AEMCA Practice Exam

What is dimenhydrinate primarily used for?

1. To reduce inflammation

2. To treat motion sickness

3. To decrease blood pressure

4. To relieve allergic reactions

The correct answer is: To treat motion sickness

Dimenhydrinate is primarily used to treat motion sickness, making it a popular choice for individuals who experience nausea, vomiting, or dizziness associated with travel. This medication functions as an antihistamine, which helps to block signals to the brain that trigger these symptoms. Motion sickness results from a conflict between visual and vestibular signals, and dimenhydrinate helps to mitigate the feelings of vertigo by dampening the vestibular system's response. The other options, while relevant to other medications, do not accurately describe the primary use of dimenhydrinate. For example, reducing inflammation typically involves non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or corticosteroids, whereas decreasing blood pressure involves antihypertensive agents. Similarly, relieving allergic reactions is the primary role of antihistamines like diphenhydramine (Benadryl), but dimenhydrinate's primary and best-known application is specifically related to motion sickness.