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How Meclizine Works and What to Tell Your Doctor
from eMedTV.comWhat Should I Tell My Healthcare Provider Before Taking It?
You should talk with your healthcare provider prior to taking this medication if you have:
- Kidney disease, such as kidney failure (renal failure)
- High blood pressure (hypertension)
- Heart disease
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- Asthma
- An enlarged prostate (also known as benign prostatic hyperplasia, or BPH)
- Difficulty passing urine
- Diabetes
- Glaucoma
- Difficult passing urine
- An overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism)
- Any allergies, including allergies to food, dyes, or preservatives.
Also, let your healthcare provider know if you are:
- Pregnant or thinking of becoming pregnant (see Meclizine and Pregnancy)
- Breastfeeding (see Meclizine and Breastfeeding).
Make sure to tell your healthcare provider about any other medications you are taking, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
(Click Precautions and Warnings With Meclizine to learn more, including information on who should not take the drug.)
How Does Meclizine Work?
Meclizine belongs to a class of drugs called antihistamines, meaning that it blocks histamine receptors. However, it probably works for motion sickness by blocking acetylcholine receptors (with its "anticholinergic" activity).
When and How to Take It
General considerations include the following:
- This medication comes in tablet and chewable tablet form. It is usually taken by mouth once or twice a day.
- You can take meclizine either with food or on an empty stomach. If the medication seems to bother your stomach, try taking it with a little food.
- For the medication to work properly, it must be taken as directed.
Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD