Benylin
diphenhydrAMINE
oral, parenteral (dye-fen-hye-dra-meen) diphenhydramine,Aller-Aide
(trade name),Allerdryl
(trade name),Allergy Formula
(trade name),AllerMax
(trade name),Allernix
(trade name),Banophen
(trade name),Benadryl Dye-Free Alergy
(trade name),Benadryl Allergy
(trade name),Benadryl
(trade name),Benylin
(trade name),Calmex
(trade name),Compoz
(trade name),Compoz Nighttime Sleep Aid
(trade name),Dimetane Allergy
(trade name),Diphen AF
(trade name),Diphen Cough
(trade name),Diphenhist
(trade name),Dormex
(trade name),Dormiphen
(trade name),Genahist
(trade name),40 Winks
(trade name),Hyrexin-50
(trade name),Insomnal
(trade name),Maximum Strength Nytol
(trade name),Maximum Strength Sleepinal
(trade name),Midol PM
(trade name),Miles Nervine
(trade name),Nadryl
(trade name),Nighttime Sleep Aid
(trade name),Nytol
(trade name),Scot-Tussin Allergy DM
(trade name),Siladril
(trade name),Silphen
(trade name),Sleep-Eze 3
(trade name),Sleepwell 2-night
(trade name),Sominex
(trade name),Snooze Fast
(trade name),Sominex
(trade name),Tusstat
(trade name),Twilite
(trade name),Unisom Nighttime Sleep-Aid
(trade name)Classification
Therapeutic: allergy cold cough remediesIndications
- Anaphylaxis,
- Seasonal and perennial allergic rhinitis,
- Allergic dermatoses.
Action
Therapeutic effects
Pharmacokinetics
Time/action profile (antihistaminic effects)
| ROUTE | ONSET | PEAK | DURATION |
|---|---|---|---|
| PO | 15–60 min | 2–4 hr | 4–8 hr |
| IM | 20–30 min | 2–4 hr | 4–8 hr |
| IV | rapid | unknown | 4–8 hr |
Contraindications/Precautions
Adverse Reactions/Side Effects
Central nervous system
- drowsiness (most frequent)
- dizziness
- headache
- paradoxical excitation (increased in children)
Ear, Eye, Nose, Throat
- blurred vision
- tinnitus
Cardiovascular
- hypotension
- palpitations
Gastrointestinal
- anorexia (most frequent)
- dry mouth (most frequent)
- constipation
- nausea
Genitourinary
- dysuria
- frequency
- urinary retention
Dermatologic
- photosensitivity
Respiratory
- chest tightness
- thickened bronchial secretions
- wheezing
Local
- pain at IM site
Interactions
Drug-Drug interaction
↑ risk of CNS depression with other antihistamines, alcohol, opioid analgesics, and sedative/hypnotics.↑ anticholinergic effects with tricyclic antidepressants, quinidine, or disopyramide.MAO inhibitors intensify and prolong the anticholinergic effects of antihistamines.Concomitant use of kava-kava, valerian, or chamomile can ↑ CNS depression.Route/Dosage
Availability (generic available)
Nursing implications
Nursing assessment
- Diphenhydramine has multiple uses. Determine why the medication was ordered and assess symptoms that apply to the individual patient. Geriatric: Appears in the Beers list. May cause sedation and confusion due to increased sensitivity to anticholinergic effects. Monitor carefully, assess for confusion, delirium, other anticholinergic side effects and fall risk. Institute measures to prevent falls.
- Prevention and Treatment of Anaphylaxis: Assess for urticaria and for patency of airway.
- Allergic Rhinitis: Assess degree of nasal stuffiness, rhinorrhea, and sneezing.
- Parkinsonism and Extrapyramidal Reactions: Assess movement disorder before and after administration.
- Insomnia: Assess sleep patterns.
- Motion Sickness: Assess nausea, vomiting, bowel sounds, and abdominal pain.
- Cough Suppressant: Assess frequency and nature of cough, lung sounds, and amount and type of sputum produced. Unless contraindicated, maintain fluid intake of 1500–2000 mL daily to decrease viscosity of bronchial secretions.
- Pruritus: Assess degree of itching, skin rash, and inflammation.
- Lab Test Considerations: May ↓ skin response to allergy tests. Discontinue 4 days before skin testing.
Potential Nursing Diagnoses
(Indications)Risk for deficient fluid volume (Indications)
Risk for injury (Side Effects)
Implementation
- Do not confuse Benadryl with benazepril.
- When used for insomnia, administer 20 min before bedtime and schedule activities to minimize interruption of sleep.
- When used for prophylaxis of motion sickness, administer at least 30 min and preferably 1–2 hr before exposure to conditions that may precipitate motion sickness.
- Oral: Administer with meals or milk to minimize GI irritation. Capsule may be emptied and contents taken with water or food.
- Orally disintegrating tablets and strips should be left in the package until use. Remove from the blister pouch. Do not push tablet through the blister; peel open the blister pack with dry hands and place tablet on tongue. Tablet will dissolve rapidly and be swallowed with saliva. No liquid is needed to take the orally disintegrating tablet.
- Intramuscular: Administer 50 mg/mL into well-developed muscle. Avoid subcut injections.
Intravenous Administration
- Diluent: May be further diluted in 0.9% NaCl, 0.45% NaCl, D5W, D10W, dextrose/saline combinations, Ringer’s solution, LR, and dextrose/Ringer’s combinations.Concentration: 25 mg/mL.
