What is Antivert and how does it work. How to properly use Antivert for vertigo and motion sickness. What are the potential side effects of Antivert. How does Antivert interact with other medications. Who should avoid taking Antivert. What precautions should be taken when using Antivert. How effective is Antivert in treating vertigo and motion sickness.

Understanding Antivert: A Comprehensive Overview

Antivert, known generically as meclizine, is an antihistamine that plays a crucial role in managing vertigo and motion sickness. This medication works by reducing the effects of histamine, a natural chemical in the body. Antivert is primarily used to treat or prevent nausea, vomiting, and dizziness associated with motion sickness. Additionally, it’s effective in addressing symptoms of vertigo, such as dizziness or spinning sensations, caused by inner ear disorders.

How does Antivert work?

Antivert functions by blocking the effects of histamine in the body. Histamine is a chemical that can trigger various responses, including dizziness and nausea. By inhibiting histamine’s action, Antivert helps alleviate these symptoms, making it an effective treatment for both motion sickness and vertigo.

Dosage and Administration: Maximizing Antivert’s Effectiveness

The proper use of Antivert is crucial for its effectiveness. The dosage and administration can vary depending on whether you’re using it for vertigo or motion sickness.

Antivert for Vertigo

• Adult dosage: 25 to 100 mg orally per day, divided into multiple doses
• Pediatric dosage (12 years and older): Same as adult dosage
• Dosing is typically adjusted based on clinical response

Antivert for Motion Sickness

• Adult initial dose: 25 to 50 mg orally, taken 1 hour before travel
• Adult maintenance dose: Repeat every 24 hours if needed
• Pediatric dosage (12 years and older): Same as adult dosage

It’s important to follow your doctor’s instructions or the directions on the prescription label carefully. For motion sickness prevention, take Antivert about an hour before you travel or anticipate experiencing motion sickness. You can take it once every 24 hours while traveling to maintain its preventive effect.

Potential Side Effects: What to Watch For

While Antivert is generally well-tolerated, it can cause some side effects. Being aware of these potential effects can help you manage your treatment more effectively.

Common side effects of Antivert include:

• Drowsiness
• Dry mouth
• Headache
• Vomiting
• Fatigue

These side effects are usually mild and may diminish as your body adjusts to the medication. However, if they persist or worsen, it’s important to consult your healthcare provider.

Can Antivert cause severe allergic reactions?

While rare, severe allergic reactions to Antivert can occur. Seek immediate medical attention if you experience signs of an allergic reaction, such as:

• Hives
• Difficulty breathing
• Swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat

Drug Interactions: Navigating Antivert’s Compatibility

Antivert can interact with other medications, potentially altering their effects or increasing the risk of side effects. It’s crucial to inform your healthcare provider about all medications you’re taking, including over-the-counter drugs, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

Which medications can interact with Antivert?

Antivert may interact with several types of medications, including:

• Opioid pain medications
• Sleeping pills
• Muscle relaxants
• Anxiety medications
• Seizure medications
• Other antihistamines

These interactions can potentially increase drowsiness and impair cognitive function. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist before starting or stopping any medication while taking Antivert.

Precautions and Warnings: Ensuring Safe Use of Antivert

While Antivert is generally safe when used as directed, there are certain precautions and warnings to keep in mind to ensure its safe and effective use.

Who should avoid taking Antivert?

Antivert may not be suitable for everyone. You should not use Antivert if:

• You are allergic to meclizine
• You are under 12 years old (unless specifically prescribed by a doctor)

Additionally, inform your doctor if you have any of the following conditions before taking Antivert:

• Liver disease
• Kidney disease
• Asthma
• Glaucoma
• Enlarged prostate
• Urination problems

What precautions should be taken when using Antivert?

To ensure safe use of Antivert:

1. Avoid driving or operating machinery until you know how the medication affects you
2. Limit alcohol consumption, as it can increase certain side effects
3. Inform your doctor if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding
4. Be cautious when taking other medications that cause drowsiness
5. Store the medication at room temperature away from moisture, heat, and light

Effectiveness of Antivert: Real-World Results

Antivert has been widely used for decades to manage vertigo and motion sickness. Its effectiveness has been demonstrated in both clinical studies and real-world use.

How effective is Antivert in treating vertigo?

