dramamine (dimenhydrinate) is a popular over-the-counter (OTC) motion sickness medication. It’s an antihistamine that works in the brain to block motion sickness symptoms like nausea and vomiting. But it’s important to know how much is safe to take should you need it.

Below, we’ll review the typical Dramamine dosages for adults and children.

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What’s the typical Dramamine dosage for adults?

Dramamine can be a good OTC medication to have on hand to treat or prevent motion sickness. It comes as both an oral tablet and a chewable tablet. But both versions have the same dosage instructions. Each tablet contains 50 mg of dimenhydrinate.

The recommended Dramamine dosage for adults is 1 to 2 tablets (50 mg to 100 mg) by mouth every 4 to 6 hours as needed. If you’re trying to prevent motion sickness, take your first dose 30 to 60 minutes before the triggering activity (e.g., car ride, flight). You shouldn’t take more than 8 tablets (400 mg) in a 24-hour period.

What’s the typical Dramamine dosage for children?

The Dramamine line offers a chewable tablet that’s specially designed with kids in mind. But the adult Dramamine tablets are also OK to give to children. All OTC Dramamine packages provide dosage information for children ages 2 years and older.

Children’s Dramamine tablets contain 25 mg of dimenhydrinate, compared to 50 mg in the adult formulation. This means that the dosages will be different for each product. Be sure to read the instructions carefully before giving it to your child.

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Dramamine for Kids tablets

Dramamine for Kids tablets are chewable tablets. They’re intended for children between 2 and 11 years old. To prevent motion sickness, give the first dose 30 to 60 minutes before the triggering activity.

The Dramamine for Kids dosage is as follows:

• Children ages 6 to 11 years old: Chew and swallow 1 to 2 tablets (25 mg to 50 mg) by mouth every 6 to 8 hours as needed. Don’t take more than 6 tablets (150 mg) in a 24-hour period.

• Children ages 2 to 5 years old: Chew and swallow ½ to 1 tablet (12.5 mg to 25 mg) by mouth every 6 to 8 hours as needed. Don’t take more than 3 tablets (75 mg) in a 24-hour period.

• Children under 2 years old: Don’t give unless your child’s healthcare provider gives you permission and a safe dosage. Be sure to confirm a maximum daily dosage with them.

Dramamine oral and chewable tablets

These are the same tablets that adults can take. Children may have a hard time swallowing the oral tablets whole. Giving them chewable tablets is usually easier. To prevent motion sickness, give the first dose 30 to 60 minutes before the triggering activity.

The Dramamine dosage for children using the adult formulation is as follows:

• Children ages 12 years and older: Take 1 to 2 tablets (50 mg to 100 mg) by mouth every 4 to 6 hours as needed. Don’t give more than 8 tablets (400 mg) in a 24-hour period.

• Children ages 6 to 11 years old: Take ½ to 1 tablet (25 mg to 50 mg) by mouth every 6 to 8 hours as needed. Don’t give more than 3 tablets (150 mg) in a 24-hour period.

• Children ages 2 to 6 years old: Take ½ tablet (25 mg) by mouth every 6 to 8 hours as needed. Don’t give more than 1 ½ tablets (75 mg) in a 24-hour period.

• Children under 2 years old: Don’t give unless your child’s healthcare provider gives you permission and a safe dosage. Be sure to confirm a maximum daily dosage with them.

Are there any dosage adjustments for medical conditions?

Dramamine may not be the best option for some groups of people. These include children under 2 years old, older adults, and people with certain health conditions.

Children under 2 years old

You shouldn’t give Dramamine to children under 2 years old without talking to their healthcare provider first. The effects of antihistamines like Dramamine haven’t been well-studied in children this young. There have also been reports of accidental overdoses in kids this age, some of which were fatal.

If a healthcare provider recommends Dramamine for your young child, confirm the dosage with them. There is no standard Dramamine dosage for children under 2 years old.

Adults ages 65 and older

Antihistamines like Dramamine aren't recommended for people ages 65 and older. This is because they can cause excessive dizziness and confusion. This can raise the risk of falling or accidental injury.

Discuss the risks and benefits of Dramamine with your healthcare provider first. If they recommend you take it, ask what dosage you should take.

People who have trouble urinating

Antihistamines like Dramamine aren't recommended for people who have trouble urinating. This is especially true for older adults. These medications have anticholinergic side effects. One of these side effects is that it may be harder to completely empty the bladder (called urinary retention). This raises the risk of developing urinary tract infections.

Talk to your healthcare provider before taking Dramamine if you have a history of urinary retention, incontinence, or benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).

People with glaucoma

For people with glaucoma, it’s best to speak with your healthcare provider before taking Dramamine or other antihistamines. This is because they can worsen certain types of glaucoma. Your healthcare provider will determine if it’s safe to take Dramamine based on what kind of glaucoma you have.

What happens if you miss a dose of Dramamine?

Dramamine is usually taken as needed. So if you miss a dose, you can take it as soon as you remember. If your healthcare provider wants you to take Dramamine regularly, take your missed dose as soon as you remember. If it’s close to time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose as scheduled.

Never double up on Dramamine by taking two doses at once. Taking too much can cause side effects like excessive drowsiness or dizziness.

What should you do if you take too much Dramamine?

If you’ve taken too much Dramamine, you’ll likely experience excessive side effects. They can range from mild to severe. Mild side effects may include drowsiness, dry mouth, and dizziness. More severe side effects may include seizures and an irregular heart rate. In rare cases, too much Dramamine can be fatal.

If you believe you’ve taken too much Dramamine or are experiencing excessive side effects, contact your healthcare provider. You can also call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Call 911 or seek emergency care right away if you’re having severe or extreme side effects.

How to save on Dramamine

There are many ways to save on Dramamine, which is available as both a brand-name and generic medication. By having your healthcare provider write a prescription for OTC Dramamine, GoodRx can help you save over 50% off the average retail price. Generic Dramamine's price at certain pharmacies can be as low as $5.39 with a free GoodRx discount.

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Written by:

Kristine Foley, PharmD

Kristine Foley is a licensed pharmacist with over 13 years of community pharmacy experience. She earned her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Rutgers University.

Edited by:

Christina Aungst, PharmD

Christina Aungst, PharmD, is a pharmacy editor for GoodRx. She began writing for GoodRx Health in 2019, transitioning from freelance writer to editor in 2021.

Reviewed by:

Austin Ulrich, PharmD, BCACP

Austin Ulrich, PharmD, BCACP, is a board-certified ambulatory care clinical pharmacist. In his early career, he provided direct patient care in a variety of settings, including hospital and community pharmacies, and in a primary care clinic as a clinical pharmacist.

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