Cinnarizine

Uses and Administration

Cinnarizine is a piperazine derivative with antihistamine, sedative, and calcium-channel blocking activity. It is used for the symptomatic treatment of nausea and vertigo caused by Ménière's disease and other vestibular disorders (see Vertigo, Refer to ) and for the prevention and treatment of motion sickness ( Refer to ). It is also used in the management of various peripheral and cerebral vascular disorders.

In the UK, the usual oral dose for vertigo and vestibular disorders is 30 mg three times daily. For motion sickness a dose of 30 mg is taken 2 hours before the start of the journey and 15 mg every 8 hours during the journey if necessary. In other European countries, a dose of 75 mg once or twice daily may be given for vertigo and vestibular disorders. Doses of 75 mg may also be given once daily for cerebrovascular disorders and 2 or 3 times daily for peripheral vascular disorders

For doses in children, see Refer to .

(last reviewed 2010-08-26; last modified 2014-04-14)

References.

(last reviewed 2010-08-26; last modified 2004-03-25)

References

1. Shupak A, et al.. Cinnarizine in the prophylaxis of seasickness: laboratory vestibular evaluation and sea study.Clin Pharmacol Ther. 1994; 55: 670–80. PubMed

Administration in children

Cinnarizine may be used orally in children aged 5 to 12 years. A dose of 15 mg is given three times a day for the control of vestibular disorders. For motion sickness, 15 mg is taken 2 hours before the start of the journey followed by 7.5 mg every 8 hours during the journey if necessary.

(last reviewed 2010-08-26; last modified 2010-01-25)

Adverse Effects, Treatment and Precautions

Adverse Effects and Precautions

As for the sedating antihistamines in general, Refer to and Refer to , respectively.

There have been rare reports of extrapyramidal symptoms after taking cinnarizine, sometimes associated with depressive feelings.

High doses of cinnarizine should be used with caution in patients with hypotension because of the possibility of decreasing blood pressure further.

(last reviewed 2010-08-26; last modified 2009-12-04)

Extrapyramidal disorders

For reference to extrapyramidal disorders associated with the use of cinnarizine, see Flunarizine, Refer to .

(last reviewed 2010-08-26; last modified 2004-03-25)

Hypersensitivity

Immunologically-defined lichen planus pemphigoides has been reported1in a 72-year-old woman taking cinnarizine. Lesions began to clear when treatment was stopped but challenge with cinnarizine provoked severe itching and reactivation of pigmented lesions. Another case2 has also been described.

(last reviewed 2010-08-26; last modified 2006-06-15)

References

1. Miyagawa S, et al. Lichen planus pemphigoides-like lesions induced by cinnarizine.Br J Dermatol. 1985; 112: 607–13. PubMed

2. Ramallal M, et al.. Lichenoid eruption associated with cinnarizine use.Pharm World Sci. 2002; 24: 215–16. PubMed

Tinnitus

The Spanish System of Pharmacovigilance had received reports1 of tinnitus associated with calcium-channel blockers; some of the reports, including the one relating to cinnarizine, were in patients also receiving other ototoxic drugs. WHO was said to have additional reports of tinnitus associated with calcium-channel blockers including cinnarizine.

(last reviewed 2010-08-26; last modified 2004-03-25)

References

1. Narváez M, et al.. Tinnitus with calcium-channel blockers.Lancet. 1994; 343: 1229–30. PubMed

Weight gain

There has been a report1 of weight gain in 4 patients who had taken cinnarizine for 1 to 2 years; in all cases the weight gain was associated with increased appetite.

(last reviewed 2010-08-26; last modified 2004-04-14)

References

1. Navarro-Badenes J, et al.. Weight-gain associated with cinnarizine.Ann Pharmacother. 1992; 26: 928–30. PubMed

Interactions

As for the sedating antihistamines in general, Refer to .

(last reviewed 2010-08-26; last modified 1998-07-09)

Pharmacokinetics

Cinnarizine is absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract and peak plasma concentrations occur 2 to 4 hours after oral doses. It undergoes metabolism and has a half-life of 3 to 6 hours. Cinnarizine is excreted in the faeces mainly as unchanged drug, and in the urine predominantly as metabolites.

(last reviewed 2010-08-26; last modified 2009-12-04)

Preparations: Single-Ingredient

The following preparations list represents a compilation of all available salt forms or related substances for this drug product.

The symbol ¤ denotes a preparation which is discontinued or no longer actively marketed.

