DIMENHYDRINATE

82/100 · Critical

Manufactured by Church & Dwight Co., Inc.

Dimenhydrinate Adverse Events: High Serious Reaction Rate

53,959 FDA adverse event reports analyzed

Last updated: 2026-05-12

About DIMENHYDRINATE

DIMENHYDRINATE is a medication tracked in the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS), manufactured by Church & Dwight Co., Inc.. Based on analysis of 53,959 FDA adverse event reports, DIMENHYDRINATE has a safety score of 82 out of 100. This score indicates a relatively favorable safety profile, with fewer or less severe adverse events compared to many other tracked medications. The most commonly reported adverse reactions for DIMENHYDRINATE include NAUSEA, FATIGUE, OFF LABEL USE, HEADACHE, VOMITING. This page provides a comprehensive breakdown of reported side effects, safety signals, patient demographics, and AI-powered safety analysis for DIMENHYDRINATE.

AI Safety Analysis

Dimenhydrinate has a safety concern score of 82 out of 100, placing it in the high concern category based on analysis of FDA adverse event data. The FDA has received approximately 53,959 adverse event reports for this medication, which is primarily manufactured by Church & Dwight Co., Inc..

The most commonly reported adverse events include Nausea, Fatigue, Off Label Use. Of classified reports, 94.9% were designated as serious by the FDA, meaning they involved hospitalization, disability, or other significant medical outcomes. Nausea, fatigue, and dizziness are the most frequently reported adverse events.

A significant number of serious reactions, including pneumonia and chest discomfort, are noted. The reaction diversity is high, with over 100 distinct reactions reported.

Patients taking Dimenhydrinate should monitor for the commonly reported side effects and contact their healthcare provider if they experience any unusual symptoms. Dimenhydrinate may interact with other medications, potentially affecting its efficacy or causing adverse reactions. Consult a healthcare provider before combining with other drugs. This analysis is based on voluntary FDA adverse event reports and should not replace professional medical advice.

Safety Score: 82/100

Dimenhydrinate received a safety concern score of 82/100 (high concern). This is based on a 94.9% serious event ratio across 10,197 classified reports. The score accounts for 53,959 total adverse event reports and 100 distinct reaction types. This high score reflects a significant proportion of serious adverse events in the reporting data.

Top Adverse Reactions

NAUSEA2,379 reports
FATIGUE1,768 reports
OFF LABEL USE1,730 reports
HEADACHE1,516 reports
VOMITING1,326 reports
MALAISE1,168 reports
DIARRHOEA1,088 reports
DIZZINESS1,084 reports
PAIN1,067 reports
DRUG INEFFECTIVE1,064 reports
PYREXIA944 reports
DYSPNOEA903 reports
COUGH896 reports
RASH865 reports
ARTHRALGIA859 reports
FEBRILE NEUTROPENIA825 reports
ABDOMINAL PAIN824 reports
ANXIETY771 reports
WEIGHT DECREASED719 reports
NASOPHARYNGITIS699 reports
ASTHENIA697 reports
CONDITION AGGRAVATED695 reports
BLOOD PRESSURE INCREASED690 reports
PNEUMONIA678 reports
PRURITUS658 reports
CHEST DISCOMFORT655 reports
FALL647 reports
INSOMNIA638 reports
ERYTHEMA579 reports
WEIGHT INCREASED533 reports
PAIN IN EXTREMITY530 reports
FEELING ABNORMAL529 reports
INAPPROPRIATE SCHEDULE OF PRODUCT ADMINISTRATION516 reports
ABDOMINAL PAIN UPPER513 reports
URTICARIA504 reports
INFUSION RELATED REACTION493 reports
RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS488 reports
INFLUENZA465 reports
DECREASED APPETITE458 reports
HYPERTENSION456 reports
MIGRAINE449 reports
HYPERHIDROSIS434 reports
HYPOTENSION430 reports
HEART RATE INCREASED426 reports
PRODUCT USE ISSUE424 reports
PALPITATIONS420 reports
PERIPHERAL SWELLING418 reports
FLUSHING417 reports
ABDOMINAL DISCOMFORT416 reports
CYSTITIS412 reports
DEPRESSION408 reports
INTENTIONAL PRODUCT USE ISSUE407 reports
MUSCULAR WEAKNESS404 reports
BACK PAIN399 reports
RHINORRHOEA395 reports
SINUSITIS384 reports
ARTHRITIS379 reports
DRUG HYPERSENSITIVITY377 reports
LOSS OF PERSONAL INDEPENDENCE IN DAILY ACTIVITIES374 reports
SOMNOLENCE374 reports
OROPHARYNGEAL PAIN367 reports
LYMPHOCYTE COUNT DECREASED366 reports
HYPERSENSITIVITY362 reports
CHILLS353 reports
CHEST PAIN349 reports
JOINT SWELLING347 reports
DRUG INTOLERANCE346 reports
BLOOD PRESSURE FLUCTUATION340 reports
HAEMOGLOBIN DECREASED339 reports
ALANINE AMINOTRANSFERASE INCREASED331 reports
BRONCHITIS325 reports
STRESS324 reports
TACHYCARDIA316 reports
CONSTIPATION309 reports
URINARY TRACT INFECTION306 reports
VISION BLURRED302 reports
TREMOR300 reports
TREATMENT FAILURE299 reports
CONFUSIONAL STATE298 reports
HYPOAESTHESIA298 reports
PRODUCT USE IN UNAPPROVED INDICATION294 reports
WHITE BLOOD CELL COUNT DECREASED285 reports
DEHYDRATION283 reports
DYSPHAGIA283 reports
INFLUENZA LIKE ILLNESS279 reports
GENERAL PHYSICAL HEALTH DETERIORATION272 reports
HEART RATE DECREASED271 reports
ASPARTATE AMINOTRANSFERASE INCREASED269 reports
MUSCLE SPASMS269 reports
APLASTIC ANAEMIA267 reports
ANGINA PECTORIS265 reports
C REACTIVE PROTEIN INCREASED261 reports
CATARACT258 reports
URINE ABNORMALITY258 reports
GASTROINTESTINAL DISORDER257 reports
ABDOMINAL DISTENSION255 reports
FEELING HOT252 reports
INFECTION249 reports
MUSCULOSKELETAL STIFFNESS249 reports
AGITATION242 reports

