Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsHow Does Dramamine Work?How Long Does Dramamine Last?Optimal Dosage TimingSide EffectsAlternatives for Motion Sickness
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
How Does Dramamine Work?
How Long Does Dramamine Last?
Optimal Dosage Timing
Side Effects
Alternatives for Motion Sickness
Dramamine is available in various formulations, and the duration of its effects can vary based on the specific product used. Two common formulations of Dramamine are regular Dramamine (dimenhydrinate) and Dramamine Less Drowsy (meclizine).
The effects of regular Dramamine can last around four to eight hours. The effects of Dramamine Less Drowsy usually last for about 24 hours, which means that a single dose can provide protection againstmotion sicknessfor an entire day. Both formulations are best taken at least 30 minutes to an hour before any activity that causes motion sickness.
This article will go over how Dramamine works, how long the effects last, side effects, and other medications that help manage your motion sickness.
Getty Images / LAW Ho Ming
Dramamine is an over-the-counter (OTC) medication that prevents nausea, vomiting, or dizziness associated with motion sickness.
Motion sickness happens when there is a disconnect between what your eyes see and what your ear senses, causing you to feel nauseated.This commonly occurs when moving in a car, riding a boat, or riding an amusement park ride.
Depending on the formulation, Dramamine may contain either dimenhydrinate or meclizine as the main ingredient.
The active ingredient in regular Dramamine is dimenhydrinate. Dimenhydrinate is anantihistamine. It blocks histamine receptors in the brain and gut, preventing nausea and vomiting.
The active ingredient in Dramamine Less Drowsy is meclizine. Meclizine is also an antihistamine, but it is formulated to provide relief for 24 hours while minimizing drowsiness.
How Long Does Dramamine Take to Work and How Long Does It Last?
The duration can vary based on the specific product and dosage. The effects of any form of Dramamine take about 30 minutes to an hour to work. This means you must take Dramamine 30 minutes to an hour before any activity that can cause motion sickness.
The effects of regular Dramamine tablets containing dimenhydrinate usually last around four to eight hours. However, Dramamine Less Drowsy provides relief for 24 hours.
Optimal Timing for Dramamine Dosing
Dramamine has three formulations: Dramamine for kids, regular Dramamine, and less drowsy Dramamine.
The Dramamine for kids contains 25 milligrams (mg) of dimenhydrinate, whereas the adult formulation contains 50 milligrams. Despite this difference, both forms of Dramamine are safe for children 2 and older.
Dramamine also comes in a less drowsy version called Dramamine Less Drowsy. This form of Dramamine contains an active ingredient called meclizine. Compared to dimenhydrinate, meclizine’s effects can last 24 hours. The major disadvantage is that meclizine can only be used in children 12 or older. If your child is under 12, it is recommended to take Dramamine containing dimenhydrinate instead.
Side Effects of Dramamine
Taking Dramamine may cause you to experience side effects, such as:
One of the most common side effects of Dramamine is drowsiness. The main ingredient in Dramamine, dimenhydrinate, contains a common chemical called diphenhydramine (Benadryl). Both of these medications are first-generation antihistamines that cause drowsiness.
As mentioned, Dramamine is an antihistamine. This class of medication can block a chemical called acetylcholine, which causes salvation and bowel movement. When antihistamines block acetylcholine, they can cause dry mouth and constipation.
Blurry vision is another common side effect when taking Dramamine. Contact your healthcare provider if you have blurred vision that does not go away and you experience additional symptoms, such as headache and vomiting.
Because it is available OTC, Dramamine is one of the most accessible medications to help prevent motion sickness symptoms. Meclizine, the active ingredient in Less Drowsy Dramamine, is also available under the brandBonine.
Medications are not the only option to help prevent motion sickness. There are natural remedies, such asginger,that can help you alleviate the symptoms of nausea and dizziness.You can try consuming ginger in various forms, such as tea, candies, or supplements, to help reduce motion sickness symptoms.
Medications for Nausea: OTC and Prescription Options
Summary
Dramamine is an OTC medication used to prevent motion sickness symptoms. The active ingredients in various Dramamine formulations work to reduce the symptoms of motion sickness, such as nausea, vomiting, dizziness, and general discomfort, that can occur during travel or other situations involving motion.
It is best to take any form of Dramamine at least 30 minutes to an hour before any activity that causes your motion sickness. Regular Dramamine lasts about four to eight hours, whereas Dramamine Less Drowsy lasts 24 hours.
