From the Guidelines
Meclizine should not be routinely used for the treatment of vertigo due to benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), but may be considered for short-term management of vegetative symptoms such as nausea or vomiting in severely symptomatic patients, at a dosage of 25-50 mg taken 1 hour before travel for motion sickness, or 25-100 mg daily in divided doses for vertigo. When prescribed, meclizine works by suppressing vestibular stimulation in the inner ear and blocking histamine H1 receptors, reducing the sensory conflict that causes dizziness 1.
Key Considerations
- The medication should be used with caution in the elderly and those with glaucoma, prostatic hypertrophy, or certain respiratory conditions, as stated in the clinical practice guideline for BPPV 1.
- Common side effects include drowsiness, dry mouth, and blurred vision, and patients should be advised to avoid alcohol while taking meclizine as it can increase drowsiness.
- Meclizine is available in various forms including tablets, chewable tablets, and capsules, with some formulations available over-the-counter for motion sickness.
Dosage and Administration
- For motion sickness prevention, take 25-50 mg one hour before travel, with effects lasting 12-24 hours.
- For vertigo treatment, the usual dosage is 25-100 mg daily divided into 1-4 doses, with many patients finding relief with 25-50 mg taken 1-3 times daily.
- Start with a lower dose and increase as needed while monitoring for side effects, as recommended in the clinical practice guideline for BPPV 1.
From the FDA Drug Label
2 DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION
2.1 Recommended Dosage The recommended dosage is 25 mg to 100 mg daily administered orally, in divided doses, depending upon clinical response.
1 INDICATIONS AND USAGE
Meclizine hydrochloride tablets are indicated for the treatment of vertigo associated with diseases affecting the vestibular system in adults.
The recommended dosage of Meclazine for vertigo and motion sickness is 25 mg to 100 mg daily, administered orally in divided doses, depending on the clinical response 2. Meclazine is indicated for the treatment of vertigo associated with diseases affecting the vestibular system in adults 2.
- The treatment plan involves swallowing the tablets whole, as stated in the administration instructions 2.
- The dosage may vary based on individual clinical response.
From the Research
Meclizine Dosage and Treatment Plan
- The recommended dosage and treatment plan for Meclizine (meclizine) for vertigo and motion sickness is not explicitly stated in the provided studies.
- However, the studies compare the efficacy of meclizine with other agents, such as transdermal scopolamine and dimenhydrinate, in preventing motion sickness and vertigo 3, 4, 5, 6.
- One study suggests that meclizine may not be as effective as transdermal scopolamine in preventing motion sickness 5.
- Another study found that meclizine had an inhibitory effect on eye movement reflexes for low accelerations during visual-vestibular trials, indicating that it may work on a central level to target motion-sickness 7.
Efficacy of Meclizine
- Meclizine has been shown to be effective in reducing vertigo and nausea in some studies 3, 6.
- However, its efficacy compared to other agents, such as transdermal scopolamine and dimenhydrinate, is variable 3, 4, 5, 6.
- One study found that meclizine led to a relative increase in torsional velocity compared to placebo during vestibular stimulation, indicating that it may not be effective in high-acceleration environments 7.