An Overview of the Treatment of Nausea and Vomiting and an Argument for the Prehospital use of Diphenhydramine
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Abstract
Treatment of nausea and vomiting is among the most frequent treatments provided by out-of-hospital providers with the pharmacologic agents in common use displaying varying pharmacologies and potential interactions. The most commonly administered anttiemetic— ondansetron— targets only one of the four main nausea receptors, with the antidopaminergic agents targeting another receptor. This creates an opportunity for the use of diphenhydramine— an antihistamine with anticholinergic properties— as it targets the third and fourth nausea receptors, providing an inexpensive option for the treatment of nausea without requiring the expansion of supply chains or equipment lists. The following concept paper will provide an overview of the relevant pharmacology and an argument that diphenhydramine is logistically suitable for prehospital medicine.
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