If you or someone you care for is using MEDAZINE NAUSEA TABLETS, it helps to know exactly what this medicine is for, how to take it properly, and when to be careful. This medicine contains cyclizine hydrochloride 50 mg and is used to treat and prevent nausea and vomiting from different causes. It may also help with vertigo (a spinning feeling) linked to Ménière’s disease and other inner-ear problems.
Quick facts: MEDAZINE NAUSEA TABLETS is an S2 scheduled medicine. It belongs to a group of medicines called anti-emetics and antivertigo preparations. It starts working within about 30 minutes after you take it by mouth, works best after about 1 to 2 hours, and its effects usually last 4 to 6 hours.
What it is and what it is used for
MEDAZINE NAUSEA TABLETS contains the active ingredient cyclizine hydrochloride. Each tablet contains 50 mg. It is used to help prevent or treat:
- Nausea and vomiting from motion sickness
- Nausea and vomiting caused by narcotic analgesics
- Vomiting linked to cancer chemotherapy
- Vomiting linked to radiotherapy
- Attacks of vertigo and vomiting associated with Ménière’s disease
- Vomiting linked to other labyrinthine disorders (conditions affecting the inner ear)
This means it may be useful if you feel sick while travelling, if another medicine makes you feel nauseous, or if you have an inner-ear condition that causes dizziness and vomiting.
How it works (simple explanation)
Cyclizine is an H1 antihistamine from the piperazine group. In everyday terms, it helps calm the body systems involved in nausea, vomiting and certain types of dizziness. The source explains that it lowers the sensitivity of the labyrinthine apparatus in the inner ear, increases the tone of the lower oesophageal sphincter, and may also reduce activity in the brain area involved in triggering vomiting.
You do not need to understand all the technical details to use it safely. What matters most is that it helps settle the body’s “vomiting signals”, especially when those signals come from motion, the inner ear, or some medicines and treatments.
Who should NOT use this medicine
Do not use MEDAZINE NAUSEA TABLETS if you:
- Are allergic to cyclizine
- Have had a bad reaction before to cyclizine
- Are allergic to any of the other ingredients in the tablets
- Are pregnant
- Are breastfeeding
- Are having an acute asthma attack
Do not use if you have certain rare sugar-related conditions
Because this medicine contains lactose, do not take it if you have:
- Galactose intolerance
- Galactosaemia
- Lapp-lactase deficiency
- Glucose-galactose malabsorption
Age restriction
- It is not recommended for children under 6 years of age.
Warnings and precautions (Read before use)
There are times when extra care is needed before using this medicine. Even if it is suitable for you, it may still affect concentration or interact with other conditions and medicines.
Be careful if you have other health conditions
Unless a doctor tells you to use it, this medicine should not be used if you have:
- Urinary retention
- Narrow-angle glaucoma
- Prostatic hypertrophy
- Chronic pulmonary disease
- Emphysema
- Difficult breathing
- Shortness of breath
Use with caution if you have:
- Liver disease
- Epilepsy
- Obstructive disease of the gastrointestinal tract
- Severe heart failure
If you have porphyria, this medicine should be avoided.
Effects on concentration and alertness
This medicine may make it harder for you to concentrate and may cause drowsiness. Alcohol and other medicines that slow down the central nervous system can make this worse.
Warning: Do not drive, use machinery or do any dangerous task until you know how this medicine affects you. Even though a study in healthy adults taking a single 50 mg dose did not show sedation, the source still advises that you should first see how you respond personally.
Children and older adults
Children may react differently to this medicine. Instead of becoming sleepy, they may sometimes become over-stimulated, with symptoms such as:
- Nervousness
- Insomnia
- Fast heartbeat
- Muscle twitching
- Tremors
- Convulsions
Older people may be more likely to experience:
- Low blood pressure
- Effects on the central nervous system
Seizure risk and serious reactions
Large doses may trigger fits in people with epilepsy, and antihistamines such as this one may also cause seizure-like episodes in people with certain brain lesions. The source also reports serious allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis, as well as blood problems such as haemolytic anaemia and agranulocytosis.
Misuse and alcohol risk
Cyclizine has been misused by mouth or injection for its euphoric or hallucinatory effects. The source warns that because its anti-nausea effect may increase the toxicity of alcohol, misusing large amounts of alcohol together with this medicine is particularly dangerous.
Diabetes and lactose content
Each tablet contains 37 mg of lactose. The source notes that this may affect glycaemic control in people with diabetes mellitus.
Skin tests
Antihistamines such as this medicine may suppress positive skin test results.
Kidney or liver problems
The source says that no specific studies were done in people with kidney and/or liver dysfunction.
Pregnancy, planning pregnancy, and breastfeeding
MEDAZINE NAUSEA TABLETS is contraindicated in pregnancy and lactation because safety has not been established. The source also says it is not known whether cyclizine or its metabolite passes into breast milk.
