steph asked
I take Bromfed DM. Can I take Dramamine now that it has been 10 hours since I took the Bromfed?
At a glance
- Bromfed (brompheniramine) and Dramamine (dimenhydrinate) are both sedating antihistamines. Taking them together could result in additive side effects, such as sedation and dizziness.
Answer
It generally isn't recommended to take Bromfed with Dramamine as they are both sedating antihistamines. Taking both together can increase the risk of side effects, most notably, sedation and dizziness.
Bromfed
The active ingredient in Bromfed is brompheniramine, an antihistamine similar to Benadryl (diphenhydramine). It is one of the active ingredients in the over the counter cold/flu medication Dimetapp.
While effective for allergies, brompheniramine has fairly strong sedative and 'anticholinergic' effects. The anticholinergic properties of the drug can increase the risk of other side effects such as dizziness and confusion, especially in the elderly.
Dramamine
The active ingredient in Dramamine is dimenhydrinate.
Dimenhydrinate (which we have written about in detail in similar articles) actually is two chemical compounds, one of which is diphenhydramine (the active ingredient in Benadryl).
Although Dramamine is thought to cause slightly less sedation than Benadryl, it nonetheless can cause individuals to be tired. It also has anticholinergic effects, just like brompheniramine.
Combined Use
As mentioned above, the risk of using Dramamine and Bromfed is the additive side effects. These include:
- Sedation
- Dizziness
- Dry mouth
- Dry eyes
- Urinary retention
- Confusion
In regard to taking them the same day, you can if they are separated by an appropriate amount of time (between 4 and 12 hours).
Bromfed (brompheniramine) has maximal effects within 3-9 hours after dosing. For most, the sedative effects should be essentially gone around 12 hours after dosing according to studies for the drug.
Dramamine has a shorter duration of action than Bromfed, between 4 and 6 hours.
If you took Bromfed 10 hours ago, it is important to assess whether or not you are still experiencing any effects (e.g. sedation) prior to taking Dramamine. If you are experiencing any, and add Dramamine on top, they could be potentiated.
References
- ClinicalKey: Brompheniramine Monograph. ClinicalKey
- Pharmacology of Antihistamines. PubMed
- The role and choice criteria of antihistamines in allergy management – expert opinion. PubMed
