@article{ref1,
title="Deaths due to diphenhydramine",
journal="Journal (Canadian Society of Forensic Science)",
year="1990",
author="Shkrum, M. J. and Hall, A. E. D. and Tallon, S. G.",
volume="23",
number="1",
pages="1-8",
abstract="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 />",
language="en",
issn="0008-5030",
doi="10.1080/00085030.1990.10757446",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00085030.1990.10757446"
}