MotherToBaby

Medications and More during pregnancy and breastfeeding

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Diphenhydramine

Selected References

  • Abernathy A, et al. 2017. Transient fetal tachycardia after intravenous diphenhydramine administration. Obstet Gynecol. 130(2):374-376.
  • Anderka M, et al, and the National Birth Defects Prevention Study. 2012. Medications used to treat nausea and vomiting of pregnancy and the risk of selected birth defects. Birth Defects Res (Part A) 94:22-30.
  • Aselton P, et al. 1985, First-trimester drug use and congenital disorders. Obstet Gynecol 65(4):451-455.
  • Brost BC, et al. 1996. Diphenhydramine overdose during pregnancy: Lessons from the past. Am J Obstet Gynecol 175:1376-7.
  • Gilboa SM, et al. 2009. National Birth Defects Prevention Study: Use of antihistamine medications during early pregnancy and isolated major malformations. Birth Defects Res A Clin Mol Teratol 85(2):137-150.
  • Hara GS, et al. 1980. Dramamine in labor: potential boon or a possible bomb? J Kans Med Soc 81(3):134-136, 155.
  • Heinonen OP, et al. 1977. Birth Defects and Drugs in Pregnancy. Littleton, Mass.: John Wright-PSG; pp 437, 475.
  • Ito S, et al. 1993. Prospective follow-up of adverse reactions in breast-fed infants exposed to maternal medication. Am J Obstet Gynecol 168:1393-9.
  • Jick H, et al. 1981. First-trimester drug use and congenital disorders. JAMA 246(4):343-346.
  • Kargas GA, et al. 1985, Perinatal mortality due to interaction of diphenhydramine and temazepam. N Eng J Med 313:1417-8.
  • Li Q, et al. 2013. Assessment of antihistamine use in early pregnancy and birth defects. J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract. 1(6):666-74.e1.
  • Moraes AP, et al. 2004. Maternal exposure to diphenhydramine during the fetal period in rats: effects on physical and neurobehavioral development and on neurochemical parameters. Neurotoxicol Teratol 26(5):681-692.
  • Moretti ME, et al. 1995. Adverse events in breastfed infants exposed to antihistamines in maternal milk. Reprod Toxicol 9: 588.
  • O’Brien TE. 1974. Excretion of drugs in human milk. Am J Hosp Pharm 31:844-54.
  • Parken DE. 1974. Probably Benadryl withdrawal manifestations in a newborn infant. J Pediatr 85:580.
  • Saxen I. 1974. Cleft palate and maternal diphenhydramine intake. Lancet 1(7854):407-408.
  • Shenai N, et al. 2018. Fetal outcomes in intentional over-the-counter medication overdoses in pregnancy. Psychosomatics 4:400-404.