NIGHTTIME SLEEP AID (DIPHEN) (diphenhydramine hcl)


Drug overview for NIGHTTIME SLEEP AID (DIPHEN) (diphenhydramine hcl):

Generic name: diphenhydramine HCl (DYE-fen-HYE-dra-meen)
Drug class: Antiparkinsonian Anticholinergic Agents
Therapeutic class: Central Nervous System Agents

Diphenhydramine is an ethanolamine-derivative, first generation antihistamine.

Diphenhydramine shares the actions and uses of other antihistamines. Diphenhydramine also is used as an antitussive for temporary relief of cough caused by minor throat and bronchial irritation such as may occur with common colds or inhaled irritants. Diphenhydramine is effective for the prevention and treatment of nausea, vomiting, and/or vertigo associated with motion sickness.

Diphenhydramine may be useful as an adjunctive antiemetic agent to prevent chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting+; however, the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) currently does not recommend that antihistamines be used alone as antiemetic agents in patients receiving chemotherapy. Diphenhydramine also is used as a nighttime sleep aid for the short-term management of insomnia. In individuals who experience occasional sleeplessness or those who have difficulty falling asleep, the drug is more effective than placebo in reducing sleep onset (i.e., time to fall asleep) and increasing the depth and quality of sleep.

Diphenhydramine, alone or in conjunction with other antiparkinsonian agents, may be useful as alternative therapy in the management of tremor early in the course of parkinsonian syndrome. The drug also may be useful in the management of drug-induced extrapyramidal reactions. Diphenhydramine may be used topically for temporary relief of pruritus and pain associated with various skin conditions including minor burns, sunburn, minor cuts or scrapes, insect bites, minor skin irritations, or rashes associated with poison oak, poison ivy, or poison sumac.

However, because systemic diphenhydramine toxicity (e.g., psychosis) has been reported in pediatric patients following topical application of the drug to large areas of the body (often areas with broken skin), many clinicians suggest that topical diphenhydramine be used only on limited areas of skin and not used more often than directed to avoid excessive percutaneous absorption of the drug. (See Acute Toxicity: Manifestations, in the Antihistamines General Statement 4:00.) Topical diphenhydramine also should not be used for self-medication in the management of varicella (chickenpox) or measles without first consulting a clinician.
DRUG IMAGES
  • SLEEP II 25 MG TABLET
    SLEEP II 25 MG TABLET
The following indications for NIGHTTIME SLEEP AID (DIPHEN) (diphenhydramine hcl) have been approved by the FDA:

Indications:
Allergic conjunctivitis
Allergic reaction
Allergic rhinitis
Anaphylaxis
Cough
Dermatographic urticaria
Idiopathic parkinsonism
Insomnia
Motion sickness
Nasal congestion
Nausea and vomiting
Nausea
Parkinsonism
Pruritus of skin
Sneezing
Urticaria
Vertigo
Vomiting


Professional Synonyms:
Agrypnia
Ahypnia
Allergy eye itch
Anaphylactic reaction
Atopic conjunctivitis
Autographism
Cnidosis
Dermatography
Dermographia
Dermographism
Dermography
Ebbecke's reaction
Emesis
Factitious urticaria
Itching wheals
Itchy eyes due to allergies
Itchy skin eruption
Nasal stuffiness
Nettle rash
Ocular itching due to allergies
Paralysis agitans
Primary Parkinson's disease
Pruritic dermatitis
Queasy
Riders' vertigo
Severe type I hypersensitivity reaction
Skin writing
Trembling palsy
Uredo
Urticaria factitia
Urticarial rash
Urtication
Vomit
Weal