Understanding how long each formulation lasts can help you decide which product might be a better fit for your situation.
Frequently Asked QuestionsThe length of how long the drowsiness can last varies from person to person. Typically, drowsiness can last four to six hours. With continual use, your body will get used to medication, and the side effects will slowly disappear.Dramamine takes about 30 minutes to an hour for the medication to work. So, if you take the medication once you start feeling sick, the symptoms won’t go away for 30 minutes to an hour. Take the medication before any activity that triggers motion sickness for optimal benefits.Avoid drinking alcohol with Dramamine, as alcohol can increase the effects of drowsiness. If you plan on drinking alcohol with Dramamine, avoid any activity that requires full alertness.
Frequently Asked Questions
The length of how long the drowsiness can last varies from person to person. Typically, drowsiness can last four to six hours. With continual use, your body will get used to medication, and the side effects will slowly disappear.
Dramamine takes about 30 minutes to an hour for the medication to work. So, if you take the medication once you start feeling sick, the symptoms won’t go away for 30 minutes to an hour. Take the medication before any activity that triggers motion sickness for optimal benefits.
Avoid drinking alcohol with Dramamine, as alcohol can increase the effects of drowsiness. If you plan on drinking alcohol with Dramamine, avoid any activity that requires full alertness.
The author would like to recognize and thank Alexya Rosas for contributing to this article.
12 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.DailyMed.Label: Dramamine original formula- dimenhydrinate tablet.DailyMed.Label: Dramamine Less Drowsy- meclizine hydrochloride tablet.Koch A, Cascorbi I, Westhofen M, Dafotakis M, Klapa S, Kuhtz-Buschbeck JP.The neurophysiology and treatment of motion sickness.Dtsch Arztebl Int. 2018;115(41):687-696. doi:10.3238/arztebl.2018.0687Sanger GJ, Andrews PLR.A history of drug discovery for treatment of nausea and vomiting and the implications for future research.Front Pharmacol. 2018;9:913. doi:10.3389/fphar.2018.00913DailyMed.Label: Dramamine for Kids- dimenhydrinate tablet, chewable.Church MK, Church DS.Pharmacology of antihistamines.Indian J Dermatol. 2013;58(3):219-224. doi:10.4103/0019-5154.110832Kim YJ.Xerostomia and its cellular targets.Int J Mol Sci. 2023;24(6):5358. doi:10.3390/ijms24065358Yang MC, Lin KY.Drug-induced acute angle-closure glaucoma: a review.J Curr Glaucoma Pract. 2019;13(3):104-109. doi:10.5005/jp-journals-10078-1261Zhang LL, Wang JQ, Qi RR, Pan LL, Li M, Cai YL.Motion sickness: current knowledge and recent advance.CNS Neurosci Ther. 2016;22(1):15-24. doi:10.1111/cns.12468DailyMed.Label: Scopolamine patch.DailyMed.Label: Phenergan- promethazine hcl tablet.Tan MY, Shu SH, Liu RL, Zhao Q.The efficacy and safety of complementary and alternative medicine in the treatment of nausea and vomiting during pregnancy: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Front Public Health. 2023;11:1108756. doi:10.3389/fpubh.2023.1108756
12 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.DailyMed.Label: Dramamine original formula- dimenhydrinate tablet.DailyMed.Label: Dramamine Less Drowsy- meclizine hydrochloride tablet.Koch A, Cascorbi I, Westhofen M, Dafotakis M, Klapa S, Kuhtz-Buschbeck JP.The neurophysiology and treatment of motion sickness.Dtsch Arztebl Int. 2018;115(41):687-696. doi:10.3238/arztebl.2018.0687Sanger GJ, Andrews PLR.A history of drug discovery for treatment of nausea and vomiting and the implications for future research.Front Pharmacol. 2018;9:913. doi:10.3389/fphar.2018.00913DailyMed.Label: Dramamine for Kids- dimenhydrinate tablet, chewable.Church MK, Church DS.Pharmacology of antihistamines.Indian J Dermatol. 