What is Gravinate ?
Gravinate is a second-generation antihistamine. It is used to treat nausea and vomiting, especially due to motion sickness. Histamine is a chemical messenger in the body that can cause vomiting and dizziness. Antihistamine thus serves to block the impact of this chemical in the body. It is also used during pregnancy, especially by women with severe morning sickness.
Gravinate formula:
Gravinate is composed of dimenhydrinate, which is a second-generation antihistamine.
What are the available forms of Gravinate in Pakistan?
Gravinate is available in three different forms: tablet, syrup and as an injection.
Gravinate dosage and strength:
Gravinate is available in different dosage strengths, across its 3 forms. These include:
- The tablet dosage form of Gravinate is available in 10 mg strength.
- The injection dosage form of Gravinate is available as 50mg/1ml.
- The syrup dosage form of Gravinate is available as 12.5 mg/4ml.
In adults, the recommended dosage of Gravinate for treating nausea and vomiting is 50 to 100 mg IM or IV, every 4 hours, or as needed.
How to take Gravinate?
Gravinate tablets should not be chewed or crushed; they should be swallowed whole with a glass of water. You should follow the dosage time and frequency as prescribed by your doctor. People should not make any changes to their prescription for Gravinate, by themselves.
It is recommended that for preventing motion sickness, people take the pill around 30 minutes before they start traveling. Prior to discontinuing the use of Gravinate, you should confirm with your doctor first.
Gravinate injection can be injected intravenously or intramuscularly. In the former, your healthcare provider will infuse it over 30 minutes. In the latter case, the healthcare provider will inject the medicine deep into the muscles of the upper part of buttock, due to its thick viscosity. Moreover, they will also need to ensure that they do not hit a nerve or blood vessel during the injection.
What are the uses of Gravinate?
Gravinate is mostly used to treat the problems of the stomach. Conditions treated by Gravinate include:
- Vomiting
- Dizziness due to motion sickness
- Upset stomach
- Nausea and sickness in pregnant women
- Meniere’s disease
What are the side effects of Gravinate?
Gravinate is mostly safe to use, but it can, much like other drugs, also carry side effects, in some cases. Potential side-effects of Gravinate are as follows:
- drowsiness
- dry mouth, nose, or throat
- problems with coordination
- fainting
- dizziness
- nausea
- excitement or hyperactivity (especially in children)
- headache
- new or worsening dizziness
- blurred vision
- ringing in the ears
What are the risks and warnings for Gravinate?
Allergy or Hypersensitivity:
People who are allergic to dimenhydrinate should not take Gravinate, or any medicine with similar medical composition. An allergy can be mild, but in severe cases, it can also lead to a serious condition known as anaphylactic shock.
Anaphylaxis requires urgent medical care, without which the person can face serious consequences. To prevent such a perilous situation, patients should always disclose their allergies to their doctor, so that prescriptions are written accordingly.
Respiratory impairment:
Since Gravinate can aggravate respiratory problems, therefore, people with any respiratory issues should take it with caution.
Neuromuscular disease:
People with neuromuscular problems like myasthenia gravis should not take Gravinate, as it can exacerbate their condition.
Liver failure:
Liver performs the task of metabolism and excretion of drugs. Naturally, when liver function is compromised due to disease or liver failure, drugs are not removed from the body. Accumulation of drugs has serious implications for the body. Thus, if you have liver failure, you should not take Gravinate.
Elderly:
As older people are much more likely to suffer from the side-effects of Gravinate, they should take it with caution, or take a lesser dose of the medicine.
Abrupt withdrawal:
It is pertinent that you do not abruptly stop the intake of Gravinate but wean yourself off it. When used over long periods of time, the body can get accustomed to Gravinate. When you suddenly quit, your body undergoes withdrawal symptoms.
While most of the time, doctors prescribe Gravinate for short-term use only to prevent this very scenario. Nonetheless, people should gradually stop their intake of Gravinate, taking lesser dosages with time, so that the body acclimatizes to lack of Gravinate. It is best to consult your healthcare provider before stopping the consumption of Gravinate.
