Cinnarizine

Definition

The active ingredient cinnarizine is used to treat symptoms originating from diseases of the inner ear. The inner ear is the organ of equilibrium, which can lead to dizziness and nausea when malfunctioning.

Effect

The active ingredient cinnarizine is able to reduce the symptoms of Meniere’s disease, namely nausea and dizziness. In addition, cinnarizine is also used to prevent or combat travel sickness, although its use has not been confirmed by studies. This effect is based on the fact that the drug inhibits nerve impulses that lead to dizziness and nausea.

In addition, cinnarizine increases blood flow in the body by promoting the narrowing of blood vessels. This suggests that conditions caused by circulatory disorders are improved. For example, the ability to walk is improved in the case of window-shopping, which occurs when there is a circulatory problem in the legs. Cinnarizine is also used to treat dementia and arterial circulatory disorders in the brain, as it not only acts on the blood vessels but also makes the blood more fluid.

Side effects

Cinnarizine cannot be used in patients with Parkinson’s disease because of its side effects. Similarly, depressed patients or patients after a heart attack should not be treated with cinnarizine. Nor can cinnarizine be used in children, pregnant or nursing women.

Due to its side effect profile, cinnarizine should not be used in patients with extrapyrdamidal disorders. Extrapyramidal disorders are defined as an altered state of muscle tension. This can be expressed as uncontrolled twitching or stiffening of the muscles.

These Parkinson-like symptoms can occur as a common side effect of cinnarizine. In addition, depression, fatigue and drowsiness are more common when taking cinnarizine. Furthermore, gastrointestinal tract symptoms are noticed during therapy with cinnarizine.

Headaches also occur frequently. Dry mouth can also occur. In contrast, patients taking cinnarizine also notice increased sweating.

As with all medicines, cinnarizine can cause an allergic reaction. This can manifest itself as hypersensitivity or a severe allergic skin reaction. In rare cases, a blood formation disorder (porphyria) may occur during treatment with cinnarizine.

Cinnarizine in combination with dimenhydrinate

Cinnarizine is sold together with dimenhydrinate as a fixed combination. Both active ingredients are combined in one tablet, which is used to treat moderate dizziness. Both agents have an effect against dizziness and vomiting. They are used in the treatment of Meniere’s disease and also for the relief of vomiting and nausea associated with motion sickness. The latter is mainly due to the active ingredient dimenhydrinate, which is also used as a single agent in the therapy of motion sickness.

Dosage

The drug is taken three times a day after meals in tablet form. In particularly severe cases, the preparation can also be taken up to five times a day at the beginning. However, due to the side effects, the treatment should be kept short and only acute cases should be treated with it. Application over a period of more than 4 weeks is not intended, unless a doctor has seen and assessed the clinical picture again.