Doxylamine succinate vs diphenhydramine
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Comparison of Doxylamine Succinate and Diphenhydramine
Pharmacokinetics of Doxylamine Succinate vs. Diphenhydramine
Peak Plasma Concentration and Time to Peak
Doxylamine succinate and diphenhydramine hydrochloride exhibit different pharmacokinetic profiles. In a study involving women on low-dose estrogen oral contraceptives, the peak plasma concentration for doxylamine was found to be approximately 100 ng/ml, with a time to peak of around 2 hours. In contrast, diphenhydramine had a lower peak plasma concentration of about 73.8 ng/ml and a slightly longer time to peak of 2.2 hours .
Elimination Half-Life and Clearance
The elimination half-life of doxylamine succinate was observed to be around 10 hours, whereas diphenhydramine had a shorter half-life of approximately 5.1 hours. Additionally, the total clearance rates were 3.88 ml/min/kg for doxylamine and 25.5 ml/min/kg for diphenhydramine, indicating a faster clearance for diphenhydramine .
Analytical Methods for Determination
High Performance Thin Layer Chromatography (HPTLC)
A quantitative method using HPTLC has been developed to determine the presence of diphenhydramine hydrochloride and doxylamine succinate in pharmaceutical products. This method involves automated sample application and UV-absorption scanning densitometry, providing precise and accurate measurements. The precision of this method ranged from 0.69% to 2.36% relative standard deviation, and the accuracy was validated through standard addition experiments .
Adverse Reactions
Contact Dermatitis
Diphenhydramine hydrochloride has been reported to cause contact dermatitis in some individuals. Patients who develop this condition should avoid both oral and parenteral administration of diphenhydramine, as it may lead to localized or generalized dermatitis flares. Other ethanolamine antihistamines, including doxylamine succinate, may cross-react with diphenhydramine and should also be avoided in sensitive patients .
Conclusion
In summary, while both doxylamine succinate and diphenhydramine hydrochloride are effective antihistamines, they differ in their pharmacokinetic profiles, with doxylamine having a longer half-life and slower clearance. Analytical methods like HPTLC are effective for determining their presence in pharmaceutical products. However, caution should be exercised with diphenhydramine due to the potential for contact dermatitis and cross-reactivity with other ethanolamine antihistamines.
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