Two medicines, side by side
Dimenhydrinate vs metoclopramide
Dimenhydrinate and metoclopramide are both labeled for nausea and vomiting. Pharmacies paid $0.0575 per driminate 50 mg tablet and $0.0439 per metoclopramide 10 mg tablet (NADAC, October 7, 2026); the strengths differ, so the two prices are not like for like. Only the metoclopramide label carries a boxed warning.
Check it at the source: the dimenhydrinate FDA label on DailyMed (effective August 17, 2026); the metoclopramide FDA label on DailyMed (effective May 18, 2026).
Highlights of the dimenhydrinate record
Dimenhydrinate · label of August 17, 2026
Used for
From the label: indicationsfor prevention and treatment of these symptoms associated with motion sickness: nausea vomiting dizziness
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- n/a
- Generic labelers
- 1 labeler
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.0575 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 0
Highlights of the metoclopramide record
Metoclopramide (Reglan) · label of May 18, 2026
TARDIVE DYSKINESIA
Metoclopramide, including metoclopramide tablets, can cause tardive dyskinesia (TD), a potentially irreversible serious movement disorder. In patients treated with metoclopramide, including metoclopramide tablets, the risk of developing TD increases with duration of treatment and total cumulative dosage [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.1 )].
Metoclopramide tablets are contraindicated in patients with a history of TD.
Used for
From the label: indicationsMetoclopramide Tablets USP are indicated for the: • Treatment for 4 to 12 weeks of symptomatic, documented gastroesophageal reflux in adults who fail to respond to conventional therapy. • Relief of symptoms in adults with acute and recurrent diabetic gastroparesis. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- February 7, 1979
- Generic labelers
- 39 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.0439 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 10
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Dimenhydrinate label of August 17, 2026, Metoclopramide label of May 18, 2026); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do dimenhydrinate and metoclopramide differ on the record?
Only the metoclopramide label carries a boxed warning.
Generics: dimenhydrinate since 1972; metoclopramide since 1985 (Drugs@FDA).
| Dimenhydrinate | Metoclopramide | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Nausea and vomiting | Acid reflux and ulcers, Nausea and vomiting |
| Pharmacologic class | n/a | Dopamine-2 Receptor Antagonist |
| How it works (label) | n/a | Metoclopramide stimulates motility of the upper gastrointestinal tract without stimulating gastric, biliary, or pancreatic secretions. |
| Half-life (label) | n/a | The mean elimination half-life in subjects with normal renal function was 5 to 6 hours. |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | n/a | February 7, 1979 |
| First generic approved | May 31, 1972 | July 29, 1985 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 1 labeler | 39 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.0575 per tablet (Driminate 50 mg tablet) | $0.0439 per tablet (Metoclopramide 10 mg tablet) |
| 12-month price change | -16% | -11% |
| Boxed warning | No | Yes |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 0 | 10 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 10,594 | 76,710 |
| DEA schedule | none | none |
Source: Drugs@FDA, FDA NDC Directory, CMS NADAC of October 7, 2026, FDA shortages and recalls, FAERS via openFDA (FDA files October 8, 2026)
What next?
- Alternatives to dimenhydrinate
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions