Diphenhydramine - perhaps known most commonly as its brand name formulation Benadryl - is a first-generation H1 receptor antihistamine that is used extensively for the treatment of seasonal allergies, insect bites and stings, and rashes [L5263, L5266, L5269, F3379]. However, it also has antiemetic, antitussive, hypnotic, and antiparkinson properties [L5269, F3352]. As histamine receptors exist both peripherally and in the central nervous system, diphenhydramine has been shown to cause sedation due to its competitive antagonism of histamine H1 receptors within the central nervous system [L5263, L5266, L5269, F3379, A174541]. While its use in allergy therapy can sometimes fall out of favor due to its sedative effect, diphenhydramine has been repurposed for use within many non-prescription over-the-counter sleep aids and cough-and-cold medications that have been marketed for "night time" use [L5263, L5281, L5287]. Diphenhydramine is also used in combination with [DB14132] as the anti-nausea drug [DB00985] where it is utilized primarily for its antagonism of H1 histamine receptors within the vestibular system [A1540]. Diphenhydramine has also been shown to be implicated in a number of neurotransmitter systems that affect behaviour including dopamine, norepinephrine, serotonin, acetylcholine, and opioid [A1539]. As a result, diphenhydramine is being investigated for its anxiolytic and anti-depressant properties.
Synonyms
Diphenhydramine hydrochloride
2-(benzhydryloxy)-N,N-dimethylethylamine
Diphenhydramine methylbromide
Diphenhydraminum
Diphenhydramine salicylate
Diphenhydramine citrate
Diphenhydramine
β-dimethylaminoethyl benzhydryl ether
β-dimethylaminoethanol diphenylmethyl ether
Difenhidramina
O-benzhydryldimethylaminoethanol
α-(2-dimethylaminoethoxy)diphenylmethane
2-diphenylmethoxy-N,N-demthylethanamine
N-(2-(diphenylmethoxy)ethyl)-N,N-dimethylamine
Brand Names
Dr. Sheffield Anti Itch Cream
Childrens Triacting Nighttime Cold and Cough ReadyInCase
Allergy Relief Complete
Benadryl PE Total Regular Strength
Allergy Plus Sinus Headache
Equaline Allergy
Flu and Severe Cold and Cough
Valumeds Aspirin Free Headache Relief PM
Foster and Thrive Childrens Allergy Relief
Amazon Basic Care Ibuprofen PM
Topcare Allergy
Dye-Free Allergy Relief
Diphenhydramine Hydrochloride 25 Mg Tablet
Allergy Care
Wal-Dryl Allergy Dye Free
TopCare Allergy Relief
Equaline Night Time Cold and Cough Childrens
Dye Free Childrens Diphenhydramine Hydrochloride
Family Wellness Severe Cold and Cough
Leader Pain Reliever PM
Extra Strength Night Time Pain Relief
Daytime Nightime Severe Cold
Berkley and Jensen Allergy Relief
Good Neighbor Pharmacy Allergy
Smart Sense Ibuprofen PM
ZzzSleep
AuroFlu Night Time Severe Cold and Cough
Anti Itch Cream
Doctor Manzanilla Cough and Cold
Legatrin PM
Blistex Ivarest
Health Mart severe cold cough and flu
Preferred Plus Complete Allergy Medicine
Welly Calm Balm
Aller-Ben
Childrens Triacting
Z-sleep
Formu Care Flu and Severe Cold and Cough Night Time
7 Select Night Time severe cold, cough and flu
Pain Relief Pain Relief PM
Theraflu Warming Relief Nighttime Severe Cold And Cough
Wal-Dryl Allergy Dye-Free
Naproxen PM
Au Kah Chuen Fugical
Ergodryl Cap
Anti-itch Plus Cream
