Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Pheniramine
Introduction
Pheniramine (INN, trade name Avil, among others) is an antihistamine with anticholinergic properties used to treat allergic conditions such as hay fever or urticaria. It has relatively strong sedative effects, and may sometimes be used off-label as an over-the-counter sleeping pill in a similar manner to other sedating antihistamines such as diphenhydramine. Pheniramine is also commonly found in eyedrops used for the treatment of allergic conjunctivitis.
Pheniramine is generally sold in combination with other medications, rather than as a stand-alone drug, although some formulations are available containing pheniramine by itself. As an example, Neo Citran contains pheniramine.
Chemical relatives
Chemical relatives
Derivatives of pheniramine include chlorphenamine, dexchlorpheniramine, dexbrompheniramine, deschlorpheniramine, triprolidine, and brompheniramine. Two other halogenated derivatives, iodopheniramine and fluorpheniramine, are currently in use for research on combination therapies for malaria and some cancers. The halogenation of pheniramine increases its potency by 20-fold.
Side effects
Side effects
Pheniramine may cause drowsiness, bradycardia and over-dosage may lead to sleep disorders. Overdose may lead to seizures, especially in combination with alcohol. People combining with cortisol in the long term should avoid pheniramine as it may cause lowered levels of adrenaline (epinephrine) which may lead to loss of consciousness.