Key Safety Signals

  • Pneumonia and chest discomfort are key serious safety signals.
  • Drug ineffectiveness and pyrexia are common, indicating potential efficacy issues.
  • Aplastic anemia and angina pectoris are rare but serious safety signals.

Patient Demographics

Adverse event reports by sex: Female: 6,057, Male: 2,944, Unknown: 8. The most frequently reported age groups are age 61 (276 reports), age 41 (221 reports), age 65 (205 reports). These demographics reflect reporting patterns and may not represent the full patient population.

Report Outcomes

Out of 10,197 classified reports for DIMENHYDRINATE:

  • Serious: 9,680 reports (94.9%) — includes hospitalization, disability, life-threatening events, or death
  • Non-Serious: 517 reports (5.1%)
Serious 94.9%Non-Serious 5.1%

The FDA classifies an adverse event as “serious” if it results in death, hospitalization, disability, congenital anomaly, or requires intervention to prevent permanent damage.

Demographics Breakdown

Reports by Sex

Female6,057 (67.2%)
Male2,944 (32.7%)
Unknown8 (0.1%)

Reports by Age

Age 61276 reports
Age 41221 reports
Age 65205 reports
Age 53200 reports
Age 66184 reports
Age 60164 reports
Age 69157 reports
Age 11155 reports
Age 50149 reports
Age 56140 reports
Age 57138 reports
Age 17137 reports
Age 54137 reports
Age 16132 reports
Age 62119 reports
Age 58116 reports
Age 59114 reports
Age 64114 reports
Age 49111 reports
Age 40110 reports

Demographics reflect voluntary FDA adverse event reporting patterns and may not represent the full patient population.

Drug Interactions & Warnings

Dimenhydrinate may interact with other medications, potentially affecting its efficacy or causing adverse reactions. Consult a healthcare provider before combining with other drugs.

What You Should Know

If you are taking Dimenhydrinate, here are important things to know. The most commonly reported side effects include nausea, fatigue, off label use, headache, vomiting. While many of these may be mild and temporary, you should contact your healthcare provider if any symptoms are severe or persistent. Always follow the prescribed dosage and duration of use as directed by a healthcare provider. Be aware of potential serious reactions and seek medical attention if they occur. If you experience a serious adverse reaction, seek emergency medical attention immediately or call 911. You can report side effects to the FDA's MedWatch program at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Regulatory Context

The FDA continues to monitor Dimenhydrinate for safety. Consumers should report any adverse events to the FDA's MedWatch program.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many adverse event reports has the FDA received for Dimenhydrinate?

The FDA has received approximately 53,959 adverse event reports associated with Dimenhydrinate. These reports come from healthcare professionals, consumers, and manufacturers through the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Note that the number of reports does not directly indicate the frequency of side effects, as adverse events are voluntarily reported and may be underrepresented.

What are the most commonly reported side effects of Dimenhydrinate?

