Prescription medicine for dizziness. Antivert: A Comprehensive Guide to Uses, Dosage, and Side Effects for Dizziness Treatment
What is Antivert. How does Antivert work. What are the common uses of Antivert. What is the recommended dosage for Antivert. What are the potential side effects of Antivert. Are there any drug interactions with Antivert. Who should not take Antivert.
Understanding Antivert: An Overview of the Medication
Antivert, known generically as meclizine, is an antihistamine medication primarily used to treat or prevent various forms of dizziness, nausea, and vomiting. It belongs to the drug class of anticholinergic antiemetics and works by reducing the effects of histamine in the body. Antivert is particularly effective in managing symptoms associated with motion sickness and vertigo.
How does Antivert work?
Antivert functions by blocking the action of histamine, a natural chemical in the body that can trigger symptoms like dizziness and nausea. By interfering with histamine’s effects, Antivert helps alleviate these uncomfortable sensations, making it an effective treatment for motion sickness and vertigo-related symptoms.
Primary Uses of Antivert in Medical Treatment
Antivert is prescribed for several conditions related to dizziness and nausea. Its primary uses include:
- Treatment and prevention of motion sickness
- Management of vertigo symptoms
- Alleviation of nausea and vomiting associated with inner ear disorders
Can Antivert be used for other conditions?
While Antivert is primarily prescribed for dizziness and nausea, some healthcare providers may recommend it for off-label uses. However, it’s crucial to only use Antivert as directed by a medical professional and for the conditions it has been prescribed for.
Dosage Guidelines for Antivert
The appropriate dosage of Antivert can vary depending on the condition being treated, the patient’s age, and individual response to the medication. It’s essential to follow the prescribing physician’s instructions carefully.
What is the typical dosage for adults?
For vertigo, adults may be prescribed 25 to 100 mg of Antivert orally per day, divided into multiple doses. The exact dosing schedule will depend on the patient’s clinical response. For motion sickness prevention, the usual adult dose is 25 to 50 mg taken orally one hour before travel, with the option to repeat the dose every 24 hours if needed.
How should Antivert be taken for maximum effectiveness?
To achieve the best results, Antivert should be taken as directed by a healthcare provider. For motion sickness prevention, it’s recommended to take the medication about an hour before traveling or anticipating motion sickness. When treating vertigo, multiple daily doses may be necessary, and patients should adhere strictly to their doctor’s instructions.
Potential Side Effects and Precautions
Like all medications, Antivert can cause side effects. While not everyone experiences these, it’s important to be aware of potential adverse reactions.
What are the most common side effects of Antivert?
The most frequently reported side effects of Antivert include:
- Drowsiness
- Dry mouth
- Headache
- Vomiting
- Fatigue
These side effects are generally mild and often subside as the body adjusts to the medication. However, if they persist or worsen, it’s advisable to consult a healthcare provider.
Are there any serious side effects to be aware of?
While rare, serious side effects can occur. Patients should seek immediate medical attention if they experience signs of an allergic reaction, such as hives, difficulty breathing, or swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat. It’s crucial to report any unusual or severe side effects to a healthcare professional promptly.
Drug Interactions and Contraindications
Antivert can interact with various medications and substances, potentially altering its effectiveness or increasing the risk of side effects.
Which medications may 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
Additionally, alcohol can increase certain side effects of Antivert and should be avoided while taking this medication.
Who should not take Antivert?
Antivert is contraindicated for individuals with a known allergy to meclizine. It should not be given to children under 12 years old without medical advice. Patients with certain medical conditions, including liver or kidney disease, asthma, glaucoma, enlarged prostate, or urination problems, should inform their doctor before taking Antivert.
Special Considerations for Antivert Use
There are several important factors to consider when using Antivert, particularly regarding its effects on daily activities and use in specific populations.
How does Antivert affect driving and other activities?
Antivert can cause drowsiness and impair thinking or reactions. Patients should exercise caution when driving or performing tasks that require alertness until they know how the medication affects them. It’s advisable to avoid hazardous activities until the individual effects of the medication are understood.
