Popular sleep remedies and hayfever pills 'increase risk of Alzheimer's

jimbo 111

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Jan 23, 2009
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Popular sleep remedies and hayfever pills 'increase risk of Alzheimer's by more than 50%'
Sleep remedies, hayfever pills and anti-depressants are linked to dementia
The risk is greatest when high doses are taken over several years
Risk was 54 per cent higher for people taking the highest doses
Found a link between dementia and antihistamines Piriton and Benadryl
Link was found with sleep remedy Nytol and anti-depressant Doxepin
Also found with Nytol and Ditropan - treatment for an overactive bladder



Common over-the-counter hayfever pills could raise your risk of Alzheimer’s, warn researchers.
They found a link between dementia in older people and anticholinergic drugs, which include the antihistamines Benadryl and Piriton, as well as sleep remedy Nytol and some older antidepressants.
These medications affect the brain by blocking a key chemical messenger called acetylcholine, which has a range of functions in the body.

Study leader Professor Shelly Gray, of the University of Washington School of Pharmacy, said no one should simply stop taking the drugs without speaking to their doctor.
WHICH MEDICINES ARE LINKED TO ALZHEIMER'S?
Researchers found a link between anticholinergic medications and dementia.
Anticholinergic medications affect the brain by blocking a key chemical messenger called acetycholine, which has a range of functions in the body.
People taking the following drugs for more than three years have an increased risk of dementia:
At least 10 milligrams(mg) per day of the antidepressant doxepin,
Four mg per day of diphenhydramine (Nytol, Benadryl) or
Five mg per day of oxybutynin (Ditropan) for overactive bladder
For those taking the highest doses of these drugs, the risk of dementia was increased by 54 per cent after seven years, compared with no use.
The risk of Alzheimer's - the most common form of dementia - was increased by 63 per cent.
But she said: ‘Healthcare providers should regularly review their older patients’ drug regimens, including over-the-counter medications, to look for chances to use fewer anticholinergic medications at lower doses.’
Research last year linked the use of anticholinergic drugs with mental impairment in the elderly. But the new study, in the journal JAMA Internal Medicine, is the first to show that the higher the dose, the higher the risk of dementia.

Read more:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/a...ls-DOUBLE-risk-Alzheimer-s.html#ixzz3Q0lLjZEx



For those who don't like he Daily Mail

Hayfever drugs raise risk of Alzheimer's disease, say scientists
Scientists at the University of Washington say pensioners taking over-the-counter drugs like Benadryl and Nytol should tell their doctors and stop taking medication if it is not needed

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/sci...isk-of-Alzheimers-disease-say-scientists.html
 
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BR_ANA

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Jun 27, 2012
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Just one more thing to worry. What should I choose: depression now or dementia in future?
 

Kevinl

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Aug 24, 2013
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could raise your risk of Alzheimer’s,
Note the word "could" when they say "does" then I'll listen when they can prove why I'll give them a Nobel Prize. As I've said before coincidence doesn't prove causality,
If for example people who take Piriton are at a much bigger risk why don't we see people on here posting about AZ and hay fever? Every day another story and everyone who thinks they can validate it will post comments on the Daily Mail or wherever so reinforcing the "facts" and we all end up thinking what is just a "could" becomes a fact.
K
 

jimbo 111

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Jan 23, 2009
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could raise your risk of Alzheimer’s,
Note the word "could" when they say "does" then I'll listen when they can prove why I'll give them a Nobel Prize. As I've said before coincidence doesn't prove causality,
If for example people who take Piriton are at a much bigger risk why don't we see people on here posting about AZ and hay fever? Every day another story and everyone who thinks they can validate it will post comments on the Daily Mail or wherever so reinforcing the "facts" and we all end up thinking what is just a "could" becomes a fact.
K

Note my italics and underlining
jimbo


Hello Kevinl
I would generally agree with you on your comments about articles and responses in newspapers
But when the articles are backed up by studies from medical sources , whether backed up by ‘suggestion ‘or ‘fact ‘ is in my opinion worth noting on TP
I often post articles and I admit I tend to rely on the member reading the article in full and coming to their own conclusions
On this occasion the article warranted comment by Dr Simon Ridley, at Alzheimer’s Research UK and
Dr Doug Brown, director of research and development at the Alzheimer’s Society (see below )
I also post many threads on news of Alzheimer’s/dementia reports from medical sources
I believe that such information is ,or should be , useful and informative to members of TP who are dealing with the problems
jimbo




Study suggests sleeping drugs can increase risk of Alzheimer’s
Nytol, Benadryl, Ditropan and Piriton among the medications identified by scientists as raising likelihood of dementia

Dr Doug Brown, director of research and development at the Alzheimer’s Society, said: “There have been concerns that regular use by older people of certain medications with anticholinergic effects, such as sleep aids and hayfever treatments, can increase the risk of dementia in certain circumstances, which this study supports. However, it is still unclear whether this is the case and if so, whether the effects seen are a result of long-term use or several episodes of short-term use.