If you are pregnant, planning a pregnancy, or breastfeeding, do not use this medicine unless a healthcare professional specifically advises you otherwise based on the source restrictions.
Interactions
Some medicines and substances can affect how MEDAZINE NAUSEA TABLETS works, or increase side effects.
Medicines and substances that may increase drowsiness
This medicine may increase the sedative effect of:
- Barbiturates
- Alcohol
- Narcotic analgesics
- Hypnotics
- Tranquilizers
- Anaesthetics
- Sedatives
Anticholinergic medicines
If taken together with medicines that have anticholinergic effects, side effects may become stronger. The source specifically mentions:
- Tricyclic antidepressants
- Atropine
If atropine and this medicine are used together, you may develop:
- Dizziness
- Restlessness
- Fast heartbeat
Other important interactions
This medicine may:
- Mask warning signs of damage caused by ototoxic medicines, such as aminoglycoside antibiotics
- Influence the metabolism of medicines in the liver
- Have stronger antimuscarinic effects when used with monoamine oxidase inhibitors
- Increase the soporific effect of pethidine
Note: The source does not give spacing instructions for doses when taken with other medicines. If you take regular treatment, especially medicines that cause sleepiness, speak to your doctor or pharmacist before combining them.
How to take (Step-by-step)
Take this medicine exactly as directed in the source.
General dosing
- Adults and children over 12 years: Take 1 tablet (50 mg). This may be repeated up to three times a day. Do not take more than 4 tablets (200 mg) in 24 hours.
- Children 6 to 12 years: Take ½ tablet (25 mg). This may be repeated up to three times a day. Do not take more than 1½ tablets (75 mg) in 24 hours.
For motion sickness
If you are taking it to prevent travel sickness:
- Take 1 tablet 1 to 2 hours before departure
- If needed, the dose may be repeated three times daily
- For children aged 6 to 12 years, use half the adult dose
In older adults
No specific studies were done in elderly patients, but the source says that experience suggests the normal adult dose is appropriate.
How to stay on track
Simple ways to help yourself use it properly:
- Check the age-based dose before giving it
- If using it for motion sickness, remember to take it before you travel
- Keep track of how many tablets you have taken in 24 hours
- Do not exceed the stated maximum daily dose
Missed dose
Not specified in the source.
Overdose
Too much MEDAZINE NAUSEA TABLETS can be very dangerous and may even be fatal, especially in children. Symptoms can include:
- Dizziness
- Drowsiness
- Poor coordination
- Excitability
- Weakness
- Confusion
- Hallucinations
- Convulsions
- Breathing problems
- Blurred vision
- Dry mouth, nose and throat
- Urinary retention
- Fast heartbeat
In children, overdose may cause:
- Ataxia
- Hallucinations
- Excitement
- Convulsions
- Muscle tremor
- Dry mouth
- Dilated pupils
- Facial flushing
- High fever
Warning: If an overdose is suspected, get urgent medical help immediately. The source states that treatment is symptomatic and supportive. Gastric lavage and support for circulation and breathing may be needed, and convulsions should be treated with parenteral anticonvulsant therapy.
Dosing table
| Age group | Dose | Frequency | Maximum daily dose |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adults and children over 12 years | 1 tablet (50 mg) | May be repeated up to three times a day | 4 tablets (200 mg) |
| Children 6 to 12 years | ½ tablet (25 mg) | May be repeated up to three times a day | 1½ tablets (75 mg) |
For prevention of motion sickness, adults take 1 tablet 1 to 2 hours before departure. Children aged 6 to 12 years take half the adult dose.
Possible side effects
Not everyone gets side effects, but it is important to know what may happen so you can act quickly if needed.
Common
The source lists the following as frequent:
- Sedation, which may range from mild drowsiness to deep sleep
- Inability to concentrate
This may affect driving, schoolwork, work performance and activities that need alertness.
Less common or frequency not known
The source lists many side effects where the frequency is unknown. These include effects on mood, the nervous system, stomach, skin and other parts of the body.