Can Antivert be used during pregnancy or while breastfeeding?
Pregnant or breastfeeding individuals should consult their healthcare provider before using Antivert. The potential risks and benefits must be carefully weighed, as the effects of the medication on fetal development and infants are not fully understood.
Storage and Handling of Antivert
Proper storage and handling of Antivert are essential to maintain its effectiveness and safety.
What are the correct storage conditions for Antivert?
Antivert should be stored at room temperature, away from moisture, heat, and light. It’s important to keep the medication in its original container and out of reach of children. Always check the expiration date before use and dispose of any expired medication properly.
How should unused or expired Antivert be disposed of?
Unused or expired Antivert should not be flushed down the toilet or poured down a drain. Instead, it should be disposed of through a medicine take-back program or as directed by a pharmacist or local waste disposal company. This helps prevent environmental contamination and accidental ingestion by others.
Monitoring and Follow-up While Taking Antivert
Regular monitoring and follow-up with a healthcare provider are important aspects of Antivert treatment.
How often should patients follow up with their doctor while taking Antivert?
The frequency of follow-up appointments may vary depending on the individual’s condition and response to the medication. Generally, patients should have regular check-ups to assess the effectiveness of the treatment and monitor for any side effects. It’s crucial to attend all scheduled appointments and report any changes in symptoms or new side effects promptly.
Are there any tests required while taking Antivert?
While routine blood tests are not typically required for Antivert use, the medication can affect the results of allergy skin tests. Patients should inform any doctor performing such tests that they are taking Antivert. In some cases, additional monitoring may be necessary, particularly for individuals with pre-existing medical conditions.
In conclusion, Antivert (meclizine) is a valuable medication for managing dizziness, nausea, and vertigo symptoms. While it can be highly effective, it’s crucial to use it under medical supervision, adhere to prescribed dosages, and be aware of potential side effects and interactions. By following these guidelines and maintaining open communication with healthcare providers, patients can maximize the benefits of Antivert while minimizing risks.
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)
- Check interactions
- Compare alternatives
- Pricing & coupons
- Reviews (13)
- Drug images
- Side effects
- Dosage information
- During pregnancy
- Generic availability
- Drug class: anticholinergic antiemetics
- Breastfeeding
Patient resources
Other brands
Dramamine Less Drowsy, Dramamine II, Meclicot, Meni-D, Travel Sickness
Professional resources
- Prescribing Information
Related treatment guides
- Motion Sickness
- Nausea/Vomiting
- Vertigo
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 for Vertigo Reviews – Drugs.com
Save
Brand names:
Antivert,
Bonine,
Dramamine Less Drowsy,
Dramamine All Day Less Drowsy,
Travel Sickness,
Antrizine,
Dramamine II,
D-Vert,
Driminate II,
Help I’m Nauseous
Travel-Ease
Motion-Time
Sea-Calm
…show all brand names
Meclizine
has an average rating of 6.8 out of 10 from a total of 145 reviews
for the
treatment of Vertigo.
59% of reviewers reported a positive experience, while 23% reported a negative experience.
Filter by condition
All conditionsMotion Sickness (53)Nausea/Vomiting (14)Vertigo (152)
Meclizine rating summary
6. 8/10 average rating
145 ratings from 152 user reviews.
Compare all 11 medications used in the treatment of Vertigo.
10 | 28% | |
---|---|---|
9 | 14% | |
8 | 17% | |
7 | 6% | |
6 | 3% | |
5 | 7% | |
4 | 2% | |
3 | 5% | |
2 | 4% | |
1 | 14% |
Reviews for Meclizine
Frequently asked questions
- Why do drugs have brand names and a generic name?
Are you taking this medicine?
- Add your review
- Learn more about Meclizine
Reviews may be edited to correct grammar/spelling or to remove inappropriate language and content. Reviews that appear to be created by parties with a vested interest are not published. This information is not intended to endorse any particular medication. While these reviews may be helpful, they are not a substitute for the expertise, knowledge, and judgement of healthcare professionals.
