Chlorcyclizine
Encyclopedia
Chlorcyclizine is a first-generation antihistamine of the phenylpiperazine
class marketed in the United States
and certain other countries. It is used primarily to treat allergy
symptom
s such as rhinitis
, urticaria
, and pruritus, and may also be used as an antiemetic
. In addition to its antihistamine
effects, chlorcyclizine also has some anticholinergic
, antiserotonergic, and local anesthetic
properties.
Phenylpiperazine
1-Phenylpiperazine is a simple chemical compound featuring a phenyl group bound to a piperazine ring. The suffix '-piprazole' is sometimes used in the names of drugs to indicate they belong to this class....
class marketed in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and certain other countries. It is used primarily to treat allergy
Allergy
An Allergy is a hypersensitivity disorder of the immune system. Allergic reactions occur when a person's immune system reacts to normally harmless substances in the environment. A substance that causes a reaction is called an allergen. These reactions are acquired, predictable, and rapid...
symptom
Symptom
A symptom is a departure from normal function or feeling which is noticed by a patient, indicating the presence of disease or abnormality...
s such as rhinitis
Rhinitis
Rhinitis , commonly known as a stuffy nose, is the medical term describing irritation and inflammation of some internal areas of the nose. The primary symptom of rhinitis is nasal dripping. It is caused by chronic or acute inflammation of the mucous membrane of the nose due to viruses, bacteria or...
, urticaria
Urticaria
Urticaria is a kind of skin rash notable for pale red, raised, itchy bumps. Hives is frequently caused by allergic reactions; however, there are many non-allergic causes...
, and pruritus, and may also be used as an antiemetic
Antiemetic
An antiemetic is a drug that is effective against vomiting and nausea. Antiemetics are typically used to treat motion sickness and the side effects of opioid analgesics, general anaesthetics, and chemotherapy directed against cancer....
. In addition to its antihistamine
Antihistamine
An H1 antagonist is a histamine antagonist of the H1 receptor that serves to reduce or eliminate effects mediated by histamine, an endogenous chemical mediator released during allergic reactions...
effects, chlorcyclizine also has some anticholinergic
Anticholinergic
An anticholinergic agent is a substance that blocks the neurotransmitter acetylcholine in the central and the peripheral nervous system. An example of an anticholinergic is dicycloverine, and the classic example is atropine....
, antiserotonergic, and local anesthetic
Local anesthetic
A local anesthetic is a drug that causes reversible local anesthesia, generally for the aim of having local analgesic effect, that is, inducing absence of pain sensation, although other local senses are often affected as well...
properties.