Should You Take Dramamine While Breastfeeding

Should You Take Dramamine While Breastfeeding? Expert Insight

Before you take Dramamine while breastfeeding or pregnant, consult your doctor or pharmacist first.

Dramamine is a trusted brand name for combating motion sickness, but does that mean you should take Dramamine while breastfeeding?

To make an informed decision, you first need to learn about the ingredients in Dramamine and how they might affect your baby. Then, check out our tips below on how to take Dramamine while breastfeeding.

What is Dramamine?

Dramamine is an antihistamine generically known as dimenhydrinate. It has sedative and anticholinergic effects. These characteristics strengthen its antinauseant and effects on the vestibular system.

Dramamine prevents nausea and vomiting from vertigo, radiation sickness, electroshock therapy, motion sickness, labyrinthitis, and anesthesia. It usually comes in a liquid or as a chewable tablet.

The FDA classifies Dramamine as safe to take during pregnancy and breastfeeding, but that doesn’t mean it’s safe. You need to know if you need Dramamine to deal with seasickness or car sickness while breastfeeding your newborn or infant.

Effect of taking Dramamine while breastfeeding

Dramamine is safe for breastfeeding moms, and it should not affect your baby because the doses are so small that even if you absorb a tiny amount and it mixes with your milk, your baby’s stomach acid will likely destroy any traces.

woman taking dramamine while breastfeeding

However, breastfeeding moms should be cautious about taking Dramamine while breastfeeding. Like any other antihistamine, you can use Dramamine to dry you up and reduce your milk supply.

Suppose you’re nursing and about to embark on a long, winding, turning motion sickness-inducing trip; taking Dramamine while breastfeeding can be a safe remedy. Just ensure you take it only as needed.

Knowing how medications affect you and your baby is essential, and it’s good to know before you start taking any medication.

For many mothers, a single dose at bedtime during the final feeding of the day may be sufficient and will minimize any side effects. It’s better to take Dramamine in moderation and only when necessary.

Effects of Dramamine on Lactation and Breast Milk

Antihistamines like Dramamine can lower basal blood prolactin levels in non-lactating and early postpartum women when administered in relatively high doses through injection.

Antihistamine pretreatment of postpartum women does not decrease suckling-induced prolactin release.

They have not examined the cogency of breastfeeding, nor has it been determined whether antihistamines taken at lower doses have the same effect on prolactin levels in the blood.

A mother with regular lactation may not be impacted by her prolactin level regarding her breastfeeding capacity.

How to use Dramamine

1. Observe every instruction on the product package.

2. Take Dramamine as advised if your doctor has prescribed it.

3. Ask your physician or pharmacist if you have any queries.

4. Whether you are eating or not, take Dramamine by mouth.

5. Use a unique measuring tool or spoon when measuring the liquid forms of Dramamine.

6. Avoid using a regular spoon because you might not get the proper dosage.

7. Before swallowing the chewable tablets, ensure you chew them very well.

8. Do not take Dramamine more significantly or more frequently than recommended.

9. Take the first dose 30 to 60 minutes before traveling (by road or air) to prevent motion sickness.

10. If your issue doesn’t get better or if it worsens, let your doctor know.

11. If you forget to take a dose, do so immediately. Skip the missing dose of Dramamine if it is almost time for your next dose. At the scheduled time, take your subsequent dose, and do not increase the dose because you want to catch up.

Side effects of Dramamine

  1. Drowsiness
  2. Headache
  3. Blurred vision
  4. Tinnitus
  5. Dryness of the mouth and respiratory passages
  6. Incoordination
  7. Palpitation,
  8. Dizziness
  9. Hypotension.

Doctors always ensure that the benefit of Dramamine outweighs the danger of its negative effect before prescribing it for you.

You need to consult your doctor if you are experiencing any severe adverse effects, such as mental or mood problems (such as agitation or disorientation), a fast or irregular heartbeat, trembling, or trouble urinating.

If you have any significant adverse effects, including seizures, seek medical attention immediately. This medication rarely causes allergic reactions.

However, seek medical attention immediately if you experience any significant adverse reaction or symptoms like rash, itching, severe dizziness, difficulty breathing, or swelling (on your face, tongue, or throat).

The list of possible side effects is not exhaustive. Consult your doctor or pharmacist if you have any other side effects not covered above.

Precautions to note when taking Dramamine

Inform your doctor if you;

1. Have high eye pressure (glaucoma)

2. Have emphysema

3. Have a persistent lung condition

4. Have breathing difficulties

5. Have respiratory problems

6. Have issues urinating as a result of an enlarged prostate gland

7. Have very severe porphyria

8. Possess seizure or epilepsy disorders

9. You are taking any other medications, including those you purchase from your pharmacy, grocery shop, or health food store, without a prescription.

10. You are expecting a child

11. You are currently breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed

12. Inform your doctor or pharmacist about allergies before taking Dramamine, including other medications.

Inactive chemicals in Dramamine can trigger allergic reactions or other issues. To learn more, speak with your pharmacist.

13. Children may be susceptible to Dramamine’s adverse effects. In young children, this medication frequently results in excitement rather than drowsiness.

Can I Take Dramamine While Breastfeeding

Before you take Dramamine while breastfeeding ensures you consult your doctor because Antihistamines like Dramamine can lower basal blood prolactin levels in non-lactating and early postpartum women when administered in relatively high doses through injection.

What should I avoid while taking Dramamine?

