TY  - JOUR
PY  - 1990//
TI  - Deaths due to diphenhydramine
JO  - Journal (Canadian Society of Forensic Science)
A1  - Shkrum, M. J.
A1  - Hall, A. E. D.
A1  - Tallon, S. G.
SP  - 1
EP  - 8
VL  - 23
IS  - 1
N2  - Diphenhydramine (DPH) is an antihistamine available in many over-the-counter (OTC) products, particularly sleep-aids, and some prescription preparations. The number of reported poisonings and deaths have increased since the early 1980's. Sixteen fatalities occurred in Ontario from 1984-87 (eight additional cases from 1982-83 were reviewed). All were suicidal ingestions and the age range was 17-81 years (mean age 35 yrs). DPH was the only CNS depressant ingested (monoingestions) in four cases, all showing post mortem blood concentrations above the potentially fatal concentration (0.50 mg/100 mL). The remaining deaths involved DPH combined with ethanol and/or CNS depressant drugs and, compared to the monoingestion group, the average and minimum fatal DPH concentrations were lower. Five of these cases were at or below 0.50 mg/100 mL (range 0. 21-0.50 mg/100 mL). They were older than the average individuals and had significant cardiac disease. Sleep-aids dominated in the DPH deaths studied. Investigators should be aware of the possible role of DPH in suicidal and unexplained deaths.<p />
LA  - en
SN  - 0008-5030
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00085030.1990.10757446
ID  - ref1
ER  -