麻豆影视

Health

    • Many Canadians unaware that Benadryl is no longer recommended as first choice for allergy medication: experts

    Share

    More than two years after allergy experts recommended newer antihistamines and recommended against using Benadryl as a first-line treatment, many Canadians are still reaching for that recognizable brand name over others.

    In October 2019, the Canadian Society of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (CSASI) put out a position statement regarding oral allergy medication, stating that newer antihistamines were safer than first-generation ones, and that they should be recommended over older staples like Benadryl due to a higher rate of potential side effects. The position statement referred specifically to medications that treat non-life-threatening allergic reactions such as hay fever and hives.

    If it鈥檚 news to you that Benadryl is no longer recommended as a first-line treatment for common allergies, you鈥檙e not the only one. In 2022, it鈥檚 not only adult patients and parents who are still influenced by brand familiarity and haven鈥檛 made the switch 鈥 some doctors are as well, experts say.

    鈥淚 think there are a fair number of pediatricians who still recommend Benadryl for allergies,鈥 Daniel Flanders, owner and executive director of Kindercare Pediatrics in Toronto, Ontario, told CTVNews.ca in a phone interview.

    鈥淎nd if you speak to an allergist, they would simply say that that's outdated advice.鈥

    Benadryl is one of the most well-known brands for allergy medication, with numerous products available to buy without a prescription, including versions specifically made for children. Benadryl is approved by Health Canada, which has deemed it safe for over-the-counter use, concluding in a recent safety review of first-generation antihistamines that there hasn鈥檛 been any change in risk that would prompt it to change the drug to prescription-only.

    While both first and second-generation antihistamines bind to receptors in the brain and spinal cord to block the release of histamines 鈥 the chemicals that cause allergy symptoms 鈥 first-generation crosses the blood-brain barrier and causes more sedation in patients, something that was corrected in second-generation antihistamines.

    Because of this difference, first-generation antihistamines like Benadryl are associated with more side effects such as increased drowsiness, issues with motor functions and working memory, as well as a risk of hallucination or even death in the event of an overdose.

    But if many experts have believed for years that Benadryl shouldn鈥檛 be the first choice for oral allergy medication anymore, why are many Canadians and doctors unaware of this?

    鈥淯nfortunately far too often, physicians and other health-care practitioners, including pharmacists and paramedics, continue to commonly recommend Benadryl as a first line antihistamine for treatment of allergic symptoms, including symptoms from food allergy,鈥 CSACI told CTVNews.ca in an email, adding that its 2019 messaging has 鈥渟till not reached many health-care practitioners.鈥

    Flanders said that while he鈥檚 not aware of any doctors in his clinic still recommending Benadryl, there are likely many across Canada still turning to the well-known allergy medication to treat mild allergies.

    鈥淚 would say probably for 10 years it has been the case that we've known that it's better to use the second and third generation antihistamines preferentially over Benadryl, but [鈥 one of the funny things about medicine is that it does take a long time for information to trickle down from research through to practice,鈥 he said.

    鈥淚t is measured in years. It's not uncommon, but it takes a good 10 years for the standard of care for the practice to adjust to some of the changes that science discovers.鈥

    Flanders said if he had to make an estimate, anywhere from 25 to 50 per cent of pediatricians may still be recommending Benadryl as a first line treatment, though he cautioned that this is just his personal assessment.

    鈥淚'm hopeful that more than half of my colleagues are making that correct recommendation [instead of Benadryl],鈥 he said.

    A big reason that Benadryl is still recommended by health-care professionals is the familiarity of that brand name, which has been a giant in allergy medication for decades.

    鈥淏enadryl has so much recognition as an allergy remedy,鈥 Flanders said. 鈥淭he trade name is so well known, and so commonly used that I could imagine it would take a whole lot of work to sort of deprogram and reprogram parents' minds. And also the minds of doctors who are not sort of keeping up with the cutting edge [of medicine].鈥

    It was a sentiment that CSACI echoed.

    鈥淭he familiarity of health-care practitioners, parents and adult patients with Benadryl and other first generation antihistamines makes it difficult to motivate changes in practice,鈥 the organization said.

    WHY DID CSACI DECIDE BENADRYL SHOULDN鈥橳 BE RECOMMENDED?

    More than two years ago, CSACI put out a paper explaining that newer antihistamines are just as effective and safer than first-generation antihistamines such as Benadryl, and that they should always be recommended over older antihistamines.

    CSACI says bilastine and cetirizine are among the newer antihistamines recommended.

    The active ingredient in Benadryl sold in Canada is diphenhydramine, and it鈥檚 one of the oldest first-generation antihistamines, having been available for sale since 1946.

    In the position statement, CSASI explained that older antihistamines are associated with more severe side effects than second and third generation antihistamines which became available in Canada starting in the 1980s and had to pass high-quality trials.

