Motion Sickness Relief (Oral)

Generic name: meclizine [ MEK-li-zeen ]
Brand names: Antivert, Antivert/25, Antivert/50, Dramamine II, Meclicot, ... show all 9 brands
Drug class: Anticholinergic antiemetics

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Jan 13, 2025.

Uses for Motion Sickness Relief

Meclizine is used to prevent and control nausea, vomiting, and dizziness caused by motion sickness. It is also used for vertigo (dizziness or lightheadedness) caused by ear problems.

Meclizine is an antihistamine. It works to block the signals to the brain that cause nausea, vomiting, and dizziness.

This medicine is available only with your doctor's prescription.

Before using Motion Sickness Relief

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For this medicine, the following should be considered:

Allergies

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

Pediatric

Appropriate studies have not been performed on the relationship of age to the effects of Antivert® tablets and chewable tablets in children or Antivert®/25 or Antivert®/50 tablets in children younger than 12 years of age. Safety and efficacy have not been established.

Geriatric

Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated geriatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of meclizine in the elderly. However, elderly patients are more likely to have age-related liver, kidney, or heart problems, which may require caution and an adjustment in the dose for patients receiving meclizine.

Breast Feeding

Studies in women suggest that this medication poses minimal risk to the infant when used during breastfeeding.

Interactions with Medicines

Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you take.

Potassium Citrate
Tranylcypromine

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

Alfentanil
Alprazolam
Amantadine
Amifampridine
Amobarbital
Anileridine
Benzhydrocodone
Bromazepam
Buprenorphine
Bupropion
Buspirone
Butabarbital
Butorphanol
Calcium Oxybate
Cannabidiol
Cannabis
Cetirizine
Chloral Hydrate
Chlordiazepoxide
Chlorpromazine
Clobazam
Clonazepam
Clorazepate
Clozapine
Codeine
Daridorexant
Dexmedetomidine
Diazepam
Difenoxin
Dihydrocodeine
Diphenhydramine
Diphenoxylate
Donepezil
Doxylamine
Esketamine
Estazolam
Eszopiclone
Ethchlorvynol
Ethylmorphine
Fentanyl
Flibanserin
Flurazepam
Fospropofol
Gabapentin
Gabapentin Enacarbil
Glucagon
Glycopyrrolate
Glycopyrronium Tosylate
Halazepam
Hydrocodone
Hydromorphone
Hydroxyzine
Ketamine
Ketazolam
Ketobemidone
Lacosamide
Lemborexant
Levocetirizine
Levorphanol
Lofexidine
Lorazepam
Loxapine
Magnesium Oxybate
Meperidine
Meprobamate
Methacholine
Methadone
Methotrimeprazine
Metoclopramide
Midazolam
Morphine
Morphine Sulfate Liposome
Nalbuphine
Nicomorphine
Nitrazepam
Olanzapine
Opium
Opium Alkaloids
Oxazepam
Oxycodone
Oxymorphone
Papaveretum
Paregoric
Pentazocine
Pentobarbital
Periciazine
Phenobarbital
Piritramide
Pitolisant
Potassium Oxybate
Prazepam
Pregabalin
Promethazine
Propofol
Propoxyphene
Quazepam
Quetiapine
Ramelteon
Remimazolam
Revefenacin
Ropeginterferon Alfa-2b-njft
Scopolamine
Secobarbital
Secretin Human
Sodium Oxybate
Sufentanil
Tapentadol
Temazepam
Thioridazine
Tilidine
Tiotropium
Topiramate
Tramadol
Trazodone
Triazolam
Zaleplon
Zolpidem
Zopiclone
Zuranolone

Interactions with Food/Tobacco/Alcohol

Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. Discuss with your healthcare professional the use of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco.

Proper use of Motion Sickness Relief

Take this medicine only as directed by your doctor. Do not take more of it, do not take it more often, and do not take it for a longer time than your doctor ordered.

Chew or crush the chewable tablet completely before swallowing. Do not swallow it whole.

Swallow the non-chewable tablet whole. Do not crush, chew, or break it.

Dosing

The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.

For oral dosage form (tablets):
- For nausea, vomiting, and dizziness caused by motion sickness:
  - Adults—At first, 25 to 50 milligrams (mg) taken 1 hour before travel. You may take another dose once every 24 hours while traveling.
  - Children 12 years of age and older—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
  - Children younger than 12 years of age—Use is not recommended.
- For vertigo:
  - Adults—25 to 100 milligrams (mg) per day, taken in divided doses.
  - Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.

Missed Dose

If you miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.

Storage

Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light. Keep from freezing.

Keep out of the reach of children.

Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.

Ask your healthcare professional how you should dispose of any medicine you do not use.

Precautions while using Motion Sickness Relief

It is very important that your doctor check your or your child's progress at regular visits to make sure that this medicine is working properly and to check for unwanted effects.

This medicine may cause some people to become drowsy or less alert than they are normally. Do not drive or do anything else that could be dangerous until you know how this medicine affects you.

This medicine will add to the effects of alcohol and other CNS depressants (medicines that make you drowsy or less alert). Some examples of CNS depressants are antihistamines or medicine for hay fever, other allergies, or colds, sedatives, tranquilizers, antidepressants, or sleeping medicine, prescription pain medicine or narcotics, medicine for seizures or barbiturates, muscle relaxants, or anesthetics, including some dental anesthetics. Check with your medical doctor or dentist before taking any of the above while you or your child are using this medicine.

Side Effects of Motion Sickness Relief

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:

Incidence not known

Cough
difficulty swallowing
dizziness
drowsiness
fast heartbeat
hives, itching, skin rash
puffiness or swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes, face, lips, or tongue
tightness in the chest
unusual tiredness or weakness
vomiting

Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

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