Brand Name
Gravol
Common Name
dimenhydrinate
In this drug factsheet:
DIN (Drug Identification Number)| 02254409 | GRAVOL 100MG LONG ACTING CAPLETS |
| 00013609 | GRAVOL ADULT SUPPOSITORIES 100MG |
| 00511196 | GRAVOL FILMKOTE TAB 15MG |
| 00230197 | GRAVOL LIQUID 15MG/5CC |
| 00783595 | GRAVOL SUPPOSITORIES FOR CHILDREN 25MG |
| 02245867 | GRAVOL 50MG SOFTGEL CAPSULE |
| 00013803 | GRAVOL FILMKOTE TAB 50MG |
| 00013579 | GRAVOL IM |
How does this medication work? What will it do for me?
Dimenhydrinate belongs to a group of medications called antiemetics. This medication is used to prevent and treat motion sickness as well as nausea and vomiting associated with various conditions such as chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery. It is also used to treat nausea and spinning sensation (vertigo) due to Ménière's disease and other conditions that cause these symptoms.
Dimenhydrinate works to relieve or prevent nausea and vomiting by affecting the vomiting centre in the brain. Most people can expect some relief of nausea and vomiting within one hour of taking any form of dimenhydrinate.
Your doctor may have suggested this medication for conditions other than those listed in these drug information articles. As well, some forms of this medication may not be used for all of the conditions discussed here. If you have not discussed this with your doctor or are not sure why you are being given this medication, speak to your doctor. Do not stop using this medication without consulting your doctor.
Do not give this medication to anyone else, even if they have the same symptoms as you do. It can be harmful for people to use this medication if their doctor has not prescribed it.
How should I use this medication?
Motion sickness, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, and spinning sensation (vertigo): The usual adult dose of the tablets is 50 mg to 100 mg taken every 4 hours as needed. Do not take more than 400 mg in a 24-hour period. The long-acting form of dimenhydrinate tablets are taken every 8 to 12 hours, with a maximum of 3 tablets in a 24-hour period. The usual adult dose of dimenhydrinate suppository is 50 mg to 100 mg every 6 to 8 hours as needed.
If you are taking dimenhydrinate for motion sickness, the first dose should be taken at least 30 minutes and preferably 1 to 2 hours before departure.
Pre-radiation therapy (radiation sickness): In adults, 50 mg to 100 mg of dimenhydrinate may be given as a suppository or injection, 30 to 60 minutes before receiving radiation therapy. This dose may be repeated as needed up to a maximum of 400 mg over a 24-hour period.
Surgery: To control nausea and vomiting following surgery in adults, the usual dose is 50 mg to 100 mg taken by mouth or 50 mg of injection into a muscle before surgery. After surgery, similar doses can be used up to a maximum dose of 400 mg in a 24-hour period.
Children: For children 2 years of age and over, your doctor or pharmacist will recommended the dose of dimenhydrinate based on age and body weight. This medication should not be used for children or infants under one year old. For children 2 to 12 years old, the dose is given every 6 to 8 hours as needed. For children 12 years and over, the dose is given every 4 to 6 hours as needed.
Chewable tablets and liquid are available for children who are unable to swallow the tablets. When using the liquid, use an oral syringe to measure each dose of the liquid as it gives a more accurate measurement than household teaspoons.
Many things can affect the dose of medication that a person needs, such as body weight, other medical conditions, and other medications. If your doctor has recommended a dose different from the ones listed here, do not change the way that you are using the medication without consulting your doctor.
It is important that this medication be used exactly as recommended by your doctor or pharmacist.
Store this medication at room temperature, protect it from light and moisture, and keep it out of the reach of children.
This medication is available under multiple brand names and in several different forms. Any specific brand name of this medication may not be available in all of the forms listed here. The forms available for the specific brand you have searched are listed under "What form(s) does this medication come in?"
Do not dispose of medications in wastewater (e.g. down the sink or in the toilet) or in household garbage. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medications that are no longer needed or have expired.
What form(s) does this medication come in?
