What is Tigan?
Tigan (trimethobenzamide) is an antiemetic drug used to treat nausea and vomiting. It works by blocking a certain natural substance (serotonin) that your body makes during vomiting.
Tigan is available in generic form. Generic drugs usually cost less than the brand-name version. In some cases, they may not be available in every strength or form as the brand-name drug.
Health Benefits
Tigan is used to treat nausea and vomiting caused by certain conditions (such as cancer, chemotherapy, radiation therapy). It may also be used to prevent these same conditions from occurring during or after treatment.
Tigan may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.
Side Effects
Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Call your doctor at once if you have:
seizure (convulsions);
a light-headed feeling, like you might pass out;
urinating less than usual or not at all;
jaundice (yellowing of your skin or eyes);
upper stomach pain (that may spread to your back), nausea and vomiting;
fast or pounding heartbeats, fluttering in your chest, shortness of breath, and sudden dizziness (like you might pass out);
agitation, hallucinations, fever, sweating, confusion, fast heart rate, loss of coordination, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea;
Common side effects may include:
drowsiness;
headache;
tired feeling; or
mild constipation.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects.
Dosage
The usual adult dose is 50 to 100 mg 3 or 4 times daily. The maximum recommended dose is 400 mg daily.
For children 2 years of age and older, the usual dose is 5 to 10 mg/kg (about 2.3 to 4.5 mg per pound) 3 or 4 times daily. The maximum recommended dose is 40 mg/kg daily.
Interactions
Your doctor should check your progress at regular visits, especially during the first few weeks that you take this medicine. Blood tests may be needed to check for unwanted effects.
Tigan can affect how well other drugs work, and some drugs can affect how well Tigan works. Tell each of your healthcare providers about all medicines you use now, and any medicine you start or stop using.
Mechanism of Action
The antiemetic action of this drug is not completely understood, but may be due to its central inhibitory effect on the chemoreceptor trigger zone or vomiting center in the medulla oblongata. In dogs and cats, trimethobenzamide inhibits emesis induced by apomorphine, xylazine, glucagon, and cisplatin. In humans, it inhibits emesis induced by chemotherapy agents.
Pharmacokinetics
Trimethobenzamide is rapidly and almost completely absorbed after oral administration. Its bioavailability is about 65%. It undergoes extensive first-pass metabolism in the liver and only traces of unchanged drug are found in the urine. The plasma half-life is about 3 hours.
Protein binding is negligible. Trimethobenzamide is widely distributed in the body and crosses the blood-brain barrier. It is not known whether trimethobenzamide is excreted in human milk.
Alternatives to Tigan
Other drugs that have the same active ingredient (trimethobenzamide) include:
Stugeron
Tigan Forte
Travel Sickness Tablets
There are many other drugs available that can treat nausea and vomiting. Some may be better suited for you than others. Talk to your doctor about other options that may work for you.
Tigan and Alcohol
You should avoid drinking alcohol while taking Tigan. Alcohol can increase the risk of side effects, including drowsiness and low blood pressure.
