diphenhydramine

noun

di·​phen·​hy·​dra·​mine ˌdī-ˌfen-ˈhī-drə-ˌmēn 

: an antihistamine C₁₇H₂₁NO used especially in the form of its hydrochloride

Examples of diphenhydramine in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The trend appears to be continuing into 2026, as the first five months saw 6,179 diphenhydramine-only cases in teens — more than double the prior year. — Angelica Stabile, FOXNews.com, 19 June 2026

Federal health officials have long warned about the dangers of taking excessive amounts of diphenhydramine, the active ingredient in Benadryl. — Jordan Greene, PEOPLE, 16 June 2026

The trend appears to be moving forward at full speed, said the centers, which reported 6,179 diphenhydramine-only poisoning cases among teens in the first six months of 2026 – more than double that of the same period in 2025. — Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 12 June 2026

Social media users have documented taking excessive amounts of diphenhydramine in an attempt to overcome the medication's drowsy effects and experience a euphoric feeling. — Youri Benadjaoud, ABC News, 11 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1948, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

diphenhydramine

noun

di·​phen·​hy·​dra·​mine ˌdī-ˌfen-ˈhī-drə-ˌmēn 

: an antihistamine used especially in the form of its hydrochloride C₁₇H₂₁NO·HCl to treat allergy symptoms and motion sickness and to induce sleep see benadryl