Meclizine, also known as Meclizine Hydrochloride is an anti-vertigo drug ideal to control and ease downs the symptoms of vertigo or balance disorders. This is a generic drug commercially available from different brands. Some of the popular brands offering Meclizine are Bonine, VertiCalm, Meni-D, Antivert, D-Vert, Medivert, Bonamine Postafen, Pregnidoxin, and Driminate II.

It is an antihistamine agent with rich antispasmodic and antiemetic properties. The Antihistamines work by diminishing the histamine effect, which is a chemical released by the body in response to an allergic reaction. This medicine interfered with histamine effects like narrowing of airways, heightened pressure of blood vessels, and vasodilation.

Consumption of meclizine suppresses the brain’s central nervous system. It is because of its high anticholinergic effect on the neurotransmitter Acetylcholine.

The Meclizine hydrochloride was identified as an excellent suppressor or sensations and stimulations resulted from the disorder of a vestibular system. The medicine controls the activity of hair cells present within the inner ear. Therefore, it helps to treat the vertigo symptoms, such as spinning and dizziness to a great extent.

This drug reduces the activity of the central brain and reduces vomiting and nausea sensations. Being an antiemetic agent, it even controls motion sickness to a great extent. This drug is great to relax muscles that tense out because of stress or hectic lifestyle. It is because the drug includes antispasmodic properties that are great for muscle relaxation.

Because of numerous rich properties, it is possible to use Meclizine for various medical purposes.

Recommended Dosage of Meclizine

The 12.5mg is the lowest strength of Meclizine. This drug is available in various dosages varying from 25mg, 32mg, 50mg, and 100mg.

  • If you are an adult experiencing motion sickness, you must consume Meclizine tablet one hour before travelling. The recommended dosage is between 12.5mg – 50mg. for people suffering from motion sickness, it is advisable to take one pill in every 8 hours.
  • If you are an adult suffering from vertigo, you can take it thrice or twice a day. The advised strength is 25mg – 100mg and is recommended for up to 5 days.

While these are recommended dosages, it is still advised to follow doctor’s prescription in order to get desired relief from this problem.

  • For children below 12 years of age and older adults of more than 65 years, it is advised to avoid consuming Meclizine tablet.
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It is absolutely safe to consume Meclizine during pregnancy. Even you can consume it during breastfeeding. However, it is essential to consult or inform your doctor to help offer you better treatment as per your medical condition.

It is suggested to not consume Meclizine more than the recommended dosage. If there is a need, then do so only after consulting a medical practitioner. Also, make sure you do not miss any dose. But if this happens then you can directly consume the next dose rather than intake of 2 doses simultaneously. This would compensate the missed dose.

Form of Meclizine

Meclizine drug is administered orally and is available in the forms of chewable tablets, capsules, and tablet.

Side-Effects of Meclizine

Consuming meclizine hydrochloride can cause drowsiness. If you are engaged in any rigorous activities, like engaging, driving, or alcohol consumption, or running, exercising or working on gym equipment, then avoid consuming Meclizine.

Besides this, the other side-effects of Meclizine are:

  • Blurred vision
  • Dry mouth
  • Vomiting
  • Headache
  • Confusion
  • Severe fatigue
  • Reduced Cognitive ability
  • Constipation
  • Hypotension
  • Diarrhoea
  • Persistent Coughing
  • Skin Rashes
  • Palpitation
  • Swelling of throat, tongue, lips, or face
  • Itching
  • Difficulty in breathing
  • Tightness or pain in the chest

Most of these side-effects persist only for certain duration of the medication. After this, the effects subside once you stop consuming the drug. However, if the side-effects continue to persist even after stopping consumption of this drug, or the side effects are severe then you must consult a doctor immediately.

There might also be some interactions with Meclizine Hydrochloride, particularly when consumed with other medications. It is essential to inform the doctor about the ongoing condition to avoid any reaction with the drug.

Medical Conditions to Consider

When you consume this medicine then make sure you are not suffering from any of these medical conditions. It is because this can result in severe contradictions:

  • Glaucoma
  • Cardiovascular Problems
  • Respiratory Disorders
  • Gastrointestinal Disorder
  • Liver or Kidney Disorder
  • Enlarged prostate
  • Urinary Disorder
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Medical experts do not prescribe Meclizine to people suffering from such medical conditions. It is because this can aggravate the problem or intervene with the medication of such states.

Vestibular Disorder and Meclizine

As already discussed in the post Meclizine Hydrochloride functions by reducing and sedating the activity of the brain’s central nervous system. It performs this action to offer control to acute vertigo symptoms such as nausea and spinning sensation.

People who are suffering from vertigo can consume this medicine. It is suitable for patients who experience acute vertigo symptoms. No matter what your condition is, the drug must not be consumed for more than 5 consecutive days. Overdosage of drug or continual consumption of drug will intervene with compensation and functionality of the central nervous system resulting in incomplete or reduced recovery. Rather, central compensatory cure like vestibular rehabilitation therapy as well as physical exercises and manoeuvers helps to offer a cure to the vertigo tissue. This treatment offers adequate and sustainable results to reduce vertigo symptoms and enhance the overall treatment outcome.

While Meclizine is great to reduce vertigo symptoms, the medicine might not be able to address other issues like unsteadiness, lightheadedness, and imbalance issues. It is suggested to consume drugs only by vertigo patients who are experiencing the problem due to disorders like Labyrinthitis, Meniere’s disease, and Vestibular Neuritis in the acute level.

Once the acute symptoms stop or subside then the consumption of medicine must be stopped at once.

Author Bio:

Dr Anita Bhandari works as a Senior Consultant with Jain ENT Hospital in Jaipur, India. She is an MS in ENT and has done Fellowship in Otology and Neurotology from Singapore. Anita has acted as a Principal Investigator on a UNICEF collaborated project for three years that worked with 3000 underprivileged children. She has developed three patent-pending breakthrough technologies in the related field and is passionately driving NeuroEquilibrium’s Advanced Vertigo and Balance Disorder Clinics across Asia and Africa.  Anita is a frequent speaker at national and international conferences on vertigo and balance disorder management. Click here to learn more about Meclizine.