Avomine

What is Avomine?

Avomine is an anti-sickness treatment (known as an antiemetic) that treats nausea and vomiting caused by motion sickness. It is often used to prevent travel sickness or vertigo, but it can treat nausea and vomiting caused by other factors.

How does Avomine work?

Promethazine is the active ingredient in Avomine. It is an antihistamine that prevents a part of the body called the vestibular apparatus known as the middle ear, from carrying messages to the brain’s vomiting centre. These signals that are picked up as a disturbance by the middle ear are often caused by movement, such as travelling in a plane, ferry or car. Avomine stops nausea and vomiting from occurring as a result of this.

Active ingredients

The active ingredient in Avomine is Promethazine 25mg which is an antihistamine.

Inactive ingredients

The other ingredients in Avomine are lactose, sodium metabisulphite, dextrin, microcrystalline, cellulose, potato starch, stearic acid and magnesium stearate. If you are lactose intolerant, you may want to check with a pharmacist to determine if Avomine is suitable for you. 

Please note: Avomine is a brand of Promethiazine. Generic manufacturers of Promethiazine may use different inactive ingredients.

Avomine dosage

For adults and children over the age of ten years old, take one tablet either the night before or a few hours before travelling. Children aged five to ten years old should be given just half a tablet. If you are experiencing sickness caused by something else, such as vertigo, then take one tablet up to three times a day. Children aged five to ten years old should get half a tablet no more than three times a day. Children under five years old should not be given Avomine tablets. See your doctor if you are using Avomine for longer than seven days.

How to take Avomine

To prevent travel sickness, Avomine is best taken at bedtime the night before you travel. For a short journey, take one tablet one or two hours before you travel. During travel, take one tablet when you start to feel sick. (Children aged five to ten years old should be given half a tablet). Then take a second tablet in the evening, and once again the next evening if necessary.

Avomine side effects

Avomine affects everyone differently, and you may experience side effects such as:

• Drowsiness
• Dizziness
• Feeling restless
• Headaches
• Blurred vision 
• Confusion or disorientation 
• Nightmares
• Dry mouth 
• Having trouble passing urine
• Photosensitivity 
• Lack of appetite 
• Heart palpitations 
• Low blood pressure or arrhythmias (abnormal heartbeats)
• Twitching or tremors 
• A blood disorder 

Avomine is available without a prescription, so if you are concerned about any side effects, speak to a pharmacist or doctor.
 

Contraindications

Avomine should not be taken if you have central nervous system depression, have taken monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAO inhibitors - a form of antidepressant) within the past 14 days or if you are allergic to any of the ingredients. It’s not suitable for children under five or people with galactose intolerance or glucose-galactose malabsorption.

Drug interactions

Avomine should be avoided by anyone taking MAOI antidepressants (monoamine oxidase inhibitors).
Taking Avomine alongside the following medicines increases the likelihood of drowsiness:

• Tricyclic antidepressants
• Antipsychotics
• Benzodiazepines
• Antihistamine tablets that cause a sedative effect
• Sleeping tablets
• Strong painkillers

Additional side effects such as confusion, constipation and urination difficulties can arise when taking Avomine with: 

• Parkinson’s treatment 
• Hyoscine
• Other antihistamines or anti-sickness medicines
• Treatment for incontinence
• Muscle relaxers

Will Avomine make me drowsy?

Avomine can cause drowsiness, dizziness and disorientation. This means that you shouldn’t drive until you know what effect the medicine has on you.

Avomine and pregnancy

Avomine should be avoided if possible during pregnancy and should only be taken if your doctor recommends it. You shouldn’t take it in the last two weeks of your pregnancy.

Driving while taking Avomine

You should not plan to drive if you are taking Avomine for the first time. It can cause you to feel dizzy, drowsy and disoriented. Only drive if you are confident that Avomine will not affect you in this way.

How to prevent travel sickness

You should take Avomine the night before you travel and once each night during a long journey. If it’s a short journey, Avomine can be taken an hour or two before you travel.

Alternatives to Avomine

An alternative medicine available to treat travel sickness is Hyoscine. Hyoscine comes as tablets or a patch. A medicine-free option you can try is acupressure wristbands, although these don’t work for everyone. Ginger is often used as a herbal remedy to ease the stomach although this might not prevent vomiting during travel.