Helath Mart Childrens allergy relief dye free
Acetaminophen PMExtra Strength Extra Strength
Severe Cold Daytime Cold and Flu Nighttime
Childrens Dye Free Allergy
Allergy Tablets 25mg
Allergy, Sinus and Headache Relief Medication
Valumeds Nighttime Sleep Aid
Anti-Itch Maximum Strength
Vanamine PD
Sinus Relief Nightime Caplets
First Aid Shot Therapy Allergy Relief
Jack & Jill Bedtime
Rite Aid Itch Relief
Zzzquil Sleep Aid
Aurodryl childrens Allergy
Rite Aid Nighttime Severe Cold and Cough Relief
Up and Up Daytime Severe Cold Nighttime Cold and Flu
Antiphlamine Coin Plaster
Dormirax 25
Smart Sense Pain Relief PM Extra Strength
Wal-Phed PE Pressure plus Pain plus Cold Daytime, Nighttime, Multi-Symptom
Mucinex Childrens Day Time Multi-Symptom Cold and Night Time Multi-Symptom Cold
Cold and Congestion Childrens Nighttime
Sudafed PE Cold and Cough
Daytime Sinus Nighttime Sinus Maximum Strength
Sudafed Sinus Nighttime
Acetaminophen and Diphenhydramine HCL
Wal Som Nighttime Sleep Aid
DM Cough Syrup
Allergy Relief Nighttime
Caring Mill Allergy
Benadryl Cream 2%
Diphenhydramine Hydrochloride and Zinc Acetate
Benylin Extra Strength All-IN-one Cold, Flu & Cough Night
Best Choice Nighttime Severe Cold and Cough Honey Lemon infused with Chamomile and White Tea Flavors
Sinus PE Congestion Daytime Nighttime
Severe Cold DM Severe Cold and Flu
DayTime Mucus Relief Severe Cold and Nighttime Cold and Flu Maximum Strength
Allergy Relief Caplet
Family Wellness
End-A-flu Multi-symptom Severe Cold and Cough Nighttime Formula
Cold-EEZE Childrens Nighttime Cold and Cough Relief
Instant Itch Relief CVS
Dr Cocoa Day Night Combo
Careone Allergy
Contrast Allergy PreMed Pack
Severe Congestion and Cough, Cold and Flu Daytime and Nighttime
Rexall Sleep Aid
Niteclear Cold and Flu Relief
Extra Strength First Aid Anti-itch Rite Aid
Allergies Relief
Sleep-Aid Regular Strength
Aller-aide Plus
Leader Headache PM Formula
Benylin All-IN-one Cold and Flu Night PE Caplets
Banophen Diphenhydramine HCl
CareOne Nighttime Severe Cold and Cough
Leader Childrens Allergy Relief
Daytime Nighttime Severe Cold and Flu
Sleep Aid
Wal-Phed PE
Extra Strength Neocitran Total Symptom Relief - Sugar Free
Pain Plus Sleep
Dg Health Allergy
Extra Strength Allergy Formula Liquid Capsules
Kroger Nighttime Sleep-Aid
Mucus Relief Daytime/Nighttime
Pain Relief Acetaminophen PM
Betr Allergy Relief
Extra Strength Tylenol Allergy Sinus Nighttime Caplet
Allergy Relief Dye-Free Liquid Gels
Ibuprofen and Diphenhydramine HCl
ADWE dye-free childrens allergy
Severe Allergy And Sinus Headache Maximum Strength
Sleep Eze D Extra Strength Caplet 50mg
Diphenhydramine Hcl
Health Mart Nighttime Sleep Aid
Pain Reliever Sleep Aid Extra strength
Severe Cold Relief PE
Up and Up Childrens Cold and Cough Relief
Robitussin Direct Runny Nose
Basic Care Acetaminophen PM
IC Ivy Relief
Night Time Sleep-aid
North Antihistamine
Allernix Cap 50mg U
Itch Relief Stick
Childrens Allergy Relief Dye-free
Itch Relief
Foster and Thrive Ibuprofen PM
Dg Health Allergy Childrens
TheraCare Extra Strength Anti-Itch Cream Itch Stopping
CVS Effervescent Pain Relief PM
Effective Itch Relief
Allergy, Circle K
Equate Childrens Multi symptom Cold Nighttime
Allergy Sinus Headache Caplets
CareOne Allergy Relief
