ACTION OF DIMENHYDRINATE (DRAMAMINE) AND OTHER DRUGS ON VESTIBULAR FUNCTION

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Abstract
DIMENHYDRINATE (2-[benzohydryloxy]-N, N-dimethylethylamine 8-chlorotheophyllinate) (dramamine) has recently been introduced for the prevention and treatment of motion sickness. It has been employed successfully in seasickness1 and airsickness.2 Several reports have appeared attesting to its value in radiation sickness,3 nausea and vomiting of pregnancy,4 Ménière's syndrome,5 vestibular reactions following labyrinthine operations6 and in vertigo of vestibular origin.7 Although the drug by weight contains 54 per cent of diphenhydramine and 46 per cent of 8-chlorotheophylline, it is considered to be a specific chemical compound rather than a mixture of its two components (fig. 1). METHOD The action of dimenhydrinate on vestibular function was investigated by means of the cold microcaloric test8 and galvanic stimulation of the mastoid area.9 The former method depends on the integrity of the peripheral end organ in the labyrinth. By means of 2 cc. of ice water (water with floating