1. Do not use topical (skin) medications that contain the antihistamine diphenhydramine (commonly known as Benadryl).

2. When taking this medication with alcohol, adverse effects may occur.

Is Dramamine good for nausea?

Dramamine is a drug that you can use to treat mild cases of nausea and vomiting and other conditions like the flu and food poisoning. You can take Dramamine frequently to prevent chronic nausea or as required to alleviate sporadic nausea symptoms.

Does Dramamine make you tired?

A well-known over-the-counter drug is Dramamine. Although it is an antihistamine, like all antihistamines, it may cause

  • drowsiness,
  • dizziness, and
  • decreased mental alertness.

It aids in reducing motion sickness symptoms. It can make you feel sleepy in some situations and for some people, but not always.

Does Dramamine make you sleepy?

Since diphenhydramine, a key ingredient in Dramamine, causes drowsiness 20 minutes after ingesting it, you can use Dramamine as a sleep aid. It will impair one’s cognitive abilities and may cause sleepiness, but only briefly.

Is Dramamine good for vertigo?

The best medications for treating acute vertigo include dimenhydrinate (Dramamine) and meclizine (Bonine). The usage of these drugs is eventually tapering off because they may obstruct long-term recovery. They aim to treat them by healing the parts of the brain that handle these contradictory impulses.

Can Dramamine be used in children?

Dramamine shouldn’t be used in children under 2 years old unless your doctor says it’s safe. Antihistamine usage outcomes can result in death in extremely young children.

How Addictive is Dramamine?

When taken in doses that are higher than advised, Dramamine has the potential to be abused. When high on Dramamine, the main symptoms are hallucinations and euphoria, and we hypothesize Dramamine has these effects by blocking the brain neurotransmitter acetylcholine.

Dramamine can increase the level of dopamine in the brain. Dopamine’s effects on the brain’s reward system make it a brain chemical intimately associated with addiction. However,

Dramamine is far less addictive when compared to other medications. For instance, cocaine has ten times the potency of Dramamine when it comes to triggering a dopamine rush.

How long can Dramamine last in your system?

Dramamine won’t start working till after an hour, nor before. You must ingest it, let your body digest it, and allow it to enter your bloodstream.

The effectiveness of Dramamine’s long-lasting formulation can extend up to 24 hours. Depending on the fluid type, the drug may stay in fluids for different amounts of time:

In Blood: The half-life of Dramamine in the blood is five to eight hours. Consequently, the medication is probably still in the blood 25 to 40 hours after use.

In Breast milk: We can detect Dramamine in breast milk at trace levels. Older data exist regarding how long dimenhydrinate persists in milk despite the lack of more recent information.

According to data, some women can take dimenhydrinate without it appearing in their milk. In contrast, other women remain to have a significant amount of the medication in their milk five hours after taking it.

How is Dramamine addiction treated?

Due to how exhausted Dramamine makes people feel, Dramamine abuse is relatively uncommon. When abused, the substance can cause someone to fall asleep overnight, lasting for several days.

Therapy:

Therapy is more likely necessary for Dramamine addiction treatment if other substances are misused. Instead of being the result of early drug-seeking behavior, addiction to Dramamine may begin because the person requires extensive therapy and acquired a physical dependence on the drug.

Long-term assistance:

Because addiction is a disease, therapy may last a lifetime. The person can enroll in aftercare support programs, including 12-step counseling and follow-up medical appointments, if the treatment team determines they have a high risk of relapsing.

Interactions

Drug interactions could alter your medication’s function or raise the possibility of significant adverse side effects.

Keep a list of everything you use, herbal products, prescriptions, over-the-counter medications, etc., and provide them to your doctor or pharmacist. Without your doctor’s approval, never start, stop, or change the dosage of any medications.

Before taking Dramamine, inform your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any other medications that make you drowsy, such as alcohol, cannabis, sedatives (such as zolpidem, lorazepam, or alprazolam), muscle relaxants (such as phenylephrine), opioid pain relievers (such as codeine, hydrocodone), or cough suppressants.

All your medications, including allergy and cold/cough remedies, should have their labels carefully read because they may contain drowsiness-inducing chemicals. Inquire with your pharmacist about the safe use of certain products.

Dramamine may affect the findings of some laboratory tests, especially allergy skin tests, leading to potentially inaccurate results. Make sure your doctor or the lab staff knows you use this medication.

Expert Advice On Taking Dramamine While Breastfeeding

1. When taking Dramamine, ensure you take it after eating.

2. Dramamine may cause drowsiness. Do not drive or operate machinery if it affects you because it may compromise your alertness.

3. Avoid drinking alcohol or other medications that may potentiate the sedating effects of Dramamine.

4. Tell your doctor or pharmacist about all of your medical conditions before taking Dramamine, especially while breastfeeding, if you have: breathing issues (such as asthma, emphysema), heart issues, high blood pressure, seizures, liver disease, stomach/intestine issues (such as ulcers, blockage), an overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism), or trouble urinating.

Storing Dramamine Procedures

1. Store in a dark, dry area away from light and moisture.

2. Keep out of the bathroom.

3. Always keep Dramamine in a cool, dry place (do not freeze it).

4. Keep children and pets away from any drugs.

5. Unless specifically instructed, avoid flushing drugs down the toilet or pour them into drains.

6. When the product is no longer needed or has expired, dispose of it properly. Consult your pharmacist or the neighborhood waste management firm.

Conclusion

Never share your medications with others, keep Dramamine and all other medications out of the reach of minors, and only use this drug as directed. Always consult your healthcare practitioner to ensure this article’s details apply to your situation.

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