As a person with a myriad of allergies, I pretty much always have a pack on Benadryl antihistamines on me. You know, for when that cat/birch tree/grass/mold/peanut butter cookie attacks.

(Anecdote: Once I was at Anne's house in Toronto and her house-mate Kurt brought home a bag of gourmet cookies. They looked good, so I began to shovel one into my mouth. Even before I started to chew I could taste the nuts. F**k. And I didn't have any Benadrly on me. F**k. So I asked the rest of the housemates if they have any antihistamines. The lovely Kaisa emerged with Benadryl Extra Strength Nighttime. Let me repeat that. Benadryl (sleepy), Extra Strength (very very sleepy) Nighttime (with added sleepiness). I took two and passed out on the sofa within 15 minutes. I don't remember getting into the cab. I don't remember anything actually).

Funnily enough, Benadryl (diphenhydramine) doesn't seem to help kids sleep through the night. In a small study of 46 kids who either got the drugs or a control, the drugged up kiddies didn't sleep any better. I myself, was surprised, knowing the potent effect that antihistamines have on me.

But it shouldn't be that surprising given the fact that kids are not small people. They have very different metabolisms and physiologies. Just think of children and teens on antidepressants or kids on Aspirin. Drug companies traditionally stayed away from testing on kids - it's scary and they frankly don't want to find out if their expensive drugs are unsuitable for children. But in 2002, after a couple of pharmaceuticals proved toxic to kiddos, the US passed a Best Pharmaceuticals for Children Act. It's supposed to encourage drug companies to test on kids by doling out patent extensions...of course that leaves those patent-expired drugs to deal with, but whatever. The truth of the matter is, until KIDS have tried drugs - be they antihistamines, antibiotics, cancer treatments etc - we just won't know how they are to respond.

Article key :  Benadryl, 2008, 2009