Cinnarizine

What is Cinnarizine?

Cinnarizine is a type of antihistamine that treats nausea, dizziness and balance problems caused by vestibular issues. The vestibular system is a structure in the inner ear that controls your balance.

It’s a great treatment for vertigo that’s caused by benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), Ménière’s disease, and labyrinthitis or vestibular neuritis. Labyrinthitis and vestibular neuritis are related conditions. They affect different parts of the inner ear but cause very similar symptoms.

Cinnarizine is a tablet you take whenever you have a flare-up of symptoms, to manage and reduce them. It allows you to carry on with your everyday activities without discomfort or sickness.

How does Cinnarizine work?

Cinnarizine is a type of antihistamine called a H1 receptor antagonist. It works on these histamine receptors, blocking them from working. This suppresses your vestibular system, which relieves problems with nausea and balance.

Cinnarizine won’t cure your underlying condition; it treats symptoms that occur during flare-ups. So if your condition gets worse, go back and talk to your clinician. If you have hearing loss caused by labyrinthitis, Cinnarizine can’t treat this either.

What doses of Cinnarizine are there?

Cinnarizine comes as 15mg tablets. When you’re taking it for dizziness and nausea associated with BPPV, Ménière’s disease, labyrinthitis or vestibular neuritis, you’ll usually take two tablets, three times a day. Sometimes the dose can be raised if it doesn’t fully control your dizziness and nausea.

If you talk to us about your symptoms, we can help you find the right dose for you. When you order Cinnarizine through us, you can log into your account and message our clinicians at any time. If you think you need to adjust your dose, just talk to us.

Always listen to your clinician’s advice on how to take Cinnarizine.

• Try to take Cinnarizine on a full stomach. You could time your doses so you take them after each meal, or have a snack first.
• Take your Cinnarizine doses around the same time each day. Setting alarms can help you remember.
• Cinnarizine tablets can be swallowed, chewed or sucked on.
• Drinking a large glass of water with Cinnarizine can make the tablets easier to take.

How long does it take Cinnarizine to work?

Cinnarizine is absorbed into your body quickly, so it should start to help your symptoms soon. It reaches peak concentration in your blood serum two and a half to four hours after you take it. So you should start feeling some relief from your symptoms pretty quickly.

It also builds up in your body, and it becomes more effective over time. So if you keep taking your prescribed dose at the right times during attacks, it should get even better at controlling your symptoms.

What should I do if I make a mistake while taking Cinnarizine?

If you take too much Cinnarizine, get medical attention immediately. It can make you very drowsy or lose awareness, so make sure to take the packaging of the medication with you so they can see what you’ve taken.

If you forget to take Cinnarizine, take your dose as soon as you remember. If it’s nearly time for your next tablet, just skip the missed tablet and carry on as normal. Don’t double your dose to make up for missing some Cinnarizine.

Medically reviewed by

Dr Daniel Atkinson

GP Clinical Lead

on January 30, 2023.

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