Treatments / Add-ons / Diphenhydramine
Prescription comfort medicationsRx
Diphenhydramine
Also called Benadryl
A prescription-strength antihistamine given intravenously, available on your nurse's assessment.
Prescription medication
This is a prescription medication administered by a licensed registered nurse under standing orders authorized by our Medical Director. It is not something you select for yourself; your nurse decides whether it is appropriate after screening you, and will decline it if it is not.
What it is
Diphenhydramine is a first-generation antihistamine: the older class, which crosses into the brain and is therefore reliably sedating in a way newer antihistamines are not.
Given intravenously by your nurse, it acts quickly. The sedation is not a side note: it is pronounced enough that it changes what you can safely do for the rest of the day.
What it is used for
- A medication indicated for allergic symptoms
- Considered by your nurse where mild allergic symptoms are present at the visit
How we give it
As a 25 mg slow IV push over two to three minutes, one dose per session.
Your nurse decides whether it is appropriate after screening you.
Good to know
Can I drive afterwards?
No. Not for at least four hours, and that is a firm instruction rather than advice. Your nurse will tell you explicitly and will write down that they told you. Arrange how you are getting anywhere before the visit, not after.
How will I feel?
Drowsy, often quite suddenly, and sometimes with a dry mouth. Plan on resting. Do not plan on anything that needs concentration.