Migraine Nausea SOS: Can Dramamine Save the Day?

Dramamine may provide relief for migraine-related nausea and dizziness by blocking nausea signals and restoring a sense of balance. It’s important to follow the correct dosage and be aware of side effects.

Migraine comes with a variety of symptoms, some more common than others. For many people, bouts of nausea, vomiting, vertigo, and dizziness are part of typical migraine episodes.

Lots of options for easing these symptoms exist, including both over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription medications. Of these options, Dramamine may be one effective option for migraine-related nausea.

Here’s the lowdown on how Dramamine works, which migraine symptoms it may help alleviate, possible side effects, and when during a migraine attack to take this medication.

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What is Dramamine?

Dramamine is an OTC medication containing the active drug ingredient dimenhydrinate. It’s often used for motion sickness, like the nausea you may feel while traveling in a car or on a boat.

Dramamine is part of the class of medications known as antiemetics. More specifically, Dramamine is an antiemetic drug with antihistamine properties. Antiemetic drugs are used to treat nausea and vomiting. The antihistamine properties describe how the drug works in your body.

Like other medications with this specific combination, Dramamine works in the brain by blocking receptors that trigger nausea, which helps to ease nausea and vomiting. Dramamine also reduces the feeling of movement in the inner ear, restoring the body’s sense of balance and spatial orientation to help relieve vertigo.

Are nausea and dizziness symptoms of migraine?

Nausea, vomiting, dizziness, and vertigo are not only symptoms of motion sickness — they’re also common symptoms experienced during migraine episodes.

Nausea and migraine

In this large 2020 study on migraine symptoms, 75.7% of the more than 6,000 participants with migraine reported experiencing nausea. Of the total participants, 28.1% also reported that nausea is their most bothersome symptom.

In other words, 3 out of every 4 people with migraine who participated in the study experience nausea during attacks, and nausea is the worst symptom for 1 out of every 4 people.

Vertigo, dizziness, and migraine

While slightly less common than nausea and vomiting, feelings of vertigo and dizziness also frequently accompany migraine episodes.

Any type of migraine can cause nausea, vomiting, dizziness, and vertigo. Some types of migraine may be particularly prone to inducing these symptoms, including:

• vestibular migraine
• abdominal migraine
• menstrual migraine

Can Dramamine help ease migraine symptoms?

Research indicates that Dramamine may be effective at treating several migraine symptoms, including nausea, vomiting, dizziness, and vertigo.

Larger-scale studies into Dramamine specifically are ongoing. However, 2023 research suggests that this OTC medication is a relatively effective form of treatment for migraine nausea and vertigo, similar to prescription antiemetics.

As with its use for motion sickness symptoms, Dramamine may also help treat similar symptoms caused by migraine, including vomiting and dizziness.

Older 2016 research showed that Dramamine can help control vertigo attacks during migraine episodes in people with vestibular migraine.

The same 2020 study as above notes that when nausea is the most bothersome symptom, taking an antiemetic during migraine attacks along with other acute treatments may be beneficial.

Another study from 2021 found that dimenhydrinate effectively reduced nausea and vertigo in people who went to an emergency room for their symptoms. The study also found that treatment with dimenhydrinate was as effective as treatment with metoclopramide (Reglan), a prescription antiemetic medication used to reduce migraine nausea.

Dramamine and certain other antiemetic medications may be safe for treating migraine nausea and vertigo while nursing a baby. However, it’s a good idea to check with your doctor first.

What are the side effects of Dramamine?

The most common side effects of Dramamine are drowsiness and sedation, meaning you may feel sleepy when you take it. After taking Dramamine, avoid driving or any activity that could be dangerous if you get sleepy, such as swimming or soaking in a tub.

Other possible side effects include:

• blurry vision
• excitement or hyperactivity (particularly in children)
• nervousness
• dry mouth, nose, or throat
• problems with coordination
• new or worsening dizziness or nausea

Seek medical care if you experience a fast, pounding, or irregular heartbeat after taking Dramamine. You should also seek medical care if you’re vomiting uncontrollably, or if your nausea or dizziness is worse than usual.

When should I take Dramamine for migraine?

It’s not entirely clear when the most ideal moment is to take Dramamine for migraine nausea and vertigo.

Some evidence suggests that taking antiemetic medication like Dramamine at the first signs of a migraine attack, then continuing as needed, may be most effective.

Others suggest Dramamine may be most effective when taken during the acute attack phase. This may be most useful for vestibular migraine episodes, in particular.

If you’re interested in trying Dramamine for migraine, it may be helpful to consult with your doctor or migraine care team to help determine the best course of action for you.

Is Dramamine safe for kids?

Dramamine is safe for children over 2 years old.

Follow the specific dosage instructions on the Dramamine packaging to ensure your child receives the appropriate medication amount.

When in doubt, consult with your child’s doctor for specific information regarding their unique migraine nausea and dizziness needs.

Are there other ways to treat migraine nausea and dizziness?

Other treatments that may help relieve migraine nausea and dizziness include:

• OTC medications like diphenhydramine (Benadryl) or meclizine (Bonine)
• anti-nausea prescription medications like ondansetron (Zofran) or metoclopramide (Reglan)
• home remedies, including ginger, cannabis, teas, or certain vitamins and supplements
• migraine-supportive lifestyle adjustments and diet changes
• certain complementary therapies, including aromatherapy, acupressure, and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)

The bottom line

Dramamine is an OTC medication that relieves nausea, vomiting, and vertigo by blocking nausea pathways in the brain, reducing the feeling of movement in the inner ear, and calming the body.

While Dramamine is most frequently used for motion sickness, it may also offer relief for similar migraine symptoms.

If you experience nausea, vomiting, vertigo, or dizziness during migraine episodes, Dramamine may be an effective option for easing your symptoms.