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Meclizine and Sleepy: What Users Say

Brand names: Antivert, Bonine, Dramamine Less Drowsy, Antrizine, Travel-Ease, Travel Sickness, Dramamine II, D-Vert, Driminate II, Help I'm Nauseous Dramamine All Day Less Drowsy Motion-Time Sea-Calm …show all brand names

Sleepy: mentioned by 15 users (6.4%)

Based on user experiences from 234 Meclizine reviews, the following table shows the most commonly mentioned side effects.

All user comments are moderated by Drugs.com. Each review is verified for relevance and screened for inappropriate content. Side effects are user-reported and not clinically verified.

drowsiness 20.9%
dizziness 17.1%
nausea 12.4%
tiredness 9.8%
sleepy 6.4%
vomiting 4.3%
brain fog 3.0%
headaches 3.0%
lightheadedness 2.6%
dry mouth 2.1%

Reviews for Meclizine

Commonly mentioned side effects
  • Diz...
  • September 2, 2014

For Vertigo "I was diagnosed with Benign Positional Vertigo in the early 90s. It started at a very stressful time in my life. Dizzy, feeling faint, nausea, headache, anxiety, off-balance, can't sit up or lie down without the room spinning, fuzzy feeling in the head. Prescribed first by my doctor as Antivert. It made me very sleepy and calm. Good for anxiety as well. It did help stop the spinning and helped me feel much better. I had a wonderful respite from this BPV for years and now today bending down to get seltzer in the supermarket, my head started swimming. VERTIGO! I purchased the LESS DROWSY form of Meclizine, and it is helping, and it does make you less drowsy. Good luck to all of us, this Vertigo is no joke."

9 / 10
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383 Report
  • Bir...
  • March 13, 2016

Meclizine for Vertigo "I have suffered 4 bouts of benign positional vertigo in the last ten years. It comes on without warning. I always carry Meclizine with me. I get it over the counter. It helps, but it still takes me anywhere from a week to a month to get over the vertigo. At the beginning of the vertigo, I take a 25 mg tablet every 24 hours, but it makes me very sleepy and tired and 'hung over'... but I'm able to get out of bed and do things. As the vertigo subsides, I take 1/2 of a tablet once a day, and that seems to have fewer side effects. The only thing I've found that really cures the vertigo over a couple of weeks are the exercises I do 3x a day. I got them from a physical therapist. Along with the Meclizine, I seem to eventually get better."

8 / 10
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225 Report
  • AJ4...
  • March 16, 2015

For Vertigo "Over the weekend, I went to the ER for intense spinning sensation lasting for 3 days and getting worse. I was diagnosed with vertigo accompanied by nystagmus. I feel like a bobblehead. I was given meclizine. I spent the entire day sleeping, however, the spinning and bobbing has greatly decreased. I'm taking 25 mg 3 times daily, and I must say I am getting better and I'm no longer experiencing the sleepy side effect with it. Eagerly waiting to feel 100% again. This is my first time experiencing vertigo, and I must say it really scared me. But this medication is really helping, thankfully."

8 / 10
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122 Report

Frequently asked questions

  • que...
  • June 14, 2013

For Vertigo "I could not lift my head off the pillow for two days. I was so nauseous and lightheaded. I finally went to the doctor, and he diagnosed me with BPPV and central vertigo. He gave me this medication, and the next day I felt way better. I have had to take one every morning since. But it didn't make me really tired, just a little sleepy. Hope this helps."

10 / 10
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104 Report
  • Anonymous
  • September 27, 2009

For Vertigo "Just started Meclizine 25mg 3 days ago to treat vertigo condition. Works great, but it makes me so sleepy. I take it before bed now, and only once per day, as opposed to the recommended 6 to 8 hours. I've been dealing with nausea and dizziness almost daily for the past few years, this medication has provided instant relief, and I am now almost guaranteed to sleep through the night."

