Glossary entry

English term or phrase:

PM

English answer:

containing a small amount of antihistamine, usually diphenhydramine, as a sedative

Added to glossary by Charles Davis
May 3, 2014 10:37
10 yrs ago
15 viewers *
English term

PM

English Medical Medical: Pharmaceuticals Pain relief
Maximum Strength Aspirin Free Pain Relief PM F.C Blue Tablets

Can anybody helps explain what it stands for? Any insight into this will be appreciated
Change log

May 8, 2014 05:41: Charles Davis Created KOG entry

Discussion

Charles Davis May 3, 2014:
@ Donal This is what first put me onto it:

"Bayer® Aspirin PM (containing Aspirin, Diphenhydramine)"
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/meds/a682878.htm...
DLyons May 3, 2014:
Does Aspirin have a sedative version though? Maybe it does, but I haven't come across it in pharmacists.

Responses

+6
41 mins
Selected

containing a small amount of antihistamine, usually diphenhydramine, as a sedative

"Drug makers add a small amount of antihistamine (usually 25 mg or 50 mg of diphenhydramine, the active ingredient in Benadryl) to pain killers and call the resulting concoction the "PM" version of the drug.

For example, Tylenol PM is simply tylenol with a pinch of antihistamine added to induce sleepiness. Midol PM is Midol with a pinch of antihistamine added to cause drowsiness.

There is also Excedrin PM, Anacin PM, Legatrin PM, etc."
http://www.coreynahman.com/ura.html

"Current CDER Considerations when Evaluating a Modifier
• Does the root name exist as a currently marketed product?
• Has the applicant provided a rationale for the modifier?
– Eg, ‘PM’ used to represent a base product plus the addition of diphenhydramine and help differentiate that product from the base product with out the added ingredient) [...]
http://www.fda.gov/downloads/AboutFDA/CentersOffices/Officeo...

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Note added at 1 hr (2014-05-03 11:46:18 GMT)
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I don't know what "PM" actually stands for when it is used as a modifier with this meaning. Donal suggests (by implication) that it stands for "post meridian", as in 5 pm, meaning that this version of the drug is administered in the evening or at night to help people sleep. I don't know whether this is correct or not.

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Note added at 1 hr (2014-05-03 11:49:10 GMT)
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By the way, here is Bayer's own page on their aspirin PM.
http://www.wonderdrug.com/products/es/esbpm.htm
Peer comment(s):

agree DLyons
24 mins
Thanks, Donal :)
agree Jean-Claude Gouin
36 mins
Thanks, 1045 :)
agree Michael Barnett : I agree and also agree that PM means post meridian.
1 hr
Thanks, Michael! I think you must be right about that.
agree lorenab23 : Very popular in the US. The ads on TV suggest that they help you sleep ergo the P.M. (to take it only at night)
5 hrs
Thanks for the confirmation, Lorena. It seems clear that "PM" simply means that. Enjoy the rest of the weekend :)
agree ulzii
1 day 3 hrs
Thank you, Ulziisaikhan!
agree Naweed Miakhel
1 day 5 hrs
Thanks, Naweed :)
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4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Thanks Charles Davis, for your valuable help."
+1
12 mins

pain management

They generally seem to be non-prescription drugs?

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Note added at 19 mins (2014-05-03 10:56:59 GMT)
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Other possibilities are "palliative medicine".

"PrimaCare's patented Chronometric System™ dosing regimen, consisting of one "AM" dose taken in the morning and one "PM" dose taken at night"
Peer comment(s):

agree Sabina Králová
10 mins
Thanks Sabina.
neutral Charles Davis : Doesn't "pain management" seem a bit redundant after "pain relief"? // So you think "PM" as a modifier indicating added diphenhydramine means "post meridian", as in a chronometric dosing regime? Maybe it does; I don't know.
36 mins
Thanks Charles. In full it would, but as a recognised acronym maybe not? I don't have much confidence in this though. My third option is the one in your answer.// In at least some cases it seems to be. Is that universal? I have no idea.
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