Name: Cyclizine
Published: Sep 20, 2023

Cyclizine

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Reviewed on Sep 20, 2023. by Dr Daniel Atkinson GP Clinical Lead Registered with GMC (No. 4624794) Next review due on September 21, 2026.

Last updated on Sep 20, 2023.

Product info

Cyclizine is an antihistamine that can be used to treat nausea.
It can stop you feeling and being sick and usually starts to work within half an hour.
For nausea caused by motion sickness, you take the tablets 1-2 hours before you travel.

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Cyclizine: essential info
Cyclizine: instructions
Important stuff you need to know
FAQ

What is Cyclizine?

Cyclizine is an antihistamine medication. It’s used to help stop you feeling sick (nausea) or being sick (vomiting or emesis).

You can take cyclizine to treat symptoms of nausea or vomiting caused by morning sickness, vertigo, inner ear problems such as motion sickness or Ménière’s disease. It’s also helpful at treating nausea caused by general anaesthetics after surgery, cancer treatment or other medicines.^[1]

How does Cyclizine work?

Cyclizine is an antihistamine, meaning it works by blocking a chemical called histamine in your brain that can make you feel sick. It belongs to a class of medicines called histamine H1 receptor antagonists. Its exact mechanism of action against nausea or how it stops you from vomiting, however, is not yet fully known.

We do know, however, that it strengthens the lower oesophageal sphincter (a muscle at the bottom of your food pipe, just above the stomach), which helps prevent vomiting. This is because vomiting can occur when the lower oesophageal sphincter is relaxed. It’s also thought to inhibit a part of your brain known as the emetic centre (more commonly known as the vomiting centre) which, when stimulated, can make you vomit.

Cyclizine also reduces the sensitivity of your inner ear, which is helpful if nausea and vomiting are symptoms of an inner ear problem like motion sickness.^[2]

Are there different forms of Cyclizine?

Cyclizine comes as Cyclizine 50mg tablets and is also available as a Cyclizine Lactate 50mg/ml injection.

When used to treat nausea, the recommended dose for Cyclizine tablets for adults is one to three tablets a day when needed (with at least 8 hours between doses).

If you suffer from motion sickness, take your tablets 1-2 hours before you’re due to travel.

Treated trusted sources:

NHS Choices (2022). About cyclizine. [online] NHS.
www.medicines.org.uk. (n.d.). Cyclizine 50mg Tablets – Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC) – (emc). [online]

This page was written by The Treated Content Team.

This page was medically reviewed by Dr Daniel Atkinson on September 21, 2023. Next review due on September 21, 2026.

How we source info.

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.

FAQ: Cyclizine

Have something specific you want to know? Search our info below, or ask our experts a question if you can’t find what you’re looking for.

Can Cyclizine interact with other drugs?

Answer:

Cyclizine can affect the way certain medicines work and may cause you to experience more side effects when taken with drugs for conditions like depression, anxiety or sleep difficulties.

Because Cyclizine also has anticholinergic effects (responsible for some side effects like dry mouth, constipation and blurred vision), Cyclizine can amplify the side effects of other drugs with similar properties, such as atropine and some medications for depression (both tricyclics and MAO inhibitors). This also means that taking it for a long time can increase the risks of dementia in older age.

Combining Cyclizine with other antiemetic drugs like prochlorperazine, metoclopramide or ondansetron can raise the risk of experiencing side effects like drowsiness, blurred vision, confusion, irregular heartbeat and others.

However, Cyclizine doesn’t interact with anti-inflammatory drugs like paracetamol, and it’s not known to have interactions with medications used for heartburn and indigestion, such as omeprazole.

What alternatives to Cyclizine are there for nausea?

Answer:

There are lots of different treatments available for nausea. If you’re looking for a brand name, cyclizine is also available as Valoid tablets or injections. Both generic Cyclizine and Valoid contain the same amount of the active ingredient, cyclizine hydrochloride, and work in the same way, but the generic medication is usually a bit cheaper.

There are also other drugs available to treat nausea, such as dopamine antagonists (like prochlorperazine or metoclopramide), antihistamines (like cyclizine), and anticholinergic agents (like meclizine).

Prochlorperazine works by blocking dopamine receptors in your brain and is also available under the brand names Buccastem and Stemetil. Both drugs are effective, so it's more about your personal preference, how your body reacts to the medications, and any other conditions you might have. In one study, 324 participants were treated with either cyclizine 50mg, prochlorperazine 10mg or ondansetron 4mg to prevent post-surgery vomiting and nausea. All three treatments were found to be equally effective.^[1]

Metoclopramide is another medication that’s commonly prescribed for different types of nausea. It’s generally safe and effective in treating nausea associated with migraine^[2] and chemotherapy^[3] in people over 20. But it’s not as effective as prochlorperazine or cyclizine when treating nausea and vomiting after an operation. Metoclopramide is also more likely to cause side effects, particularly for children, young adults and older people.^[3]

Is Cyclizine safe to use in pregnancy or while breastfeeding?

Answer:

Cyclizine is commonly used for pregnancy sickness, (even though it isn’t specifically licensed for this purpose) but in some cases it might not be suitable. So make sure to ask your clinician if it’s safe for you to take during pregnancy.

Cyclizine has been detected in human milk, but the exact amount that passes into breast milk hasn’t been precisely determined. So it’s best to only take it occasionally and for short periods of time if you breastfeed.

Can you get Cyclizine over the counter?

Answer:

Cyclizine is a pharmacy drug, so you don’t need a prescription for it. But you will need to talk to a pharmacist before you can start using it. That’s just so that they can make sure it’s safe and suitable for you.

Can I drink alcohol while on Cyclizine?

Answer:

It’s not advised to drink alcohol while taking Cyclizine, since both have central nervous system (CNS) depressant effects, and can have a negative impact on your ability to perform skilled tasks like driving or operating machinery. It can also make you sleep very deeply, have difficulty breathing, and make it hard for you to wake up. ^[3]

Taking Cyclizine alongside large amounts of alcohol is also quite dangerous, since the antiemetic effect of Cyclizine can increase the toxicity of alcohol.

Can Cyclizine cause any side effects?

Answer:

Like any other medicine, Cyclizine can give you side effects. But don’t worry, most people don’t get them and the medicine is safe to take for the majority of people.

Some common side effects are:

Feeling sick

Feeling sleepy (although it’s less common than with other antiemetic drugs)

Constipation

Diarrhoea

Blurred vission

Headaches

There have also been reports of Cyclizine causing hallucinations or euphoric episodes (becoming ‘high’). Because of these effects, some people have started using it for recreational purposes, and it’s led to some people becoming addicted to it. To avoid this, make sure you only ever take Cyclizine as prescribed by your clinician.

For a complete list of side effects, you can read the patient information leaflet which comes with your prescription.

Treated trusted sources:

Ellis, G.L., Delaney, J., DeHart, D.A. and Owens, A. (1993). The efficacy of metoclopramide in the treatment of migraine headache. Annals of Emergency Medicine, 22(2), pp.191–195.
Gralla, R.J., Itri, L.M., Pisko, S.E., Squillante, A.E., Kelsen, D.P., Braun, D.W., Bordin, L.A., Braun, T.J. and Young, C.W. (1981). Antiemetic Efficacy of High-Dose Metoclopramide: Randomized Trials with Placebo and Prochlorperazine in Patients with Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting. New England Journal of Medicine, 305(16), pp.905–909.
NHS South West Devon Formulary Guidance (n.d.). 4.6 Drugs used in nausea and vertigo. [online]