    鈥淚t is always preferred to use safer and more effective medications,鈥 CSACI told CTVNews.ca in an email. 鈥淔irst generation antihistamines are significantly more likely to cause side effects, including sedation, poor sleep quality, and poor cognitive performance (including poor school and work performance). In addition, overdoses of first generation antihistamines can cause severe toxicity.鈥

    Johnson & Johnson, the company that sells Benadryl in Canada, did not respond to a request for comment from CTVNews.ca.

    In 2019, the company told the Canadian Press that 鈥淏enadryl products have been trusted by doctors and moms for more than 60 years to provide effective symptom relief from allergies and allergic reactions,鈥 and that the products are approved by Health Canada and "when used as directed, are safe and effective."

    CSACI鈥檚 position statement explained that newer antihistamines have less serious side effects associated with them, and that as of 2019, accidental exposure to higher levels of second and third generation antihistamines had not resulted in severe adverse events, unlike first generation antihistamines.

    In 2020, spurred some teenagers to take enough Benadryl to induce hallucinations, which resulted in several teens being rushed to hospital.

    The CSACI statement mentioned that in Canada, online surveys had shown that Benadryl was, at the time, the 鈥渕ost recommended antihistamine for allergic symptoms in children in each of the last 7 years.鈥

    WHY IS BENADRYL STILL AVAILABLE OVER THE COUNTER?

    It鈥檚 important to note that Benadryl isn鈥檛 considered dangerous 鈥 when instructions are followed, serious side effects are rare.

    CSACI鈥檚 position was that there are new options that are just as effective and have fewer side effects overall, or milder side effects.

    鈥淚 wouldn't so much say that one should never use [Benadryl], it just doesn't make sense to use it currently or in present day, because there are alternatives that are just as good and have a better side effect profile,鈥 Flanders explained.

    鈥淲hy would you take a medication that you know has significant side effects when you can take another medication that does the exact same thing, but without the side effects?鈥

    After CSACI released this position statement in 2019, there was a flurry of articles that questioned whether Benadryl should be available as over-the-counter medication. As a result, Health Canada announced that while products containing diphenhydramine met the requirements of the Food and Drugs Act, they would be assessing 鈥渢o determine if further risk mitigation measures for diphenhydramine-containing products are required,鈥 noting that the safety of children was a big concern of the Canadian public.

    On March 1 of this year, Health Canada , which focused on whether there have been any increases in frequency of the known side effects associated with oral, over-the-counter diphenhydramine in children under two years old or an increase in frequency of overdoses in children under 18.

    鈥淭here are no new safety concerns to warrant regulatory action at this time,鈥 Health Canada stated in the

    Flanders believes that one of the factors driving Benadryl鈥檚 enduring ubiquity in the minds of Canadians is because it鈥檚 available so easily.

    鈥淚 think it would make sense to take Benadryl off the list of over-the-counter allergy medications, because just there are better options and there are side effects and those can have long term implications,鈥 he said.

    鈥淎nd that might be a nice way to sort of educate or to leave the general public with no choice but to choose a more appropriate medication.鈥

    In 2019, some pharmacists pointed out that putting Benadryl behind the counter doesn鈥檛 solve the safety issues, and could cause conflict if customers are still pushing for it.

    Nardine Nakhla, a pharmacist who teaches at the University of Waterloo in Ontario, said at the time that there are many other products that contain diphenhydramine that are on the shelves, making it unrealistic to pull all of them, and that there are other products available over the counter that have safety concerns, making this a complicated problem.

    IF I HAVE BENADRYL AT HOME, SHOULD I KEEP USING IT FOR MYSELF OR MY KIDS?

    For CSACI, it鈥檚 pretty straightforward.

    鈥淚t is strongly encouraged that parents replace older first generation antihistamines such as Benadryl in their medicine cabinets with newer generation antihistamines,鈥 it stated.

    Flanders said that his advice depends on a family鈥檚 budget.

    鈥淚f the purchase was made and there isn't much money in the budget and there's really bad allergy symptoms that need to be controlled, then Benadryl will do the trick, so I think it's reasonable to complete the package,鈥 he said. 鈥淎nd then next time you need it, buy the newer generation antihistamine.鈥

    But if the cost of replacing the Benadryl immediately isn鈥檛 a concern, 鈥渢hen I would go right ahead and buy the new one and throw out the Benadryl, because there's better options,鈥 he said.

    CSACI鈥檚 position statement pertained to all ages, but Flanders said that as a pediatrician, he is more concerned about making sure that children are receiving the best medication for whatever ails them.

    鈥淚 think there's an added dimension of risk for children because they're still developing and they're still in a very formative period of their lives. So if a child is chronically sleep deprived, I think there are more dire long term consequences,鈥 he said, referring to side effects for Benadryl pertaining to poor sleep.

