Cinnarizine is commonly used in clinical practice for quite a number of indications. These include motion sickness, vertigo, meniere’s disease, nausea and vomiting and other vestibular symptoms of other origins. Cinnarizine are grouped under antihistamine classes of drugs which helps to relieve symptoms like spinning sensation, vomiting and nausea.
Continue reading the article to know more about how this drug works and more detailed explanation on uses of this drug for health.
How does this drug work?
Cinnarizine is both an antihistamine and a calcium channel blocker. Histamines are chemical substances secreted by immune cells in the process called inflammation and in other certain conditions that cause the occurrence of particular signs and symptoms. It also helps in the contraction of smooth muscles in respiratory and gastrointestinal tract, dilatation of blood vessels, cardiac stimulation, promotion of interleukin release and migration of inflammatory cells in the body.
Cinnarizine which is categorized under the sedating competitive antagonist of histamine H1 receptors blocks the muscarinic acetylcholine receptors and are commonly used to stop symptoms like nausea and vomiting. Apart from that, cinnarizine which is also a calcium channel blocker, helps in inhibiting the stimulation of the vestibular symptoms.
In vertigo or symptoms like tinnitus and Meniere’s disease, cinnarizine helps by increasing the blood flow to the inner part of the ears. Due to its sedating properties, this class of drug causes more drowsiness and sleepiness than other groups of antihistamines that are normally prescribed by doctors.
Who can and cannot take the cinnarizine tablets?
Cinnarizine is recommended for all adults and children aged more than 5 years old. However, it is not suitable for some group of people. Do tell your doctor or pharmacist if you fall under any of these categories;
- Had a severe allergic reaction such as shortness of breath, severe rashes and tongue swelling previously by taking any other groups of antihistamines.
- Problems with your genitourinary system such as emptying your bladder or problems in urinating.
- Any medical problems that cause you to have fits like epilepsy.
- If you had any eye problems previously such as primary angle closure glaucoma.
- Movement disorders like Parkinson’s disease as Cinnarizine can eventually worsen your parkinsonism symptoms.
If you have experienced any of these, do inform your doctor before you are treated with cinnarizine to prevent major side effects of the medications.
What is the dosage that you should consume?
The amount of tablets, frequency are entirely dependent on your age and indications to take cinnarizine. Cinnarizine usually comes in the form of 15mg tablets. For indications like travel sickness, you are advised to take 2 tablets about 2 hours prior to travel for children aged 12 and more. After that, you should be taking 1 tablet every 8 hours throughout the journey. On the other hand, for kids below the age of 12 years old, take 1 tablet 2 hours before the travel and followed by half a tablet every 8 hours throughout the journey.
For inner ear problems which cause sickness and dizziness, take 2 tablets three times daily if you are 12 years and older. For kids below the age of 12 years old, give 1 tablet to be taken three times daily.
Do make sure to follow the duration, frequency and strength of doses prescribed by your doctor to avoid occurrence of major side effects or loss of medication efficacy. Taking too much cinnarizine can cause you to be sleepy, sick, having a pounding heartbeat and feel weak or shaky. In such cases, you might be having an overdose and you will require urgent medical attention to get yourself treated.