Dr Simon Ridley, at Alzheimer’s Research UK, said: “This large study adds to some existing evidence linking anticholinergic drugs to a small increased risk of dementia, but the results don’t tell us that these drugs cause the condition.
“Continued research to shed light on these links will be important for helping understand the benefits and potential risks of these drugs. In the meantime, anyone who is worried about the medication they are taking should seek advice from a doctor or pharmacist before stopping a course of treatment

Read more
http://www.theguardian.com/society/2015/jan/27/sleeping-drugs-increased-risk-alzheimers
 

garnuft

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Sep 7, 2012
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Just to add more information

There was an item about this on Radio 4's 'Inside Health' programme yesterday.
They contacted one of the Authors of the research to verify the percentages that were being quoted in the press...50%+
They discovered that the actual figure was roughly around 10% increase in the probability of developing dementia as opposed to people who had never taken any of these drugs... and that was ONLY in people who had taken the highest doses for the longest time.
It is the first item on the programme...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b05077n8#auto
 

Kevinl

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Aug 24, 2013
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Note my italics and underlining
jimbo
Study suggests sleeping drugs can increase risk of Alzheimer’s
Nytol, Benadryl, Ditropan and Piriton among the medications identified by scientists as raising likelihood of dementia
Dr Doug Brown, director of research and development at the Alzheimer’s Society, said: “There have been concerns that regular use by older people of certain medications with anticholinergic effects, such as sleep aids and hayfever treatments, can increase the risk of dementia in certain circumstances, which this study supports. However, it is still unclear whether this is the case and if so, whether the effects seen are a result of long-term use or several episodes of short-term use.
Dr Simon Ridley, at Alzheimer’s Research UK, said: “This large study adds to some existing evidence linking anticholinergic drugs to a small increased risk of dementia, but the results don’t tell us that these drugs cause the condition.

All information has a value but look at the bits in italic, can you actually say the medication causes the condition even they say it is "unclear".
I personally would wonder if the medical conditions people took these self prescribed medication for was a precursor of dementia, why do people feel the need to take Piriton or Nytol, maybe it's a symptom not the drugs that are the cause.
I'll be honest and say all these reports of a "breakthrough" depress me there's one in the paper every week and basically except for a few medications like Aricept which may or may not work we're in exactly the same place we were a 100 years ago.
K
 

jimbo 111

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Jan 23, 2009
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North Bucks
Note my italics and underlining
jimbo
Study suggests sleeping drugs can increase risk of Alzheimer’s
Nytol, Benadryl, Ditropan and Piriton among the medications identified by scientists as raising likelihood of dementia
Dr Doug Brown, director of research and development at the Alzheimer’s Society, said: “There have been concerns that regular use by older people of certain medications with anticholinergic effects, such as sleep aids and hayfever treatments, can increase the risk of dementia in certain circumstances, which this study supports. However, it is still unclear whether this is the case and if so, whether the effects seen are a result of long-term use or several episodes of short-term use.
Dr Simon Ridley, at Alzheimer’s Research UK, said: “This large study adds to some existing evidence linking anticholinergic drugs to a small increased risk of dementia, but the results don’t tell us that these drugs cause the condition.

All information has a value but look at the bits in italic, can you actually say the medication causes the condition even they say it is "unclear".
I personally would wonder if the medical conditions people took these self prescribed medication for was a precursor of dementia, why do people feel the need to take Piriton or Nytol, maybe it's a symptom not the drugs that are the cause.
I'll be honest and say all these reports of a "breakthrough" depress me there's one in the paper every week and basically except for a few medications like Aricept which may or may not work we're in exactly the same place we were a 100 years ago.
K

Thank you Kevinl
I think we have both made our point

Best wishes
jimbo
 

canary

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Feb 25, 2014
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South coast
May I add another thing to the mix?

I read a paper about the effect of sleep on the brain recently (cant find the link) that looked at substances produced by the neurons during sleep. There was the suggestion that being deprived of sleep could hasten the onset of AD in susceptible people.

This could be why people who need to take sleeping medication are more likely to get AD.
Not that I am saying it is the cause. Just speculating really......
 

Peace and Truth

Registered User
Feb 20, 2012
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Rutland
Benadryl hay fever remedy

My husband was never Ill, never took any medication EXCEPT Benadryl, a popular remedy for hay fever. Every Summer he used this to keep working through the hay fever season.
If medication is the cause of his illness, it makes me feel so guilty because I was the one that used to buy it for him. He hated doctors, chemists etc. so would not buy it for himself.
I really hope this is investigated fast, and if proved right the drug should be removed from sale at once.
Too late for us,because he is in the advanced stages of Alzheimer's and exists rather than lives.
 

MIKYPLUM

Registered User
Jun 8, 2012
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I have been taking sleeping aids for many, many years, inc amytripilyn, now I have dementia, and am worried as whether or not, all this has caused my dementia, or is it, age related, as my mother died from it, now I am worried as to what to do, is it too late, to take a herbal alternative, and is ginko biloba, helpul
 

Pingu

Registered User
Sep 6, 2013
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A follow-up article in the Guardian to this scare... You'll have to add another 'w' to the link and copy/paste it as I'm not allowed to post links here yet. If someone who is allowed to post links could re-post it, that would be appreciated. :)

ww.theguardian.com/science/brain-flapping/2015/jan/27/do-common-drugs-really-cause-dementia
 

BR_ANA

Registered User
Jun 27, 2012
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Brazil
I just try not to think about it. Depression is serious worry now. Dementia can be something IF I survive the depression.
 

nimbus11

Registered User
Apr 22, 2011
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Hampshire
My brother in law who died at age 57 with early onset was addicted to otravine, he could not function without it, no family history of dementia at all - really makes me wonder....
 

Kevinl

Registered User
Aug 24, 2013
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My brother in law who died at age 57 with early onset was addicted to otravine, he could not function without it, no family history of dementia at all - really makes me wonder....

Well it shouldn't, coincidence doesn't prove causality. As Ive said on here before Italians eat a lot of pasta, Italy has a problem with organised crime...so eating pasta causes organised crime. My wife was diagnosed with early onset she never took otravine and had no family history either. The constant grasping at straws is holding back proper research, every time a coincidence is spotted every one sees it as a cause.
Science and research are the way forward not all these false hopes.
Sorry Nimbus I sound a bit ranty but this is just one of a hundreds of pieces of false hope I've seen in the last 10 years where AZ has figured large in my life.
K