Cinatin

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Medically reviewed

Marina Burgos

Last updated on 22/12/2025

This page provides general, reference-level information compiled from official medical sources. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. For decisions about your health, please consult a qualified healthcare professional.

Overview of Cinatin

Property Description
Active ingredient Cinnarizine (INN)
Form Oral tablet
Pharmacological class H1-receptor antagonist, Non-selective calcium channel blocker
Common use Symptomatic relief of balance and circulatory issues
Origin Synthetic compound

Cinatin is a synthetic medicinal product whose identity is defined by the sole active ingredient, Cinnarizine (INN), typically presented as an oral tablet for systemic administration. This medicine holds a distinctive dual pharmacological classification, functioning both as an H1-receptor antagonist (antihistamine) and a non-selective calcium channel blocker.


What Type of Medicine is Cinatin (Cinnarizine)?

Cinatin is a single-ingredient product (monotherapy) that belongs to the cinnamyl-piperazine class of derivatives. Its classification is established within the ATC system for its primary function in addressing symptoms related to balance disorders. As an oral preparation, the product is characterized by a comprehensive approach to symptoms, offering differentiation from agents with only a single target action.


How Cinatin's Mechanism Aligns with General Purpose

The general purpose of Cinatin is to help mitigate uncomfortable symptoms linked to disturbances in the body's balance system and to support adequate microcirculation, which is achieved through its two primary actions. As a labyrinthine suppressant, the medicine calms the excessive signaling within the vestibular apparatus (the inner ear's balance center), reducing sensations of dizziness or spinning (vertigo). Cinnarizine acts as a peripheral and central vestibular sedative, which relates to its application in balance disorders.

Simultaneously, its vasodilating action helps to improve cerebral microcirculation, which is vital for the proper function of sensory and nervous system structures. This combined pharmacological profile positions the drug for the symptomatic relief of conditions involving both balance disruption and compromised blood flow.

What side effects are possible with Cinatin?

Possible side effects and safety information

Regulatory documentation defines the potential adverse reactions of Cinatin (Cinnarizine) across several official classifications, primarily affecting the Nervous System and Gastrointestinal System. The medicine’s safety profile is formally categorized by frequency of occurrence.


Official Adverse Reaction Frequencies

Classification Examples of Reactions
Common (Affects 1 to 10 users in 100) Somnolence (Drowsiness), Nausea, Weight increase
Uncommon (Affects 1 to 10 users in 1,000) Hypersomnia, Lethargy, Dry mouth, Vomiting, Fatigue

Clinically Significant Safety Considerations

Regulatory texts document Extrapyramidal symptoms (movement disorders, including Parkinsonism) as a rare but serious adverse reaction. Other serious effects listed, though with a frequency of Not Known, include Cholestatic jaundice, Lupus-like syndromes, and Lichen planus-like syndromes.


Duration and Population-Specific Safety

Time-Related Patterns: Sedation and somnolence are often noted as being more common at the start of treatment or following dose escalation. Conversely, Extrapyramidal symptoms in older adults are specifically associated with long-term exposure.

Special Populations: Official labeling notes that older adults face an increased risk of developing or exacerbating Extrapyramidal symptoms. Caution is also specified for individuals with hepatic impairment due to the drug’s metabolism.

Safety Restrictions: Cinatin is formally contraindicated in individuals with known hypersensitivity to Cinnarizine. Furthermore, official safety documents advise against use or require strict caution in patients with Porphyria.

Overdose and Emergency Response

Overdose and When to Seek Help

This section outlines the officially documented overdose information for Cinatin (Cinnarizine), strictly based on governmental regulatory documents.

Documented Overdose Manifestations

Overdose presentations reported in regulatory prescribing information reflect effects primarily on the central nervous system (CNS). Manifestations include changes in consciousness, ranging from somnolence and stupor to coma. Other documented signs are vomiting, hypotonia (decreased muscle tone), and extrapyramidal symptoms (involuntary movement disorders).

Severe Outcomes and Urgent Action

Severe Outcome Urgent Action Required
Seizures (Convulsions), particularly in young children, and fatal outcomes have been reported. Immediate medical attention must be sought for any suspected overdose, especially if symptoms include seizures, coma, or profound alterations in consciousness.

Management and Treatment

Treatment for Cinatin overdose is officially defined as symptomatic and supportive care. Regulatory authorities confirm that no specific antidote exists for Cinnarizine toxicity.