IM Injection
Each mL contains dimenhydrinate 50 mg. This dosage form is for IM use only, unless diluted at least 1:10 with a compatible physiological solution, i.e., sterile saline or 5% dextrose in water. Nonmedicinal ingredients: methylparaben (multidose vials only), propylene glycol, and propylparaben (multidose vials only). Tartrazine-free.
L/A Caplets 100 mg
Each red-white bilayer film coated caplet, intagliated "GRAVOL" on one side, contains dimenhydrinate 25 mg for immediate release and dimenhydrinate 75 mg for sustained release. Nonmedicinal ingredients: butyl hydroxytoluene, calcium carbonate, calcium phosphate, FD&C Red No. 40, hydroxypropyl cellulose, hypromellose, magnesium stearate, microcrystalline cellulose, polyethylene glycol, polyethylene oxide, and starch.
Liquid
Each 5 mL of yellow, transparent, viscous liquid with a bittersweet mixed fruit flavour, contains dimenhydrinate 15 mg. Nonmedicinal ingredients: citric acid, D&C Yellow No. 10, FD&C Yellow No. 6, flavour, propylene glycol, sodium benzoate, sorbitol, and sucrose.
Suppositories
Each white, opaque suppository contains dimenhydrinate 25 mg children, or 100 mg adult. Nonmedicinal ingredients: polyethylene glycol, silicon dioxide, and titanium dioxide. Gluten- and tartrazine-free.
Filmkote Tablets 25 mg (Junior Strength)
Each round, biconvex, pale yellow tablet, intagliated "GRAVOL" on one side, contains dimenhydrinate 25 mg. Nonmedicinal ingredients: alumina, cellulose, D&C Yellow No. 10, FD&C Yellow No. 6 and Blue No. 2, lactose, magnesium stearate, polyethylene glycol, povidone, silicon dioxide, starch (corn), talc, and tianium dioxide. Gluten- and tartrazine-free.
Filmkote Tablets 50 mg
Each round, biconvex, peach coral tablet, intagliated "GRAVOL" on one side and quadrisected on the other, contains dimenhydrinate 50 mg. Nonmedicinal ingredients: alumina, cellulose, FD&C Yellow No. 6, lactose, magnesium stearate, polyethylene glycol, silicon dioxide, starch (corn), talc, and titanium dioxide. Gluten- and tartrazine-free.
Chewable Tablets for Children
Each round, flat, light purple, cherry-flavoured tablet with bevelled edge intagliated "GRAVOL 15" on one side, plain on the other side, contains dimenhydrinate 15 mg. Nonmedicinal ingredients: alumina, aspartame, cellulose, citric acid, FD&C Red No. 40, flavours, magnesium stearate, methacrylic acid copolymer, monoglycerides, polyethylene glycol, sorbitol, and starch (corn). Gluten- and tartrazine-free.
Chewable Tablets for Adults
Each round, flat, light pink, orange-flavoured tablet with bevelled edge, intagliated "GRAVOL 50" on one side, bisected on the other side, contains dimenhydrinate 50 mg. Nonmedicinal ingredients: alumina, aspartame, cellulose, citric acid, FD&C Yellow No. 6, flavours, magnesium stearate, methacrylic acid copolymer, monoglycerides, polyethylene glycol, sorbitol, and starch (corn). Gluten- and tartrazine-free.
Softgel Capsules
Each pink translucent softgel capsule printed in white "Gravol" contains dimenhydrinate 50 mg. Nonmedicinal ingredients: D&C Red No. 33, gelatin, glycerin, mannitol, methylparaben, polyethylene glycol, povidone, propylparaben, sorbitol, and water.
Some medications may have other generic brands available. Always ask your doctor or pharmacist about the safety of switching between brands of the same medication.
Who should NOT take this medication?
Dimendydrinate should not be used by anyone who:
- is allergic to dimenhydrinate or to any of the ingredients of the medication
- has chronic lung diseases such as bronchitis or emphysema
- has difficulty passing urine due to an enlarged prostate (prostatic hypertrophy)
- has glaucoma
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