“Don't give a bad antihistamine masking as a sedative. If a person truly needs help with their sleep, then give them a proper sedative.” -- Dr. Marcus Maurer

As allergy seasons ebb and flow, there’s one drug that maintains its place in household medicine cabinets: Benadryl. On this episode, Dr. Mariam Hanna sits down with Dr. Stuart Carr, Chief Medical Officer at Snö Asthma and Allergy in Abu Dhabi and past president of the CSACI, to tackle the lingering myths and outdated uses of first-generation antihistamines. From their history to their ongoing role in primary care, they uncover the risks of these older drugs, and the clear benefits of second-generation antihistamines.

On this episode:

• The pharmacology of first-generation antihistamines: How do they really work?
• Are first-generation antihistamines still necessary?
• Debunking the myth of Benadryl as a first-line treatment for allergic reactions.
• Undesirable side effects: impaired cognitive function, disrupted sleep, increased risk of dementia, and cardiac risks like ventricular arrhythmias.
• Special considerations for pediatric and elderly populations.
• The future of antihistamine treatments: What’s on the horizon?

Arm yourself with the latest knowledge to “fight the good fight” against first-generation antihistamines. 

Visit the Canadian Society of Allergy and Clinical Immunology

Find an allergist using our helpful tool

Find Dr. Hanna on X, previously Twitter, @PedsAllergyDoc or CSACI @CSACI_ca

The Allergist is produced for CSACI by PodCraft Productions