- Rate: Infuse at a rate not to exceed 25 mg/min.
- Y-Site Compatibility: acetaminophen, aldesleukin, alemtuzumab, alfentanil, amifostine, amikacin, aminocaproic acid, amphotericin B lipid complex, amphotericin B liposome, amsacrine, anidulafungin, argatroban, ascorbic acid, atropine, azithromycin, benztropine, bivalirudin, bleomycin, bumetanide, buprenorphine, butorphanol, calcium chloride, calcium gluconate, carboplatin, carmustine, caspofungin, ceftaroline, chlorpromazine, ciprofloxacin, cisatracurium, cisplatin, cladribine, clindamycin, cyanocobalamin, cyclophosphamide, cyclosporine, cytarabine, dactinomycin, daptomycin, dexmedetomidine, dexrazoxane, digoxin, diltiazem, dobutamine, docetaxel, dolasetron, dopamine, doripenem, doxorubicin, doxorubicin liposome, doxycycline, enalaprilat, ephedrine, epinephrine, epirubicin, epoetin alfa, eptifibatide, ertapenem, erythromycin, esmolol, etoposide, etoposide phosphate, famotidine, fenoldopam, fentanyl, filgrastim, fluconazole, fludarabine, folic acid, gemcitabine, gentamicin, glycopyrrolate, granisetron, hydromorphone, idarubicin, ifosfamide, imipenem/cilastatin, iriniotecan, isoproterenol, ketamine, labetalol, leucovorin calcium, levofloxacin, lidocaine, linezolid, lorazepam, magnesium sulfate, mannitol, mechlorethamine, melphalan, meperidine, meropenem, metaraminol, methadone, methotrexate, methyldopate, metoclopramide, metoprolol, metronidazole, midazolam, mitomycin, mitoxantrone, morphine, moxifloxacin, multiple vitamins, mycophenolate, nalbuphine, naloxone, nesiritide, nicardipine, nitroglycerin, norepinephrine, octreotide, ondansetron, oxaliplatin, oxytocin, paclitaxel, palonosetron, pamidronate, papaverine, pemetrexed, penicillin G, pentamidine, pentazocine, phentolamine, phenylephrine, phytonadione, piperacillin/tazobactam, potassium acetate, potassium chloride, procainamide, prochlorperazine, promethazine, propofol, propranolol, protamine, pyridoxime, quinipristin/dalfopristin, ranitidine, remifentanil, rituximab, rocuronium, sargramostim, sodium acetate, streptokinase, succinylcholine, sufentanil, tacrolimus, teniposide, theophylline, thiamine, thiotepa, ticarcillin/clavulanate, tigecycline, tirofiban, tobramycin, tolazoline, trastuzumab, vancomycin, vasopressin, vecuronium, verapamil, vinblastine, vincristine, vinorelbine, vitamin B complex with C, voriconazole, zoledronic acid
- Y-Site Incompatibility: allopurinol, aminophylline, amphotericin B cholesteryl, amphotericin B colloidal, ampicillin, azathioprine, cefazolin, cefepime, cefoperazone, cefotaxime, cefotetan, cefoxitin, ceftazidime, ceftriaxone, cefuroxime, chloramphenicol, dantrolene, dexamethasone, diazepam, diazoxide, fluorouracil, foscarnet, furosemide, ganciclovir, indomethacin, insulin, ketorolac, methylprednisolone, milrinone, nitroprusside, oxacillin, pantoprazole, pentobarbital, phenobarbital, phenytoin, sodium bicarbonate, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole
- Topical: Apply a thin coat and rub gently until absorbed. Only for topical use; avoid ingestion.
Patient/Family Teaching
- Instruct patient to take medication as directed; do not exceed recommended amount. Caution patient not to use oral OTC diphenhydramine products with any other product containing diphenhydramine, including products used topically.
- May cause drowsiness. Caution patient to avoid driving or other activities requiring alertness until response to drug is known.
- May cause dry mouth. Inform patient that frequent oral rinses, good oral hygiene, and sugarless gum or candy may minimize this effect. Notify health care professional if dry mouth persists for more than 2 wk.
- Teach sleep hygiene techniques (dark room, quiet, bedtime ritual, limit daytime napping, avoidance of nicotine and caffeine) to patients taking diphenhydramine to aid sleep.
- Advise patient to use sunscreen and protective clothing to prevent photosensitivity reactions.
- Caution patient to avoid use of alcohol and other CNS depressants concurrently with this medication.
- Pediatric: Can cause excitation in children. Caution parents or caregivers about proper dose calculation; overdose, especially in infants and children, can cause hallucinations, seizures, or death. Caution parents to avoid OTC cough and cold products while breast feeding or to children <4 yr.
- Geriatric: Instruct older adults to avoid OTC products that contain diphenhydramine due to increased sensitivity to anticholinergic effects and potential for adverse reactions related to these effects.
- Advise patients taking diphenhydramine in OTC preparations to notify health care professional if symptoms worsen or persist for more than 7 days.
Evaluation/Desired Outcomes
- Prevention of, or decreased urticaria in, anaphylaxis or other allergic reactions.
- Decreased dyskinesia in parkinsonism and extrapyramidal reactions.
- Sedation when used as a sedative/hypnotic.
- Prevention of or decrease in nausea and vomiting caused by motion sickness.
- Decrease in frequency and intensity of cough without eliminating cough reflex.