Doxylamine

Updated on Oct 08, 2024

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Trade names Unisom MedlinePlus a682537 ATC code R06AA09 (WHO) CAS ID 469-21-6		AHFS/Drugs.com Monograph Routes ofadministration Oral Molar mass 270.369 g/mol

Pregnancycategory AU: AUS: B (No risk in non-human studies)A (Briggs)

Doxylamine is a first-generation antihistamine. It can be used by itself as a short-term sedative and in combination with other drugs to provide night-time allergy and cold relief. Doxylamine is also used in combination with the analgesics paracetamol (acetaminophen) and codeine as an analgesic/calmative preparation, and is prescribed in combination with vitamin B₆ (pyridoxine) to prevent morning sickness in pregnant women. Its fetal safety is "A" in Briggs’ Reference Guide to Foetal and Neonatal Risk.

Medical uses

It is used in the combination drug Pyridoxine/doxylamine to treat nausea and vomiting of pregnancy.

As of 2004, doxylamine and diphenhydramine were the agents most commonly used to treat short term insomnia. As of 2008, antihistamines were not recommended by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine for treatment of chronic insomnia "due to the relative lack of efficacy and safety data.".

Metabolites

The main metabolites are N-desmethyldoxylamine, N,N-didesmethyldoxylamine, and doxylamine N-oxide.

Side effects

Doxylamine succinate is a potent anticholinergic and has a side-effect profile common to such drugs, including dry mouth, ataxia, urinary retention, drowsiness, memory problems, inability to concentrate, hallucinations, psychosis, and a marked increased sensitivity to external stimuli. Like many hypnotics, it should not be combined with other antihistamines, such as cetirizine (Zyrtec) or diphenhydramine (Benadryl), as this combination can increase the risk of serious side effects. Using doxylamine over a long period of time is not recommended. However, the drug is not addictive, and withdrawal effects are unlikely to be experienced with prolonged use.

Toxicity

Doxylamine succinate is generally safe for administration to healthy adults. The median lethal dose (LD₅₀) is estimated to be 50–500 mg/kg in humans. Symptoms of overdose may include dry mouth, dilated pupils, insomnia, night terrors, euphoria, hallucinations, seizures, rhabdomyolysis, and death. Fatalities have been reported from doxylamine overdose. These have been characterized by coma, tonic-clonic (or grand mal) seizures and cardiorespiratory arrest. Children appear to be at a high risk for cardiorespiratory arrest. A toxic dose for children of more than 1.8 mg/kg has been reported. A 3-year old child died 18 hours after ingesting 1,000 mg doxylamine succinate. Rarely, an overdose results in rhabdomyolysis and acute renal failure.

Studies of doxylamine's carcinogenicity in mice and rats have produced positive results for both liver and thyroid cancer, especially in the mouse. The carcinogenicity of the drug in humans is not well studied, and the IARC lists the drug as "not classifiable as to its carcinogenicity to humans".

History

Doxylamine is a first-generation antihistamine, first reported in 1949.

Formulations

Doxylamine is primarily used as the succinic acid salt, doxylamine succinate.

It is the sedating ingredient of NyQuil (generally in combination with dextromethorphan and acetaminophen)

In Commonwealth countries, such as Australia, Canada, South Africa and the United Kingdom, doxylamine is available prepared with paracetamol (acetaminophen) and codeine under the brand name Dolased, Propain Plus, Syndol (UK version no longer contains doxylamine as of 2015), or Mersyndol, as treatment for tension headache and other types of pain.

Doxylamine succinate is used in general over-the-counter sleep-aids branded as Somnil (South Africa), Dozile, Donormyl (France, Russian Federation), Dormidina (Spain, Portugal), Restavit, Unisom-2 and Sleep Aid (generic, Australia).

In the United States:

doxylamine succinate is the active ingredient in the over-the-counter sleep-aid tablets branded as Unisom SleepTabs; however, all other Unisom products contain diphenhydramine hydrochloride instead.

doxylamine succinate and pyridoxine (Vitamin B6) are the ingredients of Diclegis, approved by the FDA in April 2013 as the only drug for morning sickness with a class A safety rating for pregnancy.

In Canada:

doxylamine succinate was the active ingredient in the over-the-counter sleep-aid marketed as Unisom-2 tablets (no longer available). Unisom now solely markets products containing diphenhydramine hydrochloride as the active ingredient.

doxylamine succinate and pyridoxine (vitamin B₆) are the ingredients of Diclectin, which is used to prevent morning sickness.

It is also available in combination with vitamin B₆ and folic acid under the brand name Evanorm (marketed by Ion Healthcare).

It is marketed under the names Restavit and Dozile), Russia (Valocordin-Doxylamine) and India (Vomentin).

References

Doxylamine Wikipedia

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