8 / 10
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76 Report

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  • Anonymous
  • March 4, 2012

For Vertigo "I have been taking this medicine now for 3 days, however, I still suffer from the dizziness and have noticed it makes me sleepy. I don't know if this is a side effect or not, but I have been very irritable since starting it. I'm not going to be able to take it due to working with clients all day and on the computer. My mind is so foggy."

3 / 10
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55 Report
  • Anonymous
  • February 23, 2012

Meclizine for Nausea/Vomiting "I have used Antivert for seasickness, and it may be the only thing I've used that really works. The over-the-counter medications for car sickness did not work for me. Also, the medicated pad you wear behind the ear (scopolamine, I think) literally puts me out for hours -- maybe you could cut a small piece. Antivert also makes me sleepy, but less than the others. My friend has vertigo and uses it for that with success. It has to be prescribed, however."

10 / 10
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46 Report
  • Anonymous
  • July 29, 2010

For Vertigo "Just started taking meclizine for an episode of vertigo I had yesterday. Still feeling a little off balance and dizzy, but at least the room isn't spinning and I don't have the falling sensation. Went to the doctor today to run some tests, but since I started the Bonine yesterday, the tests were inconclusive, since they couldn't trigger the vertigo. Looks like this medicine works. I am sleepy though, but am still having trouble sleeping, guess it's just being anxious that it might happen again. Also, reading/typing triggers more dizziness. Doctor said to continue on the meclizine for 2 weeks and it should take care of itself. If not, to return to him for further testing."

8 / 10
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48 Report
  • Anonymous
  • April 17, 2012

For Vertigo "I took 5 doses of this medication, it made me sleepy, which made it difficult to function. I was unable to drive myself and concentrate at work. I also developed a rash on my neck. I was instructed by the pharmacist to stop taking the medication, take a Benadryl, and apply an over-the-counter cortisone on the rash. The rash went away within two days, but I still have vertigo. I am being told that there is no other medication that can be prescribed."

1 / 10
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34 Report
  • mis...
  • February 16, 2015

For Vertigo "This medicine was great for my gastroenteritis vertigo. The only bad thing I came across was having very strange to very disturbing dreams. At the time of my visit to the ER, I was under an extreme amount of stress, which could be the reason why I had these crazy dreams. But I remembered my dreams in full detail, unlike the dreams before taking this medication. The other side effect was sleeping all the time (which I'm sure I needed at the time due to stress). I did, in fact, have a good night's sleep, which I never do. I never sleep well due to chronic back pain. Also, I had to take nausea pills with this medication."

10 / 10
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26 Report
  • Nes...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • April 8, 2014

For Motion Sickness "I have used meclizine on cruises and boat trips as I am susceptible to seasickness in moderately rough waters or worse. Although it makes me a little sleepy, it's not so bad that it affects what I do. It just makes it a little hard to get up in the morning-takes me a little longer to feel 'awake.' Otherwise, I usually feel very good with no nausea. I used it on a *very* rough boat ride once, and although I never threw up, I was nauseous for the last half of the trip. However, considering how sick others were, I felt it was still helping me quite a bit."

9 / 10
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17 Report
  • Sam...
  • January 19, 2013

For Vertigo "This really helped me with the nausea and dizziness of vertigo. It does make one very sleepy. I could only take half of a 25 mg pill. It's been 2 days, and I am still sleepy, but it helps so much."

8 / 10
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65 Report
  • Anonymous
  • June 3, 2008

For Vertigo "Definitely helped with vertigo. Made me very sleepy."

8 / 10
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61 Report
  • Swo...
  • February 20, 2017

For Vertigo "I feel very tired, sleepy, and my heart seems to be skipping a beat."

7 / 10
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25 Report
  • Anonymous
  • September 23, 2009

For Nausea/Vomiting "Didn't take my nausea away completely, but it did not make me sleepy."

6 / 10
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13 Report

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Reviews may be edited to correct grammar/spelling or remove inappropriate content. Reviews appearing to come from parties with a vested interest are not published. This information is not intended to endorse any medication and should not replace the expertise and judgment of healthcare professionals.