From the Guidelines
The recommended dosage of Meclizine for treating vertigo or motion sickness is typically 25 to 50 mg taken by mouth, one to four times daily as needed. This dosage is based on the common use of antihistamines, such as meclizine, to relieve the nausea and vomiting associated with motion sickness, as mentioned in the clinical practice guideline: benign paroxysmal positional vertigo 1.
For motion sickness prevention, it's best to take meclizine 1 hour before travel, with effects lasting about 8-24 hours. For vertigo, the medication can be taken as symptoms occur. Meclizine is available over-the-counter in 12.5 mg and 25 mg tablets, or by prescription in 25 mg and 50 mg strengths.
- Common side effects include:
- Drowsiness
- Dry mouth So, avoid driving or operating machinery until you know how it affects you. Meclizine works by suppressing the vestibular system in the inner ear and blocking histamine receptors, which helps reduce the sensation of dizziness and nausea associated with vertigo and motion sickness.
- Key points to consider:
- If symptoms persist beyond a few days or worsen, consult a healthcare provider as vertigo may indicate an underlying condition requiring different treatment.
- Vestibular suppressant medications, such as meclizine, are not recommended for treatment of BPPV, other than for the short-term management of vegetative symptoms such as nausea or vomiting in a severely symptomatic patient, as stated in the clinical practice guideline 1.
From the FDA Drug Label
2.1 Recommended Dosage The recommended dosage is 25 mg to 100 mg daily administered orally, in divided doses, depending upon clinical response. The recommended dosage of Meclizine for treating vertigo or motion sickness is 25 mg to 100 mg daily, administered orally in divided doses, depending on the clinical response 2.
- The dosage can be adjusted based on the patient's response to the medication.
- It is essential to follow the prescribed dosage and administration instructions to ensure safe and effective treatment.
From the Research
Meclizine Dosage
- The recommended dosage of Meclizine for treating vertigo or motion sickness is not explicitly stated in the provided studies.
- However, the studies compare the efficacy of Meclizine with other agents, such as scopolamine and dimenhydrinate, in preventing motion sickness and vertigo 3, 4, 5, 6.
- One study mentions that oral meclizine was administered, but the dosage is not specified 6.
- Another study compares the efficacy of meclozine with caffeine to other agents, but again, the dosage is not mentioned 7.
- It can be inferred that Meclizine is effective in treating vertigo and motion sickness, but the optimal dosage is not clearly established in the provided studies 3, 6.
- The studies suggest that Meclizine may be less effective than scopolamine in some cases, but it is still a viable option for treating motion sickness and vertigo 3, 6, 7.