Advil PM, TRAVEL BASIX
Benadryl Extra Strength Itch Stopping
Good Sense Allergy Relief
Careone night time severe cold and cough honey lemon infused with chamomile and white tea flavors
Childrens Mucinex Multi Symptom Cold and Childrens Mucinex Night Time Multi Symptom Cold
Childrens Benadryl ALLERGY
Daytime and Nighttime Sinus Congestion PE
7 Select Pain Relief PM
Extra Strength Night Time Pain Medicine
Unisom SleepMinis Nighttime Sleep-Aid
Healthy Accents Sinus Relief
Pulmorex DM Syr
Unisom SleepGels Nighttime Sleep-Aid
Severe Cold, Cold and Flu Maximum Strength, Daytime, Nightime
Trialyn Syrup
Mucus Sinus Relief Day and Night
Diphenhydramine HCl 12.5mg Antihistamine
Severe Cold and Cough Nighttime
Allergy relief
Sound Body Childrens Allergy Relief
Only For BODY PAIN
Nighttime Sleep Easy
Rapid Release Acetaminophen PM Extra Strength
PMS-diphenhydramine Elixir 2.5mg/ml
Diphenist
Extra Strength Itch Relief
Up and Up Acetaminophen PM Extra Strength
Neocitran Thin Strips Nighttime Cough and Cold
Dorm-L Tab 25mg
Benadryl Allergy Sinus Headache
Care One Pain Relief PM Extra Strength
VICKS ZzzQuil NIGHTTIME SLEEP-AID Diphenhydramine HCl FREE OF
Allergy Complete Relief
Allergy
Headache PM
Basic Care Daytime Severe Cold Nighttime Cold and Flu
CVS Health Nighttime Severe Cough and Cold Nighttime Severe Cold and Cough
PediaCare Childrens Allergy and Cold
Bayer PM
Allegra Intensive Relief Anti-Itch
ShopRite Non Aspirin
Jamp Diphenhydramine Children's Syrup
Sunmark z sleep
The Itch Eraser Gel
Careone Allergy Relief
Sleep Aid Extra Strength Tab 50mg
EZ Nite Sleep Nighttime Sleep Aid
Pain Relief PM Extra strength
Signature Care severe cold cough and flu Nighttime
Sleepaid Extra Strength Capsules
Extra Strength NiteTime Pain Relief
Childrens Complete Allergy
Sleep-eze Eze-free
Somnitabs
Sleepeze eze melts
Maximum Strength Mucinex Fast-Max Day Time Cold and Flu and Night Time Cold and Flu
Nighttime Flu and Severe
Goodys PM Pain Reliever
Itch Relief Spray
Reeses Onetab Allergy and Sinus
CVS Health Childrens Allergy Relief
Dye-Free Wal-Dryl
Texaclear Night Time Cough Cold/flu
Aller-aide
7 Select Night Time Sleep Aid
Allergy Medicine
Family Wellness flu and severe cold and cough nighttime
EZ Nite Sleep Aid
PhysiciansCare Allergy Antihistamine
KMart - Pain Relief PM
Benylin Sleep Time
Childrens Allergy Relief Dye Free Bubble Gum
Multi Symptom Severe Cold PE
DiphenMax
Sunmark Pain Reliever PM Extra Strength
Up and Up Nighttime Flu and Severe Cold and Cough
M-Dryl
Meijer Nighttime Severe Cold and Cough Honey Lemon infused with Chamomile and White Tea Flavors
Best Choice Itch Stopping
Allergy plus Sinus Headache
Kids-EEZE Allergy
Nighttime Liquigel Sleep-aid
Zzz Sleep
VIcks Flu Therapy Severe Cold and Flu Night
Childrens Wal-Dryl Allergy
Diphenhydramine HCl 25mg
Daytime Nighttime Severe Cold
Vicks ZzzQuil Liquid and Liquicaps Combo
Allernix HCl Cap 25mg U
TYLENOL PM Extra Strength
Multi Symptom NightTime Cold
Allernix Extra Strength
Maximum Strength Nighttime Sleep-Aid
SnoozEase Nighttime Sleep-Aid
Aurophen PM Extra Strength
Allegra Cooling Relief Anti-Itch
A Health Itch Relief Gel
Flu and Severe Cold and Cough Nighttime
Rugid Itch and Pain Relief
Drx Choice childrens allergy chews
Meijer Anti-itch
Kinkan Cool
