Is a dose of 75 milligrams of meclizine (Antivert) excessive?

From the Guidelines

Taking 75mg of meclizine at once is excessive and not recommended. The typical recommended dose for adults is 12.5-25mg taken up to three times daily, as indicated in the study published in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology 1. This dose range is suggested for the treatment of nausea and vomiting, with meclizine being one of the medications listed. If you're considering taking 75mg as a single dose, this exceeds standard recommendations and could increase your risk of side effects such as extreme drowsiness, dry mouth, blurred vision, and confusion. Some key points to consider when taking meclizine include:

• The maximum daily dose is typically 50-100mg depending on the condition being treated
• Elderly individuals should be particularly cautious as they may be more sensitive to these effects
• Meclizine works by blocking histamine receptors in your brain that trigger nausea and dizziness, but higher doses don't necessarily provide better relief and may only increase adverse effects
• If you're not getting adequate symptom control with standard doses, it's essential to consult with your healthcare provider rather than increasing the dose on your own, as they might recommend an alternative medication or treatment approach that would be more effective and safer for your specific condition. It's crucial to follow the recommended dosage to minimize the risk of adverse effects and ensure the best possible outcome in terms of morbidity, mortality, and quality of life.

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. A dose of 75 milligrams of meclizine (Antivert) is within the recommended dosage range of 25 mg to 100 mg daily, as stated in the drug label 2 and 2.

• The recommended dosage is administered orally, in divided doses, depending upon clinical response.
• Therefore, a dose of 75 milligrams is not excessive according to the provided drug labels.

From the Research

Meclizine Dosage

• The standard dosage of meclizine is not explicitly stated in the provided studies, but a dose of 25 mg is mentioned in several studies as a common dosage for treating vertigo and motion sickness 3, 4.
• A dose of 75 milligrams of meclizine is not mentioned in any of the provided studies, making it difficult to determine if this dose is excessive based on the available evidence.
• However, it can be inferred that a dose of 75 milligrams may be higher than the typical dosage, as the studies mention doses of 25 mg as effective for treating vertigo and motion sickness 3, 4.

Comparison to Other Studies

• The effects of meclizine on motion sickness were investigated in a study, which found that meclizine led to a relative increase in torsional velocity compared to placebo during vestibular stimulation 5.
• Another study compared the effectiveness of meclizine and diazepam in treating acute peripheral vertigo, and found that both medications were equally effective 4.
• However, none of the studies provide information on the safety or efficacy of a dose of 75 milligrams of meclizine, making it difficult to determine if this dose is excessive.

Lack of Direct Evidence

• There are no studies that directly address the question of whether a dose of 75 milligrams of meclizine is excessive.
• The available studies provide information on the typical dosages and effects of meclizine, but do not provide a clear answer to the question of whether a dose of 75 milligrams is excessive 3, 4, 6, 5, 7.