What drugs cannot be taken with Dramamine?

October 10, 2025 •

4 min read

According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the active ingredient in Dramamine, dimenhydrinate, interacts with a wide range of medications due to its sedative and anticholinergic properties. Understanding what drugs cannot be taken with Dramamine is crucial to prevent potentially harmful side effects, from excessive drowsiness to life-threatening respiratory depression.

Quick Summary

This article outlines the classes of drugs and specific substances that pose significant risks when combined with Dramamine, such as CNS depressants, other antihistamines, and alcohol. It details the specific risks and provides guidance on safe alternatives, emphasizing the importance of consulting a healthcare professional.

Key Points

CNS Depressants are Risky: Combining Dramamine with alcohol, opioids, or benzodiazepines can cause severe drowsiness, poor coordination, and impaired judgment.
Anticholinergic Overload: Taking Dramamine with other anticholinergic drugs, including certain antidepressants and bladder control medications, can worsen side effects like dry mouth and confusion.
MAOIs are a Contraindication: Combining Dramamine with monoamine oxidase inhibitors can lead to dangerous side effects due to intensified anticholinergic properties.
Watch for Masking Symptoms: Dramamine can conceal the symptoms of ototoxicity caused by certain antibiotics, potentially delaying the detection of irreversible ear damage.
Always Consult a Professional: Before mixing any medications with Dramamine, speak with a doctor or pharmacist to prevent harmful drug interactions.
Avoid All Alcohol: The safest approach is to completely avoid alcohol when taking Dramamine to prevent excessive sedation.

Dangerous Drug Interactions with Dramamine

Dramamine (dimenhydrinate) is an over-the-counter antihistamine used to prevent and treat motion sickness. Its active ingredient is a central nervous system (CNS) depressant and has anticholinergic effects. Combining Dramamine with other medications that have similar properties can lead to an additive effect, increasing the risk of severe side effects. Below is a list of the most important drug classes and substances to avoid.

Central Nervous System (CNS) Depressants

One of the most significant and dangerous interactions involves combining Dramamine with other CNS depressants. These substances slow down brain activity, and their combined effect can be extreme. Risks include severe drowsiness, impaired coordination, and, in rare and serious cases, slowed breathing or coma.

Alcohol: This is one of the most common and dangerous combinations. Alcohol and Dramamine both cause drowsiness, and together, they intensify these effects, severely impairing judgment, concentration, and coordination. It is safest to avoid alcohol entirely when taking Dramamine.
Benzodiazepines: Medications for anxiety and seizures, such as alprazolam (Xanax) and lorazepam (Ativan), are powerful CNS depressants. Combining them with Dramamine can significantly increase sedation and impair motor skills.
Opioids: Prescription pain relievers like oxycodone and hydrocodone can cause extreme drowsiness and confusion. When taken with Dramamine, the risk of severe sedation and respiratory depression is significantly heightened.
Sleep Medications and Sedatives: This includes both prescription and over-the-counter sleep aids, like zolpidem (Ambien) and doxylamine (Unisom). The combination can cause excessive drowsiness that can linger into the next day and lead to dangerous situations, especially if driving or operating machinery.
Muscle Relaxants: Medications such as cyclobenzaprine, used to relieve muscle spasms, can cause significant drowsiness. The additive effect with Dramamine can lead to severe impairment.

Anticholinergic Medications

Dramamine has anticholinergic properties, meaning it blocks acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter in the body. Taking it with other medications that also block acetylcholine can worsen side effects like dry mouth, blurred vision, constipation, and confusion.

Other Antihistamines: Since Dramamine is an antihistamine, combining it with other first-generation antihistamines like diphenhydramine (Benadryl) or meclizine can intensify sedative and anticholinergic side effects. While newer, non-drowsy antihistamines have less risk, a consultation is still advised.
Tricyclic Antidepressants (TCAs): TCAs, like amitriptyline, have strong anticholinergic effects and combining them with Dramamine can result in compounded anticholinergic side effects.
Certain Antipsychotics: Some antipsychotic drugs have anticholinergic activity that can be enhanced by Dramamine, increasing the risk of adverse reactions.
Bladder Control Medications: Drugs like oxybutynin (Ditropan), used to treat urinary incontinence, are anticholinergics. Combining them with Dramamine can worsen side effects such as urinary retention, a particular concern for older adults.

Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs)

MAOIs are a class of antidepressants that should not be used with Dramamine. The interaction can intensify and prolong the anticholinergic effects of Dramamine, potentially leading to a dangerous spike in blood pressure. Examples of MAOIs include isocarboxazid (Marplan) and phenelzine (Nardil).

Ototoxic Medications

Certain antibiotics, including aminoglycosides like gentamicin, can be toxic to the ears. Dramamine has the ability to mask the symptoms of ototoxicity, such as dizziness or vertigo, which could delay the detection of irreversible ear damage. Close monitoring by a healthcare provider is essential for anyone on these medications.

Comparison Table of Dramamine Interactions


Medication Type	Examples	Primary Interaction Risk	Key Side Effects
Alcohol	Beer, wine, liquor	Increased CNS depression	Severe drowsiness, impaired judgment, poor coordination
Benzodiazepines	Xanax, Ativan	Increased CNS depression	Excessive sedation, impaired thinking, balance problems
Opioids	Oxycodone, Hydrocodone	Increased CNS depression	Extreme drowsiness, confusion, slowed breathing
Other Antihistamines	Benadryl, Meclizine	Additive CNS & anticholinergic effects	Compounded drowsiness, dry mouth, blurred vision
Tricyclic Antidepressants	Amitriptyline	Enhanced anticholinergic effects	Increased dry mouth, constipation, confusion
MAOIs	Marplan, Nardil	Intensified anticholinergic effects	Elevated blood pressure, severe side effects
Ototoxic Antibiotics	Gentamicin	Masking of ototoxicity symptoms	Delayed detection of irreversible ear damage

How to Minimize Dramamine Interactions

Before taking Dramamine, especially if you are on other medications, it is vital to take precautions to ensure your safety.

Consult a healthcare professional: Always discuss your current medication list, including over-the-counter drugs, vitamins, and herbal supplements, with your doctor or pharmacist. They can assess potential risks and recommend safer alternatives if necessary.
Read the label: Carefully review the active ingredients of any product you take, including cold and flu remedies, which often contain antihistamines.
Avoid alcohol: Do not consume alcohol while using Dramamine.
Be aware of side effects: If you notice increased drowsiness, confusion, or other adverse effects after taking a combination of medications, contact your doctor immediately.
Consider alternative remedies: For motion sickness, non-medication options like ginger chews or acupressure wristbands can be effective alternatives to avoid drug interactions.

Conclusion

While Dramamine is a common and effective remedy for motion sickness, it is not safe for everyone and carries significant risks when combined with certain drugs. The interactions with CNS depressants like alcohol and opioids, as well as with other anticholinergic medications and MAOIs, can lead to serious and potentially life-threatening side effects. Prioritizing safety by consulting a healthcare provider and being aware of potential interactions is crucial for anyone considering this medication. Always maintain an updated list of all your medications to ensure your doctor or pharmacist can identify and help you avoid any dangerous combinations.

Frequently Asked Questions

No, you should avoid taking Dramamine with anxiety medications like benzodiazepines (e.g., Xanax, Ativan) as this combination significantly increases the risk of severe drowsiness, dizziness, and impaired thinking.

Combining Dramamine with alcohol, a CNS depressant, is dangerous. It can lead to excessive sedation, extreme dizziness, and severely impaired judgment and coordination.

You should be cautious. Many cold and allergy medicines, particularly first-generation antihistamines, have similar sedative effects to Dramamine. Combining them can increase drowsiness and other anticholinergic side effects. Always check the ingredients and consult a pharmacist.

It is not safe to take Dramamine with opioid pain medications, such as oxycodone or hydrocodone, as the combination can cause extreme drowsiness, confusion, and serious respiratory depression.

Older adults should be especially cautious. They are more sensitive to Dramamine's side effects and more likely to experience confusion, excessive sedation, dry mouth, and urinary retention. For this reason, it is on the Beers list of potentially inappropriate medications for the elderly.

Dramamine should be used cautiously with certain antibiotics that can cause ototoxicity (ear damage), such as aminoglycosides. Dramamine can mask the dizziness associated with ototoxicity, potentially allowing irreversible damage to progress unnoticed.

For motion sickness, non-medication options like ginger chews or acupressure wristbands can be effective. Meclizine (often sold as Dramamine Less Drowsy) has fewer sedating effects, but a healthcare professional should still be consulted for specific drug interactions.