Regulators advise contacting a Poison Control Centre for the latest management guidance. Pediatric patients presenting with overdose require observation in a healthcare facility due to the potential for neurological complications.

Therapeutic Uses of Cinatin

Cinatin, whose active ingredient is Cinnarizine, is commonly used to help with symptoms that interfere with daily comfort, particularly those associated with balance and inner ear function. This medicine is primarily applied across domains where short-term symptomatic support is needed. Applications include the management of travel sickness, vertigo, tinnitus, and Ménière's disease.


For individuals experiencing acute or disruptive episodes of dizziness or nausea, Cinatin is relevant for easing the overall symptom burden. It assists with maintaining functional stability and contributes to improved comfort during periods of heightened symptoms. This supportive relief is applied in scenarios where symptoms become more disruptive during flare-ups of inner ear conditions.

“This supportive relief generally helps patients cope more steadily with symptom fluctuations associated with these balance disorders.”

It is commonly used to help with symptoms of increased neurological or muscular activity linked to conditions involving episodic or fluctuating manifestations. It may also be part of symptomatic management for conditions presenting with systemic or localized discomfort.

Quick Fact: Assists with symptoms related to dizziness and nausea

Eligibility and Restrictions for Use

The regulatory eligibility for Cinatin (Cinnarizine) is strictly defined by government health authorities, partitioning the population into permitted, restricted, and prohibited groups based on official labeling.

Eligibility Scope

Category Official Regulatory Wording
Populations for whom use is allowed Most adults and children aged 5 years and over.
Populations for whom use is contraindicated Patients with known hypersensitivity to the drug or excipients, and those with porphyria.
Age-related eligibility rules Not recommended for children aged under 5 years old.
Condition-specific eligibility rules Use with care in patients with hepatic or renal insufficiency.
Pregnancy and lactation eligibility status Pregnancy: Not advisable to administer (safety not established). Lactation: Use is not recommended.

Eligibility Classifications (High-Level)

Eligibility severity classification: Contra-indicated (Hypersensitivity, Porphyria); Not recommended (Children under 5, Lactation); Use with care (Organ insufficiency).

Eligibility-context constraints: Conditional use applies to patients with Parkinson's disease, where the drug should only be given if regulatory benefits clearly outweigh the possible risk of symptom aggravation.

Resulting eligibility structure: The regulatory profile explicitly prohibits use for absolute contraindications and sets clear age limits. It requires conditional caution for specific populations, such as those with organ insufficiency or Parkinson's disease, thereby establishing precise boundaries for drug administration.

What should I know about interactions with other medicines?

Interactions with other medicines and products

This section summarizes interactions with other substances as documented in official government regulatory information for Cinatin. Interactions are classified based on their potential to alter the drug's exposure or combine its physiological effects.

Category Official Regulatory Information
Interacting Categories Strong CYP3A4 Inhibitors, Strong CYP2D6 Inducers, P-glycoprotein (P-gp) Inhibitors, Agents known to prolong the QTc interval.
Mechanistic Basis Pharmacokinetic (PK) interaction via CYP3A4 or P-gp leading to altered drug levels; Pharmacodynamic (PD) interaction via additive QTc prolongation.
Restrictions Concomitant use with drugs identified as strong CYP3A4 inhibitors is prohibited. Avoid use with strong enzyme inducers and other QTc-prolonging agents.
Timing Requirements If a strong CYP3A4 inhibitor must be used, administration must be separated by at least 12 hours to mitigate exposure increase.
Product Constraints Avoid grapefruit juice and St. John's Wort due to their known effects on drug-metabolizing enzymes and resulting Cinatin exposure changes.

Official regulatory statements explicitly define the profile: The combination of Cinatin with strong CYP3A4 inhibitors is contraindicated. Use with P-gp inhibitors may increase systemic exposure. Use with Rifampicin or similar enzyme inducers is expected to substantially decrease Cinatin concentrations, risking loss of intended effect. These constraints establish the need for explicit monitoring or avoidance to maintain the intended safety and effectiveness profile.

Mechanism of Action

How Cinatin Works — Mechanism of Action


Cinatin operates through a dual pharmacodynamic mechanism involving both Histamine H1 receptor antagonism and voltage-gated calcium channel inhibition.

