meclizine

It takes about 1 hour for meclizine to start working. This is why if you're taking meclizine for motion sickness, you should plan to take it about an hour before the activity that might cause motion sickness.

Meclizine's effects can last for 8 to 24 hours. This means that if you're taking meclizine for vertigo and your symptoms last most of the day, your provider might ask you to take multiple doses of this medication throughout the day.

Yes, it's possible for meclizine to make you feel sleepy. However, meclizine tends to cause less sleepiness compared to dimenhydrinate (Dramamine Original Formula), another OTC motion sickness medication. If you're taking meclizine for the first time, don't drive or do anything that requires a lot of focus or attention until you know how this medication makes you feel. To lower your risk for sleepiness, avoid alcohol and other medications that can also make you sleepy. Let your provider know if meclizine makes you very drowsy, they can talk to you about other options for your condition.

Meclizine is available either over-the-counter (OTC) or by prescription, depending on which health condition you're being treated for. If you're taking meclizine for motion sickness, you can get it over the counter. Some examples of OTC meclizine include Dramamine Less Drowsy or Bonine Motion Sickness. But if you have vertigo, your provider will need to write you a prescription for meclizine (Antivert) before you can pick it up at the pharmacy. This is because vertigo can be a symptom of more serious health conditions, such as stroke or multiple sclerosis, so it's best if you see a doctor who can help you find the cause of your symptoms. Ask your pharmacist or provider if you have any questions.

It depends. Dramamine is the name of a brand that makes multiple products, rather than a single medication. In fact, meclizine exist as Dramamine Less Drowsy. But the original Dramamine product that people often think of is dimenhydrinate. Meclizine and dimenhydrinate aren't the same. While they're both OTC medications that can be taken for motion sickness, meclizine is less likely to cause sleepiness than dimenhydrinate. In addition, meclizine lasts longer in your body - a single dose of meclizine can last 8 to 24 hours, whereas dimenhydrinate is typically taken every 4 to 6 hours.

It depends on your child's age and what condition they're being treated for. Meclizine for motion sickness is approved for children ages 12 years and older. But meclizine (Antivert) for vertigo has only be studied in adults and shouldn't be taken by children. There isn't enough research to know whether meclizine will work well or be safe for children who are younger than these age cut-offs for either condition. Talk with your child's provider if you have a child younger than 12 years old who has motion sickness, or a child under 18 years old who has vertigo.

Based on available data, doesn't seem to raise the risk for birth defects or pregnancy complications. Meclizine is actually a recommended treatment option for morning sickness during pregnancy. Ask your provider if you have more questions about meclizine and pregnancy.