Category- Allopathy
Medicine Highlights
| Uses | 1. To treat motion sickness 2. To treat vertigo 3. To treat balance disorders. |
| Common Side Effects | 1. Drowsiness 2. Weight gain 3. Indigestion 4. Nausea or Vomiting 5. Stomach discomfort and pain 6. Excessive sweating 7. Headache 8. Dry mouth 9. Depressed mood |
| Additional Information | 1. Avoid driving or any hazardous activity after consuming cinnarizine, as it can cause dizziness or drowsiness. 2. Its off-label indications include migraine and vascular diseases. |
| Storage | 1. The medicine should be stored at room temperature. 2. Keep away from sunlight and moisture. 3. Keep away from the reach of children |
| How to Take This Medicine | To be taken orally with a sip of water |
Cinnarizine Uses
Cinnarizine 75 mg is an oral medicine belonging to the category of antihistamines and is used for the following indications:
- Motion Sickness
- Vertigo
- Balance Disorders
Cinnarizine side effects
More Common
- Drowsiness
- Weight gain
- Indigestion
- Nausea or Vomiting
- Stomach discomfort and pain
- Excessive sweating
- Headache
- Dry mouth
- Depressed mood
Less Common
- Unusual tiredness and weakness
- Twitching and unusual movement of muscles
- Yellowing of skin and eyes
- Excessive salivation
- Swelling of face, lips, eyelids, tongue, hands and feet
- Depressed mood
- Muscle stiffness and trembling
How Cinnarizine works
Cinnarizine works as a guard for your balance system: it blocks the histamine signals that cause dizziness and closes calcium gates that tighten blood vessels, calming the inner ear and helping you feel steadier.
Safety Measures and Warning
Pregnancy
The safety of cinnarizine in pregnancy is not established. Inform your doctor if you are pregnant or planning to conceive.
Kidney and Liver Problems
Cinnarizine is known to be safe for use in liver and kidney disease patients.
Past Mental Health Issues
Cinnarizine directly acts on the brain and causes different side effects like sedation, drowsiness, and suicidal thoughts. Inform the doctor about your past mental health issues before using cinnarizine.
Breastfeeding
Cinnarizine isn’t usually advised while breastfeeding due to unknown effects on the baby. Always talk to your doctor before using it.
Heart Problems
Cinnarizine should be used with caution in heart patients, as its calcium channel blocking effect can influence blood vessel tone and, in rare cases, affect heart rhythm or blood pressure.
Cinnarizine Interaction with Food Product
Avoid consuming alcohol and smoking simultaneously together, as it may affect the drug’s action and show an effect on the brain, leading to severe drowsiness, sedation, and coma in severe cases.
Cinnarizine Interaction with Other Medicines
Avoid taking Cinnarizine 75 mg with the following medicines, as it may increase or decrease the desired effect, or in worse cases, it could be fatal:
Cinnarizine Chemical Structure
IUPAC (International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry)/ Chemical name
(E)-1-(diphenylmethyl)-4-(3-phenylprop-2-enyl)piperazine.
Intake routine/cycle
Daily dose
Take Cinnarizine exactly as your doctor recommends. The dose may change based on your condition and how well you respond. Do not take more than prescribed without consulting your doctor.
Missed Dose
If you forget to take your medicine, take the medication as soon as you remember. If it’s nearly time for your next dose, skip the missed one and continue with your regular schedule. Always consult the doctor before making any changes to your dosage.
Overdose
It is not recommended to take more than 225 mg of Cinnarizine per day, as it may cause severe overdosing effects like extreme drowsiness, confusion, unconsciousness, sweating, double vision, low blood pressure, and slurred speech. Immediately seek medical attention and meet the doctor if necessary.
Storage
- Store the medicine at room temperature
- Keep away from sunlight and moisture
- Keep out of reach of children
Directions for use
- Take Cinnarizine exactly as prescribed by your doctor, at the same time each day.
- Do not stop taking Cinnarizine without your doctor’s approval, even if you feel better.
- If you forget to take Cinnarizine, take it as soon as you remember. If it’s almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose.
Cinnarizine Summary
Cinnarizine is an antihistamine (H1 receptor antagonist) that relaxes blood vessels to lower blood pressure by blocking calcium activity. It is not FDA‑approved but is widely used in other countries for motion sickness, vertigo, and balance disorders, with off‑label use in migraine prophylaxis and peripheral vascular disease. Its common side effects include drowsiness, weight gain, dry mouth, and gastrointestinal upset, with rare neurological symptoms on long‑term use. The mechanism involves blocking histamine H1 receptors to reduce ear nerve stimulation and partially inhibiting calcium influx in smooth muscle to improve circulation. Drug-food interactions are minimal, though alcohol and other sedatives can enhance drowsiness, and taking it after meals may reduce gastric irritation.
FAQ’s
What are the uses of Cinnarizine tablets?
Cinnarizine tablets are used to prevent and treat motion sickness, vertigo, and balance disorders. They are also prescribed in some cases for migraine prevention and peripheral circulation problems.
What are the side effects of Cinnarizine?
Cinnarizine tablets commonly cause drowsiness, weight gain, dry mouth, stomach upset, and nausea; rarely, long‑term use may lead to movement disorders (extrapyramidal symptoms).
What is the drug class for cinnarizine?
Cinnarizine belongs to the drug class of antihistamines, specifically H1 receptor antagonists, and acts as a calcium channel blocker.
What is the highest dose of Cinnarizine per day?
The maximum recommended dose of cinnarizine is 225 mg per day, typically divided into two or three doses. This applies to adults being treated for balance disorders or peripheral circulatory issues.
Reference
- Teva UK Limited. CINNARIZINE 15MG TABLETS [Internet]. Eastbourne (UK): Drugs.com; 2015 [cited 2025 Oct 18]. Available from.
- National Center for Biotechnology Information. PubChem Compound Summary for CID 2754, Cinnarizine [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): National Library of Medicine (US); [cited 2025 Oct 18]. Available from.
- Khan M, Shahzad M, Shahid S, et al. Cinnarizine and dimenhydrinate in the treatment of vertigo: a systematic review. J Pharm Bioallied Sci [Internet]. 2019 Oct-Dec [cited 2025 Oct 18];11(4):273–81. Available from.
- Practo Technologies Pvt Ltd. Cinnarizine – Uses, Dosage, Side Effects, Price, Composition [Internet]. Bengaluru (IN): Practo; [cited 2025 Oct 18]. Available from.
Authors
Siva Krishna Adithya Bhumireddy completed a Bachelor of Pharmacy from GIET School of Pharmacy, affiliated with Andhra University, and from his 3rd year of graduation, he was working as a freelance medical and publication writer. Having expertise in systematic reviews and clinical research. With his keen interest and skills in research and documentation practices, he also reviewed more than 150 manuscripts from international journals like Elsevier, Springer Nature, and Sage Journals, and all the manuscripts were indexed and appeared in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases, and he received honorary recognition letters and certificates from all of them. Siva Krishna Adithya also published a few systematic, narrative reviews and a few chapters of international expertise.