Diphenhydramine abuse and detoxification: A brief review and case report

Journal of Psychopharmacology

Volumn 23, Issue 1, 2009, Pages 101-105

  Thomas, A ^a   Nallur, D G ^b   Jones, N ^b   Deslandes, P N ^a  

^a WHITCHURCH HOSPITAL   (United Kingdom)

^b Community Addictions Unit ^*  (United Kingdom)

Author keywords

Diphenhydramine; Drug abuse; Drug detoxification

Indexed keywords

ANTIHISTAMINIC AGENT; CHLORPROMAZINE; DIPHENHYDRAMINE; FLUPENTIXOL; FLUPHENAZINE; FLUSPIRILENE; GELTHIX; LORAZEPAM; METHADONE; MUSCARINIC RECEPTOR BLOCKING AGENT; NEUROLEPTIC AGENT; NON PRESCRIPTION DRUG; OLANZAPINE; SLEEPIA; TEMAZEPAM; TIOTIXENE; UNCLASSIFIED DRUG; VENLAFAXINE;

ADULT; BEDTIME DOSAGE; BLURRED VISION; CASE REPORT; DIAGNOSTIC AND STATISTICAL MANUAL OF MENTAL DISORDERS; DRUG ABUSE; DRUG DEPENDENCE; DRUG DETOXIFICATION; DRUG DOSE REDUCTION; DRUG OVERDOSE; DRUG TOLERABILITY; FEMALE; HOSPITAL DISCHARGE; HUMAN; INSOMNIA; PRESCRIPTION; PRIORITY JOURNAL; SCHIZOPHRENIA; SHORT SURVEY; SUBSTANCE ABUSE; XEROSTOMIA;

DATABASES, BIBLIOGRAPHIC; DIAGNOSTIC AND STATISTICAL MANUAL OF MENTAL DISORDERS; DIPHENHYDRAMINE; FEMALE; HISTAMINE ANTAGONISTS; HUMANS; MALE; METABOLIC DETOXICATION, DRUG; MIDDLE AGED; NONPRESCRIPTION DRUGS; SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT CENTERS; TIME FACTORS;

EID: 58649111214     PISSN: 02698811     EISSN: 14617285     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1177/0269881107083809     Document Type: Short Survey

References (21)

1. Anonymous (1979) Is there any evidence that Benylin syrup is addictive? Br Med J 1: 459
2. Atkins M., Burgess A., Bottomley C. (1997) Chlorpromazine equivalents: a consensus of opinion for both clinical and research applications. Psychiatric Bull 21: 224-226
3. Barsoum A., Kolivakis T.T., Margolese H.C., Chouinard G. (2000) Diphenhydramine (Unisom). a central anticholinergic and antihistaminic: abuse with massive ingestion in a patient with schizophrenia. Can J Psychiatry 45: 846-847
4. Bolden C., Cusack B., Richelson E. (1992) Antagonism by antimuscarinic and neuroleptic compounds at the five cloned human muscarinic cholinergic receptors expressed in Chinese hamster ovary cells. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 260: 576-580
5. Cox D., Ahmed Z., McBride A.J. (2001) Diphenhydramine dependence. Addiction 96: 516-517
6. de Nesnera A.P. (1996) Diphenhydramine dependence: a need for awareness. J Clin Psychiatry 57: 136-137
7. Dilsalver S.C. (1988) Antimuscarinic agents as substances of abuse: a review. J Clin Psychopharmacology 8: 14-22
8. Dose M., Tempel H.D. (2000) Abuse potential of anticholinergics. Pharmacopsychiatry 33 (Suppl 1). 43-46
9. Feldman M.D., Behar M. (1986) A case of massive diphenhydramine abuse and withdrawal from use of the drug. JAMA 255: 3119-3120
10. Ford C., Good B. (2007) Over the counter drugs can be highly addictive. Br Med J 334: 444
11. Glickman L. (1986) Diphenhydramine abuse and withdrawal. JAMA 256: 1994
12. Hodson K., Benney S.L., Gwyn E., Luscombe D.K., Jones N., Thomas A., Sewell R D E, Deslandes P.N. (2007) Community pharmacies in South Wales: misuse of over-the-counter medicines. Poster presented at ESCP spring conference, Edinburgh, 2007
13. MacRury S., Neilson R., Goodwin K. (1987) Benylin dependence, metabolic acidosis and hyperglycaemia. Postgrad Med J 63: 587-588
14. Pates R., McBride A.J., Li S., Ramadan R. (2002) Misuse of over-the-counter medicines: a survey of community pharmacies in a South Wales health authority. Pharm J 268: 179-182
15. Radovanovic D., Meier P.J., Guirguis M., Lorent J.P., Kupferschmidt H. (2000) Dose-dependent toxicity of diphenhydramine overdose. Hum Exp Toxicology 19 (9). 489-495
16. Roberts K., Gruer L., Gilooly T. (1999) Misuse of diphenhydramine soft gel capsules (Sleepia). a cautionary tale from Glasgow. Addiction 94: 1575-1578
17. Sullivan J.T., Sykora K., Schneiderman J., Naranjo C.A., Sellers E.M. (1989) Assessment of alcohol withdrawal: the revised clinical institute withdrawal. Br J Addiction 84: 1353-1357
18. Vinson D.R. (2003) Diphenhydramine in the treatment of akathisia induced by prochlorperazine. J Emerg Med 26: 265-270
19. Wesson D.R., Ling W. (2003) The Clinical Opiate Withdrawal Scale (COWS). J Psychoactive Drugs 35: 253-259
20. Wolf B., Guarino J.J., Preston K.L., Griffiths R.R. (1989) Abuse liability of diphenhydramine in sedative abusers. NIDA Res Monograph 95: 486-487
21. Yeomans J.S. (1995) Role of tegmental cholinergic neurons in dopaminergic activation, antimuscarinic psychosis and schizophrenia. Neuropsychopharmacol 12 (1). 3-16