How does cyclizine work?
Sometimes, when your body produces a substance called histamine, it can send signals to your brain that make you feel sick. Cyclizine works by blocking these signals and reducing feelings of sickness.
How long does it take to work?
Cyclizine starts to work after 30 minutes. You should feel better after 1 to 2 hours.
It should work for about 4 to 6 hours.
Are there any long-term side effects?
Cyclizine tablets are unlikely to do you any harm if you take them for a long time. However, there have been a few reports of people having problems stopping cyclizine injections after long-term use. Because of this, it's best to only take cyclizine for as long as you need it to control your symptoms.
How does cyclizine compare to other anti-sickness medicines?
Cyclizine is a type of drowsy (sedating) antihistamine, as it can make you feel sleepy.
There are other drowsy antihistamines that can help with feeling or being sick, such as promethazine and cinnarizine. Both cyclizine and cinnarizine are less likely to make you feel sleepy than promethazine.
There's not enough information available to say whether one is better than another for helping with sickness.
There are also other medicines that can help with sickness, such as metoclopramide, ondansetron and domperidone.
You may need to try a few different medicines to find out what works best for you. Ask your pharmacist or doctor for advice if you're unsure.
Is cyclizine addictive?
It's unlikely that you'll get addicted to cyclizine tablets prescribed to help relieve sickness or feeling dizzy. However, to be on the safe side it's best to only take cyclizine for as long as you need to.
Are there other ways to treat morning sickness?
Most cases of feeling and being sick in pregnancy pass after 16 to 20 weeks.
If your morning sickness is not too bad, there are some lifestyle changes you can make to help.
Although cyclizine has not been officially approved for treating morning sickness, it's considered to be a useful and safe medicine to use in pregnancy.
Will it affect my contraception?
Cyclizine does not affect any type of contraception, including the combined pill, progestogen-only pill and emergency contraception.
But if cyclizine is not working for you and you're being sick, your contraceptive pills may not protect you from pregnancy. Check the pill packet to find out what to do.
Find out more:
Can I drive or ride a bike?
Do not drive a car, ride a bike or use heavy machinery or tools if cyclizine makes you sleepy, gives you blurred vision, or makes you feel dizzy, or unable to concentrate or make decisions.
This may be more likely when you first start taking cyclizine, but could happen at any time, for example, when starting another medicine.
It's an offence to drive a car if your ability to drive safely is affected. It's your responsibility to decide if it's safe to drive. If you're in any doubt, do not drive.
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you're unsure whether it's safe for you to drive while taking cyclizine. GOV.UK has more information on the law on drugs and driving.
Can I drink alcohol while taking cyclizine?
Do not drink alcohol while you're taking cyclizine.
Alcohol and cyclizine together can make you sleep very deeply. It may affect your breathing and you may have difficulty waking up.
Is there any food or drink I need to avoid?
Apart from alcohol, you can eat and drink normally while taking cyclizine.
Can lifestyle changes help to stop me feeling or being sick?
There are some lifestyle changes that can help with feeling or being sick:
- stick to simple meals and try not to eat rich or spicy foods – having smaller, more frequent meals can help
- avoid drinking with meals – drinking any liquids with meals may make you feel more full, which makes feeling sick worse
- eat foods or drinks containing ginger – this is a popular natural remedy commonly used to stop you feeling sick
- avoid strong smells – these may make you feel worse
- stay hydrated – drink plenty of fluids, such as water, and taking small sips often may help