Antivert has shown significant efficacy in managing vertigo symptoms, particularly those associated with vestibular disorders. Many patients report a reduction in dizziness and the sensation of spinning, leading to improved quality of life. However, the effectiveness can vary depending on the underlying cause of vertigo and individual patient factors.

What about its efficacy for motion sickness?

For motion sickness, Antivert is considered one of the most effective over-the-counter treatments available. When taken as directed, it can significantly reduce or prevent symptoms of nausea, vomiting, and dizziness associated with various forms of travel.

Alternatives to Antivert: Exploring Other Options

While Antivert is a popular choice for managing vertigo and motion sickness, it’s not the only option available. Understanding alternatives can help you make informed decisions about your treatment.

What are some alternatives to Antivert for vertigo?

Other medications that may be used to treat vertigo include:

• Betahistine
• Dimenhydrinate
• Promethazine
• Benzodiazepines (in some cases)

Non-pharmacological treatments such as vestibular rehabilitation therapy and the Epley maneuver can also be effective for certain types of vertigo.

Are there alternatives for motion sickness?

For motion sickness, alternatives to Antivert include:

• Dimenhydrinate (Dramamine)
• Diphenhydramine (Benadryl)
• Scopolamine patches
• Ginger supplements
• Acupressure wristbands

The choice of treatment often depends on individual factors, including the severity of symptoms and personal preferences.

Long-Term Use of Antivert: What You Need to Know

While Antivert can be effective for managing acute episodes of vertigo or occasional motion sickness, questions often arise about its long-term use.

Is it safe to use Antivert long-term?

Antivert is generally considered safe for long-term use when taken as directed. However, prolonged use should be monitored by a healthcare provider. Some patients may develop tolerance to the medication over time, potentially reducing its effectiveness.

What are the potential risks of long-term Antivert use?

Long-term use of Antivert may be associated with certain risks, including:

• Increased risk of falls, especially in older adults
• Potential cognitive effects, particularly in the elderly
• Possible masking of underlying conditions causing vertigo

Regular follow-ups with your healthcare provider can help monitor for these potential risks and adjust treatment as necessary.

Antivert: Uses, Dosage & Side Effects

Generic name: meclizine [ MEK-li-zeen ]
Drug class: Anticholinergic antiemetics

Medically reviewed by Philip Thornton, DipPharm. Last updated on Jun 14, 2023.

What is Antivert?

Antivert is an antihistamine that reduces the effects of natural chemical histamine in the body.

Antivert is used to treat or prevent nausea, vomiting, and dizziness caused by motion sickness.

Antivert is also used to treat symptoms of vertigo (dizziness or spinning sensation) caused by disease that affects your inner ear.

Warnings

Before you take Antivert, tell your doctor if you have liver or kidney disease, asthma, glaucoma, an enlarged prostate, or urination problems.

This medication may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be alert.

Drinking alcohol can increase certain side effects of meclizine.

Cold or allergy medicine, sedatives, narcotic pain medicine, sleeping pills, muscle relaxers, and medicine for seizures, depression or anxiety can add to sleepiness caused by meclizine.

Follow all directions on your medicine label and package. Tell each of your healthcare providers about all your medical conditions, allergies, and all medicines you use.

Before taking this medicine

You should not use Antivert if you are allergic to meclizine.

Antivert should not be given to a child younger than 12 years old.

Do not give meclizine to a child without medical advice.

To make sure this medicine is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have ever had:

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breast-feeding.

How should I take Antivert?

Use Antivert exactly as directed by your doctor. Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets.

To prevent motion sickness, take Antivert about 1 hour before you travel or anticipate having motion sickness. You may take Antivert once every 24 hours while you are traveling, to further prevent motion sickness.

To treat vertigo, you may need to take Antivert several times daily. Follow your doctor’s instructions.

This medicine can affect the results of allergy skin tests. Tell any doctor who treats you that you are using this medicine.

Store at room temperature away from moisture, heat, and light.

Dosing information

Usual Adult Dose for Vertigo:

-25 to 100 mg orally per day in divided doses
-Dosing dependent upon clinical response.

Use: Management of vertigo associated with diseases affecting the vestibular system.

Usual Adult Dose for Motion Sickness:

-Initial Dose: 25 to 50 mg orally 1 hour before travel
-Maintenance Dose: Repeat dose every 24 hours if needed

Use: Management of nausea, vomiting, and dizziness associated with motion sickness.