    鈥淔or kids who are going to be taking it on a regular basis, it does interfere with the quality of their sleep and it can interfere with learning and with their sort of day to day functioning. It's not like it's the end of the world if you take Benadryl periodically for allergy relief, it's just, there's better options.鈥

    WHICH NEWER ANTIHISTAMINES ARE PREFERRED?

    CSACI gave CTVNews.ca a list of newer antihistamines currently available in Canada that it recommends over first-generation antihistamines:

    • bilastine (Blexten)
    • cetirizine (Reactine)
    • desloratadine (Aerius)
    • fexofenadine (Allegra)
    • loratadine (Claritin)
    • rupatadine (Rupall)

    鈥淢any of these are available over-the-counter, some of which are also available as generic preparations, and others are only available by prescription,鈥 CSACI stated. 

    CTVNews.ca Top Stories

    Why brain aging can vary dramatically between people

    Researchers are uncovering deeper insights into how the human brain ages and what factors may be tied to healthier cognitive aging, including exercising, avoiding tobacco, speaking a second language or even playing a musical instrument.

    The union representing some 1,200 dockworkers at the Port of Montreal has overwhelmingly rejected a deal with their employers association.

    Canada

    World

    Politics

    • Murray Sinclair鈥檚 family members say the late justice and senator has been laid to rest according to his wishes.

    • Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced voters in Cloverdale鈥擫angley City will pick their next member of Parliament on Dec. 16.

    Health

    Sci-Tech

    Entertainment

    Business

    Lifestyle

    Sports

    Autos

    Local Spotlight

    For the second year in a row, the 鈥楪ift-a-Family鈥 campaign is hoping to make the holidays happier for children and families in need throughout Barrie.

    Some of the most prolific photographers behind CTV Skywatch Pics of the Day use the medium for fun, therapy, and connection.

    A young family from Codroy Valley, N.L., is happy to be on land and resting with their newborn daughter, Miley, after an overwhelming, yet exciting experience at sea.

    As Connor Nijsse prepared to remove some old drywall during his garage renovation, he feared the worst.

    A group of women in Chester, N.S., has been busy on the weekends making quilts 鈥 not for themselves, but for those in need.

    A Vancouver artist whose streetside singing led to a chance encounter with one of the world's biggest musicians is encouraging aspiring performers to try their hand at busking.

    Ten-thousand hand-knit poppies were taken from the Sanctuary Arts Centre and displayed on the fence surrounding the Dartmouth Cenotaph on Monday.

    A Vancouver man is saying goodbye to his nine-to-five and embarking on a road trip from the Canadian Arctic to Antarctica.

    • Weather watchers were treated to an exceptionally rare display on Friday evening as rare cloud formations filled Vancouver skies.

    • For some shoppers it was Nov. 1, but for others the first hints of Christmas - saccharine treats, festive-fragranced candles and gaudily wrapped gift sets - were being noticed in stores long before the final Halloween decor had been cleared.

    • Thousands of people are expected to gather in downtown Vancouver on Monday to observe the city鈥檚 100th Remembrance Day ceremony.

    • Toronto is expected to see an economic boost to the tune of nearly $300 million thanks to Taylor Swift鈥檚 upcoming Eras Tour, which will be making a stop in Canada鈥檚 largest city for a six-show run later this month.

    • One man was transported to hospital early Monday morning after a stabbing in the northwest end of the city, Toronto police say.

    • Calgarians will be observing Remembrance Day at a number of different ceremonies across the city, including at the Hangar Flight Museum.

    • A home in the northeast Calgary community of Saddle Ridge was damaged in a fire on Sunday.

    • A pair of 105-mm howitzers bark constantly as they turn plywood tank targets into kindling kilometres away on the windswept landscape of one of Canada's largest military bases.

    • CTVNewsOttawa.ca looks at Remembrance Day ceremonies in Ottawa.

    • After months of controversy surrounding a dog park in Ottawa's west end, a solution has been reached to divide the park in half.

    • The employers association at the Port of Montreal locked out nearly 1,200 longshore workers, bringing a halt to traffic at the port.

    • An elementary school in Greenfield Park on Montreal鈥檚 South Shore is closed after it was the target of an alleged arson attack.

    • Though most businesses are expected to be open on Remembrance Day, there are some establishments that will be closed to commemorate the holiday.

    • Monday is Remembrance Day, a time to honour armed forces members who have died in the line of duty.

    • Boasting 2,300 square metres of skating space at its new location, Edmonton's Rollers Roller Rink believes it is the largest in Canada.

    • A Cape Breton senior recalls her life in German-occupied France, and her mother鈥檚 death, during the Second World War.

    • Thousand of people gathered at the Menin Gate in the Ypres, Belgium for Monday鈥檚 Remembrance Day Ceremony.

