Assessment

• Diphenhydramine has multiple uses. Determine why the medication was ordered and assess symptoms that apply to the individual patient.Geri: Appears in the Beers list. May cause sedation and confusion due to increased sensitivity to anticholinergic effects. Monitor carefully, assess for confusion, delirium, other anticholinergic side effects and fall risk. Institute measures to prevent falls

• Assess for urticaria and for patency of airway

• Assess degree of nasal stuffiness, rhinorrhea, and sneezing

• Assess movement disorder before and after administration

• Assess sleep patterns

• Assess nausea, vomiting, bowel sounds, and abdominal pain

• Assess frequency and nature of cough, lung sounds, and amount and type of sputum produced. Unless contraindicated, maintain fluid intake of 1500–2000 ml daily to decrease viscosity of bronchial secretions

• Assess degree of itching, skin rash, and inflammation

• Diphenhydramine may decrease skin response to allergy tests. Discontinue 4 days before skin testing

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