Key takeaways:
Dramamine (dimenhydrinate) is an over-the-counter (OTC) antihistamine. It’s used to treat and prevent symptoms of motion sickness.
Dramamine interacts with many of the same medications as Benadryl (diphenhydramine). These include sleep medications, sedatives, and anticholinergics.
Many Dramamine interactions can be prevented by avoiding certain combinations. It’s best to check with a healthcare professional before taking it. They can screen for possible interactions and make sure it’s safe for you to take.
Save on related medications
If you experience motion sickness, Dramamine (dimenhydrinate) can be a convenient over-the-counter (OTC) option for relief. But before you pick some up, there are a few Dramamine interactions you should consider.
Dramamine is very similar to diphenhydramine (Benadryl). So, it may not be surprising that it can make you sleepy. Dramamine can interact with other medications, which can make this side effect worse. These include medications for anxiety, sleep, and allergies. And alcohol can be a problem, too.
Dramamine interactions list
Since Dramamine is available OTC, your pharmacist can be a good resource before you buy it. They can review your current medication list to identify potential interactions ahead of time. But it also helps to be aware of common interactions that you may encounter.
While it’s not a comprehensive list, here are examples of medications and substances that can interact with Dramamine:
Benzodiazepines, such as alprazolam (Xanax), lorazepam (Ativan), and temazepam (Restoril)
Sleep medications, such as doxylamine (Unisom SleepTabs) and zolpidem (Ambien)
Antihistamines, such as diphenhydramine and meclizine (Dramamine Less Drowsy, Bonine)
Sedative medications, such as opioids and muscle relaxers
Anticholinergic medications, such as oxybutynin (Ditropan) and scopolamine (Transderm Scop)
Alcohol
Below, we take a closer look at six of these Dramamine interactions.
1. Benzodiazepines
Benzodiazepines (BZDs) help treat health conditions such as anxiety, insomnia, and seizures. They can cause drowsiness, balance problems, and impaired thinking. Combining them with Dramamine may worsen these side effects. It’s best to avoid this combination.
Some people take BZDs only as needed. In this case, your prescriber may have you separate when you take them from when you take Dramamine. But if you take BZDs regularly, this may not be an option. Your prescriber can determine a treatment plan that’s safe for you.
2. Sleep medications
There are many OTC and prescription sleep medications available to help with insomnia. Most cause drowsiness, which can sometimes linger into the next day. Combining sleep medications with Dramamine can result in excessive drowsiness. This added drowsiness can also be dangerous if you’re performing tasks that require you to be alert, such as driving.
Separating Dramamine from sleep medications may help. But you could still have added side effects if you take them the same day. Check with your healthcare team for advice on how to safely take this combination.
3. Antihistamines
Dramamine is an antihistamine. When you take it with another antihistamine, you’re more likely to experience certain side effects.
First-generation antihistamines are known to make you drowsy. Dramamine falls into this category. Other examples include diphenhydramine, meclizine, and chlorpheniramine. Drowsiness, blurry vision, and dry mouth may be worse when they’re taken together.
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Second-generation antihistamines don’t affect the brain as much. They’re often considered “non-drowsy” options. Examples include cetirizine (Zyrtec), loratadine (Claritin), and fexofenadine (Allegra). Side effects such as dizziness and dry mouth may be more likely if they’re combined with Dramamine. And, to a degree, drowsiness may be more common with this interaction.
It’s best to avoid taking Dramamine with another antihistamine. You may want to opt for medication-free motion sickness remedies instead, such as eating ginger or wearing an acupressure bracelet.
4. Other sedating medications
BZDs and sleep medications are considered sedatives. This means they slow down communication in the brain. Other medications can have sedative effects, as well. Examples of these include:
Opioids such as oxycodone (Roxicodone, Oxycontin)
Muscle relaxants such as cyclobenzaprine (Fexmid, Amrix)
Barbiturates such as phenobarbital
Sedatives can cause excessive drowsiness when combined with Dramamine. Rare, serious sedative effects, such as slowed breathing or coma, are also possible.