Nighttime
Extra Strength Tylenol PM
Diphenhydramine Oral Liquid
Shopko Anti-Itch
Diphenhydramine HCl 25mg 24ct Blister
Basic Care Daytime Severe Cold and Flu Nighttime Severe Cold Cough and Flu
Rotosxika Ventilation Health patch
Aurophen Daytime Nighttime
Careone Naproxen Sodium PM
Sleep-eze
ZzzQuil Alcohol Free Nighttime Sleep-Aid
Flu and severe cold daytime nighttime
Sleep-Aid, Lil Drug Store
Sleep original formula
Extra Strength Tylenol Pain and Head Cold Night Rapid Release
Q-dryl
Unisom Sleep Gels
SleepEze minis
Zzzquil Nighttime Sleep Aid
Tecnu Calagel
Allergy Formula
Extra Strength Allergy Formula Nighttime
Mucus Relief Sinus Day and Night
Healthy Accents Pain Relief PM Extra Strength
After Sting
Discount Drug Mart Regular Strength Itch Stopping
Daytime Nighttime Severe Cough and Cold
ConRx PM
24/7 Life Allergy Relief
Itch and Bite Relief First Aid Kit
Nighttime Wal Flu Severe Cold and Cough
Sleep Aid Nite Time
Sleeptime Dry Cough
Nytol Extra Strength Sleep Aid Caplet 50mg
Flu Relief Therapy Severe Cough and Cold Nighttime
Alka-Seltzer Plus Night Severe Cold, Cough And Flu
Benadryl Total
ShopRite Anti Itch
Indication
Diphenhydramine is a first-generation histamine H1 receptor antagonist (H1 antihistamine) that is widely available as a non-prescription, over-the-counter (OTC) medication. As an OTC medication, diphenhydramine is typically formulated as tablets and creams indicated for use in treating sneezing, runny nose, itchy/watery eyes, itching of nose or throat, insomnia, pruritis, urticaria, insect bites/stings, allergic rashes, and nausea [L5263, L5266, L5269, F3379, A174541]. Additionally, when the use of oral diphenhydramine is impractical, there are also prescription-only formulations such as diphenhydramine injection products that are effective in adults and pediatric patients (other than premature infants and neonates) for: i) the amelioration of allergic reactions to blood or plasma, in anaphylaxis as an adjunct to epinephrine and other standard measures after acute allergic reaction symptoms have been controlled, and for other uncomplicated allergic conditions of the immediate type when oral therapy is impossible or contraindicated [F3352]; ii) the active treatment of motion sickness [F3352]; and iii) use in parkinsonism when oral therapy is impossible or contraindicated, as follows: parkinsonism in the elderly who are unable to tolerate more potent agents; mild cases of parkinsonism in other age groups, and in other cases of parkinsonism in combination with centrally acting anticholinergic agents [F3352].
Categories
Agents producing tachycardia
Amines
Aminoalkyl Ethers
Anesthetics
Anesthetics, Local
Anti-Allergic Agents
Anticholinergic Agents
Antiemetics
Antihistamines for Systemic Use
Antihistamines for Topical Use
Antiinflammatory and Antirheumatic Products
Antiinflammatory and Antirheumatic Products, Non-Steroids
Antipruritics, Incl. Antihistamines, Anesthetics, Etc.
Drug Info/Drug Targets: DrugBank 3.0: a comprehensive resource for 'omics' research on drugs. Knox C, Law V, Jewison
T, Liu P, Ly S, Frolkis A, Pon A, Banco K, Mak C, Neveu V, Djoumbou Y, Eisner R, Guo AC, Wishart DS.
Nucleic Acids Res. 2011 Jan; 39 (Database issue):D1035-41. | PMID:21059682