Localised pain (see other 'socs' for specific pain) after Diphenhydramine in dogs

The FDA has received 51 reports of localised pain (see other 'socs' for specific pain) in dogs after Diphenhydramine. That is 1.1% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 0.2% across reports for all dog medicines, so it is reported unusually often with this medicine.

51Reports

51%Marked serious

12%Recovered

18%Died or euthanised

2 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

15 31%

1–2 days

15 31%

3–7 days

7 15%

1–4 weeks

6 13%

Over a month

5 10%

How the animals did

Recovered

6 12%

Still unwell when reported

24 47%

Died

5 9.8%

Euthanised

4 7.8%

Not known

12 24%

Problems reported at the same time

27 53%

21 41%

17 33%

17 33%

Injection site reaction

16 31%

Lameness

14 27%

Fever

14 27%

Liver problems

12 24%

Age of the animals

Under 1 year

1–3 years

4–7 years

8–11 years

12+ years

About this medicine

Type: medicine.

Questions owners ask

Can Diphenhydramine cause localised pain (see other 'socs' for specific pain) in dogs?: 51 reports link the two, but a report alone does not prove the medicine was the cause: other illnesses, other medicines or coincidence can be involved. Your vet can judge it for your animal.
How soon after a dose was it reported?: In half of the reports with dates, it started within 2 days of the first dose.
What should I do?: Don't give another dose until you've spoken to your vet, and keep the packaging so you can tell them the product and dose. Your vet can also report it to the FDA (or you can, through the manufacturer or FDA form 1932a).

Localised pain (see other 'socs' for specific pain) with similar medicines

Localised pain (see other 'socs' for specific pain) after Melarsomine (Immiticide) 72 reports · 0.3% of its reports
Localised pain (see other 'socs' for specific pain) after Butorphanol 39 reports · 0.9% of its reports
Localised pain (see other 'socs' for specific pain) after Cefpodoxime 40 reports · 1.0% of its reports
Localised pain (see other 'socs' for specific pain) after Tramadol 49 reports · 1.3% of its reports
Localised pain (see other 'socs' for specific pain) after Propofol 24 reports · 0.8% of its reports
Localised pain (see other 'socs' for specific pain) after Famotidine 35 reports · 1.3% of its reports
Localised pain (see other 'socs' for specific pain) after Tigilanol Tiglate 25 reports · 1.2% of its reports
Localised pain (see other 'socs' for specific pain) after Methocarbamol 20 reports · 3.2% of its reports

All reported side effects of Diphenhydramine in dogs · Medicines most reported with localised pain (see other 'socs' for specific pain)