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.
When we present you with stats, data, opinion or a consensus, we’ll tell you where this came from. And we’ll only present data as clinically reliable if it’s come from a reputable source, such as a state or government-funded health body, a peer-reviewed medical journal, or a recognised analytics or data body. Read more in our editorial policy.
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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.
When we present you with stats, data, opinion or a consensus, we’ll tell you where this came from. And we’ll only present data as clinically reliable if it’s come from a reputable source, such as a state or government-funded health body, a peer-reviewed medical journal, or a recognised analytics or data body. Read more in our editorial policy.
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FAQ: Cinnarizine
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How is Cinnarizine different from other treatments for vertigo?
Answer:
When treating vertigo and nausea symptoms associated with BPPV, Ménière’s disease, labyrinthitis or vestibular neuritis, you have a few options. While Cinnarizine is a H1 antihistamine, the other common medications work differently.
Prochlorperazine works to treat dizziness and nausea associated with these conditions by blocking the actions of D2 dopamine receptors. Betahistine is another treatment for vertigo which works in a different way to Cinnarizine. It slightly targets H1 receptors, but mostly works as a H3 receptor agonist.
So all three of these treatments work in different ways. This means one might work better than another for easing your symptoms. Medications affect everyone in different ways, so you might also find you just prefer one.
Is Cinnarizine similar to any other treatments?
Answer:
There’s a brand medication called Stugeron, which also has 15mg of cinnarizine. Because they have the same active ingredient in the same dose, Stugeron and Cinnarizine should work in almost the same way.
But because Stugeron is a branded product, it has a different name and is usually a little more expensive. So which one you use is really up to you. If you talk to us about your health, we can let you know your options.
How effective is Cinnarizine?
Answer:
Cinnarizine works in treating nausea and dizziness in a number of conditions related to the vestibular system. In a study comparing Cinnarizine and Prochlorperazine in the treatment of labyrinthitis and Ménière’s disease, Cinnarizine reduced the severity of symptoms by 70%–80%.
In people with Ménière’s disease, taking Cinnarizine has also been shown to work for preventing vertigo spells, especially in those with migraines. So it doesn’t just help with attacks, it can stop you from having more.
If you have peripheral vertigo, which can be caused by BPPV, Ménière’s disease, labyrinthitis and vestibular neuritis, Cinnarizine is proven to work well. One 14 week study found that Cinnarizine reduced the amount of moderate vertigo episodes by 65.8% and severe episodes by 89.8%.
Can I drink alcohol with Cinnarizine?
Answer:
It’s important to avoid alcohol while taking Cinnarizine. This is because both alcohol and Cinnarizine can make you drowsy, affect your balance or affect your thinking. When taken together, the effects of alcohol and Cinnarizine can amplify each other, which can be unsafe.
Alcohol can also intensify dizziness and nausea, so it will aggravate your symptoms if you’re currently having a flare-up. It’s best to wait until all the Cinnarizine has left your system and your vertigo symptoms are gone before you drink any alcohol.
Do I need a prescription for Cinnarizine?
Answer:
Not exactly. Cinnarizine is a pharmacy treatment, so you’ll need to get it from a registered pharmacy. A licensed clinician will need to chat with you first to make sure it’s right for you to take.
If you tell us about your dizziness and nausea, we can check if Cinnarizine is a good choice. It’s not right for everyone; whether it’s suitable for you can depend on other health conditions you might have or medications you might be on. But if it is the right option, we can send the medication straight to you.
Why should I buy Cinnarizine online with Treated?
Answer:
Having a condition that causes vertigo can make everyday life difficult. We can make treatment as simple as possible, and structured to your needs. You can find the medication that’s right for you and have it sent straight to you, without having to leave home. So if you’re struggling with dizziness and nausea right now, don’t worry. Just talk to us about your health.
You can choose flexible subscriptions, so you never have to worry about running out of medication. It gets delivered on time, on the schedule that suits you. And if you ever want help or advice with your treatment, you can just log into your account and message us. Our clinicians will get right back to you.
Disclaimer: The information provided on this page is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have any questions or concerns about your health, please talk to a doctor.
New Approaches to the Management of Peripheral Vertigo: Efficacy and Safety of Two Calcium Antagonists in a 12-week, Multinational, Double-Blind Study. Otology & Neurotology, 23(3), pp.357-363.
Association of cinnarizine and betahistine in prophylactic therapy for Ménière's disease with and without migraine. Societa italiana di otorinolaringologia e chirurgia cervico-facciale, 34(5), pp.349–353.
