Cinnarizine

Registered South African indications:

• Labyrinthine disorders

Contraindications

• Hypersensitivity to the active ingredient or any of its excipients

Cautions

• Pregnancy
• Breastfeeding
• Renal impairment 
• Hepatic impairment 
• Parkinson's disease 
• Porphyria 
• Fructose or galactose intolerance
• Lapp lactase deficiency 
• Glucose-galactose malabsorption 
• Sucrase-isomaltase insufficiency 
• May impair ability to drive or operate machinery

Forms avail. in SA and covered in this monograph: cap, tab

Labyrinthine disorders including vertigo, dizziness, tinnitus, nystagmus, nausea and vomiting 

• Oral (cap): 75mg, 8hrly; Max: 225mg/24hrs
• Oral (tab): 25-75mg, 8hrly; Max: 225mg/24hrs

Motion sickness

• Oral (tab): 50mg, 1hr before journey; Repeat 25mg, 8hrly as needed

Paed. forms avail. in SA and covered in this monograph: tab

Labyrinthine disorders including vertigo, dizziness, tinnitus, nystagmus, nausea and vomiting 

Younger than 12 years

• Not established for use 

Older than 12 years

• See adult dosage

Motion sickness

Younger than 5 years

• Not established for use 

Between 5-7 years

• Oral (tab): 6.25mg, 8hrly, as needed

Between 8-12 years

• Oral (tab): 12.5mg, 8hrly, as needed

Older than 12 years

• See adult dosage

Pregnancy

• Caution; no evidence of risk in studies
• The safety of cinnarizine in human pregnancy has not been established although studies in animals have not demonstrated teratogenic effects. As with other agents, it is not advisable to administer cinnarizine in pregnancy

Breastfeeding

• Caution; not recommended
• There is no data on the excretion of cinnarizine in human breast milk. Use of cinnarizine is not recommended in breastfeeding mothers

Renal Impairment

• Caution; no dose adjustment recommended

Hepatic Impairment

• Caution; no dose adjustment recommended

Elderly

• No dose adjustment recommended

Porphyria Information

• Probably porphyrinogenic (PRP)

Drugs in Sport

• Permitted - No warnings

Central Nervous System Disorders

• Somnolence
• Headache
• Euphoria
• Dyskinesia
• Extrapyramidal movement disorders
• Parkinsonism
• Tremor
• Reduced concentration
• Lassitude
• Dizziness

Respiratory Disorders

• Tightness of chest

Gastrointestinal Disorders

• Dry mouth
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Diarrhoea
• Weight gain

Genitourinary Disorders

• Difficulty in micturition
• Dysuria

Musculoskeletal Disorders

• Muscle rigidity

Skin and Subcutaneous Tissue Disorders

• Lichen planus
• Subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus
• Lichenoid keratosis
• Perspiration

Immune, Blood and Lymphatic System Disorders

• Hypersensitivity

Sensory Disorders

• Blurred vision

• Central nervous system depressants
• Anticholinergics
• Antihistamines
• Monoamine oxidase inhibitors
• Tricyclic antidepressants

None routine

Cinnarizine is a noncompetitive antagonist of smooth muscle contractions caused by various vasoactive agents including histamine. It acts on vascular smooth muscle by selectively inhibiting the calcium influx into depolarized cells, thereby reducing the availability of free calcium ions for the induction and maintenance of contraction. Cinnarizine inhibits stimulation of the vestibular system.

Tablet 25mg

• Cindrid 25 (Sandoz)
• Stugeron (Janssen) originator

Capsule 75mg

• Sandoz Cinnarizine 75 (Sandoz)