Just when you thought you were safe and taking simple medication for basic allergies, you find out that you are not only endangering your health, but you are also increasing your risk of dementia, according to CNN. A study published in JAMA Internal Medicine reveals a link between all anticholinergic drugs (especially antidepressants) and dementia at a rate of over 30%. In case you were wondering, many anticholinergic drugs include chlorpheniramine and diphenhydramine (allergy medication), medication for Parkinson’s disease, and medication for overactive bladders, to name only a few. This is important because it reveals the importance of adults understanding the importance of eliminating the amount of medication they use for certain ailments.
Of all the common anticholinergic drugs that individuals take, the most common is Benadryl. This medication can be purchased over the counter for basic sinus problems and is provided to individuals in the emergency room for more severe allergic reactions. The problem is the amount of medication taken by an individual because the more medication consumed, the higher the risk of dementia, according to the study. “There was nearly a 50% increased odds of dementia associated with a total anticholinergic exposure of more than 1,095 daily doses within a 10-year period, which is equivalent to an older adult taking a strong anticholinergic medication daily for at least three years,” stated researchers in the study.
Many of the researchers boast the study because they claim that it assists with the knowledge of understanding which anticholinergic drug poses the most threat. “Understanding the association with some drugs and dementia is critical because it helps physicians to know when considering whether to prescribe these drugs or not,” stated Carol Coupland, first author of the study and professor of medical statistics in primary care at the University of Nottingham in the UK. The involvement of physicians is critical because most medications inform patients to continue taking the drug until their doctor’s tell them to stop. There is good news, however. The researchers did not find a link between dementia and antihistamines, skeletal muscle relaxants, or gastrointestinal antispasmodics. The study only reveals certain anticholinergic drugs that can be found in common medications that most people take on a daily basis. Additionally, the study was primarily focused on over 284,000 adults ages 55 and older who participated in the study between 2004 and 2016.
Although the study revealed certain drugs being linked to dementia, researchers were very concerned about individuals reducing the amount of medication that they take for certain ailments. “Some of the medications that they list in the study may be quite critical and important and are well worth the person taking for their seizures or their psychosis,” said Dr. Douglas Scharre, director of the division of cognitive neurology at the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center in Columbus. “This is truly a risk-benefit discussion that should be had between a patient and their doctor,” he continued. “Also, a patient should have this discussion with their doctor because there might be another drug out there that has less anticholinergic impact that may work just as well.”
