Meclizine is a medication used to treat and prevent the typical symptoms of motion sickness such as nausea, dizziness and vomiting. According to Drugs.com, it is an anticholinergic and antihistamine medication that disrupts a certain messenger in your brain from causing these debilitating symptoms. Meclizine is available as a tablet and should be taken one hour prior to travel. The National Library of Medicine says the initial dose is 25 to 50mg.
Common Side Effects
According to Drugs.com, meclizine can typically cause constipation, dry mouth and dizziness. It can also cause blurry vision and drowsiness. You should avoid driving or taking part in events that require you to be fully functioning. You should notify your doctor if these symptoms do not subside within three or four days. Discontinue this medication and your symptoms should disappear within one to two days.
Rare and Serious Side Effects
According to the Mayo Clinic, meclizine may cause stomach problems, trouble sleeping, restlessness, nervousness and a headache. It can also cause tachycardia (fast heartbeat), pain upon urination, dryness in your nose or throat and a skin rash. Discontinue meclizine and go to your doctor immediately so that she may properly evaluate your symptoms and make sure you are OK.
Miscellaneous Concerns
Avoid meclizine if you are hypersensitive (allergic) to its components. Meclizine can lead to extreme difficulty in breathing, red itchy skin swellings all over your body and swelling of your face, tongue or throat. Do not delay in getting help, as all these symptoms are potentially life threatening.
According to the National Library of Medicine, no adequate studies have shown any effect to a baby during pregnancy. However, in a study of reproductive rats receiving 25 to 50 times more meclizine than a human receives, the National Library of Medicine reports cleft palate (condition of a deformed cleft palate) formation in these rats. Meclizine has the potential to cause such an effect in humans, so it is important to tell your doctor if you are currently pregnant or plan to become pregnant.
MedlinePlus instructs that you should tell your doctor if you are taking amobarbital, phenobarbital, pain medications or any sedatives. Meclizine can adversely interact with these drugs and cause the aforementioned side effects.
It is unclear if meclizine can pass into breast milk. However, be cautious and tell your doctor if you are taking meclizine while breastfeeding. Your doctor will weigh the benefits of continuing meclizine.
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