Narrow-angle glaucoma:
Since Gravinate can increase the pressure inside of the eyes, it can aggravate a case of narrow-angle glaucoma. Thus, if you have glaucoma, do not take Gravinate, as it can cause your vision to blur.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding:
Pregnant women should only take Gravinate at the discretion of their doctor, after doing a careful risk-benefit analysis. Since Gravinate can pass into breast milk, and affect the health of the baby, therefore, lactating mothers should take Gravinate only at the doctor’s advice.
Operating machinery:
Do not operate machinery, or drive for that matter, after taking Gravinate, as it can lead to drowsiness and disorientation. Driving or operating machines in this state poses a safety hazard.
Sedatives:
If you are currently taking sedatives, or use sleeping aids, take Gravinate with caution as It has a sedative effect, that can then make you feel dizzy.
Heart Diseases:
Individuals with a history of heart disease, including conditions like arrhythmias, ischemic heart disease, and hypertension, should take Gravinate with caution, lest it aggravates their disease.
Gastrointestinal issues:
People suffering from pyloroduodenal obstruction should take Gravinate with caution. It is highly recommended that if you have any gastrointestinal problems, you should confer with your healthcare provider before taking Gravinate.
Benign prostatic hyperplasia:
Diphenhydramine, the main chemical component of Gravinate, is contraindicated in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia. Patients with this condition should disclose it to their doctor so that they can be prescribed an alternative for complaints of nausea and vomiting.
Blood Disease:
Although rare, long-term use of Diphenhydramine can lead to blood dyscrasias. Thus, people suffering from porphyria should take Gravinate with caution.
Seizures:
People suffering from seizures, or conditions like epilepsy that can cause seizures, should take Gravinate with caution.
Kidney failure:
Our kidneys do the vital task of removal of waste products in the body, including the waste from the metabolism of drugs. When their function is impaired, this waste can remain in the body, leading to the buildup of toxins, which then has a severe and adverse impact on the body.
Hence, people with kidney disease should tell their healthcare provider about kidney problems. Doctors may then either lower the dosage of the drug or provide an alternative for it.
Interactions between Gravinate and other medications:
As an antihistamine, Gravinate can interact with other drugs. A drug interaction does not necessarily mean that you stop taking the drug as this can upset your body and cause further health issues. Instead, report any issues to your healthcare provider.
Drugs that can interact with Gravinate include:
- Alcohol
- Opioids
- Caffeine
- Magnesium
- Salicylate
- Phenyltoloxamine
- Chlorpheniramine
- Dextromethorphan
- Phenylephrine
- Pseudoephedrine
- Doxylamine
- Diphenhydramine
- Acrivastine
- Brompheniramine
- Carbetapentane
- Carbinoxamine
- Cetirizine
- Chlophedianol
- Dexbrompheniramine
- Doxylamine
- Pyridoxine
- Fexofenadine
- Heparin
- Hydroxyzine
- Levocetirizine
- Meclizine
- Pyrilamine
- Sedating H1-blockers
- Sincalide
- Triprolidine
To prevent drug interaction, you should provide your healthcare specialist a comprehensive medical history, that is not limited to any medications that you may be taking, but your risk factors as well.
At times, doctors can prevent drug interaction by simply changing the time or dose of the medicine. Other times, a different medicine can be given to the patient to prevent any form of drug interaction.
What is the price of Gravinate in Pakistan?
Price of one Gravinate tablet in Pakistan, in the year 2022, is Rs.1/-.
Storage Conditions:
- Gravinate should be kept out of reach and sight of children.
- It should be stored at room temperature.
- It should not be used after the expiration date on the pack has passed.
How to get Gravinate in Pakistan?
You need a doctor’s prescription to buy Gravinate in Pakistan. Make sure that you take your latest, signed prescription to the pharmacist in order to get the medicine.
What medicines are available as alternatives to Gravinate in Pakistan?
Following are the available brand names of dimenhydrinate:
- Devom
- Dymin
- Gravinate
Conclusion:
Gravinate is used to remedy vomiting, nausea, symptoms of motion sickness, and upset stomach. These issues are common amongst people of all age groups, which is also why Gravinate is available in different forms like tablets and syrup.
Many pregnant women also have to face nausea and vomiting, commonly referred to as morning sickness, which can be a misnomer as the state can occur any time of the day. In severe cases, doctors resort to the use of Gravinate.
Since Gravinate can have side effects and contraindications, it is not recommended that you self-moderate the usage of Gravinate, and instead visit your healthcare provider.
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