Cinnarizine

Cinnarizine belongs to a class of medicines known as antihistamines. It is a prescription medicine used to treat motion sickness (nausea due to motion, especially while traveling in a moving vehicle), vertigo (spinning sensation or dizziness), or Meniere's disease (problems with balance). Cinnarizine should be taken with food to avoid stomach upset. Take this medicine as advised by your doctor, preferably at the same time each day. If you have missed a dose, take it as soon as you remember. Do not skip any doses and finish the full course of treatment and never stop this medicine suddenly without talking to your doctor. Some common side effects of this medication are sleepiness, nausea and dyspepsia or indigestion. It even causes dizziness and sleepiness, so do not drive or do anything that requires mental focus until you know how this medicine affects you.

Cinnarizine works by preventing constriction of the blood vessels of the inner ear. This improves the microcirculation of the ear.

• Motion sickness
• Vertigo
• Meniere's disease
• Cerebral vascular disorders
• Peripheral vascular disorders
• Migraine
• Tinnitus

Cinnarizine acts as an antihistamine, labyrinthine sedative and a peripheral antivasoconstrictor. Cinnarizine is a selective calcium antagonist, inhibiting the influx of Ca2+ intracellularly. It prevents the Ca2+ dependent contraction of arterial smooth muscle by inhibiting Ca2+ influx through smooth muscle calcium channels and thereby, improves vestibular symptoms and prevents peripheral arterial disease.

Cinnarizine has calcium-channel blocking activity selective for arterial smooth muscle. It also has some antihistamine activity. Cinnarizine acts as a labyrinthine sedative. It also improves microcirculation by reducing ischaemia-induced blood viscosity.

Adult Dose (Oral):

Pediatric Dose (5-12 years): Half of the adult dose.

Take this medicine in the dose and duration as advised by your doctor. Swallow it as a whole. Do not chew, crush or break it. Cinnarizine is to be taken with food.

If you miss a dose of Cinnarizine, take it as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular schedule. Do not double the dose.

Common Side Effects:

• Sleepiness
• Nausea
• Weight gain
• Indigestion
• Gastrointestinal disturbances

Rare Side Effects: Allergic skin reactions, fatigue, extrapyramidal symptoms (elderly in prolonged therapy).

• [UNSAFE] Cinnarizine may decrease alertness, affect your vision or make you feel sleepy and dizzy. Do not drive if these symptoms occur.
• Take it with food to avoid stomach upset.
• Do not drink alcohol (may cause increased sleepiness).
• Avoid driving or activities requiring mental focus until you know how it affects you.
• Stop taking if you experience yellowing of skin, tiredness, fever, nausea, weakness, red, lumpy, and itchy rash.
• Caution if suffering from Parkinson's disease (may worsen the condition).
• Do not stop taking without talking to your doctor first.

• Proven hypersensitivity to the drug
• Parkinson's disease
• Children and neonates

CNS depressant effect enhanced with alcohol. Action potentiated by domperidone. Increased sedative effect with CNS depressants or TCAs.

[UNSAFE] Cinnarizine may cause excessive drowsiness with alcohol.

[CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR] Cinnarizine may be unsafe to use during pregnancy. Although there are limited studies in humans, animal studies have shown harmful effects on the developing baby. Your doctor will weigh the benefits and any potential risks before prescribing it to you. Please consult your doctor.

[CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR] Information regarding the use of Cinnarizine during breastfeeding is not available. Please consult your doctor.

Pediatric dose (5-12 years): Half of the adult dose. Safety and efficacy in children under 5 years have not been established.

Extrapyramidal symptoms may occur in elderly patients during prolonged therapy (rare).

[CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR] There is limited information available on the use of Cinnarizine in patients with kidney disease. Please consult your doctor.

[CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR] There is limited information available on the use of Cinnarizine in patients with liver disease. Please consult your doctor.

Cinnarizine overdose symptoms include drowsiness, lethargy, dystonia, and extrapyramidal symptoms. Treatment is symptomatic and supportive.

Keep below 30°C temperature, away from light & moisture. Keep out of the reach of children.

Cinnarizine