    • A pillar in Canada鈥檚 history was honoured in Winnipeg Sunday afternoon, with thousands showing up to pay tribute to the life and legacy of the late Murray Sinclair.

    • Winnipeg police have identified two men involved in a stabbing incident earlier this week.

    • There will be two ceremonies taking place in Regina for Remembrance Day, hosted by the Royal Canadian Legion.

    • Regina author Valerie Crowther is celebrating the release of her book 鈥榃ar Letters: Linking Lives in the Second World War.鈥

    • It was a somber day at Mosaic Stadium as members of the Saskatchewan Roughriders officially cleaned out their stalls and closed the book on the 2024 season.

    • A man has been charged after a stabbing at an apartment building in Kitchener.

    • The Guelph Police Service is putting out a warning after two deaths in the downtown area.

    • Two new tributes to Canada鈥檚 veterans have been unveiled at the Elmira Cenotaph.

    • Saskatchewan RCMP are searching for a suspect after a man was seriously injured in a farm-related incident in Montreal Lake.

    • It was a somber day at Mosaic Stadium as members of the Saskatchewan Roughriders officially cleaned out their stalls and closed the book on the 2024 season.

    • The Regina Rams claimed the Hardy Cup after a hard fought battle against the Saskatoon Huskies 19-14 on Saturday in the first all Saskatchewan U-Sports western conference final since 2002.

    • Emergency crews responded to the scene on Road 68/Highway 2 east of Thamesford around 7 p.m.

    • On Friday, the Sarnia Police Service (SPS) received a report of an alleged abduction in the area of Kathleen Avenue and Walnut Avenue.

    • 11 AM:WATCH LIVE

      11 AM:WATCH LIVE

      The events will start at 10:15 a.m. with a parade that forms up in front of the Delta London Armories, marches east on Dundas Street and turns north onto Waterloo Street to Dufferin Avenue, the west to the Cenotaph.

    • A group of former NHL players faced off against York Regional Police officers in Newmarket Sunday afternoon to raise funds for Special Olympics programs across the province.

    • A driver is facing multiple charges after a multi-vehicle collision on Highway 400 early Sunday morning.

    • The agreed statement of facts was read to the court on Friday in the case of Alex Williams, the 24-year-old jail guard charged last fall with smuggling cannabis and tobacco into Central North Correctional Centre in Penetanguishene.

    • 11 AM:WATCH LIVE

      11 AM:WATCH LIVE

      Representatives of the Windsor Veterans Memorial Services Committee, military representatives, wreath bearers, government officials, and members of the public will attend the Cenotaph at City Hall Square for the outdoor service.

    • One person has been arrested after Chatham-Kent Police Service (CKPS) received multiple complaints about an alleged drunk driver.

    • More details have been released about a police investigation at the Ambassador Bridge that connects Windsor, Ont. and Detroit, MI.

    • Environment Canada says heavy rain and winds could cause power outages on Vancouver Island as an "intense" storm system is set to hit the B.C. coast Sunday.

    • Six deer were struck by vehicles in six different locations in a six-hour period on B.C. highways on Saturday, according to the transportation ministry.

    • The union for locked-out port workers in British Columbia says the BC Maritime Employers Association cut off talks in less than an hour Saturday, refusing to budge on a final offer that the union has so far rejected.

    • The emergency department at South Okanagan General Hospital in Oliver, B.C., will be closed for 31 hours this weekend, the second such closure in a week and the third since the start of November.

    • Police in Kamloops, B.C., are reminding parents and guardians to check their children's Halloween candy after receiving a report of a mother finding a razor blade in one of her daughter's treats.

    • More than two years after Alannah Brown and Douglas Barker were found dead north of Penticton, police are asking for help identifying a vehicle they believe was associated with the crime.

    • The Southern Alberta Recreation Association is officially announcing the Town of Taber as next year鈥檚 host for the Southern Alberta Summer Games.

    • The Lethbridge Hurricanes broke open a close game with three goals in the first two minutes of the third period as they defeated the Warriors 7-3 in a game played Friday night in Moose Jaw.

    • There might not a lot snow just yet, but many southern Albertans are still itching to get outdoors.

    • It was just days before the COVID-19 pandemic shut the world down when the Shaft Bottom Boys of Sudbury broke a world record for 'Deepest Concert Underground.' Now, more than four years later, a Timmins band is looking to take the title.

    • Police have arrested a 15-year-old in connection with a break-in and $50,000 in damage done to the Centennial Arena in Elliot Lake in September.

    • Mayors of the five largest cities in northern Ontario met in North Bay the last two days to discuss a range of critical issues impacting their cities and the region.

    N.L.

    Shopping Trends

    The Shopping Trends team is independent of the journalists at 麻豆影视. We may earn a commission when you use our links to shop.聽Read about us.

    Stay Connected
    Follow 麻豆影视