Clinical medicine profile
Dimenhydrinate
Therapeutic agent (verify pharmacological class)
- Route
- See product SmPC
- Schedule
- POM
- ATC
- Not assigned
- PPB status
- registered
This profile needs source confirmation
Some sections contain general class guidance rather than medicine-specific evidence. Confirm prescribing decisions against the current SmPC and Kenya STG/EML.
Safety essentials
The information most likely to change a prescribing or dispensing decision.
Contraindications
- Hypersensitivity to the active substance or excipients.
- Additional absolute contraindications are indication- and product-specific — consult SmPC.
Precautions
- Warnings Do not use for children under 2 years of age unless directed by a doctor.
- Ask a doctor before use if you have glaucoma a breathing problem such as emphysema or chronic bronchitis difficulty in urination due to enlargement of the prostate gland Ask a doctor or pharmacist before use if you are taking sedatives or tranquilizers.
- When using this product marked drowsiness may occur alcohol, sedatives, and tranquilizers may increase drowsiness avoid alcoholic beverages use caution when driving a motor vehicle or operating machinery If pregnant or breast-feeding, ask a health professional before use.
- Keep out of reach of children.
- In case of overdose, get medical help or contact a Poison Control Center right away.
Dosing matrix
Population and organ-function guidance, shown together for faster comparison.
Directions do not take more than directed to prevent motion sickness, the first dose should be taken 1/2 to 1 hour before starting activity to prevent or treat motion sickness, see below: adults and children 12 years and over take 1 to 2 tablets every 4-6 hours do not take more than 8 tablets in 24 hours, or as directed by a doctor children 6 to under 12 years give 1/2 to 1 tablet every 6-8 hours do not give more than 3 tablets in 24 hours, or as directed by a doctor children 2 to under 6 years give 1/2 tablet every 6-8 hours do not give more than 1 1/2 tablets in 24 hours, or as directed by a doctor
See label paediatric section if present; otherwise use paediatric formulary — do not extrapolate adult doses.
Review renal impairment dosing; many agents need CrCl/eGFR adjustment.
- CrCl 0–120: Confirm renal dosing in product SmPC / primary label.
Review hepatic impairment dosing; monitor LFTs if agent is hepatically cleared or hepatotoxic.
Use, effects & interactions
Indications
- Uses for prevention and treatment of these symptoms associated with motion sickness: nausea vomiting dizziness Clinical selection for Dimenhydrinate should follow culture results where relevant, Kenya STG/EML recommendations, and the current product SmPC.
- Class context: Therapeutic agent (verify pharmacological class).
- Confirm site-specific dose, duration and monitoring before prescribing.
Adverse effects
- Drowsiness
- psychomotor impairment
- anti-muscarinic effects [e.g. urinary retention
- dry mouth
- GI disturbances
- blurred vision]
- allergic reactions
- epileptic form seizure in patients with cerebral cortex focal lesion
- muscle weakness
- tachycardia
- tight chest
- paradoxical CNS stimulation - mostly in children.
Drug interactions
Open multi-drug checker ↗- Professional use: confirm indication, dose, duration, monitoring and patient counselling points against current Kenya STG / EML and the product SmPC.
- Document allergy status and key interactions.
Mechanism & disposition
It acts by competing with histamine for H1-receptor sites on effector cells.
Read complete mechanism
It acts by competing with histamine for H1-receptor sites on effector cells. Its anti-cholinergic actions give a drying effect on the nasal mucosa. Mechanism is agent-specific. At receptor, enzyme, ion channel, transporter or microbial target level, the drug alters a physiological or pathological pathway to produce its therapeutic effect. Confirm precise molecular mechanism in current SmPC / pharmacology reference for this INN before high-stakes decisions.
Product-specific
Product-specific
See product SmPC
are product-specific. Consider food effects, protein binding, hepatic CYP/UGT
when adjusting for organ impairment, age and drug interactions. Verify parameters in the current SmPC.
Pregnancy, lactation & diet
Use only if potential benefit justifies potential risk; prefer agents with better reproductive data when alternatives exist.
Assess infant risk vs benefit of maternal therapy; prefer agents with lactation data.
Brands & loaded prices
| Brand | Manufacturer | Pack | Observed price |
|---|---|---|---|
| No reviewed brand listings are linked yet. | |||
Sources & review state
Decision support only. Confirm patient-specific decisions against the current product SmPC, Kenya STG/EML, and professional judgement.