Cinnarizine Dosing for Children with Motion Sickness
For children with motion sickness, the recommended dose of cinnarizine is 15 mg taken 2 hours before travel, with an additional half-tablet (7.5 mg) every 8 hours as needed during continued travel. 1
Dosing Guidelines by Age
- For children susceptible to motion sickness, a single 15 mg tablet should be administered 2 hours before the journey 1
- For extended journeys, an additional half-tablet (7.5 mg) can be given every 8 hours as needed 1
- This dosing regimen has shown 81% efficacy rating as "good" or "excellent" in clinical studies of children with motion sickness 1
Safety and Side Effects
- Cinnarizine is generally well-tolerated in children at recommended doses, with only 14% experiencing drowsiness or sleepiness 1
- Only 4% of children experienced vomiting when taking cinnarizine at recommended doses for motion sickness 1
- Caution: Significant overdose can cause serious neurological symptoms including stupor, convulsions, and extrapyramidal symptoms 2
Important Considerations
- Cinnarizine belongs to the antihistamine class of medications, which are probably more effective than placebo for preventing motion sickness symptoms (40% vs 25% prevention rate) 3
- Antihistamines may cause more sedation than placebo (66% vs 44%), which should be considered when prescribing for children 3
- In a documented case of overdose (18 times the recommended dose), a 30-month-old child experienced stupor and seizures, but made a full recovery within 10 hours 2
Administration Tips
- Administer the first dose 2 hours before travel to allow time for the medication to take effect 1
- The medication should be given with food to minimize potential gastrointestinal side effects
- For children who have difficulty swallowing tablets, consult with a pharmacist about potential liquid formulations
Monitoring
- Monitor for common side effects including drowsiness, which may affect approximately 14% of children 1
- If symptoms of motion sickness persist despite medication, consider alternative or additional interventions
- If signs of overdose occur (excessive drowsiness, confusion, abnormal movements), seek immediate medical attention 2