Home Drug Guide Diphenylpyraline Hydrochloride

Drug Guide

Generic Name

Diphenylpyraline Hydrochloride

Brand Names Hispril

Classification

Therapeutic: Antihistamine, Anticholinergic

Pharmacological: Piperidine derivative antihistamine with anticholinergic properties

FDA Approved Indications

  • Allergic conditions such as hay fever, allergic conjunctivitis, allergic rhinitis, urticaria, and other allergic skin reactions

Mechanism of Action

Diphenylpyraline acts by blocking H1 histamine receptors, thereby preventing histamine-mediated allergic responses. Its anticholinergic properties contribute to its additional effects such as decreasing secretions and alleviating muscle spasms.

Dosage and Administration

Adult: Usually 15-30 mg orally in divided doses per day, adjusted based on response and tolerability.

Pediatric: Not commonly used in children; consult specific pediatric dosing guidelines.

Geriatric: Start at lower doses due to increased sensitivity and potential for anticholinergic side effects.

Renal Impairment: Use with caution; dose adjustment may be necessary.

Hepatic Impairment: Use with caution; monitor for increased sedation or toxicity.

Pharmacokinetics

Absorption: Well absorbed from gastrointestinal tract.

Distribution: Widely distributed in body tissues; crosses the blood-brain barrier.

Metabolism: Metabolized in the liver.

Excretion: Primarily excreted via urine.

Half Life: Approximately 4-6 hours.

Contraindications

  • Hypersensitivity to diphenylpyraline or other phenothiazines.
  • Narrow-angle glaucoma.
  • Prostatic hypertrophy with urinary retention.

Precautions

  • Use cautiously in patients with asthma, urinary retention, or cardiovascular disease. Due to anticholinergic side effects, use cautiously in the elderly. Pregnancy and lactation should be discussed with a healthcare provider.

Adverse Reactions - Common

  • Sedation or drowsiness (Common)
  • Dry mouth (Common)
  • Dizziness (Uncommon)

Adverse Reactions - Serious

  • Urinary retention (Rare)
  • Allergic reactions including rash, itching (Rare)
  • Cardiovascular effects such as tachycardia (Rare)

Drug-Drug Interactions

  • CNS depressants (enhanced sedation)
  • Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (risk of hypertensive crisis)

Drug-Food Interactions

  • Alcohol (increased sedative effects)

Drug-Herb Interactions

N/A

Nursing Implications

Assessment: Monitor for sedation, anticholinergic side effects, and allergic reactions.

Diagnoses:

  • Risk for falls due to sedation or dizziness
  • Impaired oral mucous membrane related to dry mouth

Implementation: Administer with food if GI upset occurs. Avoid alcohol and CNS depressants. Monitor patient response.

Evaluation: Assess effectiveness in relieving allergy symptoms and monitor for adverse effects.

Patient/Family Teaching

  • Take medication exactly as prescribed.
  • Avoid alcohol and operating heavy machinery until response is known.
  • Report any excessive sedation, dry mouth, urinary retention, or allergic symptoms.
  • Do not discontinue abruptly to avoid rebound allergy.

Special Considerations

Black Box Warnings:

  • None specifically for diphenylpyraline

Genetic Factors: Genetic variations in drug metabolism may affect response.

Lab Test Interference: May interfere with certain skin allergy testing results due to antihistamine properties.

Overdose Management

Signs/Symptoms: Severe drowsiness, hallucinations, agitation, tachycardia, urinary retention, dry mouth, blurred vision.

Treatment: Supportive care, activated charcoal if ingestion is recent, and symptomatic treatment. Consider gastric lavage in severe cases. Consult poison control for further guidance.

Storage and Handling

Storage: Store at room temperature away from moisture, heat, and light.

Stability: Stable when stored properly. Check expiration date before use.

🛡️ 5 Critical Medication Safety Tips for Nurses

1

Triple-Check High-Risk Medications

Always have another nurse verify insulin, heparin, warfarin, and chemotherapy drugs. These "high-alert" medications cause the most serious errors. Check concentration, dose calculation, and pump settings twice.

2

Know Look-Alike, Sound-Alike Drugs

Common mix-ups: hydromorphone/morphine, Celebrex/Celexa, Zyprexa/Zyrtec. Always use BOTH generic and brand names, read labels twice, and use barcode scanning when available. One wrong letter can be fatal.

3

Assess Before AND After Giving Meds

Check vitals before cardiac meds, pain levels before analgesics, and blood glucose before insulin. Always reassess within 30 minutes to evaluate effectiveness and watch for adverse reactions.

4

Watch for Drug Interactions

Common dangerous combinations: warfarin + aspirin (bleeding), ACE inhibitors + potassium (hyperkalemia), digoxin + diuretics (toxicity). Always check drug interactions before administering new medications.

5

Educate Your Patients

Teach patients medication names, purposes, major side effects, and what to report. Informed patients catch errors and improve compliance. Always encourage questions - an educated patient is a safer patient.

⚡ Remember: When in doubt, don't give it out! It's always safer to double-check than regret later.

⚠️ Medical Disclaimer

This drug guide is for educational purposes only and is NOT intended for clinical use. Always consult current prescribing information, healthcare providers, and institutional protocols before administering any medication. Do not use this information for patient care decisions.