Anesthetic Action of Beta-Dimethylaminoethyl Benzhydryl Ether Hydrochloride (Benadryl) in the Skin of Human Beings.

Abstract

A study was made of the local anesthetic effect of benadryl when injected into the skin of human beings. By means of electric algesimetric detns., benadryl in dilutions of 1:500, 1:1000, 1:5000, 1:10,000 and 1:20,000 possessed anesthetic potencies similar to those of procaine in dilutions of 1:200, 1:400, 1:800, 1:1600 and 1:3200, resp. Benadryl in concs. greater than 1:500 proved to be exceedingly irritating when injected into human skin, causing tissue necrosis and ulceration in 4 of 10 subjects.