Doxylamine Addiction: A Case Report.

Abstract

Doxylamine succinate, one of the antihistamines available without a prescription for patients suffering from insomnia, is also an antihistamine with the potential for abuse. Although there are case reports about the addictive potential of antihistamines, there are not many studies on doxylamine succinate addiction in the literature. To our knowledge, there have been no case reports on doxylamine succinate addiction in Turkey. This case report presents a patient (43, M), who started using over-the-counter doxylamine succinate at 25 mg/day due to insomnia, gradually increased to 125 mg/day for the last 3 years continuing his doxylamine succinate intake for 5 years uninterrupted, as well as his treatment process. In addition, possible causes and consequences of doxylamine succinate and the potential for abuse of antihistaminic drugs are discussed through the case. Keywords: Antihistamines, drug dependence, doxylamine.