Diphenhydramine
Definition
Diphenhydramine is an antihistamine, used to treat allergies, motion sickness, allergic reactions, insomnia, cough, nausea, and phenothiazine drug-induced abnormal muscle movement.
Purpose
Diphenhydramine is frequently ordered for cancer patients to aid in controlling nausea and itching. It may be given after a blood transfusion to limit allergic reactions to blood products. Because of its sedating properties, diphenhydramine is often used to assist in inducing sleep. It is also used to control nausea, treat the stiffness and tremor of Parkinson's disease, and control symptoms of extrapyramidal neurologic movement disorders (tremors and abnormal involuntary movements of the muscles) caused by some...
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