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Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics of Diphenhydramine 25 mg in Young and Elderly Volunteers
Author(s) -
Scavone Joseph M.,
Greenblatt David J.,
Harmatz Jerold S.,
Engelhardt Nina,
Shader Richard I.
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
the journal of clinical pharmacology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.92
H-Index - 116
eISSN - 1552-4604
pISSN - 0091-2700
DOI - 10.1002/j.1552-4604.1998.tb04466.x
Subject(s) - diphenhydramine , sedation , crossover study , placebo , pharmacokinetics , pharmacodynamics , digit symbol substitution test , medicine , anesthesia , oral administration , pharmacology , histamine , alternative medicine , pathology
Thirty‐seven young and elderly male and female volunteers 21 to 76 years of age received a single 25‐mg oral dose of diphenhydramine or matching placebo in a double‐blind, randomized, two‐way crossover study. Plasma diphenhydramine concentrations, self‐ratings of sedation, mood, and autonomic effects, performance on the digit‐symbol substitution test (DSST), and heart rate were determined for 24 hours after administration. Information acquisition and recall were tested at 2.5 and 24 hours after administration. Age and gender did not significantly influence diphenhydramine peak plasma concentration, time of peak concentration, elimination half‐life, area under the plasma concentration curve, or apparent oral clearance. Effects on psychomotor performance, sedation, mood, and memory did not differ between diphenhydramine and placebo in either group. Thus, the pharmacokinetics of single 25‐mg oral doses of diphenhydramine are not influenced by age or gender. This dose of diphenhydramine produces essentially undetectable pharmacodynamic effects in both the young and elderly.