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
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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