In recent studies released by NIDA, the fastest-growing drug problem isn't related to the usual suspects, such as hard drugs. On the contrary, prescription drug misuse has seen a significant rise in recent years. Dramamine and alcohol are among those included in this baffling report. Transcend Recovery Community covers more of this in the article. Read on to find out more.
Is It Safe to Take Dramamine with Alcohol?
Every professional medical advice will tell you this: it is never safe to take alcohol and Dramamine at the same time. It puts an individual in potential danger such as a Dramamine overdose, which can eventually lead to death.
Chronic alcohol drinking with Dramamine also puts your body at greater risk to develop organ failure, starting with kidney or liver damage, as the body has to put more effort into eliminating substances from your system.
What is Dramamine?
Dramamine is an antihistamine drug used to alleviate the symptoms of motion sickness. Its use and dosage vary depending on a person's age, medication, and treatment response. Patients are advised to take the medication at least 30 to 60 minutes before traveling.
Its side effects include:
- impaired motor coordination
- vomiting
- dilated pupils
- irregular heartbeat
- severe drowsiness
It is advised to consult your doctor to get a proper diagnosis, symptoms and drug information, and prescription before taking this medication for motion sickness treatment.
What Are the Risks of Drinking while on Dramamine?
Continued alcohol use while taking Dramamine may not sound like an inherently dangerous combination. However, the effect of the substances may vary per person and could end in catastrophic results. Here are some of the perceived risks of drinking while on Dramamine:
- Alcohol may influence the way Dramamine works in your body. Inversely, it may also impact how your body feels when you drink alcohol.
- When you drink alcohol, there is a tendency for a prescription drug, such as Dramamine, to become less effective—especially with how it is absorbed by your digestive system.
- Alcoholic beverages can also make the side effects of Dramamine worse.
- People who have underlying health conditions who are taking this combination may put themselves at greater risk for more complications.
- Alcohol misuse combined with Dramamine also increases the risk of alcohol poisoning and nausea medicine overdose.
Side Effects of Dramamine with Alcohol
Here are the common side effects linked with alcohol and Dramamine use:
- Drowsiness
- Difficulty breathing
- Irregular heartbeat
- Potential to overdose
- Vomiting
- Seizures
Is Overdose and Death Possible?
Yes, overdosing individually on alcohol or an over-the-counter motion sickness medication, or with a combination of both can happen. It may occur when an individual loses control, blacking out from excessive substance abuse. Outpatient mental health services can help people with medication abuse problems to avoid this from ever happening.
Other Motion Sickness Pills and Alcohol
Motion sickness has become a recurring problem for people with balance issues, especially when traveling—whether via car, plane, boat, train, or bus. People riding amusement park rides can also experience this.
There are many options people can seek to reduce the symptoms of motion sickness, other than Dramamine or Dimenhydrinate. However, drinking alcohol while taking motion sickness medications can lead to severe side effects. Check out the following motion sickness pills and their effect when taken with alcohol.
Dimenhydrinate - Taking Dramamine and alcohol together may put you at greater threat of Dramamine overdose. Some of the worrying signs include hallucinations and excessive drowsiness/dizziness.
Meclizine - the active ingredient found in Bonine poses a higher risk of drowsiness/dizziness, similar to that of Dramamine and alcohol.
Scopolamine - a commonly-used prescription patch that can be used for 3 days. It is more popular among people boarding cruise ships. However, mixing alcohol while using this type of medication may also lead to dangerous side effects, such as impaired coordination.
Zofran (Ondansetron) - Although this is not used to prevent motion sickness, it is also used as nausea medicine in some cases. Even if alcohol and Zofran don't directly interact, alcohol use can worsen Ondansetron's side effects, such as dizziness.
Can alcohol help motion sickness?
Drinking alcohol to control motion sickness is a myth. It may worsen motion sickness in some people. People who take medication for chronic health conditions may also develop more complications as a result. It's better to stay hydrated with water than to consume alcoholic beverages.
Is There Dramamine Abuse?
As mentioned earlier, prescription drug misuse has been on the rise. Dramamine is a prescription medicine usually associated with this mental health issue. Abuse occurs when an individual takes the drug more excessively than prescribed by the doctor. It could be combined with another substance or could lead to a harmful overdose.
Some people also misuse these nausea medications for recreational purposes. When this happens, it could serve as a gateway to exploring a different medication or a group of medications for addiction.
People who are suffering from this condition should seek professional medical advice right away to mitigate the dangers involved, especially when alcohol abuse is apparent as well.
Apart from getting the right treatment, individuals should also consider supplemental programs to help them get better right away. Staying at sober living residences, such as recovery homes can help individuals be more at ease with their rehabilitation. Additionally, having sober escorts with them at all times also ensures that they stay consistent and committed to their recovery.
Can Transcend Recovery Help with Dramamine and Alcohol Abuse?
Over-the-counter nausea medication addiction together with alcohol abuse is not an easy problem to solve. But working together with Transcend Recovery, nothing is impossible. We provide supplement mental health services that aim to enrich and make an individual's recovery better.
By providing depression hotline numbers and holistic support through transitional homes and other life skills programs, we help people gain a second chance in life.
Never be afraid of getting help. Contact us today and together, let us help you achieve the fulfilling life that you truly deserve.
