diphenhydramine

English

Chemical structure of diphenhydramine

Etymology

From diphen(yl) +‎ (benz)hydr(yl) +‎ -amine.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˌdʌɪ.fɛnˈhʌɪ.dɹəm.iːn/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˌdaɪˌfɛnˈhaɪ.dɹəˌmiːn/

Noun

diphenhydramine (countable and uncountable, plural diphenhydramines)

1. (pharmacology) An antihistamine and anticholinergic drug that blocks the effect of histamine at H₁ receptor sites, relieving allergy symptoms. It also reduces smooth muscle contraction, increases heart rate, and sedates the user by blocking muscarinic acetylcholine receptors (mAChRs).

   Synonym: (brand name) ZzzQuil

   Diphenhydramine is a convenient and cheap antihistamine for use, but there are other drugs that do not make the user tired.

Translations

antihistamine and sedative drug

• Chinese:

  Mandarin: 苯海拉明 (běnhǎilāmíng)

• Czech: difenhydramin m

References

• “diphenhydramine”, in Lexico, Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press, 2019–2022.
• “diphenhydramine”, in Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster, 1996–present.