Using Meclizine for motion sickness

[Kapp]

I just got 100 Meclizine 12.5 tablets from the drugstore to use to prevent motionsickness for our WDW trip next month. (The cost was $8.99 compared to 16 tablets of Dramamine for the same cost!)

For those that have used this in the past, I have a few questions.
1) How much have you taken for it to be effective?

2) Does it make your sleepy and if so, at what dosage and are you sleepy for an extended period of time or just right after you take it?

3) Can you take this at night (in case it makes you sleepy) and it still work the next day?

Any and all advice will be greatly appreciated!

Kapp

 

[Eljay]

Please do a trial run with a minimal dosage before your trip. Here is what happened to me. Since I am sensitive to medication, I did a test about a week before my trip. I took one 25mg. Bonine (brand name for Meclizine) at night before bed (about 11 p.m.), because the instructions say that it lasts 24 hrs., I figured I would sleep off any initial negative reactions. I slept for 11 hrs. straight & when I did wake up, I was dizzy, disoriented & slightly nauseous! Exactly what I was trying to avoid! The unpleasant feeling improved during the day, but I really didn't feel right till about 5 p.m. that day. I don't take ANY other medications & didn't drink alcohol. Now, I did speak to a pharmacist later & he told me that my reaction was VERY unusual. You will probably be fine, but I wanted to spare you a ruined vacation if you are sensitive to Meclizine also. BTW, Dramamine is actually a different drug from Meclizine, I can't remember the name of it.
Good Luck!

 

[KellyJ]

I was just reading some information about Meclizine yesterday in preparation for our trip. The recommended dosage is 25mg to 50mg. You should try it out first to see how sleepy it makes you as it can cause drowsiness. The reading (on drugstore.com) that I did says Meclizine is actually an antihistimine similar to benedryl. They actually recommended benedryl for children under 6 when trying to prevent dizzyness/nausea. I found that interesting.

Kelly

 

[donna in Oz]

I've been using Meclizine for years with no ill effects. Usually I take 25 mg a couple of hours prior to travel (or theme park attractions!) and it works well for me. Although Dramamine has made me sleepy in the past, I never have this problem with Meclizine.

I've never needed to take more than one dose in 24 hours, but as other posters pointed out, everyone's tolerance will be different.

Try taking one in the morning some day when you have a leisure day planned, and see how it affects you.

 

[Kapp]

To everyone for their advice. I was planning to test myself to see how I'm effected by it.

 

[daannzzz]

Like many drugs Meclazine can affect people in different ways. I have tried it a few times. It seemed to help on some of the mellower rides that go around such as a Carousel or the Golden Zephyr at DCA. It was not as effective on the more radical rides. I was also getting sleepy in the middle of the day and had to go back and take a nap. I read that you should start taking it a few days ahead so that your body gets used to the drowsiness. The last time I took it I started 3 days before leaving and went through some pretty drowsy days at work. I continued taking it for 2 days at the parks and was just wasted by 11:00 A.M and was still getting nauseous on rides. I stopped and felt much better a day later and just cut out some of the rides.

 

[grad_dis_nut]

I tried meclizine (the active ingredient in Bonine AND in the "less-drowsy" Dramamine) last week when on a cruise during Isabel!!

I took two tablets and felt a little sleepy 30-45 minutes later. However, I took the mind-over-matter approach and didn't give into it, and made it through a five-course dinner and everything. It helped with the high seas and I had no side effects other than a little sleepiness initially.

You are wise to try it out yourself, though. I have never taken the original Dramamine, but if this was "less drowsy", I imagine regular Dramamine would knock me out!!