ACTION OF DIMENHYDRINATE (DRAMAMINE) AND OTHER DRUGS ON VESTIBULAR FUNCTION

Abstract

DIMENHYDRINATE (2-[benzohydryloxy]-N, N-dimethylethylamine 8-chlorotheophyllinate) (dramamine) has recently been introduced for the prevention and treatment of motion sickness. It has been employed successfully in seasickness¹ and airsickness.² Several reports have appeared attesting to its value in radiation sickness,³ nausea and vomiting of pregnancy,⁴ Ménière's syndrome,⁵ vestibular reactions following labyrinthine operations⁶ and in vertigo of vestibular origin.⁷ Although the drug by weight contains 54 per cent of diphenhydramine and 46 per cent of 8-chlorotheophylline, it is considered to be a specific chemical compound rather than a mixture of its two components (fig. 1). METHOD The action of dimenhydrinate on vestibular function was investigated by means of the cold microcaloric test⁸ and galvanic stimulation of the mastoid area.⁹ The former method depends on the integrity of the peripheral end organ in the labyrinth. By means of 2 cc. of ice water (water with floating