title: Clinical efficacy of antihistaminics as analgesics.
abstract: This paper reviews the clinical information on antihistaminic agents as analgesics and as analgesic adjuvants. The evidence indicates a direct analgesic effect of various antihistaminics. In clinical studies, diphenhydramine, hydroxyzine, orphenadrine and pyrilamine have been shown to produce analgesia as simple entities but chlorpheniramine has not and results with phenyltoloxamine have been equivocal when tested alone. Analgesic adjuvant effects of several antihistaminics have been reported. Clinically, orphenadrine and phenyltoloxamine have shown adjuvant effects with acetaminophen and aspirin. The mechanism of action remains speculative. The most recent trends in the classification of histamine receptors and how these receptors may interact with pain modulation are also considered.
authors.affiliation: Vicks Research Center, Richardson-Vicks Inc., Shelton, CT 06484 U.S.A.
authors.forename: Martha M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Rumore
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Schlichting
mesh_terms: D000700:Analgesics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004357:Drug Synergism; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D006633:Histamine Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000378:metabolism; D009619:Nociceptors / Q000187:drug effects; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011968:Receptors, Histamine / Q000187:drug effects; D011957:Receptors, Opioid / Q000187:drug effects; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D006633:Histamine Antagonists; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; D011968:Receptors, Histamine; D011957:Receptors, Opioid