Dimenhydrinate
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From MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine
Dosing in kidney impairment
This label has no separate kidney-impairment dosing section. Check warnings and clinical pharmacology in the full label.
Preparation and administration
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For intramuscular administration, each milliliter (50 mg) of solution is injected as needed, but for intravenous administration, each milliliter (50 mg) of solution must be diluted in 10 mL of 0.9% Sodium Chloride Injection, USP and injected over a period of 2 minutes. Pediatric For intramuscular administration, 1.25 mg/kg of body weight or 37.5 mg/m 2 of body surface area is administered four times daily.
The maximum dose should not exceed 300 mg daily (see CONTRAINDICATIONS ). Parenteral drug products should be inspected visually for particulate matter and discoloration prior to administration, whenever solution and container permit. Adults Nausea or vomiting may be expected to be controlled for approximately 4 hours with 50 mg, and prevented by a similar dose every 4 hours.
Its administration may be attended by some degree of drowsiness in some patients, and 100 mg every 4 hours may be given in conditions in which drowsiness is not objectionable or is even desirable. For intramuscular administration, each milliliter (50 mg) of solution is injected as needed, but for intravenous administration, each milliliter (50 mg) of solution must be diluted in 10 mL of 0.9% Sodium Chloride Injection, USP and injected over a period of 2 minutes.
Pediatric For intramuscular administration, 1.25 mg/kg of body weight or 37.5 mg/m 2 of body surface area is administered four times daily. The maximum dose should not exceed 300 mg daily (see CONTRAINDICATIONS ). Parenteral drug products should be inspected visually for particulate matter and discoloration prior to administration, whenever solution and container permit.
Contraindications
Neonates and patients with a history of hypersensitivity to dimenhydrinate or its components (diphenhydramine or 8-chlorotheophylline) should not be treated with dimenhydrinate. Note: This product contains Benzyl Alcohol. Benzyl Alcohol has been associated with a fatal “Gasping Syndrome” in premature infants and infants of low birth weight.
Safety data
Reported adverse events (FAERS)
Liver injury (LiverTox)
ELikelihood score E: Unlikely to be a cause of clinically apparent liver injury.
Dimenhydrinate is a first generation antihistamine that is used for treatment or prevention of motion sickness or symptoms of nausea and dizziness. Dimenhydrinate has not been linked to instances of clinically apparent acute liver injury.
ABCDEA: well known cause; E: unlikely cause. [HD]: high doses only.
Pregnancy and lactation
Pregnancy
Pregnancy Pregnancy Category B. Reproduction studies have been performed in rats at doses up to 20 times the human dose, and in rabbits at doses up to 25 times the human dose (on a mg/kg basis), and have revealed no evidence of impaired fertility or harm to the fetus due to dimenhydrinate. There are no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women. However, clinical studies in pregnant women have not indicated that dimenhydrinate increases the risk of abnormalities when administered in any trimester of pregnancy. It would appear that the possibility of fetal harm is remote when the drug is used during pregnancy.
Nevertheless, because the studies in humans cannot rule out the possibility of harm, dimenhydrinate should be used during pregnancy only if clearly needed.
Lactation
Nursing Mothers Small amounts of dimenhydrinate are excreted in breast milk. Because of the potential for adverse reactions in nursing infants from dimenhydrinate, a decision should be made whether to discontinue nursing or to discontinue the drug, taking into account the importance of the drug to the mother. General Drowsiness may be experienced by some patients, especially with high dosage. This effect frequently is not undesirable in conditions for which the drug is used. Information for Patients Because of the potential for drowsiness, patients taking dimenhydrinate should be cautioned against operating automobiles or dangerous machinery (see WARNINGS ).
Breastfeeding (LactMed)
Small, occasional doses of dimenhydrinate would not be expected to cause any adverse effects in breastfed infants. Larger doses or more prolonged use may cause effects in the infant or decrease the milk supply, particularly in combination with a sympathomimetic such as pseudoephedrine or before lactation is well established. Single bedtime doses after the last feeding of the day may be adequate for many women and will minimize any effects of the drug.
Supply and cost
Drug shortage status
Recalls (last 24 months)
Therapeutic equivalence (Orange Book)
Price ladder
Not the price at the counterThese are not what a patient pays at the pharmacy counter. They are what pharmacies, health plans, and government buyers pay, before manufacturer rebates. A patient's cost depends on their insurance (copay, coinsurance, or deductible) or the pharmacy's cash price.