2013;58(3):219-224. doi:10.4103/0019-5154.110832Kim YJ.Xerostomia and its cellular targets.Int J Mol Sci. 2023;24(6):5358. doi:10.3390/ijms24065358Yang MC, Lin KY.Drug-induced acute angle-closure glaucoma: a review.J Curr Glaucoma Pract. 2019;13(3):104-109. doi:10.5005/jp-journals-10078-1261Zhang LL, Wang JQ, Qi RR, Pan LL, Li M, Cai YL.Motion sickness: current knowledge and recent advance.CNS Neurosci Ther. 2016;22(1):15-24. doi:10.1111/cns.12468DailyMed.Label: Scopolamine patch.DailyMed.Label: Phenergan- promethazine hcl tablet.Tan MY, Shu SH, Liu RL, Zhao Q.The efficacy and safety of complementary and alternative medicine in the treatment of nausea and vomiting during pregnancy: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Front Public Health. 2023;11:1108756. doi:10.3389/fpubh.2023.1108756
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
DailyMed.Label: Dramamine original formula- dimenhydrinate tablet.DailyMed.Label: Dramamine Less Drowsy- meclizine hydrochloride tablet.Koch A, Cascorbi I, Westhofen M, Dafotakis M, Klapa S, Kuhtz-Buschbeck JP.The neurophysiology and treatment of motion sickness.Dtsch Arztebl Int. 2018;115(41):687-696. doi:10.3238/arztebl.2018.0687Sanger GJ, Andrews PLR.A history of drug discovery for treatment of nausea and vomiting and the implications for future research.Front Pharmacol. 2018;9:913. doi:10.3389/fphar.2018.00913DailyMed.Label: Dramamine for Kids- dimenhydrinate tablet, chewable.Church MK, Church DS.Pharmacology of antihistamines.Indian J Dermatol. 2013;58(3):219-224. doi:10.4103/0019-5154.110832Kim YJ.Xerostomia and its cellular targets.Int J Mol Sci. 2023;24(6):5358. doi:10.3390/ijms24065358Yang MC, Lin KY.Drug-induced acute angle-closure glaucoma: a review.J Curr Glaucoma Pract. 2019;13(3):104-109. doi:10.5005/jp-journals-10078-1261Zhang LL, Wang JQ, Qi RR, Pan LL, Li M, Cai YL.Motion sickness: current knowledge and recent advance.CNS Neurosci Ther. 2016;22(1):15-24. doi:10.1111/cns.12468DailyMed.Label: Scopolamine patch.DailyMed.Label: Phenergan- promethazine hcl tablet.Tan MY, Shu SH, Liu RL, Zhao Q.The efficacy and safety of complementary and alternative medicine in the treatment of nausea and vomiting during pregnancy: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Front Public Health. 2023;11:1108756. doi:10.3389/fpubh.2023.1108756
DailyMed.Label: Dramamine original formula- dimenhydrinate tablet.
DailyMed.Label: Dramamine Less Drowsy- meclizine hydrochloride tablet.
Koch A, Cascorbi I, Westhofen M, Dafotakis M, Klapa S, Kuhtz-Buschbeck JP.The neurophysiology and treatment of motion sickness.Dtsch Arztebl Int. 2018;115(41):687-696. doi:10.3238/arztebl.2018.0687
Sanger GJ, Andrews PLR.A history of drug discovery for treatment of nausea and vomiting and the implications for future research.Front Pharmacol. 2018;9:913. doi:10.3389/fphar.2018.00913
DailyMed.Label: Dramamine for Kids- dimenhydrinate tablet, chewable.
Church MK, Church DS.Pharmacology of antihistamines.Indian J Dermatol. 2013;58(3):219-224. doi:10.4103/0019-5154.110832
Kim YJ.Xerostomia and its cellular targets.Int J Mol Sci. 2023;24(6):5358. doi:10.3390/ijms24065358
Yang MC, Lin KY.Drug-induced acute angle-closure glaucoma: a review.J Curr Glaucoma Pract. 2019;13(3):104-109. doi:10.5005/jp-journals-10078-1261
Zhang LL, Wang JQ, Qi RR, Pan LL, Li M, Cai YL.Motion sickness: current knowledge and recent advance.CNS Neurosci Ther. 2016;22(1):15-24. doi:10.1111/cns.12468
DailyMed.Label: Scopolamine patch.
DailyMed.Label: Phenergan- promethazine hcl tablet.
Tan MY, Shu SH, Liu RL, Zhao Q.The efficacy and safety of complementary and alternative medicine in the treatment of nausea and vomiting during pregnancy: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Front Public Health. 2023;11:1108756. doi:10.3389/fpubh.2023.1108756
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