The most frequently reported adverse events for Dimenhydrinate include Nausea, Fatigue, Off Label Use, Headache, Vomiting. By volume, the top reported reactions are: Nausea (2,379 reports), Fatigue (1,768 reports), Off Label Use (1,730 reports). These figures reflect FDA adverse event reports and may not represent the true incidence rate of these side effects in all patients taking Dimenhydrinate.

What percentage of Dimenhydrinate adverse event reports are serious?

Out of 10,197 classified reports, 9,680 (94.9%) were classified as serious and 517 as non-serious. The FDA classifies an event as "serious" if it results in death, hospitalization, disability, or other medically significant outcomes. A higher serious-event ratio warrants closer attention but does not necessarily mean the drug is unsafe.

Who reports adverse events for Dimenhydrinate (by sex)?

Adverse event reports for Dimenhydrinate break down by patient sex as follows: Female: 6,057, Male: 2,944, Unknown: 8. This distribution reflects reporting patterns rather than actual risk differences between groups. Reporting rates can be influenced by prescribing patterns, disease demographics, and reporting behavior.

What age groups report the most side effects for Dimenhydrinate?

The most frequently reported age groups for Dimenhydrinate adverse events are: age 61: 276 reports, age 41: 221 reports, age 65: 205 reports, age 53: 200 reports, age 66: 184 reports. Age-related reporting patterns can reflect both the demographics of the patient population and potential age-related susceptibility to certain side effects.

Who manufactures Dimenhydrinate?

The primary manufacturer associated with Dimenhydrinate adverse event reports is Church & Dwight Co., Inc.. Multiple manufacturers may produce generic versions of this drug. The manufacturer listed reflects the most frequently reported brand in FDA adverse event data.

What other side effects have been reported for Dimenhydrinate?

Beyond the most common reactions, other reported adverse events for Dimenhydrinate include: Malaise, Diarrhoea, Dizziness, Pain, Drug Ineffective. Less common side effects can still be clinically significant. Patients should report any unusual symptoms to their healthcare provider.

How do I report a side effect from Dimenhydrinate?

You can report adverse events from Dimenhydrinate to the FDA through their MedWatch program at www.fda.gov/medwatch, by calling 1-800-FDA-1088, or by completing Form FDA 3500. Healthcare professionals, consumers, and manufacturers can all submit reports. Reporting helps the FDA monitor drug safety after approval.

What is Dimenhydrinate's safety score and what does it mean?

Dimenhydrinate has a safety concern score of 82 out of 100 (high concern). This score is calculated from the ratio of serious to non-serious adverse events, the diversity of reported reactions, and the overall volume of reports relative to usage. Nausea, fatigue, and dizziness are the most frequently reported adverse events.

What are the key safety signals for Dimenhydrinate?

Key safety signals identified in Dimenhydrinate's adverse event data include: Pneumonia and chest discomfort are key serious safety signals.. Drug ineffectiveness and pyrexia are common, indicating potential efficacy issues.. Aplastic anemia and angina pectoris are rare but serious safety signals.. These signals are derived from patterns in FDA reports and should be discussed with a healthcare provider for personalized assessment.

Does Dimenhydrinate interact with other drugs?

Dimenhydrinate may interact with other medications, potentially affecting its efficacy or causing adverse reactions. Consult a healthcare provider before combining with other drugs. Always inform your healthcare provider about all medications, supplements, and over-the-counter drugs you are taking before starting Dimenhydrinate.

What should patients know before taking Dimenhydrinate?

Always follow the prescribed dosage and duration of use as directed by a healthcare provider. Be aware of potential serious reactions and seek medical attention if they occur.

Are Dimenhydrinate side effects well-documented?

Dimenhydrinate has 53,959 adverse event reports on file with the FDA. A significant number of serious reactions, including pneumonia and chest discomfort, are noted. The volume of reports for Dimenhydrinate reflects both the drug's usage level and the vigilance of the reporting community.

What is the FDA's position on Dimenhydrinate?

The FDA continues to monitor Dimenhydrinate for safety. Consumers should report any adverse events to the FDA's MedWatch program. For the most current regulatory information, check the FDA's drug labeling database or consult your pharmacist.

Related Drugs

Drugs related to DIMENHYDRINATE based on therapeutic use, drug class, or shared indications:

PseudoephedrineAcetaminophenIbuprofenDiphenhydraminePhenylephrine
Important Disclaimer: This content is generated by AI analysis of FDA adverse event reports and is provided for informational purposes only. It is not medical advice. Adverse event reports submitted to the FDA do not prove that a medication caused the reported side effect. Always consult your healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any medication. If you experience a serious side effect, contact your doctor or call 911 immediately.