To not know that “take up to 3 a day” means every 8 hours? Cyclizine medication

[Plantaninian]

Prescribed 50mg of cyclizine for ongoing vertigo and nausea (not pregnant).

the box says “up to 3 a day”. Don’t know if it’s me being stupid or my illness but didn’t realise this meant every 8 hours! I thought it was just as and when. Only when I checked the NHS website did it say every 8 hours.

i took the first at 10am this morning and the 2nd at 3pm. So 3 hours before I should have!

Called the pharmacist who said I should just not take the 3rd dose at all today, but I should be fine just sleepy and not to drive. To be honest I feel stoned and it’s horrible!!!!

im waiting for 111 to call back. Am I being completely ridiculous?

Ridiculous for what? Calling 111? No thats very sensible but the pharmacist has had lots of training.

The pharmacist has already given you good advice and warned you you that would feel sleepy. I'm not sure what calling 111 will achieve: pharmacists have very good knowledge of drugs, doses and side effects. I hope you feel better soon.

Yanbu
The directons were definitely not clear.

Dizziness/drowsiness are common side effects of cyclizine anyway, so you may well be feeling the standard side effect from taking it anyway but now you know you've had your second dose early you're linking the two. You should be fine, it's not a major overdose!

When taken for travel sickness it can be prescribed more frequently anyway: "The usual dose for adults and teenagers is 50 mg taken orally 30 min before travel. The dose may be repeated every 4–6 h, but no more than 200 mg should be taken during 24 h."

Oops I must've fucked up then, I take it at meal times (breakfast lunch and dinner) because that's when nausea is worst. It's more than 4 hours apart though and I haven't noticed any ill effects. Are you sure nhs website didn't mean every 8 hours for best effect? As opposed to being unsafe

As a one off the dose you have taken with 50mg 5 hours apart is fine, I would agree with pharmacist just not to take another dose until the morning now but I wouldn't worry. It's got a short half-life so doesn't stay in your system long x

why call 111 when you’ve already had advice from a pharmacist?

NHS link for cyclizine

For what it's worth sounds like the pharmacist (an expert on drugs/interactions/dosage and side effect) gave you good advice, not sure what you're hoping for 111 to offer beyond that - unless they put you onto a GP callback you'll just be speaking to someone non-medical who'll take you through a standard pre-set questions on a flowchart, which is very cautious/defensive.

Essentially you're going to tell the flowchart that you've had an overdose of a sedative and that you now feel 'stoned'. The flowchart will tell you to be seen in A&E for monitoring or insist on an ambulance to 'check you out'. If you deny any symptoms/report feeling well just seeking advice they may put you onto GP call back list but you've already spoken with a pharmacist so....

Agree that you don't need to speak to 111 as the pharmacist has advised you.

I think the three times a day instruction CAN be confusing. But I notice that usually, it either says "3 times a day with meals" or similar OR it says, "up to 3 doses in 24 hours" which I have to admit, I've always assumed meant I could probably take breakfast, early afternoon and bed time.

Crap - I've been taking one tablet with breakfast, lunch and dinner! Don't feel super drowsy.

Called 111 first before I was told by a friend a pharmacist could advise.

I think I took more in the daytime because my sickness was less at nighttime and when I was asleep. So I would take it at let's say 7am, 12pm, 6pm. I thought you could take it three times whenever you felt like it!

the sticker on the box says “take up to 3 a day” that’s it!

Most people prescribed it 3x a day are going to be taking it breakfast, lunch and dinner/night. The directions often are to take it half an hour before a meal so 3x day is not going to be literally every 8 hours.

In 20+ years of medicine (how did that happen) there are very few things I prescribe where I expect you to be setting the clock for exact times and a normal 3 or 4 times a day does not include when you are asleep.

On the other hand it sounds as if it doesn't suit you as you are having side effects - not that many people get drowsy with it.

Thanks that’s really helpful advice.

I have been prescribed this in pregnancy and both GP and pharmacist said to take at meal times (or around 30 mins before) which wouldn't mean every 8 hours.
I did feel sleepy but I think that's more to do with pregnancy rather than the pills or they may have made it feel worse.

I'm on this now and I've been taking it with meals too. Never felt drowsy... Perhaps it doesn't suit you OP?

Some people do get drowsy with it, some actually get high on it - but neither is common and I suspect OP it's just not great for you.

I always divide /24 for meds and have to set an alarm in the night sometimes for antibiotics.
annoying though but I thought that’s what it meant didn’t realise it didn’t include sleeping time

God don't bother doing that! We don't wake people in hospital for antibiotics in the middle of the night so you definitely don't need to do it on oral antibiotics at home.

Read the leaflet!!!

I did, that’s the point, it didn’t specify the 8 hour gap. Just want anyone reading this to know baby was just fine. Don’t beat yourself up about it

So sorry I thought this was my thread😂

My doctor prescribes it every 6 hours so I take it 4 times a day

Have just spent a week in hospital.
Was woken up regularly throughout that time for the administration of both IV & oral meds (which included antibiotics).

Now out, and been told to take oral antibiotics 4 times a day, spread out as equally as possible (& when my stomach is empty, so not near mealtimes), so am spacing them out every 6 hours (incl 5am = why I'm awake now!)