Phenindamine (Nolahist, Thephorin) is an
antihistamine and
anticholinergic closely related to
cyproheptadine. It was developed by
Hoffman-La Roche in the late 1940s.[1] It is used to treat symptoms of the
common cold and
allergies, such as sneezing, itching, rashes, and
hives. Its efficacy against some symptoms of opioid withdrawal was researched in the 1950s and 1960s in a number of countries;
William S. Burroughs' book Junkie mentions this technique. Like many other first-generation antihistamines, phenindamine has useful potentiating effects on many narcotic analgesics and is even more useful with those opioids which release histamine when in the body.
Nolahist was originally manufactured in the US by Carnrick Laboratories, and later by Amarin Pharmaceuticals. When that company ceased its American operations, its product line was acquired by
Valeant, but they declined to resume manufacturing Nolahist. The last produced lot bore an expiration date of 10/2005, and the product is no longer available.
Phenindamine does exhibit
optical isomerism as do other chemicals of its general type ranging from
pethidine and
alphaprodine to
cyproheptadine to certain herbicides and other industrial chemicals; the.[2] In the example at hand, the compound
isophenidamine (60295-96-7 MSDS), which is inactive.[2]
^US 2546652, Plati JT , Wenner W, "Pyridindenes and process for their manufacture", assigned to F Hoffmann La Roche AG
^
abTscherne RJ, Umagat H (March 1980). "Determination of isophenindamine in phenindamine tartrate using an argentated high-performance liquid chromatographic mobile phase". Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences. 69 (3): 342–4.
doi:
10.1002/jps.2600690324.
PMID7381716.