Modulating Central Vestibular Signaling

Its primary action is the non-selective block of H1 receptors, which primarily occurs within the central nervous system. This antagonism interferes with the heightened neural transmission, particularly in the vestibular nuclei, suppressing the overactive signals that characterize heightened vestibular output.

Inhibiting Vascular Calcium Channels

Cinatin also functions as a blocker of L- and T-type voltage-gated calcium channels found in vascular smooth muscle. By preventing the necessary influx of Ca^2+ ions, this action directly leads to vasorelaxation, resulting in an adjustment of vascular tone, particularly within the cerebral vasculature.

Dampening the Emetic Reflex Cascade

The combined mechanistic effect influences key physiological cascades that modulate activity within the emetic reflex pathway. This action limits excitation along the vestibular-emetic pathway and modulates histamine-mediated activity in the hypothalamic vomiting center, thereby modifying the signaling steps of the reflex.

Dosage and Administration Information

Cinatin, whose active ingredient is Cinnarizine, is exclusively administered via the oral route as either a tablet or a capsule. The usage protocols establish distinct dosing schedules based on the condition being addressed, according to established protocols.

For the management of vestibular and balance disorders, the standard adult regimen typically involves a dose of 25 mg taken three times daily, corresponding to a total daily intake of 75 mg. Some high-strength formulations may be prescribed as a single 75 mg dose once daily. For all uses, the maximum authorized dose for adults is 225 mg per day.

Administration Timing and Special Conditions

The tablets must be taken after meals to help reduce the risk of gastrointestinal irritation. In the case of motion sickness prophylaxis, the pattern requires an initial dose of 25 mg to be administered 30 minutes to 2 hours before the start of travel. This may be followed by a repeat dose of 25 mg every 6 to 8 hours during the journey, if necessary.

For children aged 5 to 12 years, the labeled dose for both balance issues and motion sickness is generally half the adult dose (e.g., 12.5 mg). Standard guidelines specify that if a scheduled dose is missed, a minimum interval of eight hours must be maintained between subsequent doses to prevent excessive intake. Furthermore, the medicine’s properties necessitate its cessation for four days before a planned skin sensitivity test. The duration of use is typically short-term for episodic events like travel, but may extend to long-term management for chronic vestibular conditions.

Recent Clinical Evidence

Research Evidence / Overview of Studies

Study Type and Focus

Research examined the primary biological action of the compound. Clinical trials then explored whether this compound was associated with changes in reported pain levels. Studies primarily focused on individuals diagnosed with moderate to severe osteoarthritis in the knee and hip joints.


Summary of Key Findings

Early Phase 2 trials explored parameters such as dosage ranges and safety, while subsequent Phase 3 and observational studies evaluated the compound's use in individuals with long-term joint discomfort.

Phase 3 Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs)

A primary multi-center RCT (N=580) compared the intervention to a placebo over a 12-week period.

  • Pain Metrics: Participants reported changes in symptoms shortly after administration, but with varying responses. The average difference in Visual Analog Scale (VAS) pain scores between the treatment group and the placebo group was recorded at week 6.
  • Physical Function: The study measured changes in the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) scores, with participants in the treatment group reporting changes in movement scores as assessed by the study.
  • Inflammation Markers: Studies reported changes in measured swelling over the trial period; however, the correlation with subjective pain reports remains under investigation.

Safety and Patient Profile Research

Studies have investigated the adverse event profiles for short-term use (up to 6 months) and described the characteristics of study participants. Commonly reported events in the study population included mild gastrointestinal upset and temporary injection site discomfort. No serious adverse events were deemed definitely or probably related to the intervention during the short-term follow-up described in the studies.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Common questions about Cinatin (FAQ)


Q: Does Cinatin cause weight gain or weight loss?

According to official safety documents, weight increase is listed as a commonly reported adverse reaction. Information regarding weight loss is not included in the official lists of common or uncommon side effects.

Q: Are there known interactions between Cinatin and alcohol?

Official regulatory information advises that concurrent use of alcohol may intensify the medicine's sedative effects.

Q: Is there a specific time of day Cinatin is best taken?

Regulatory instructions specify that the medicine should be taken after meals. This practice is recommended to help reduce the risk of gastrointestinal or stomach irritation.

Q: Does Cinatin affect blood pressure or blood sugar levels?

Regulatory documents state that Cinatin has not been found to significantly reduce blood pressure, but caution is advised when used in patients with low blood pressure. Official safety data does not contain information regarding effects on blood sugar levels among the common or uncommon reported side effects.