Learn more about Vertigo
Care guides
- Dizziness
- Vertigo
Symptoms and treatments
- Vertigo
More about meclizine
- Check interactions
- Compare alternatives
- Pricing & coupons
- Reviews (221)
- Drug images
- Side effects
- Dosage information
- Patient tips
- During pregnancy
- Support group
- Drug class: anticholinergic antiemetics
- Breastfeeding
- En español
Patient resources
- Drug Information
- Meclizine Chewable Tablets
- Meclizine Tablets
Other brands
Antivert, Bonine, Dramamine Less Drowsy, Dramamine II, . .. +4 more
Professional resources
- Prescribing Information
Related treatment guides
- Vertigo
- Motion Sickness
- Nausea/Vomiting
How to quickly relieve dizziness at home. What to do?
How to quickly relieve dizziness at home. What to do?
Gimranov Rinat Fazylzhanovich
Neurologist, neurophysiologist, experience – 33 years;
Professor of Neurology, MD;
Clinic for Rehabilitation Neurology. About the author
Publication date: April 24, 2021
Updated: July 21, 2022
Dizziness is a common phenomenon that can occur at any time for anyone. It is experienced by people of both sexes and all ages. And it will be useful for everyone to know how to quickly relieve severe dizziness at home, provide first aid, treat and get rid of seizures in the future.
At the same time, it is worth remembering that such a symptom can be caused by both a slight indisposition and a serious illness that requires treatment under the supervision of a doctor [1]. It is not so easy to understand the seriousness of the situation by the accompanying signs and the frequency of attacks of dizziness.
Contents of the article:
- 1 Why is my head spinning?
- 2 First aid
- 3 Dangerous symptoms
- 4 Modern methods of treatment
- 5 Effective folk remedies
- 6 Prevention and advice from experts
- 7 References
Why is my head spinning?
In order to find an effective way of therapy, you need to understand what leads to a feeling of spinning in the head.
Once you know the exact cause, you can decide what to do if a person’s head is very strong and constantly spinning, how to treat such a condition and how to get rid of complications after an illness.
Common causes of seizures:
- Oxygen deprivation due to being in an unventilated room or in the mountains, in an atmosphere of rarefied air.
- Severe stress caused by a feeling of fear or excitement, sometimes even positive.
- During diet or fasting. Including when the level of glucose in the blood decreases.
- Women have periods of hormonal instability. Seizures often occur during pregnancy and menopause.
- With anemia – anemia, low hemoglobin, severe blood loss.
- Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine.
- Severe physical or mental fatigue.
- Dehydration, lack of water in the body.
- Blood pressure surges. This symptom occurs both with a decrease in indicators and with their increase.
- The development of neoplasms in the brain in the area responsible for balance. Bacterial and viral infections.
- Heat or sunstroke.
- Migraines, hemicranial attacks [2].
In case of negative impact of certain external factors, it is not difficult to get rid of the unpleasant feeling on your own. However, with the development of a full-fledged pathology of internal organs, it will not be possible to do without the help of professional medicine.
First Aid
Since unpleasant and even life-threatening sensations can overtake at the most unforeseen moment, it does not hurt to know what to do about dizziness and how to quickly eliminate it.
Outwardly, a person may turn red or pale, begin to move with excessive caution, stagger or even fall [3].
In the first minutes you need to provide the simplest help. Lay the person on his back and raise his head, ensure the flow of fresh air into the room. A cold compress on the forehead from a damp towel or something icy will help.
If after a few minutes the condition does not improve, the person does not come to his senses, call an ambulance.
We will also describe an algorithm of actions that will help you cope with the problem on your own:
- If you cannot maintain an upright position, bend over and try to rest your forehead on your knees. This posture increases blood flow to the brain tissues and restores their nutrition.
- Drink a glass of cool water or warm sweet tea to combat dehydration.
- Find a fixed point on the floor or ceiling. Focus on her. Force yourself to see only her. This will allow the visual and vestibular analyzers to synchronize and end the attack.