ARGENTINA: Dismaren; Fabracin; Folcodal; Iroplex¤; Natropas; Stugeron;AUSTRIA: Cinnabene¤; Pericephal¤; Stutgeron¤;BELGIUM: Stugeron;BRAZIL: Antigeron; Cinageron¤; Cinaran; Cinarite; Cinarivert¤; Cinarix; Cinarizina-Cinarin¤; Cinazin¤; Cinazon; Civertim; Cronogeron; Ductogeron¤; Fluxon; Laberitin¤; Labigeron; Nerizina¤; Stugerina; Stugeron; Vertigeron¤; Verzum; Vessel¤;CHILE: Cinergil¤; Siridone¤; Stugeron;CHINA: Bo Rui Te (博瑞特);CZECH REPUBLIC: Cinedil¤; Cinnabene¤; Stugeron;DENMARK: Sepan;GERMANY: Cerepar¤; Cinnacet¤; Giganten¤; Stutgeron¤;GREECE: Derozin¤; Geronik¤; Libotasin¤; Stugeron;HONG KONG: Anterolseran; Anti-Mot; Cardmania; Celenid; Ceremin; CIN; Cinasine; Cinna; Cinnaliz; Corathiem¤; Emecin; Eurorazine; Marcinna; Medozine; Mosion-6; Purazine; Stugeron; Travelcin; Urizine; Vertigon;HUNGARY: Stugeron;INDIA: Avidazine¤; Cinact; Cinadil¤; Cinaz; Cingeron; Cini; Cinnasia; Cintac; Cintigo; Cinvert; Cinzan; Diziron; Diznil; Dizzigo; Emzine; Stugeron; Vertiron;INDONESIA: Brazine; Gleron; Merron; Nariz; Perifas; Riziven; Stugeron; Vertizine;IRELAND: Nagerine¤; Stugeron;ISRAEL: Stunarone;ITALY: Cinazyn; Senoger¤; Stugeron; Toliman;MALAYSIA: Cereron¤; Cinna; Cinnaron; Nazin; Stugeron; Uphageron;MEXICO: Bulasan¤; Ceretec¤; Cisaken; Cyslev; Dilateron-F; Dilper-INA¤; Ditreineo¤; Karilex¤; Oblant; Reynaven; Stugeron; Translam; Venoxil; Winpar;NETHERLANDS: Cinnipirine¤;PHILIPPINES: Cinamin; Cinarin; Cinnabloc; Dizzinon; Gorizine; Niziran¤; Stugeron; Vertisin;POLAND: Symtiver;PORTUGAL: Cinon; Stugeron;RUSSIAN FEDERATION: Fescetam (Фесцетам); Phezam (Фезам); Stugeron (Стугерон); Stugesin (Стугезин)¤;SOUTH AFRICA: Antimet¤; Purazine¤; Stugeron;SINGAPORE: Celenid; Cinna; Cinnar; Cinnaron; Nazin; Stugeron; Urizine¤; Vertigon;SPAIN: Pervasum¤; Stugeron;SWEDEN: Glanil¤;SWITZERLAND: Cerepar¤; Cinnaforte¤; Cinnageron; Cinnamed¤; Ixertol¤; Stugeron;THAILAND: Bugeron; C-Pela; C-Ricin; Celenid¤; Cenai; Cerebroad; Ceremin; Cinerine; Cinna; Cinnar; Cinnarin; Cinnarine; Cinnatab; Cinnaza; Cinrizine; CN-25¤; Fageron¤; KB Gyding; Linazine; Manoron; Med-Circuron¤; Medozine; Naricin; Narizine; Nazine; Siarizine; Silicin; Sorebral; Stugeron; Stugin; Stuno¤; Sturon; Urizine¤; Vernarin;TURKEY: Sefal;UNITED KINGDOM: Boots Motion Sickness; Cinaziere¤; Marzine RF¤; Stugeron;UKRAINE: Stugeron (Стугерон);VENEZUELA: Cinaren; Cinarin; Sinver; Stugeron; Vericin;

Preparations: Multi-Ingredient

The following preparations list represents a compilation of all available salt forms or related substances for this drug product.

The symbol ¤ denotes a preparation which is discontinued or no longer actively marketed.

ARGENTINA: Cadencial Plus; Cinacris; Difusil; Euroland; Ribex; Vasodual¤;AUSTRIA: Arlevert; Cinnarplus¤;BELGIUM: Arlevertan; Primatour¤; Touristil¤;BRAZIL: Coldrin¤; Exit; Forgrip¤; Sureptil;CHINA: Limai (利脉); Xin Naolilong;CZECH REPUBLIC: Arlevert;DENMARK: Arlevert¤;FINLAND: Arlevert; Rinomar;FRANCE: Sureptil¤;GERMANY: Arlevert; Cinna/Dimen; Stutgeron-Digoxin¤; Thiloretin M¤;HONG KONG: C-Sik; Cinnago; Cinnasin; Joy-Travels; SE-25; Sea-Comforts;HUNGARY: Arlevert;INDIA: Aridom-C; Azinorm C; Cimdom; Cinact-D; Cinadil-D¤; Cingeron-D; Cinnasia-D; Cintac-D; Dompon CZ¤; Dompro-C; Domstal-CZ; Donriz; Kandor CZ; Mosic; Neurozine; Pacidom-C; Vertigil;IRELAND: Arlevert¤;ITALY: Arlevertan; Sureptil¤; Vertigex¤;NETHERLANDS: Arlevert; Primatour;NORWAY: Rinomar¤;PHILIPPINES: Dimezine; Stugil¤;POLAND: Arlevert;PORTUGAL: Arlevert;RUSSIAN FEDERATION: Combitropil (Комбитропил); NooCam (НооКам); Omaron (Омарон); Piracezine (Пирацезин);SPAIN: Clinadil Compositum¤; Clinadil; Diclamina¤; Difusamina¤; Ederal¤; Neorgine¤; Ornade¤;SWEDEN: Arlevert; Rinomar¤;SWITZERLAND: Arlevert;THAILAND: Cinnapac;UNITED KINGDOM: Arlevert;UKRAINE: Cinatropil (Цинатропил); Evrisam (Эвризам); Memosam (Мемозам); Neuro-Norm (Нейро-Норм); Noozam (Ноозам); Omaron (Омарон); Phezam (Фезам);

Preparations: Pharmacopoeial

The following preparations list represents a compilation of all available salt forms or related substances for this drug product.

BP 2019: Cinnarizine Tablets;

Therapeutic Use

• Antihistamines

Last Updated 1/21/20