Usual Pediatric Dose for Vertigo:

Age 12 years and older:
-25 to 100 mg orally per day in divided doses
-Dosing dependent upon clinical response.

Use: Management of vertigo associated with diseases affecting the vestibular system.

Usual Pediatric Dose for Motion Sickness:

Age 12 years and older:
-Initial Dose: 25 to 50 mg orally 1 hour before travel
-Maintenance Dose: Repeat dose every 24 hours if needed

Use: Management of nausea, vomiting, and dizziness associated with motion sickness.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Since Antivert is sometimes taken only when needed, you may not be on a dosing schedule. Skip any missed dose if it’s almost time for your next dose. Do not use two doses at one time.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

What to avoid

Avoid driving or hazardous activity until you know how meclizine will affect you. Your reactions could be impaired.

Drinking alcohol can increase certain side effects of meclizine.

Antivert side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction to Antivert: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Common Antivert side effects may include:

• drowsiness;

• dry mouth;

• headache;

• vomiting; or

• feeling tired.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What other drugs will affect Antivert?

Using Antivert with other drugs that make you drowsy can worsen this effect. Ask your doctor before using opioid medication, a sleeping pill, a muscle relaxer, or medicine for anxiety or seizures.

Other drugs may interact with meclizine, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any medicine you start or stop using.

More about Antivert (meclizine)

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• Drug class: anticholinergic antiemetics
• Breastfeeding

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Professional resources

• Prescribing Information

Related treatment guides

• Vertigo
• Motion Sickness
• Nausea/Vomiting

Further information

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use Antivert only for the indication prescribed.

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

Medical Disclaimer

Copyright 1996-2023 Cerner Multum, Inc. Version: 7.01.

Meclizine: Uses, Dosage & Side Effects

Generic name: meclizine [ MEK-li-zeen ]
Brand names: Antivert, Bonine, D-Vert, Dramamine Less Drowsy, Driminate II,
… show all 9 brands
Meclicot, Medivert, Ru-Vert-M, Meni-D

Drug class: Anticholinergic antiemetics

Medically reviewed by Sanjai Sinha, MD. Last updated on Dec 12, 2022.

What is meclizine?

Meclizine is an antihistamine that reduces the effects of natural chemical histamine in the body.

Meclizine is used to treat or prevent nausea, vomiting, and dizziness caused by motion sickness. It is also used to treat symptoms of vertigo (dizziness or spinning sensation) caused by disease that affects your inner ear.

Meclizine may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Warnings

You should not take this medication if you are allergic to meclizine.

Before you take meclizine, tell your doctor if you have liver or kidney disease, asthma, glaucoma, an enlarged prostate, or urination problems.

This medication may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be alert.

Drinking alcohol can increase certain side effects of meclizine.

Cold or allergy medicine, sedatives, narcotic pain medicine, sleeping pills, muscle relaxers, and medicine for seizures, depression or anxiety can add to sleepiness caused by meclizine.

Before taking this medicine

You should not use meclizine if you are allergic to it.

To make sure meclizine is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have any of these conditions:

FDA pregnancy category B. Meclizine is not expected to harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.

It is not known whether meclizine passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

This medicine should not be given to a child younger than 12 years old.

How should I take meclizine?

Use meclizine exactly as directed by your doctor. Follow all directions on your prescription label. Do not take this medicine in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended.

The chewable tablet must be chewed before you swallow it.

To prevent motion sickness, take meclizine about 1 hour before you travel or engage in activity that causes motion sickness. You may take a dose once every 24 hours while you are traveling, to further prevent motion sickness.

To treat vertigo, you may need to take meclizine several times daily. Follow your doctor’s instructions.

This medication can affect the results of allergy skin tests. Tell any doctor who treats you that you are using meclizine.

Store at room temperature away from moisture, heat, and light.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Since meclizine is sometimes taken only when needed, you may not be on a dosing schedule. If you are taking the medication regularly, take the missed dose as soon as you remember. Skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next scheduled dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

What should I avoid?

This medication may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be alert.

Drinking alcohol can increase certain side effects of meclizine.

Meclizine side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction to meclizine: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Common meclizine side effects may include:

• headache;

• vomiting;

• dry mouth;

• tired feeling; or

• drowsiness.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What other drugs will affect meclizine?

