meclizine
Brand names: Antivert, Bonine
Meclizine is an antihistamine and antiemetic. It helps prevent and treat nausea, vomiting, and dizziness, especially from motion sickness.
Drug Pricing (NADAC)
Generic Price
$0.03/unit
Generic Available
Yes (6 manufacturers)
Pricing data from NADAC (CMS), effective December 18, 2024. Compare all drug costs →
What it does
Meclizine treats nausea, vomiting, and dizziness.
Common side effects
Dizziness, Fatigue
Key warnings
There are no boxed warnings for meclizine.
How It Works
Meclizine works by blocking certain natural substances in your body. These substances, like histamine, can cause nausea and dizziness. By blocking them, meclizine helps reduce these symptoms.
How to Take It
Take meclizine one hour before you start traveling. Adults and children 12 years and older can take 1 to 2 tablets once a day. You can chew the tablets or swallow them whole with water. For children under 12, ask a doctor.
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding before taking meclizine. It is important to weigh the benefits and risks with your doctor.
Missed Dose
If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is close to your next dose, skip the missed dose and continue with your regular schedule.
Storage
Store meclizine at room temperature, away from heat and moisture.
Side Effects (from patient reports)
Based on 10,652 FDA adverse event reports.
FDA Adverse Event Report Analysis
Detailed analysis of 15,616 reports from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Reports span 2004–2025.
Total Reports
15,616
Death-Related Reports
1,426
Hospitalization Reports
4,910
Top Indication
Product Used For Unknown Indication
Gender Distribution
Age Distribution
Most Reported Adverse Reactions (FAERS)
| # | Reaction | Reports |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | DIZZINESS | 1,570 |
| 2 | NAUSEA | 1,351 |
| 3 | FATIGUE | 1,303 |
| 4 | HEADACHE | 1,010 |
| 5 | DIARRHOEA | 991 |
| 6 | PAIN | 985 |
| 7 | FALL | 965 |
| 8 | DYSPNOEA | 851 |
| 9 | CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE | 839 |
| 10 | ASTHENIA | 793 |
| 11 | DRUG INEFFECTIVE | 736 |
| 12 | VOMITING | 691 |
| 13 | RENAL FAILURE | 639 |
| 14 | ANXIETY | 607 |
| 15 | VERTIGO | 606 |
Reactions in Death Reports
Reactions in Hospitalization Reports
Source: FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) Reports are voluntary and do not establish causation
Serious Warnings
There are no boxed warnings for meclizine.
Common Questions
What is meclizine used for?
How long before travel should I take meclizine?
Can children take meclizine?
Can I chew the tablets?
What should I do if I miss a dose?
Are there any side effects?
Can I take meclizine if I am pregnant?
How should I store meclizine?
Can I use meclizine for other conditions?
Is meclizine the same as Dramamine?
What are the common side effects of meclizine?
What drug class is meclizine?
Is meclizine safe during pregnancy?
Related Medications in Antihistamine / Antiemetic
Other drugs grouped near meclizine — same-class peers and common alternatives.
azelastine
Astelin, Astepro
Azelastine nasal spray is an antihistamine medicine.
Compare with meclizine →
budesonide nasal
Rhinocort
Rhinocort is a nasal spray that helps relieve allergy symptoms.
Compare with meclizine →
cetirizine
Zyrtec
Cetirizine (Zyrtec) is an antihistamine medicine.
Compare with meclizine →
chlorpheniramine
Chlor-Trimeton
Chlorpheniramine is an antihistamine medicine.
Compare with meclizine →
ciclesonide nasal
Omnaris, Zetonna
Omnaris Nasal Spray is a medicine that helps treat allergy symptoms in your nose.
Compare with meclizine →
Medication Guides
Understanding Drug Interactions
How CYP450 enzymes, inhibitors, and inducers affect your medications
Generic vs Brand Name Drugs
FDA requirements, cost savings, and when the difference matters
Pain Relievers Compared
NSAIDs vs acetaminophen — which OTC pain reliever to use
Narrow Therapeutic Index Drugs
Why some drugs demand precise dosing and monitoring
Common Drug Interactions
Dangerous medication combinations and how to protect yourself
Related Health & Safety Data
🩺 Find a Doctor
Search prescribers for Antihistamine / Antiemetic
🏨 Hospital Quality
CMS hospital ratings, safety scores & patient outcomes
💊 Supplement Data
NIH DSLD — check supplement ingredients & label claims
🍽️ Food Safety Alerts
FDA recalls, inspections & outbreak investigations
⚠️ Product Recalls
FDA, CPSC & NHTSA recall search
💉 Procedure Costs
Medicare procedure pricing for 9,297 procedures
What the FDA Data Shows for meclizine
The FDA label for meclizine (sold under brand names such as Antivert, Bonine) classifies it as an over-the-counter product in the Antihistamine / Antiemetic class. Meclizine treats nausea, vomiting, and dizziness. Official labeling lists 2 commonly reported side effects, including Dizziness, Fatigue.
Post-market surveillance from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) captures real-world experience. For this drug, FAERS contains 10,652 voluntary reports. Interaction data is drawn directly from FDA-approved prescribing information. NADAC pricing from CMS shows a generic unit cost of $0.03.
Report counts do not establish causation — a FAERS entry documents a temporal association, not proof that the drug produced the outcome. Widely prescribed medications naturally accumulate more reports than niche therapies, so raw totals must be interpreted alongside total exposure. Shortage status, recall history, and patent information further shape supply and switching decisions. This page summarizes public FDA data for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice — always consult a licensed healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.
Data Sources
Drug labeling: FDA Drug Labels (SPL/DailyMed). Adverse events: FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Pricing: CMS National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC).
FAERS reports are voluntary and do not establish causation. Drug interactions are derived from FDA labeling and clinical references. Always consult a healthcare professional before making medication decisions.
Last updated: January 9, 2025
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
All federal data sources used on this page
- FDA Orange Book — approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence. accessdata.fda.gov/cder/ob
- FDA DailyMed — NIH-hosted drug labeling for FDA-approved meds. dailymed.nlm.nih.gov
- FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) — post-marketing safety surveillance. fda.gov/drugs/faers
- NLM RxNorm — standardized clinical drug nomenclature. nlm.nih.gov/research/umls/rxnorm
- CMS Medicare Part B Drug Average Sales Price Files — federal drug pricing data. cms.gov/medicare/part-b-drugs/asp
- FDA Drug Shortages Database — current and resolved drug shortage tracking. accessdata.fda.gov/drugshortages