- Try to breathe calmly and deeply, go out into the fresh air to saturate the blood with oxygen.
- Eat something sweet. Often, dizziness begins due to a drop in blood glucose levels.
- If you have previously been diagnosed with BPPV, do a set of exercises to stabilize your well-being.
With a progressive deterioration in well-being, the appearance of nausea and vomiting with a headache, urgent medical care is required [4].
It is impossible to use medications without knowing exactly what is happening to the person.
This can only worsen his condition. Take only medications that have already been prescribed by your doctor during an attack.
Dangerous symptoms
In some cases, trying to solve a problem at home is not very successful.
This usually occurs when an attack is caused by serious diseases or pathologies. Then people ask themselves the question: “What should be done if severe dizziness does not go away during home treatment, nothing helps, what then should be taken?”
The only correct answer is simple: seek help from a clinic as soon as possible.
The state of health should be considered dangerous if symptoms appear simultaneously with dizziness:
- If the head is spinning without stopping for more than an hour, and the usual methods to cope with the situation do not help.
- With an attack comes a feeling of nausea, up to vomiting.
- Feeling unwell becomes regular, recurs up to several times a week, combined with weakness.
- Accompanied by severe headache. Especially in the morning after waking up.
- High body temperature appears.
- Severe drop or rise in blood pressure.
- Speech is impaired, the ability to think, orientation in time are reduced.
- Excessive sweating and palpitations appear.
- Darkness in the eyes, pre-fainting.
- Pain in the chest area.
If at least one of the above symptoms appears, you should immediately seek medical help[5]!
Modern methods of treatment
After the diagnosis and identification of the main cause of poor health, the doctor prescribes a course of medication. Which is usually done at home.
The list of drugs will include not only those that stop a specific symptom, but also those that affect the disease or developed pathology. When handling such complaints, they may appoint:
- Medicines for motion sickness and motion sickness. It is used if a person has a weak vestibular apparatus that requires regular training and support.
- Medicines that stabilize blood pressure. Then, when its changes are the cause of poor health.
- Tranquilizers, nootropics, antidepressants are prescribed if the main cause of unpleasant sensations is hidden in the mental state of a person. Regular stress or excessive nervousness can negatively affect your well-being.
- Antihistamines.
- Antiemetics if headache and nausea occur along with dizziness.
- Painkillers if dizziness is a precursor to the onset of a migraine attack.
In each case, medicines are selected individually, taking into account the characteristics of the patient only by a doctor. Taking pills on your own, without diagnosis and appointment by a specialist, is dangerous.
Treatment of migraine with monoclonal antibodies helps to get rid of migraine attacks. In difficult cases, the patient has to be referred for microsurgical interventions [6].
Effective folk remedies
How to deal with dizziness at home and cure it, stop attacks and alleviate the condition, people have been thinking for a long time. Therefore, today we have a baggage of valuable effective folk recipes.
The most effective ways to get rid of dizziness at home:
- Almonds are rich in vitamins, their regular use will help get rid of symptoms that appear due to starvation or lack of nutrients.
- Essential oils used for aromatizing a room or when taking a bath are an effective means of correcting well-being. Oils of lemon, peppermint, lavender and ginger will be effective.
- Keep track of your fluid intake. Dehydration must not be allowed. Regularly drunk clean cool water can save you from an attack.
- Ginger tea. Immerse the root in boiling water for 5 minutes, and then add a spoonful of honey to the decoction. Take a drink twice a day, and you can forget about problems with your head.
- Infusion of hawthorn. Crushed berries are poured with boiling water and infused for 15 minutes, then filtered. Drink the resulting drink twice a day.
Prevention and advice from specialists
Most people will get rid of discomfort by normalizing the daily routine and making adjustments to their lifestyle. If dizziness and its accompanying symptoms are not caused by a serious illness, then a few simple tips from specialists will help to forget about them forever:0010
- Follow the daily routine. Go to bed and get up at the same time, make sure you get enough sleep. At the same time, do not make too long intervals between periods of rest.
