Does Dramamine Help With Anxiety?

Anxiety disorders can drive people to try to self-medicate with many things. These attempts may be beneficial in the short-term, but it could be a grave mistake in the long run. People commonly self-medicate with Dramamine, but does Dramamine actually help with anxiety?

One of these commonly abused medications is Dramamine. The motion sickness drug provides relaxation benefits as well. Some people find the quick work it does to not only relieve nausea but calm the nerves. This relief may even be enough for them, not to mention their anxiety symptoms to their doctor.

Anxiety relief on your terms may lead to unintentional complications down the line. As with any medication, supplement, or diet, it is critical to mention changes you would like to make to your doctor. You will never know what kind of adverse interactions self-treatment may have if you fail to let your doctor know.

What is Dramamine?

When you use it as directed, Dramamine, or Dimenhydrinate, is perfectly safe. This antihistamine relieves nausea and vomiting, especially from motion sickness. It is best for those who have the sensitivity to boat, plane, train, or car travel movements.

An allergy to Dramamine can result in swelling of the mouth, a rash, chest tightening, hives, or difficulty breathing. Also, when taken with alcohol, the risk of adverse side effects increases exponentially. These reactions are only part of the reason why it is so crucial to inform your doctor.

Side Effects

Increase of mucus
Drowsiness
Dry mouth
Dizziness
Tremors
Agitation
Loss of consciousness
Chest pain
Convulsions
Coma
Hallucinations
Over-sedation
Elevated heartbeat

Overdosing on Dramamine is entirely possible. Some of the more severe side effects listed above link directly to excessive amounts of this drug. If you use it regularly in these high dosages, your liver, heart, kidneys, and stomach can all suffer serious ailments.

Addictive Anxiety Remedies

Dramamine is known to provide some relief for anxiety, but there are some risks. Just like with benzodiazepines such as Xanax, there is a possibility of developing dependence. This addictive property is why your doctor will only recommend these drugs for short-term or emergency use for anxiety symptoms.

When you have anxiety, it is sometimes easier to depend on fast-acting relief than other treatments to kick in. However, that is not always good for you in the long run. If you do nothing else to combat your anxiety, you may never manage it effectively.

An adverse reaction with other medications you may take is another reason to avoid self-medication, especially with addictive drugs. It is essential to speak with your doctor before the side effects get out of hand. They will know how to help with both anxiety and possible addictions.

Use with Caution

Benzodiazepines
While this may be the best treatment for some, there are risks associated with Benzos. Any past struggles with addiction or genetic factors may need consideration.
4-6 months of using benzodiazepines consistently may cause these medications to lose their effects. This decline can lead to an increase in use to achieve the same impact.
Withdrawal symptoms may occur when stopping this treatment.
Dimenhydrinate
- When taken at specific dosages, this drug may produce a hallucinogenic effect that can make it desirable for those chasing a high. This effect only makes it even more attractive to those trying to escape.
- Others misuse Dramamine to self-medicate their anxiety, which is equally dangerous.

If you experience withdrawal or suspect an addiction, speak with your doctor. Depending on your case, they may suggest addiction treatment to deal with your dependence. Therapy and lifestyle changes will also help your anxiety problems.

Addiction Treatment

Detox
If necessary, your doctor may require the medical supervision of a detox. Factors that affect this decision include how long the drug abuse lasted and the addition of other substances.
Do not stop taking anything on your own. Your doctor may have a plan for you to wean yourself off the addictive drugs gradually.
Therapy
- Family, group, or individual therapy is beneficial for getting to the source of the problem. Treatment allows you to build a sensible recovery plan.
Lifestyle Changes
- With the absence of a drug for escape, changing the way you live, your life is essential. Things may not get better if you do not address the reasons you feel stuck or anxious. Finding a healthy outlet for your frustrations is integral to your recovery.

Best Treatments for Anxiety

Finding relief from anxiety is not impossible. You may need to talk to your doctor, but it is worth it. The last thing you want to do is put your body at risk by trying to fix it yourself.

There is no actual 'cure' for anxiety. Addressing underlying conditions can help make it go away, but by itself, all you can do is manage it. Your doctor can help you create a recovery plan best for you.

Anxiety Treatment

Medication
Therapy
Mindfulness

Regardless of what treatment you and your doctor decide on, these are better ways to feel better. Any medication should go through your doctor first, but making changes to your lifestyle is easy to start at any time. All you need is a little motivation, which can be hard with anxiety, but not impossible.

Conclusion

Dramamine may be a decent emergency fix for acute anxiety. Still, it should not take the place of talking to a doctor about your symptoms. With extended use, it can wreak havoc on your body and cause more problems than you started with. No quick fix is worth the possibility of creating more issues.

Anxiety is overwhelming, and finding a way to feel better may seem impossible. The best thing you can do for yourself is to bring it up with a professional who knows your case and history. If you neglect to treat an anxiety disorder or its underlying causes, your body may damage itself in an attempt to combat the stress on its own.