Dimenhydrinate

"Dramamine" redirects here. For other uses, see Dramamine (disambiguation).

Dimenhydrinate

Combination of
diphenhydramine	antiemetic
8-chlorotheophylline	stimulant
Clinical data
Trade names	Dramamine
AHFS/Drugs.com	monograph
MedlinePlus	a607046
Pregnancy category	AU: A US: B (No risk in non-human studies)
Legal status	AU: S2 (Pharmacy only) US: OTC
Routes of administration	Oral, Rectal, I.V.
Identifiers
CAS Number	523-87-5 Y
ATC code	R06AA52 (WHO)
PubChem	CID: 10660
DrugBank	DB00985 Y
ChemSpider	10210 Y
UNII	JB937PER5C Y
KEGG	D00520 Y
ChEMBL	CHEMBL1200406 N
NY (what is this?)  (verify)

Dimenhydrinate (marketed as Dramamine, Gravol and many other brand names) is an over-the-counter antiemetic used for the treatment of the symptoms of motion sickness. It is most commonly prepared as tablets, although it is also available in liquid form and in suppositories. Dimenhydrinate is a combination of two drugs: diphenhydramine and 8-chlorotheophylline.

Medical uses

Dimenhydrinate is primarily used to treat nausea, vomiting, and dizziness caused by motion sickness. Dimenhydrinate has also been found to aid in the treatment of ear congestion.

Diphenhydramine is the primary constituent of dimenhydrinate and dictates the primary effect. The main difference relative to pure diphenhydramine is a lower potency due to being combined with 8-chlorotheophylline. By weight, dimenhydrinate is between 53% to 55.5% diphenhydramine.

8-Chlorotheophylline, a chlorinated derivative of theophylline, was added in order to counteract drowsiness. Theophylline is very closely related to caffeine and theobromine, mild central nervous system stimulants. It was thought by scientists that by combining the antiemetic effects of diphenhydramine with a stimulant, the extreme drowsiness induced by the former could be mitigated somewhat by the latter. The sedation caused by diphenhydramine, however, is substantially stronger than the stimulation caused by 8-chlorotheophylline, so the overall effect is still mostly sedating.

Veterinary use

Dimenhydrinate has successfully been used as an antiemetic and sedative in housepets. It is commonly used to reduce the effects of idiopathic vestibular syndrome.

Brand names

Dimenhydrinate is marketed under many brand names: in the USA and Serbia as Dramamine, in Ukraine as Driminate, in India and Canada as Gravol, in Iceland as Gravamin, in Russia as Dramina, in South Africa and Germany as Vomex, in Australia and Austria as Vertirosan, in Brazil as Dramin, in Ecuador as Anautin, in Hungary as Daedalon, in Sweden as Amosyt, in Indonesia as Antimo, in Italy as Xamamina, in Peru as Gravicoll, in Poland as Aviomarin, in Portugal as Viabom, in Spain as Biodramina, in Thailand as ไดเมนนีน (Daimenin), and in Pakistan as Gravinate.