Comparison of the effect of oral diphenhydramine and midazolam on sedation of children

Abstract

Objectives: The aim of this study was to compare the effect of diphenhydramine and midazolam on sedation of children. Methods: This clinical trial was performed on children aged 1 to 7 years who referred to the emergency department for diagnostic radiology. Patients were randomly divided into two groups of midazolam and diphenhydramine. Then, 30 minutes before the start of the procedure, 0.5 mg /kg was given to the midazolam group and 0.5 cc /kg to the diphenhydramine group. If sedation occurred, the child was separated from the parents and transferred to a diagnostic procedure. After performing the intended diagnostic procedure, the information sheet was completed and the patient's vital signs were checked again. The data were then analyzed by SPSS version 19 software. Results: A total of 74 patients were included in the study. There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of age and gender (P = 0.89; P = 0.32). The mean sedation in the midazolam and diphenhydramine groups was 1.02 and 1.59 years, respectively. A significant difference was found between the two groups in terms of sedation (P = 0.04), where a greater effect of diphenhydramine on sedation was observed. Conclusion: The findings showed that the use of diphenhydramine resulted in effective sedation for children. Due to the fact that the main problem with midazolam is its bitter taste, which makes children reluctant to eat it, the use of diphenhydramine can be recommended.