- Watch your diet. It should contain a sufficient amount of nutrients, and meals are evenly distributed throughout the entire time of wakefulness. It is important not to starve or overeat. As the main products, choose dishes rich in useful elements and vitamins.
- Physical activity should be present in the life of every person. Even if you are a sedentary worker, a little daily gymnastics will keep your body in good shape and save you from many problems. In parallel, you should not get carried away with heavy loads, as they can also cause ailments [7].
- Courses of massage and self-massage will help during attacks and after them. A slight stimulation of the temples and the back of the head will relieve discomfort, and a visit to a professional massage therapist will relieve some of the problems with blood vessels and nerves.
- Regular walks in the fresh air, allowing you to saturate the blood with the necessary amount of oxygen and at the same time have a calming effect on the human nervous system.
The best way to overcome the problem is to prevent it, to eliminate the causes of dizziness. Especially when it requires a little change in your life for the better.
References
Was this article helpful?
You can subscribe to our newsletter and learn a lot of interesting things about the treatment of the disease, scientific achievements and innovative solutions:
Your e-mail
I agree with the privacy policy and the processing of personal data
Please leave this field empty.
We’re sorry!
How can this article be improved?
Please leave this field empty.
For more information, you can check with neurologists on our forum!Go to the Forum
More about vestibulopathy More about dizziness
If you have any questions, ask your doctors on our forum!
Go to forum
ADD/VIEW COMMENTS
Gimranov Rinat Fazylzhanovich
Make an appointment with a specialist
×
Medicines and tablets for motion sickness and dizziness
Why do I get dizzy or dizzy while traveling?
Dizziness, nausea and dizziness when traveling by car or boat are common and occur due to conflict between sensory systems in the body. . The human body has three sensory systems that work together to maintain balance and spatial orientation: the visual system, the vestibular system, and the somatosensory system.
The visual system is responsible for sending information to the brain about the position and movement of the body in relation to the environment. The vestibular system, located in the inner ear, determines the movement and position of the head. The somatosensory system includes receptors in the skin, muscles, and joints that relay information about body position and movement.
When traveling in a moving vehicle such as a car or boat, the visual system can detect the movement of the environment through the windows, and the vestibular and somatosensory systems detect the movement of the vehicle. If these systems send conflicting signals to the brain, you may feel dizzy.
In addition, when the vehicle is in motion, the body experiences rapid and repetitive movements such as twisting and rocking. These movements can affect the activity of the vestibular system, which can contribute to dizziness.
Thus, car or boat sickness arises from a conflict between the body’s sensory systems, which provide the brain with conflicting information about the position and movement of the body in relation to the environment.
What medicines or pills are available for motion sickness and dizziness?
Dizziness and vertigo drugs or tablets are indicated to relieve and reduce the general symptoms and sensations that cause dizziness and vertigo. This is:
- Uncontrolled movement causing dizziness.
- dizziness
- Dizziness or feeling of weakness
- Unsteadiness or loss of balance
- Nausea
- vomiting
Advantages and disadvantages of drugs for vertigo and vertigo
Drugs for vertigo and vertigo have a number of advantages and disadvantages that are important to be aware of.
Benefits of taking tablets for dizziness or vertigo
The benefits of taking pills for motion sickness or dizziness are mainly confidence and well-being.
This type of over-the-counter medication allows you to take a pill in situations where you know you may be dizzy or dizzy to help prevent it and the subsequent feeling of movement, confusion, and nausea. Thus, you can safely continue your activities.
Dizziness and vertigo tablets, commonly found when traveling in public transport, quickly relieve symptoms of dizziness such as nausea and vomiting, so if they occur, they will help to quickly restore well-being.
Disadvantages of taking pills for dizziness and dizziness
In case you suffer from dizziness and dizziness that is not caused by car, boat or plane travel, we recommend that you see a doctor for an accurate diagnosis of why you suffer from dizziness and dizziness and prescribe further treatment. .
How do I take motion sickness tablets in a car, boat or plane?
The answer to this question is in the insert for each drug.
Depending on which one you are taking, it will have a different dosage.