Taking meclizine with other drugs that make you sleepy or slow your breathing can increase these effects. Ask your doctor before taking meclizine with a sleeping pill, narcotic pain medicine, muscle relaxer, or medicine for anxiety, depression, or seizures.

Tell your doctor about all medicines you use, and those you start or stop using during your treatment with this medicine, especially:

• cinacalcet;

• quinidine;

• terbinafine; or

• the antidepressants bupropion, duloxetine, fluoxetine, paroxetine, or sertraline.

Other drugs may interact with meclizine, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Tell each of your healthcare providers about all medicines you use now, and any medicine you start or stop using.

More about meclizine

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• Breastfeeding
• En español

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• Patient Information
• Meclizine Tablets

Other brands

Antivert, Dramamine Less Drowsy, Dramamine II, Meclicot, … +2 more

Professional resources

• Prescribing Information

Related treatment guides

• Vertigo
• Nausea/Vomiting
• Motion Sickness

Further information

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use meclizine only for the indication prescribed.

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

Medical Disclaimer

Copyright 1996-2023 Cerner Multum, Inc. Version: 6.01.

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Medicines for mental illness

The effectiveness of drug therapy with psychotropic drugs is determined by the compliance of the choice of the drug with the clinical picture of the disease, the correctness of its dosing regimen, the method of administration and the duration of the therapeutic course. As in any field of medicine, in psychiatry it is necessary to take into account the entire complex of drugs that the patient takes, since their mutual action can lead not only to a change in the nature of the effects of each of them, but also to the occurrence of undesirable consequences.

There are several approaches to the classification of psychotropic drugs. Table 1 shows the classification proposed by the WHO in 1990, adapted to include some domestic medicines.

Table 1. Classification of psychopharmacological drugs.

The main clinical characteristics and side effects of the listed classes of pharmacological drugs are given below.

Antipsychotics

Clinical characteristics. This class of drugs is central to the treatment of psychoses. However, the scope of their application is not limited to this, since in small doses in combination with other psychotropic drugs they can be used in the treatment of affective disorders, anxiety-phobic, obsessive-compulsive and somatoform disorders, with decompensation of personality disorders.

Regardless of the characteristics of the chemical structure and mechanism of action, all drugs of this group have similar clinical properties: they have a pronounced antipsychotic effect, reduce psychomotor activity and reduce mental arousal, neurotropic action, manifested in the development of extrapyramidal and vegetovascular disorders, many of they also have antiemetic properties.

Side effects. The main side effects in the treatment of neuroleptics form the neuroleptic syndrome. The leading clinical manifestations of this syndrome are extrapyramidal disorders with a predominance of either hypo- or hyperkinetic disorders. Hypokinetic disorders include drug-induced parkinsonism, manifested by increased muscle tone, lockjaw, rigidity, stiffness, and slowness of movement and speech. Hyperkinetic disturbances include tremor and hyperkinesis. Usually in the clinical picture in various combinations there are both hypo- and hyperkinetic disorders. The phenomena of dyskinesia can be paroxysmal in nature, localized in the mouth area and manifested by spasmodic contractions of the muscles of the pharynx, tongue, lips, jaws. Often there are phenomena of akathisia – feelings of restlessness, “restlessness in the legs”, combined with tasikinesia (the need to move, change position). A special group of dyskinesias includes tardive dyskinesia, which occurs after 2-3 years of taking antipsychotics and is expressed in involuntary movements of the lips, tongue, face.

Among the disorders of the autonomic nervous system, orthostatic hypotension, sweating, weight gain, changes in appetite, constipation, diarrhea are most often observed. Sometimes there are anticholinergic effects – visual disturbances, dysuric phenomena. Possible functional disorders of the cardiovascular system with changes in the ECG in the form of an increase in the Q-T interval, a decrease in the T wave or its inversion, tachycardia or bradycardia. Sometimes there are side effects in the form of photosensitivity, dermatitis, skin pigmentation; skin allergic reactions are possible.

Antipsychotics of new generations, compared with traditional derivatives of phenothiazines and butyrophenones, cause significantly fewer side effects and complications.

