Fixed drug eruption caused by dimenhydrinate

Abstract

ABSTRACT Dimenhydrinate is a widely used H1 antihistamine that has rarely been responsible for causing fixed drug eruption. We report a case of fixed drug eruption associated with dimenhydrinate in a non-prescription motion sickness medicine confirmed by a positive oral challenge test, which is still the gold standard for establishing the offending agent in FDE. Patch testing in non-affected skin was negative. Physician awareness to such an adverse event of this widely used drug is mandatory. Key words: Dimenhydrinate, fixed drug eruption, oral challenge, patch test. INTRODUCTION Fixed drug eruption (FDE) is a common type of cutaneous adverse drug reaction, triggered by a large number of drugs 1 . In general, antibiotics, anti-inflammatory analge-sics and hypnotics are the most frequent culprit drugs. In addition to phenolphthalein, phenazone, barbiturates, feprazone, sulfonamides, trimethoprim, tetracyclines and naproxen have been reported as the most frequent causes of FDE 1 . Fixed drug eruptions from dimenhydrinate have been reported rarely