![]() Loratadine (Claritin), cetirizine (Zyrtec), fexofenadine (Allegra), and levocetirizine (Xyzal). ![]() We now have four newer, second generation antihistamines available as over-the-counter products that do not require a prescription. Medical education regarding allergy in general and more specifically the pharmacology of antihistamines (how they work, how long it takes them to work, and how long they last) is extremely lacking. For instance – have you ever been told to give a child with a cold Benadryl to “dry them up”? Yeah that doesn’t really work. In fact, most encourage the use of Benadryl for any type of allergic problem and often for problems that have nothing to do with allergy. The reason that this persists is because doctors don’t tell patients otherwise. The fact that Benadryl has been an over-the-counter medication for so long, and thus has been readily available without the need to consult a doctor, means that three generations of parents have given their children (and themselves) Benadryl because “that’s what my parents did” (Remember: a lot of our parents smoked and drank while they were pregnant too). Part of this myth is rooted in culture and part in medical education. Yet, the myth that it is the “go-to” agent for anything allergic persists. It causes dry mouth, urinary retention, hallucinations, learning impairment and any other number of side effects. Diphenhydramine causes greater driving impairment than alcohol. ![]() Besides being sold as Benadryl, it is also sold as Unisom – a sleep aid. But why?ĭiphenhydramine causes drowsiness. It has remained the most popular allergy medication in the United States for over 60 years. It was discovered by a University of Cincinnati professor named George Rieveschl during a quest to find a medication to treat muscle spasms. You have an allergic reaction – well obviously Benadryl is your only choice, right?Įnough is enough! Diphenhydramine was first marketed in 1946. ![]() ![]() Diphenhydramine (you probably know it by it’s brand name Benadryl) is the little pink tablet or liquid that everyone, including most physicians, associate with the treatment of anything allergic. I am going to come right out and say it: The drug most closely associated with my field of medicine is one of my least favorite medications in all of medicine. ![]()
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