Tranquilizers

Clinical characteristics. This group includes psychopharmacological agents that relieve anxiety, emotional tension, fear of non-psychotic origin, and facilitate the process of adaptation to stress factors. Many of them have anticonvulsant and muscle relaxant properties. Their use in therapeutic doses does not cause significant changes in cognitive activity and perception. Many of the drugs in this group have a pronounced hypnotic effect and are used primarily as hypnotics. Unlike neuroleptics, tranquilizers do not have a pronounced antipsychotic activity and are used as an additional tool in the treatment of psychosis – to stop psychomotor agitation and correct the side effects of neuroleptics.

Side effects of during treatment with tranquilizers are most often manifested by daytime drowsiness, lethargy, muscle weakness, impaired concentration, short-term memory, as well as a slowdown in the rate of mental reactions. In some cases, paradoxical reactions develop in the form of anxiety, insomnia, psychomotor agitation, hallucinations. Among the dysfunctions of the autonomic nervous system and other organs and systems, hypotension, constipation, nausea, urinary retention or incontinence, decreased libido are noted. Long-term use of tranquilizers is dangerous due to the possibility of developing addiction to them, i.e. physical and mental dependence.

Antidepressants

Clinical characteristics. This class of drugs includes drugs that increase the pathological hypothymic effect, as well as reduce somatovegetative disorders caused by depression. A growing body of scientific evidence now suggests that antidepressants are effective for phobic anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorders. It is assumed that in these cases, not the actual antidepressant, but the anti-obsessional and antiphobic effects are realized. There is data confirming the ability of many antidepressants to increase the threshold of pain sensitivity, to have a preventive effect in migraine and vegetative crises.

Side effects. Side effects related to the central nervous system and the autonomic nervous system are expressed by dizziness, tremor, dysarthria, impaired consciousness in the form of delirium, epileptiform seizures. Possible exacerbation of anxious disorders, activation of suicidal tendencies, inversion of affect, drowsiness or, conversely, insomnia. Side effects may be manifested by hypotension, sinus tachycardia, arrhythmia, impaired atrioventricular conduction.

When taking tricyclic antidepressants, various anticholinergic effects are often observed, as well as an increase in appetite. With the simultaneous use of MAO inhibitors with food products containing tyramine or its precursor – tyrosine (cheeses, etc.), a “cheese effect” occurs, manifested by hypertension, hyperthermia, convulsions and sometimes leading to death.

When prescribing serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and reversible MAO-A inhibitors, there may be disturbances in the activity of the gastrointestinal tract, headaches, insomnia, anxiety, and impotence may develop against the background of SSRIs. In the case of a combination of SSRIs with drugs of the tricyclic group, the formation of the so-called serotonin syndrome, which is manifested by an increase in body temperature and signs of intoxication, is possible.

Normotimics

Clinical characteristics. Normotimics include drugs that regulate affective manifestations and have a preventive effect in phasic affective psychoses. Some of these drugs are anticonvulsants.

Side effects of when using lithium salts are most often tremor. Often there are violations of the function of the gastrointestinal tract – nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, diarrhea. Often there is an increase in body weight, polydipsia, polyuria, hypothyroidism. Acne, maculo-papular rash, alopecia, as well as worsening of psoriasis are possible.

Signs of severe toxic conditions and overdose of the drug are a metallic taste in the mouth, thirst, severe tremor, dysarthria, ataxia; in these cases, the drug should be stopped immediately.

It should also be noted that side effects may be associated with non-compliance with the diet – a large intake of liquid, salt, smoked meats, cheeses.

Side effects of anticonvulsants are most often associated with functional disorders of the central nervous system and manifest as lethargy, drowsiness, ataxia. Hyperreflexia, myoclonus, tremor can be observed much less frequently. The severity of these phenomena is significantly reduced with a smooth increase in doses.

With a pronounced cardiotoxic effect, atrioventricular block may develop.

Nootropics

Clinical characteristics. Nootropics include drugs that can positively affect cognitive functions, stimulate learning, enhance memory processes, increase brain resistance to various adverse factors (in particular, to hypoxia) and extreme stress. However, they do not have a direct stimulating effect on mental activity, although in some cases they can cause anxiety and sleep disturbance.

Side effects – rare. Sometimes there are nervousness, irritability, elements of psychomotor agitation and disinhibition of drives, as well as anxiety and insomnia. Dizziness, headache, nausea and abdominal pain may occur.

Psychostimulants

Clinical characteristics.