It may be important to avoid motion sickness with your child if you’re about to take your child on a car ride, boat ride, or plane ride. Carsickness, airsickness, and seasickness are all terms associated with this condition, depending on how you’re traveling. There is an over-the-counter product called Dramamine that can assist with preventing this condition among adults, but can it also be used on children? Quite simply, yes. Children over age 2 can usually take Dramamine safely. You can learn more about how it can be used safely with children in the following sections.
Safe use of Dramamine for kids
A common use of Dramamine is to treat allergy symptoms since it is an antihistamine. Dimenhydrinate is the active ingredient in it. Motion sickness symptoms such as dizziness, nausea, and vomiting can be prevented with this drug.
Children 2 years of age and older can take Dramamine. It is important to get your child’s doctor’s approval before you give him Dramamine if he or she is younger than 2 years old. If you intend to give this drug to your child, make sure to talk to their physician before doing so.
Dramamine helps prevent motion sickness
Various parts of your body, such as your inner ear and eyes, send signals to your brain to help keep you balanced. It is possible to get motion sickness when these signals do not match. A child’s inner ear may sense motion when they travel in a car. As a result, they nearly cannot see out the window, so it may be hard for them to see the vehicle. They receive two different signals from their brains, resulting in motion sickness and nausea.
The inner ear sense of motion is reduced by Dramamine, thus alleviating these symptoms. Several other actions in the brain are also blocked. [1]
Choosing a formula
There is an adult formula and a children’s formula of Dramamine. Children can use both formulas, but the kids’ version may be more appealing to them. Chewable tablets with a grape flavor are available for this product. Tablets that adults swallow with water are available for adults.
Dramamine dosage for kids
If you are going to get your child into a moving vehicle, give him or her Dramamine 30-60 minutes before that. As directed on the packaging, take the medication as directed. Depending on your age, you will need to adjust the dosage.
First, try the smallest dose recommended. Nevertheless, for your child’s next dose, you can increase the amount. A dose can be given every six to eight hours, depending on your child’s needs. Ensure your child doesn’t receive more than the recommended dose on the package.
You may not want to use Dramamine if:
In some cases, Dramamine is not recommended for children with certain health conditions. In case your child has any medical conditions that may affect his or her health when using Dramamine, make sure to talk to their doctor before using this drug. The following conditions are examples:
- phenylketonuria
- asthma
- seizures
Dramamine side effects for kids
There are side effects associated with Dramamine, as with most drugs. Children can experience the following effects from Dramamine:
- Feeling sleepy
- Mouth feeling dry
- Vision is blurry
- Inflammations of their airways due to a thick mucus
- Feeling restless or excited
- An increase in heart rate
Medications that interact
Substances can interfere with the action of a drug when they interact with it. Drug interactions can make a drug ineffective or harmful. Any medications, vitamins, or herbs your child is taking should be discussed with their doctor or pharmacist before taking Dramamine. In this category are over-the-counter medicines. Having this information available can assist your doctor or pharmacist in preventing potentially negative interactions.
When your child takes medications that may interact with Dramamine, you should talk to their doctor or pharmacist. Drugs that can be used as examples include:
- Some products that are used as antihistamines or cold remedies include loratadine (Claritin), diphenhydramine (Benadryl), cetirizine (Zyrtec), as well as an array of combinations.
- Medications such as hydrocodone prescribed as pain relievers
- Several antidepressants are available, including imipramine and amitriptyline
- Gentamicin is an antibiotic
Motion sickness prevention methods in other ways
Consider moving your child to a different place before giving them medication for motion sickness. You should encourage your child to do the following while in a moving vehicle:
- See outside. By looking at the horizon, nausea can be reduced.
- They should close their eyes.
- Don’t read, watch movies, or play games.
- Listen to music or sing songs. It helps to distract yourself.
- Light snacks, like crackers, are a good idea.
- Open a window nearby. Keeping the air in the car cool and fresh is beneficial.
- Sip ginger ale or ginger lozenges. The anti-nausea properties of ginger are beneficial. For more details you can read our article: Can Children Have Ginger?
- When riding in a car, they should sit in the front seat. When they are old enough to sit safely in the front seat, allow them to do so.
Your child may benefit from Dramamine if these steps do not work. If you are concerned about your child using Dramamine, you can talk to their doctor or pharmacist.
The Bottom Line
The use of Dramamine to prevent motion sickness is considered safe for children 2 and older. You might want to try the tips listed above first since they are more natural. Your pharmacist or doctor can tell you if Dramamine is safe for your child if those tips don’t work. You must consult your doctor before taking your child on an upcoming trip so that they can remain comfortable.
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