Doxylamine

Doxylamine
Skeletal formula of the doxylamine molecule
Ball-and-stick model of the doxylamine molecule
Clinical data
Trade names Unisom
AHFS/Drugs.com Monograph
MedlinePlus a682537
Pregnancy
category
  • AU: A
  • US: B (No risk in non-human studies)
  • A (Briggs)
Routes of
administration
Oral
ATC code R06AA09 (WHO)
Legal status
Legal status
  • AU: S3 (Pharmacist only)
  • US: OTC
Pharmacokinetic data
Bioavailability Oral: 24.7%, Intranasal: 70.8%[1]
Metabolism Hepatic (CYP3A4-meditated)
Biological half-life 6–12 hours
Excretion Urine (60%), feces (40%)[2]
Identifiers
CAS Number 469-21-6 YesY
PubChem (CID) 3162
IUPHAR/BPS 7171
DrugBank DB00366 YesY
ChemSpider 3050 YesY
UNII 95QB77JKPL YesY
KEGG D07878 YesY
ChEBI CHEBI:51380 YesY
ChEMBL CHEMBL1004 YesY
ECHA InfoCard 100.006.742
Chemical and physical data
Formula C17H22N2O
Molar mass 270.369 g/mol
3D model (Jmol) Interactive image
  (verify)

Doxylamine is a first-generation antihistamine, first reported in 1949.[3][4] 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.[5]

Medical uses

Doxylamine may be used for insomnia and along with pyridoxine for nausea and vomiting of pregnancy.[6] It is also the most effective over-the-counter sedative available in the United States and is more sedating than some prescription hypnotics.[6] One study found that doxylamine succinate was more effective than the barbiturate phenobarbital for use as a sedative.[6]

Metabolites

The main metabolites are N-desmethyldoxylamine, N,N-didesmethyldoxylamine, and doxylamine N-oxide.[7][8]

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.[9] Symptoms of overdose may include dry mouth, dilated pupils, insomnia, night terrors, euphoria, hallucinations, seizures, rhabdomyolysis, and death.[10] 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.[2] Rarely, an overdose results in rhabdomyolysis and acute renal failure.[11]

Studies of doxylamine's carcinogenicity in mice and rats have produced positive results for both liver and thyroid cancer, especially in the mouse.[12] 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".[13]

Formulations

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

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

See also

References

  1. Pelser, Andries; Müller, Douw G.; du Plessis, Jeanetta; du Preez, Jan L.; Goosen, Colleen (2002). "Comparative pharmacokinetics of single doses of doxylamine succinate following intranasal, oral and intravenous administration in rats". Biopharmaceutics & Drug Disposition. 23 (6): 239–244. doi:10.1002/bdd.314. PMID 12214324.
  2. 1 2 Dozile. medsafe.govt.nz
  3. Cada, DJ; Demaris, K; Levien, TL; Baker, DE (October 2013). "Doxylamine succinate/pyridoxine hydrochloride.". Hospital pharmacy. 48 (9): 762–6. doi:10.1310/hpj4809-762. PMC 3857125Freely accessible. PMID 24421551.
  4. Sperber, Nathan.; Papa, Domenick.; Schwenk, Erwin.; Sherlock, Margaret. (1949). "Pyridyl-Substituted Alkamine Ethers as Antihistaminic Agents". Journal of the American Chemical Society. 71 (3): 887–890. doi:10.1021/ja01171a034. PMID 18113525.
  5. Briggs, Gerald G.; Freeman, Roger K.; Yaffe, Sumner J. (2008). Drugs in Pregnancy and Lactation: A Reference Guide to Fetal and Neonatal Risk. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. doi:10.1258/om.2009.090002. ISBN 978-0-7817-7876-3.
  6. 1 2 3 Doxylamine. drugbank.ca
  7. Holder, C. L.; Korfmacher, W. A.; Slikker Jr, W.; Thompson Jr, H. C.; Gosnell, A. B. (1985). "Mass spectral characterization of doxylamine and its rhesus monkey urinary metabolites". Biomedical mass spectrometry. 12 (4): 151–158. doi:10.1002/bms.1200120403. PMID 2861861.
  8. rxlist.com, Khedezla.
  9. DOXYLAMINE SUCCINATE. hazard.com
  10. Syed, Husnain; Sumit Som; Nazia Khan; Wael Faltas (17 March 2009). "Doxylamine toxicity: seizure, rhabdomyolysis and false positive urine drug screen for methadone". BMJ Case Reports. BMJ Group. 2003 (90): 845. doi:10.1136/bcr.09.2008.0879. PMID 21686586.
  11. Leybishkis B, B; Fasseas P; Ryan KF. (2001). "Doxylamine overdose as a potential cause of rhabdomyolysis". American Journal of the Medical Sciences. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. 322 (1): 48–9. doi:10.1097/00000441-200107000-00009. PMID 11465247.
  12. Doxylamine succinate (CAS 562-10-7). berkeley.edu
  13. DOXYLAMINE SUCCINATE. International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) - Summaries & Evaluations
  14. chattem.com, UNISOM Drug facts
  15. Slaughter, Shelley R.; Hearns-Stokes, Rhonda; van der Vlugt, Theresa; Joffe, Hylton V. (2014). "FDA Approval of Doxylamine–Pyridoxine Therapy for Use in Pregnancy". New England Journal of Medicine. 370 (12): 1081–1083. doi:10.1056/NEJMp1316042. PMID 24645939.
  16. unisom.ca product page
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