Monograph: |
Doxylamine Succinate
A white or creamy-white powder with a characteristic odour.
Soluble I in I of water. I in 2 of alcohol and of chloroform,
and I in 370 of ether. Protect from light.
Adverse Effects and Precautions
As for the sedating antihistamincs in general .
Overdosage. In an evaluation of 109 cases of intoxication
with doxylamine, no correlation was found between the
amount ingested or plasma concentration and the frequency
or extent of symptoms. The most common symptom was im-
paired consciousness. Additionally, psychotic behaviour, sei-
zures, and antimuscarinic symptoms such as tachycardia and
mydriasis were observed. Rhabdomyolysis occurred in one
patient and was accompanied by transient impairment of re-
nal function. These authors have further commented that
rhabdomyolysis had been noted in 7 of 442 cases of doxy-
lamine overdosage, with an associated rise in plasma creatine
kinase and myoglobinuria. They suggest that doxylamine has
a direct toxic effect on striated muscle.
Interactions
As for the sedating antihistamines in general.
Pharmacokinetics
Following oral administration of doxylamine succinate peak
plasma concentrations occur after 2 to 3 hours. An elimina-
tion half-life of about 10 hours has been reported,
Uses and Administration
Doxylamine succinate , an ethanolamine derivative, is a sedat-
ing antihistamine with antimuscarinic and pronounced seda-
tive effect .
Doxylamine succinate is given by mouth for the symptomatic
Relief of hypersensitivity reactions, in pruritic skin disorders
, as a hypnotic in the short-term treatment of insomnia ,
and as an ingredient of compound preparations for
symptomatic treatment of coughs and the common cold .
In general it is no longer used in the management of nausea
and vomiting of early pregnancy for the controver-
sy that has surrounded the use in pregnancy of combination
products of doxylamine.
Doses of up to 25 mg of doxylamine succinate have been giv-
en every 4 to 6 hours to a maximum of 150 mg daily. The
usual hypnotic dose is 25 mg at night.
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