Mental and mood-related effects
- Euphoria or feeling unusually elated
- Irritability
- Depression
- Nightmares
- Tiredness or low energy
- Disorientation
- Restlessness
- Nervousness
- Insomnia
- Visual or auditory hallucinations, especially if too much is taken
Nervous system effects
- Dizziness
- Poor coordination
- Muscular weakness
- Headache
- Heaviness or weakness of the hands
- Tingling
- Tremor
- Convulsions
- Somnolence
- Decreased consciousness
- Speech problems
- Movement disorders
Eye and ear effects
- Blurred vision
- Oculogyric crisis
- Tinnitus
Heart and circulation effects
- Fast heartbeat
- High blood pressure
- Low blood pressure
Breathing-related effects
- Tightness of the chest
- Apnoea
- Bronchospasm
Stomach and bowel effects
- Nausea
- Diarrhoea
- Vomiting
- Constipation
- Loss of appetite
- Upper abdominal pain
- Increased appetite
- Dry mouth, nose and throat
Liver-related effects
- Hepatic dysfunction
- Cholestatic jaundice
- Cholestatic hepatitis
- Hypersensitivity hepatitis
Skin effects
- Fixed drug eruptions
- Medicine rash
- Urticaria
- Allergic skin reactions
- Angioedema
Muscle, urinary and general effects
- Muscle spasms
- Twitching
- Difficulty passing urine
- Urinary retention
- Dysuria
- Asthenia
Serious—seek urgent help
Get urgent medical care if you develop signs of a severe reaction, such as:
- Anaphylaxis or severe allergic reaction
- Chest tightness, bronchospasm or breathing problems
- Convulsions
- Reduced consciousness
- Angioedema
- Symptoms suggesting a serious blood problem, such as those linked in the source to haemolytic anaemia, agranulocytosis or leucopenia
Note: The source does not give a step-by-step action plan for every side effect. If you become very drowsy, confused, short of breath, develop swelling, or have a fit, treat it as urgent.
Storage and disposal
Store MEDAZINE NAUSEA TABLETS:
- At or below 25 °C
- Protected from light
- Out of reach of children
Expiry
Expiry guidance is not specified in the source beyond the storage instructions. Do not use medicine that is past its expiry date on the pack.
Disposal
Disposal instructions are not specified in the source.
What the medicine contains
Active ingredient
Each tablet contains:
- Cyclizine hydrochloride 50 mg
Other ingredients
The inactive ingredients listed are:
- Colloidal silicon dioxide
- Lactose
- Magnesium stearate
- Maize starch
- Povidone
- Sodium starch glycollate
Important excipient information
- Contains sugar
- Contains 37 mg of lactose per tablet
Pack information and appearance
What the tablets look like
The tablets are described as:
- White
- Circular
- Flat
- Bevelled
- With a breakline on one side
- Plain on the other side
Pack sizes
This medicine is available as:
- A Securitainer of 200 tablets
- Push-through blister packs of 10 tablets
- Cartons containing 10 tablets
- Cartons containing 20 tablets
South African registration details
- Scheduling status: S2
- Registration number: 27/5.7.2/0203
- Certificate holder: CIPLA MEDPRO (PTY) LTD, RSA
Practical FAQs (based ONLY on the source)
Can I take this before a trip to prevent motion sickness?
Yes. The source says to take 1 tablet 1 to 2 hours before departure. For children aged 6 to 12 years, the dose is half the adult dose.
Can I give it to a child under 6 years old?
No. The source says it is not recommended for children under 6 years of age.
Can I drink alcohol while taking this?
You should be very careful. The source says alcohol can worsen drowsiness and impaired concentration, and misuse of large amounts of alcohol with this medicine is described as particularly dangerous.
Will it make me sleepy?
It might. Sedation is listed as a frequent side effect, and the source warns that concentration and alertness may be impaired.
Can I drive after taking it?
Not until you know how it affects you. The source advises against driving or operating machinery until you have worked out your own response to the medicine.
Is it safe in pregnancy or while breastfeeding?
No. The source says it is contraindicated in pregnancy and lactation because safety has not been established.
Can I take it if I have diabetes?
The source does not say that people with diabetes cannot use it, but it does say the medicine contains lactose and that this may affect glycaemic control.
What if I take too much?
This needs urgent medical help. Overdose can be severe and may be fatal, especially in children.
Can older people use the usual adult dose?
Yes, according to the source, experience suggests that the normal adult dosage is appropriate for elderly patients, although older adults may be more sensitive to some effects.
Can it affect allergy skin tests?
Yes. The source says antihistamines such as this medicine may suppress positive skin test results.
Plain-language summary
MEDAZINE NAUSEA TABLETS contains cyclizine hydrochloride and is used to help prevent or treat nausea, vomiting and some types of vertigo. If you are using it, make sure you follow the age-based dose carefully, especially for children, and do not take more than the maximum amount in 24 hours. It may be particularly helpful for motion sickness if taken 1 to 2 hours before travel.
Use extra caution if you have breathing problems, glaucoma, urinary retention, epilepsy, liver disease, heart failure or diabetes, and do not use it in pregnancy, during breastfeeding, during an acute asthma attack, or if you are allergic to cyclizine. Because it may cause drowsiness and poor concentration, avoid driving and be careful with alcohol and other medicines that make you sleepy. If too much is taken, or if you develop a severe allergic reaction, breathing difficulty, swelling or convulsions, get urgent medical help straight away.
