Article

Effects of dimenhydrinate on gastric tachyarrhythmia and symptoms of vection-induced motion sickness.

Department of Psychology, Penn State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA.
Aviation Space and Environmental Medicine (impact factor: 0.88). 11/1995; 66(11):1041-5. pp.1041-5
Source: PubMed

ABSTRACT Previous research in our laboratory has shown that symptoms of motion sickness are accompanied by the loss of normal 3 cpm activity and the development of tachyarrhythmia in the electrogastrogram (EGG).
We hypothesized that dimenhydrinate would prevent the development of gastric tachyarrhythmia and reduce symptoms of motion sickness.
Twenty health volunteers were tested in a counter-balanced, within-subject, double-blind design. Subjects were exposed to a rotating optokinetic drum to induce vection after receiving either dimenhydrinate (100 mg) or a placebo on two separate occasions. EGG's were recorded immediately before ingestion of capsules, 1 h after ingestion, and during rotation. Motion sickness symptom reports (SSMS) were obtained prior to and during rotation.
The average SSMS score was 5.9 points higher after placebo administration than after dimenhydrinate administration (t[19] = 4.87, P < 0.001). Significantly more subjects requested early termination of the rotating drum due to severe symptoms after placebo administration than after dimenhydrinate administration (McNemar's chi 2[1] = 6.00, p < 0.05). Drowsiness reports were significantly higher after dimenhydrinate administration than after placebo administration (t[19] = 2.65, p < 0.05). Analysis of EGG's showed a significant decrease in normal 3 cpm and tachyarrhythmic activity after dimenhydrinate, but no change after placebo (SR[19] = 53, p < 0.02 and SR[19] = 68, p < 0.01 respectively). During drum rotation gastric tachyarrhythmias increased significantly in the placebo condition (SR[18] = -0.61.5, p < 0.01), but not in the dimenhydrinate condition. EGG's were not significantly different between conditions.
We conclude that dimenhydrinate reduced motion sickness symptoms at least in part by depressing central nervous system activity and possibly by suppressing abnormal gastric myoelectric activity.

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    Article: Protein and ginger for the treatment of chemotherapy-induced delayed nausea.
    Max E Levine, Marcum G Gillis, Sara Yanchis Koch, Anne C Voss, Robert M Stern, Kenneth L Koch
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    ABSTRACT: Nausea that develops during the period that begins 24 hours after the administration of chemotherapy is called delayed nausea, and occurs in many patients with cancer. Meals high in protein decrease the nausea of motion sickness and pregnancy, possibly by reducing gastric dysrhythmias. Ginger also has antinausea properties. To explore the use of protein meals with ginger for the treatment of the delayed nausea of chemotherapy. Twenty-eight (28) patients with cancer receiving chemotherapy for the first time were assigned to 1 of 3 groups. For 3 days beginning the day after their chemotherapy, Control Group patients continued with their normal diet, Protein Group patients consumed a protein drink and ginger twice daily, and High Protein Group patients consumed a protein drink with additional protein and ginger twice daily. Patients recorded in a diary each day whether they had experienced nausea, whether their nausea had been frequent, whether their nausea had been bothersome, and whether they had needed any antiemetic medication. Gastric myoelectrical activity was assessed in 5 patients before and after ingestion of a high protein meal and ginger. Reports of nausea, frequent nausea, and bothersome nausea were significantly less common among High Protein Group patients than among Control and Protein Group patients. Furthermore, significantly fewer patients in the High Protein Group used antiemetic medication. Differences between the Protein and Control groups were not statistically significant. In the 5 patients who had tests of gastric myoelectrical activity performed, a significant decrease in gastric dysrhythmia occurred after ingestion of the protein and ginger. High protein meals with ginger reduced the delayed nausea of chemotherapy and reduced use of antiemetic medications. Protein with ginger holds the potential of representing a novel, nutritionally based treatment for the delayed nausea of chemotherapy.
    Journal of alternative and complementary medicine (New York, N.Y.) 07/2008; 14(5):545-51. · 1.69 Impact Factor
Data provided are for informational purposes only. Although carefully collected, accuracy cannot be guaranteed. The impact factor represents a rough estimation of the journal's impact factor and does not reflect the actual current impact factor. Publisher conditions are provided by RoMEO. Differing provisions from the publisher's actual policy or licence agreement may be applicable.

Keywords

average SSMS score
 
depressing central nervous system activity
 
dimenhydrinate administration
 
dimenhydrinate condition
 
health volunteers
 
induce vection
 
McNemar's chi 2
 
motion sickness
 
Motion sickness symptom reports
 
motion sickness symptoms
 
normal 3 cpm
 
normal 3 cpm activity
 
placebo administration
 
placebo condition
 
rotation gastric tachyarrhythmias
 
separate occasions
 
severe symptoms
 
significant decrease
 
suppressing abnormal gastric myoelectric activity
 
tachyarrhythmic activity
 

E R Muth