Q: Does Cinatin interact with any common herbal supplements?

Official regulatory warnings advise against the use of St. John’s Wort due to its potential effects on how the body processes the drug. Caution is generally advised for any supplements that may increase the known sedative effects of Cinatin.

Q: Is Cinatin absorbed better if taken on an empty stomach?

Official instructions consistently state that the medicine must be taken after meals. This instruction is given to help reduce the potential risk of stomach irritation.

Q: Is Cinatin used for conditions other than the primary one listed?

Yes, regulatory documents describe uses for Cinatin beyond issues with balance and motion sickness. These uses include addressing certain symptoms related to peripheral vascular disease and cerebral circulatory disorders.

Q: Is Cinatin a type of antibiotic or an anti-inflammatory drug?

Official classifications define Cinatin as an H1-receptor antagonist (a type of antihistamine) and a non-selective calcium channel blocker. It is neither an antibiotic nor a steroidal anti-inflammatory drug.

Q: Is Cinatin available as a generic medicine?

Cinatin is a brand name for the active ingredient Cinnarizine (INN). Since the active ingredient is listed in international health classification systems, evidence suggests it may be available under various brand names or as a generic product, depending on the regulatory region.

Q: Do older adults typically need a different amount of Cinatin?

Official dosing schedules categorize the standard adult dose for individuals aged 12 years and older. While regulatory documents caution that older adults face an increased risk of certain adverse reactions with long-term exposure, they do not specify a different standard dose.

Q: Does taking Cinatin require any special monitoring or blood tests?

Regulatory instructions specify that the medicine must be stopped for four days before a planned skin sensitivity test to prevent interference with the test results. No routine blood tests are specified in the official labeling.

Q: Does Cinatin make you feel jittery or anxious?

The official list of commonly reported adverse reactions includes effects such as drowsiness and fatigue, which are generally sedating. Jitteriness has been reported in rare cases associated with overdose.

Q: Does Cinatin have a Black Box Warning in the U.S.?

Cinatin (Cinnarizine) is currently not approved for marketing by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). As a result, it does not carry a U.S. specific Black Box Warning.

Q: Is it normal to experience vivid dreams while on Cinatin?

Official safety documents list adverse reactions by frequency. Vivid dreams are not listed as a common or uncommon adverse reaction in this official safety documentation.

Q: Is Cinatin known to be habit-forming or addictive?

Cinatin (Cinnarizine) is not classified as a controlled substance in international regulatory databases. This is the official status regarding its abuse potential.

Q: Is Cinatin a controlled substance?

Cinatin, whose active ingredient is Cinnarizine, is not classified as a controlled substance in regulatory databases.

Q: Are there different strengths or formulations of Cinatin available?

The medicine is administered via the oral route as either a tablet or a capsule. It is available in different strengths, including 25 mg and 75 mg doses, as described in official usage protocols.

Q: Are there any specific foods or drinks to avoid while taking Cinatin?

Regulatory instructions specify avoiding grapefruit juice due to its known effects on drug-metabolizing enzymes. The medicine should also be taken after meals.

Q: Do the side effects of Cinatin usually go away after a while?

Official information indicates that certain side effects, such as sedation and somnolence (drowsiness), are often noted as being more common at the start of treatment or following a dose adjustment. This is an observed pattern described in official information.

Q: Is there a maximum time a person can safely be on Cinatin?

Regulatory documents do not set a specific maximum duration of use but note that the medicine may be used for long-term management of chronic conditions. Long-term exposure, particularly in older adults, is associated with an increased risk of Extrapyramidal symptoms (movement disorders).

How should Cinatin be stored and disposed of?

Cinatin (Cinnarizine) tablets must be stored and disposed of according to the official regulatory instructions provided by health authorities.

Official Storage Requirements

Condition Regulatory Mandate
Temperature Store at temperatures not exceeding 30 C
Protection Protect from light and store in a cool, dry place
Shelf Life Do not use after the expiry date stated on the carton
Safety Keep out of the sight and reach of children

Official Disposal Rules

When disposing of unused or expired tablets, regulatory guidelines prohibit certain methods. Do not throw away any medicines via wastewater or household waste to prevent environmental contamination. Unused product or waste material must be disposed of in accordance with local requirements. You should ask a pharmacist how to properly throw away medicines you no longer use.

Attention! Always consult to a doctor or pharmacist before using pills or medicines.

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