[Juliana]

Does anyone else take the anti-nauseant dimenhydrinate (brand names Gravol or Dramamine) often?

I've had inner ear problems and lots of nausea for years, so I have needed to take anti-nauseants on a semi-regular basis. I usually take dimenhydrinate because it's cheap and available OTC and it works quite well. I sometimes take one when I can't fall asleep at night too.

Anyway, I have noticed that after I take it, every single time, I get HUGE, puffy circles under my eyes the next day and they last for a couple of days. I took one last night and at work today everyone was asking me if I was okay and telling me I look exhausted. I never get puffiness like this unless I take dimenhydrinate. It seems like a very odd side effect. I remember it happening all the time when I was in junior high too. I had an ulcer then and took dimenhydrinate for the nausea.

Has anyone else had this happen? Any idea why this would happen? Dimenhydrinate is an antihistamine, but other antihistamines like benadryl don't make my eyes puffy... and other anti-nauseants like compazine and phenergan don't either.

P.S. Pepto Bismol always turns my tongue black. It looks like I sucked on a black marker, but I can get rid of most of it by vigorously brushing my tongue with my toothbrush. Anyone else experience this?

i googled it and found this...........


What are the possible side effects of dimenhydrinate?
Stop taking dimenhydrinate and seek emergency medical attention if you experience an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of your throat; swelling of your lips, tongue, or face; or hives).
Other, less serious side effects may be more likely to occur. Continue to take dimenhydrinate and talk to your doctor if you experience

[Juliana]

Thanks. That's interesting. I guess I get swelling around my eyes, but I never figured I was allergic... and my eyes don't get puffy right after I take it; it happens the next day. It's odd. I've been taking this stuff off and on since I was a kid.

i couldn't find anything else that related to the puffiness. it reads to me like it's a pretty good med and not "dangerous".....but i think i'd ask my doctor about it...just to be safe........

[Juliana]

I'm seeing her on Monday. I guess I'll ask her about it. It's just a minor annoyance, so I've never mentioned it to her. I just had SO many people at work today telling me how exhausted I looked... and they were right... so puffy. I've been on just about every anti-nauseant out there and this one works better for me than the prescription ones. So, it does what it's supposed to do; it just makes me look like I haven't slept in days.

well, my lordy, i look that way without taking that med........
i slept from 11 p.m. last night til noon today!!!!!!!!!!!

[Maven]

I never heard of Pepto-Bismol turning one's tongue black, but I haven't taken it in years. Anyway, I Googled, and it turns out, it's not unusual!

This is from the Pepto-Bismol FAQs:

I noticed that Pepto-Bismol sometimes darkens the tongue/stool. Why does this happen and how long does it last?
The active ingredient in Pepto-Bismol contains bismuth. When a small amount of bismuth combines with trace amounts of sulfur in your saliva and gastrointestinal tract, a black-colored substance (bismuth sulfide) is formed. This discoloration is temporary and harmless. It can last several days after you stop taking Pepto-Bismol. Individual bowel habits, your age (the intestinal tract slows down with age), and the amount of the product taken all help to determine how long Pepto-Bismol is in your system.

[Juliana]

Wow. So I'm not the only one! I have GERD, so maybe that's why I end up with so much black on my tongue.