Diphenhydramine: profile and news

Long-term risks of prednisone 06 Mar 2006
Antihistamines such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl) or chlorpheniramine (Alka-Seltzer Plus Flu tablets) normally make people drowsy. ... - Los Angeles Times,

Sleep treatments rise to the occasion Feb 26, 2006
...used. The antihistamines diphenhydramine (Tylenol PM, Sominex, Benadryl) and doxylamine (Unisom SleepTabs, Nyquil) act as sedatives. ... - USA Today

Bad heroin suspected in South Haven overdose Feb 16, 2006
Test results Wednesday confirmed Copeland was selling heroin cut with the antihistamine diphenhydramine, and the prescription painkiller fentanyl, Taylor said. ... - Gary Post Tribune,

FDA Joins Investigation of Infants’ Deaths Believed to Have Been ... Feb 26, 2006
The drugs detected were ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, dextromethorphan, diphenhydramine, chlorpheniramine, brompheniramine, ethanol, carbinoxamine, levorphanol ... - Newsinferno.com,

New Guidelines Say Cough Medicines Don’t Help Feb 8, 2006
Instead of these medicines, the ACCP recommends a combination of an older antihistamine such as brompheniramine or diphenhydramine and a decongestant such as ... - Diabetes Self Management

When Abroad, Beware of Drug Name Confusion Feb 8, 2006
...and Britain, Sominex is the name of a sleep aid, but the British Sominex contains promethazine and the US Sominex contains diphenhydramine, two different ... - Diabetes Self Management

On Call: Treating respiratory syncytial virus Feb 3, 2006
...for any cold. Acetaminophen (Tylenol) can help with fever and diphenhydramine (Benadryl) might help with congestion. As Dr. Whitten ... - VillageSoup Belfast,

Sniffing? Sneezing? Think twice before medicating Feb 3, 2006
...all a cold sufferer with a cough needs, according to Dr. Richard D. Irwin, is a first-generation antihistamine such as diphenhydramine, chlorpheniramine and ... - Lowell Sun,

Risk of Serious Harm and/or Death With Potential IV/SC ... Feb 15, 2006
...pacemaker should be used. Extrapyramidal reactions may be treated with IV benztropine or diphenhydramine. Close medical supervision ... - DG News

Coping with coughing Feb 15, 2006
Those older histamines include diphenhydramine, the active ingredient in Benadryl, and chlorpheniramine maleate, the active ingredient in Chlor-Trimeton. ... - South Bend Tribune,

Need help surfing cold and flu medicines? Feb 1, 2006
Cold and allergy remedies generally include antihistamines (such as chlorpheniramine, brompheniramine or diphenhydramine) to reduce the drips and the sneezes ... - South Bend Tribune,

Other information

Indication
For the treatment of symptoms associated with Vertigo/Meniere's disease, nausea and vomiting, motion sickness and insect bite

Pharmacology
Diphenhydramine is an antihistamine of the ethanolamine class. Ethanolamine antihistamines have significant antimuscarinic activity and produce marked sedation in most patients. In addition to the usual allergic symptoms, the drug also treats irritant cough and nausea, vomiting, and vertigo associated with motion sickness. It also is used commonly to treat drug-induced extrapyramidal symptoms as well as to treat mild cases of Parkinson's disease. Rather than preventing the release of histamine, as do cromolyn and nedocromil, Diphenhydramine competes with free histamine for binding at HA-receptor sites. Diphenhydramine competitively antagonizes the effects of histamine on HA-receptors in the GI tract, uterus, large blood vessels, and bronchial muscle. Ethanolamine derivatives have greater anticholinergic activity than do other antihistamines, which probably accounts for the antidyskinetic action of Diphenhydramine. This anticholinergic action appears to be due to a central antimuscarinic effect, which also may be responsible for its antiemetic effects, although the exact mechanism is unknown.

Mechanism Of Action
Diphenhydramine competes with free histamine for binding at HA-receptor sites. This antagonizes the effects of histamine on HA-receptors, leading to a reduction of the negative symptoms brought on by histamine HA-receptor binding.

Drug Category
Histamine H1 Antagonists; Anti-allergic Agents; Hypnotics and Sedatives; Antitussives; Antipruritics; Antiparkinson Agents; Antidyskinetics; Antiemetics; Anesthetics; Ethanolamine Derivatives; ATC:D04AA32; ATC:D04AA33; ATC:R06AA02

Brand Names/Synonyms
Aleryl; Alledryl; Aller-Med; Allerdryl; Allergan; Allergan B; Allergeval; Allergical; Allergin; Allergina; Allergival; Allermax Caplets; Ambodryl; Amidryl; Antistominum; Antitussive; Antomin; Automin; Bagodryl; Banophen; Banophen Caplets; Baramine; Beldin; Belix; Ben-Allergin; Bena; Benachlor; Benadon; Benadrin; Benadryl; Benadryl Allergy; Benadryl Preservative Free; Benapon; Benodin; Benodine; Benylan; Benylin; Benzantine; Benzhydramine; Benzhydraminum; Benzhydril; Benzhydroamina; Benzhydryl; Betramin; Compoz; Dabylen; Debendrin; Dermistina; Dermodrin; Desentol; Diabenyl; Diabylen; Dibendrin; Dibenil; Dibondrin; Difedryl; Difenhydramin; Difenidramina; Dihidral; Dimedrol; Dimedryl; Diphantine; Diphen; Diphen Cough; Diphenhist; Diphenhist Captabs; Diphenhydramine; Diphenhydramine Base; Diphenhydramine Hcl; Diphenhydramine Hcl Preservative Free; Diphenhydramine Salicylate; Diphenylhydramine; Dormarex 2; Dryistan; Drylistan; Dylamon; Etanautine; Genahist; Histaxin; Hyadrine; Hydramine; Hyrexin; Ibiodral; Medidryl; Mephadryl; Nausen; Nervine Nighttime Sleep-Aid; Novamina; Nytol Quickcaps; Nytol Quickgels; PM 255; Probedryl; Restamin; Restamine; Rigidil; Rigidyl; S 51; Siladryl; Silphen; Sleep-Eze D; Sleep-Eze D Extra Strength; Sominex; Soverin; Syntedril; Syntodril; Torinal; Twilite Caplets; Unisom Sleepgels Maximum Strength; Vena; Vicks Formula 44

Dosage Forms
CAPSULE; Oral SOLUTION; TABLET; Tablet Chewable; Tablet film-coated; ELIXIR; Injection; CREAM; Gel; Topical Solution; Topical Stick

Absorption
Quickly absorbed with maximum activity occurring in approximately one hour

Interactions
Interactions for Diphenhydramine:

Diphenhydramine hydrochloride has additive effects with alcohol and other CNS depressants (hypnotics, sedatives, tranquilizers, etc).

MAO inhibitors prolong and intensify the anticholinergic (drying) effects of antihistamines.

Chemical IUPAC Name
2-benzhydryloxy-N,N-dimethyl-ethanamine

Chemical Formula
C17H21NO

Half Life
1-4 hours

Drug Type
Approved Drug

# Accession No
APRD00587

CAS Registry Number
58-73-1