Cyclizine is an anti-sickness medicine. It's used to help stop you feeling or being sick (nausea or vomiting).

You can take cyclizine to treat morning sickness, vertigo and travel sickness.

It can also be taken to treat sickness caused by general anaesthetics after surgery, cancer treatment or other medicines, and some inner ear problems such as Ménière's disease.

• Avoid drinking alcohol while taking cyclizine. Alcohol increases the risk of side effects.
• Cyclizine can be taken by most adults and children aged 6 years and over.
• Common side effects include feeling sleepy and blurred vision.
• You can usually take cyclizine when you need it, up to 3 times a day.
• Cyclizine used to be known by the brand name Valoid.

Cyclizine can be taken by most adults and children aged 6 years and over.

Cyclizine is not suitable for some people. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you:

• have had an allergic reaction to cyclizine or any other medicines in the past
• have an eye disease called glaucoma
• have problems peeing or emptying your bladder
• have a condition that can lead to bowel obstruction, such as Crohn's disease, diverticulitis, hernias or colon cancer
• have liver problems
• have epilepsy or any condition that causes fits
• have high blood pressure or heart failure
• have a tumour called phaeochromocytoma
• have an intolerance to or cannot absorb some sugars, such as lactose or sorbitol
• have a serious blood disorder called porphyria
• are due to have an allergy test - cyclizine can affect your results, so you may need to stop taking it a few days before your test; ask the clinic where you're due to have your allergy test

If you or your child have been prescribed cyclizine, follow your doctor's instructions about how and when to take it.

You can take cyclizine with or without food.

How much to take

You can usually take cyclizine when you need it.

The usual dose for:

• adults and children aged 12 years and over is 50mg
• children aged 6 to 11 years is 25mg

It can be taken up to 3 times a day, 8 hours apart if needed.

For travel sickness, take cyclizine 1 to 2 hours before travel. If you're going on a long journey, you can take another dose after 8 hours, and 1 more after another 8 hours if needed.

If you need to give a 25mg dose, the 50mg tablet has a score line so you can break it in half into 2 equal doses.

What if I forget to take it?

For travel sickness, take it as soon as you remember.

For anything else, skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the usual time.

Never take 2 doses at the same time. Never take an extra dose to make up for a forgotten one.

What if I take too much?

Too much cyclizine can be dangerous.

If you have accidentally taken too much, you may:

• feel very sleepy
• have a very fast, uneven or pounding heartbeat (palpitations)
• have breathing problems
• have fits and become unconscious

If your child takes too much cyclizine, they may also:

• move unsteadily or stumble
• have uncontrolled movements, especially in their hands or feet
• see or hear things that are not there (hallucinations)
• have an uneven heartbeat

Like all medicines, cyclizine can cause side effects, although not everyone gets them.

These common side effects happen in more than 1 in 100 people.

They're usually mild and go away by themselves:

• feeling drowsy
• blurred vision
• dry mouth
• headache
• constipation

Serious side effects

Serious side effects are rare and happen in less than 1 in 10,000 people.

Tell your doctor straight away if you get:

• muscle stiffness or shaking, or unusual face or tongue movements
• any bleeding that's very bad or you cannot stop, such as cuts or nosebleeds that do not stop within 10 minutes
• yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes - these can be signs of liver problems

Serious allergic reaction

In rare cases, it's possible to have a serious allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) to cyclizine.

These are not all the side effects of cyclizine.

For a full list, see the leaflet inside your medicine packet.

What to do about:

• feeling drowsy - do not drive or use tools or machinery if you're feeling this way. Do not drink alcohol, as it'll make you feel more tired. If this does not help, talk to your doctor. They may suggest a different anti-sickness medicine.
• blurred vision - do not drive or use tools or machinery while this is happening. If it lasts for more than 2 days, speak to your doctor.
• dry mouth - try chewing sugar-free gum or sucking sugar-free sweets.
• headache - rest and drink plenty of fluids. You can take an everyday painkiller like paracetamol or ibuprofen. Talk to your doctor if the headaches last longer than a week or are severe.
• constipation - eat more high-fibre foods, such as fresh fruit and vegetables and cereals. Try to drink several glasses of water or another non-alcoholic liquid each day. If you can, it may also help to do some gentle exercise.

Your doctor may prescribe cyclizine for morning sickness when other treatments have not worked.

There's no evidence that cyclizine will harm your unborn baby, but for safety it's best to take it for the shortest possible time.

For more information about how cyclizine can affect you and your baby during pregnancy, read the leaflet about the best use of medicines in pregnancy (BUMPS).

Cyclizine and breastfeeding

Cyclizine passes into breast milk in small amounts. Talk to your doctor, as other medicines might be better while you're breastfeeding.

If your baby was premature, had a low birth weight or has health problems, speak to your doctor before taking any anti-sickness medicine.

If you take cyclizine and notice your baby's sleeping more than usual, talk to your health visitor or doctor as soon as possible.

Some medicines and cyclizine interfere with each other and increase the chance of having side effects.

Tell your pharmacist or doctor if you're taking:

• a type of antidepressant called a monoamine oxidase inhibitor, such as phenelzine
• any medicine that makes you drowsy, gives you a dry mouth or makes it difficult for you to pee - taking cyclizine might make these side effects worse

Is it safe to take with other anti-sickness medicines?

It's usually best to only take 1 type of medicine for feeling or being sick.

If cyclizine does not work for you, speak to your doctor and they may suggest a different medicine for you.

Mixing cyclizine with herbal remedies

Some herbal remedies can make your side effects worse. Speak to your pharmacist before taking any herbal supplements.