Drug Groups

approved

Description

Dexbrompheniramine maleate is an antihistamine used to treat allergic conditions such as hay fever or urticaria.

Indication

For treatment and relief of symptoms of allergies, hay fever, and colds

Pharmacology

In allergic reactions an allergen interacts with and cross-links surface IgE antibodies on mast cells and basophils. Once the mast cell-antibody-antigen complex is formed, a complex series of events occurs that eventually leads to cell-degranulation and the release of histamine (and other chemical mediators) from the mast cell or basophil. Once released, histamine can react with local or widespread tissues through histamine receptors. Histamine, acting on H₁-receptors, produces pruritis, vasodilatation, hypotension, flushing, headache, tachycardia, and bronchoconstriction. Histamine also increases vascular permeability and potentiates pain. Dexbrompheniramine is a histamine H1 antagonist (or more correctly, an inverse histamine agonist) of the alkylamine class. It provides effective, temporary relief of sneezing, watery and itchy eyes, and runny nose due to hay fever and other upper respiratory allergies.

Toxicity

Signs of an overdose include fast or irregular heartbeat, mental or mood changes, tightness in the chest, and unusual tiredness or weakness.

Affected Organisms

Biotransformation

Hepatic (cytochrome P-450 system), some renal.

Absorption

Antihistamines are well absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract after oral administration.

Half Life

25 hours

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