Patient Case Study: A Rare Neurological Disease Diagnostic Journey

Travel-Ease (Meclizine) Tablet, Chewable - Uses, Side Effects, And More

Drowsiness, dry mouth, and tiredness may occur. If any of these effects last or get worse, tell your doctor or pharmacist promptly.

To relieve dry mouth, suck (sugarless) hard candy or ice chips, chew (sugarless) gum, drink water, or use a saliva substitute.

If your doctor has directed you to use this medication, remember that your doctor has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects. Many people using this medication do not have serious side effects.

Tell your doctor right away if you have any serious side effects, including: mental/mood changes (such as restlessness, confusion), fast/irregular heartbeat, shaking (tremor), difficulty urinating.

Get medical help right away if you have any very serious side effects, including: seizures.

A very serious allergic reaction to this drug is rare. However, get medical help right away if you notice any symptoms of a serious allergic reaction, including: rash, itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat), severe dizziness, trouble breathing.

This is not a complete list of possible side effects. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist.

In the US -

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or at www.Fda.Gov/medwatch.

In Canada - Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to Health Canada at 1-866-234-2345.

How To Take Meclizine And Dose Of Meclizine

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Senior Dog Has Seizures

Dear Dr. John,

Last night, my almost 15-year-old Retriever X started having a sort of seizure with twitching in the eyes. He had a similar episode about a month and has had a head tilt ever since. He has high kidney values, high calcium, and high phosphorous. He is on multiple medications.

I could not transport him so easily, so I called my vet who was going to come over to administer a sedative. I informed the vet that I had some Diazepam, and I was instructed to give the dog 10 mg. When the vet arrived, I was instructed to give 10 mg more and then go to the local pharmacy for Meclizine. I gave 25 mg as told. Early this morning I gave another 20 mg of Diazepam, and my dog is now calm. He also ate a lot of food! What might be going on and is the end near? L.N.

Dear L.N.,

Given the information you have shared, I suspect that your old dog has several things going on. The head tilt suggests vestibular disease or a problem with his inner ear. It could also be the cause of the eye movements you observed. The bloodwork suggests chronic renal failure and a high calcium level may suggest the possibility of a tumor of some sort in his body. I'm sure that your veterinarian has been advising you properly all along.

If your dog has had a seizure, a stroke, or anything triggering the acute nystagmus of the eyes, there still may be an underlying condition that has not been addressed or any of his multiple issues or a combination of them may have triggered what you observed last night. Full neurological evaluation including a CT or MRI may be worthwhile but, at an advanced age, there is probably little that can be done if a more serious condition is found.

Diazepam was probably the best drug that your dog could have been given based on what you shared. The Meclizine helped with the nystagmus and the motion sickness and nausea that occurs as a result. The drugs given last night stopped the abnormal muscular issues while also helping his appetite. You will need to see how things evolve over the next few days to know what steps will be next. Stay in touch with your veterinarian to make a decision at the right time. Good luck!

Dr. John de Jong owns and operates the Boston Mobile Veterinary Clinic. He can be reached at 781-899-9994.

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