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Is Dramamine Vegan?

Updated: Sep 3

The holidays are here and with increased travel needed to meet family and friends, motion sickness is a concern for many with about 1 in 3 people being highly susceptible. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), motion sickness is more common in:

  • women during pregnancy, menstruation, and while taking hormone replacement therapy or birth control

  • children ages 2 to 12 years old

  • history of migraines, vertigo, and vestibular disorders


Symptoms of Motion Sickness
What is motion sickness? 

Motion sickness is a feeling of illness or discomfort associated with unpleasant symptoms when one experiences certain types of motion due to conflicting signals being sent to the brain from sensory organs such as the eyes, inner ear, and skin. It usually occurs when traveling in a vehicle such as a car, boat, airplane, or amusement park ride, but motion sickness can also arise while watching movies or playing video games.


Symptoms of motion sickness

  • Nausea/Vomiting

  • Dizziness

  • Sweating

  • Fatigue

  • Headache


What is Dramamine?

Dramamine, manufactured by Prestige Consumer Healthcare, is a commonly used over-the-counter (OTC) brand name for motion sickness and nausea medications containing the antihistamine, dimenhydrinate or meclizine. Dramamine's dimenhydrinate and meclizine:


  • blocks histamine receptors for allergies

  • decreases inner ear/vestibular stimulation for dizziness

  • blocks the chemoreceptor trigger zone (CTZ) for nausea


Dramamine can be used for prevention or treatment, depending on the timing of its administration. For prevention, the first dose should be taken 30 minutes to 1 hour before starting activity, whereas for treatment, the first dose should be taken as soon as symptoms present. It is recommended to speak with a healthcare provider before starting OTC medications to see if it is appropriate for you.


Potential side effects

  • Drowsiness/fatigue

  • Blurred vision/dry eyes

  • Dry mouth

  • Urinary retention

  • Headache

Precautions

  • Dimenhydrinate: Do not use for children under 2 years of age unless directed by a doctor

  • Meclizine: Do not use for children under 12 years of age unless directed by a doctor

  • Glaucoma

  • Difficulty urinating due to an enlarged Prostate

  • Allergic reactions

  • Avoid alcohol and other sedating medications

  • Caution when driving motor vehicles or operating machinery


What are the current available Dramamine products?

Product

Onset & Duration of Action (DOA)

Active Ingredient

Inactive Ingredients

Dramamine Original Formula

Onset: 15-30 minutes DOA: 4-6 hours

Dimenhydrinate 50mg

Colloidal silicon dioxide, croscarmellose sodium, lactose, magnesium stearate, microcrystalline cellulose

Dramamine Chewable

Onset: 15-30 minutes DOA: 4-6 hours

Dimenhydrinate 50mg

Anhydrous citric acid, aspartame, FD&C yellow no. 6 aluminium lake, flavors, magnesium stearate, maltodextrin, methacrylic acid copolymer, modified corn starch, sorbitol

Dramamine For Kids

Onset: 15-30 minutes DOA: 4-6 hours

Dimenhydrinate 25mg

Aspartame, citric acid, flavor, magnesium stearate, methacrylic acide copolymer, sorbitol

Dramamine All Day Less Drowsy

Onset: 1 hour DOA: 24 hours

Meclizine HCl 25mg

Anhydrous Lactose, Starch (Corn), Silicon Dioxide, D&C Yellow No. 10, Aluminum Oxide, Magnesium Stearate, Cellulose (Microcrystalline)

Dramamine Less Drowsy Chewable

Onset: 1 hour DOA: 24 hours

Meclizine HCl 25mg

Anhydrous lactose, croscarmellose sodium, crospovidone, FD&C red #40 lake,  magnesium stearate, flavors, silicon dioxide, sodium saccharin, stearic acid


Is dramamine vegan-friendly?

Our team is happy to announce we have verified at least one dramamine product to be animal-free! Please contact us to find out the most recent information!


Conclusion 

Dramamine products which contain dimenhydrinate or meclizine, can be used to prevent and treat motion sickness. It's important to pay attention to the symptoms of motion sickness, age, dose timing for best effect, dose, side effects, and precautions when considering Dramamine products for motion sickness relief. The Pill Clarity team wishes you safe travels and happy motion sickness-free holidays!


CALL TO ACTION

As a reminder, please comment on this FDA Citizen Petition, requesting clear labeling of animal-derived ingredients in medications. Together, we can make a difference.


Co-authored by: Giovanna Gonzalez

Disclaimer: The product and/or information provided on Pill Clarity is of a general nature and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. We do not lab test the products to confirm that they are free from animal ingredients, and it is possible that the formulation and ingredients could have changed. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or product. The information provided in this post is accurate and up to date as of the date it was written. However, please note that circumstances and facts may change over time, and new information may become available that could alter the accuracy or relevance of the content. We encourage readers to verify and cross-reference any information provided here with trusted sources or consult relevant professionals for the most current and accurate updates.

Transparent medical information is a fundamental human right—your support helps keep this vital service alive.

Looking for certified and verified animal-free products?

Thank you for your awareness and concern for animal-derived ingredients!


As a reminder, please comment on our FDA Citizen Petition, requesting clear labeling of animal-derived ingredients in medications. Together, we can make a difference.

If you have any further questions about ingredients in your medicines and supplements, feel free to reach out to the Pill Clarity team!





 
 
 

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