It’s best to avoid combining Dramamine with medications that have sedative effects. But if you need to take both, talk to a healthcare professional first. They can tell you how to manage this interaction or recommend a safer alternative.
5. Anticholinergics
Medications such as oxybutynin, hyoscyamine (Levsin), and antihistamines such as Dramamine have anticholinergic effects. This is because they block the effects of a chemical in the body called acetylcholine.
Blocking acetylcholine can cause side effects such as dry mouth, blurred vision, and constipation. Some can be more serious, such as agitation and confusion. Older adults, and those with dementia, tend to be more sensitive to these effects. If you’re 65 or older, it’s recommended to avoid anticholinergics altogether.
Combining Dramamine with other anticholinergic medications can worsen these side effects. Your healthcare team can help you manage this interaction or recommend safer alternatives.
6. Alcohol
Alcohol can cause dizziness, making motion sickness symptoms worse. So, drinking alcohol with Dramamine won’t do you any favors. What’s more, combining Dramamine with alcohol can increase the risk of drowsiness.
The safest way to handle this interaction is to avoid alcohol with Dramamine. If you think you may drink alcohol, talk to a healthcare professional first. They can determine whether there’s an amount that’s OK for you to drink while taking Dramamine.
Frequently asked questions
Dramamine is generally considered safe to take during pregnancy and is sometimes used to help relieve nausea, vomiting, or motion sickness. If you’re nursing, small amounts of the medication may pass into your breast milk and could cause drowsiness or irritability in your baby. In either case, it’s best to talk to your healthcare team before taking Dramamine to ensure it’s the right option for you.
The standard adult dose of Dramamine for motion sickness is 50 mg to 100 mg every 4 to 6 hours, as needed. You shouldn’t take more than 400 mg in a 24-hour period. The dosage for children depends on their age. Always follow the directions on the product label, or follow the directions from your healthcare professional.
Dramamine has a half-life of around 5 to 8 hours, meaning that’s how long it takes for half of the medication to leave your body. It typically takes about 1 to 2 days for Dramamine to be mostly cleared from your system. But this can vary based on age and other factors. Some sedative effects may last longer in some people.
Dramamine is generally considered safe to take during pregnancy and is sometimes used to help relieve nausea, vomiting, or motion sickness. If you’re nursing, small amounts of the medication may pass into your breast milk and could cause drowsiness or irritability in your baby. In either case, it’s best to talk to your healthcare team before taking Dramamine to ensure it’s the right option for you.
The standard adult dose of Dramamine for motion sickness is 50 mg to 100 mg every 4 to 6 hours, as needed. You shouldn’t take more than 400 mg in a 24-hour period. The dosage for children depends on their age. Always follow the directions on the product label, or follow the directions from your healthcare professional.
Dramamine has a half-life of around 5 to 8 hours, meaning that’s how long it takes for half of the medication to leave your body. It typically takes about 1 to 2 days for Dramamine to be mostly cleared from your system. But this can vary based on age and other factors. Some sedative effects may last longer in some people.
The bottom line
Dramamine (dimenhydrinate) can interact with anxiety medications, sleep aids, and antihistamines. It can also interact with opioids, alcohol, and muscle relaxants.
You can avoid Dramamine interactions by talking to your prescriber or pharmacist first. They can recommend how to safely take the medication or suggest a safer alternative.
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References
American Geriatrics Society Beers Criteria Update Expert Panel. (2023). American Geriatrics Society 2023 updated AGS Beers Criteria for potentially inappropriate medication use in older adults. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed). (2021). Dimenhydrinate. National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.
LiverTox: Clinical and research information on drug-induced liver injury. (2017). Dimenhydrinate. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.
National Center for Biotechnology Information. (2025). Compound summary for CID 10660, Dimenhydrinate. National Library of Medicine.
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. (2014). Harmful interactions: Mixing alcohol with medicines. National Institutes of Health.
Sam, C., et al. (2023). Physiology, acetylcholine. StatPearls.
