Posted on May 2, 2016 Drugs known as “anticholinergic agents”, are commonly taken for disorders ranging from allergies, bladder problems, sleep aids, and mood disorders. Common side effects of anticholinergic drugs include drowsiness, sore throat, retaining urine, and dry mouth and eyes. For those who take these medications (even OTC), be warned that doing so puts you at a higher risk for dementia, and even Alzheimer’s. A small Indiana University study found that people using “anticholinergic medications” did worse on thinking-related tests and had smaller brain sizes (less brain volume and larger ventricles, the cavities inside the brain), than those who didn’t take them. The Brain function tests revealed a definite impairment in short-term memory, verbal reasoning, planning, and problem solving, than those not taking the medication. Although a link has been found before, this might be the first time that their effect at blocking a brain chemical called acetylcholine has been implicated. The population of focus for this study were those 70 and older (so they say), which is a risk factor for dementia as it is, so why use this group? (here she goes with her conspiracy theories again) Let’s pretend that the actual age of the participants was between 35-45 yrs old, and the results were the same. Well first off, those results would be shredded, or locked up in a safe somewhere, and we would never hear about it. If you have to ask why, then perhaps you are on one of these medications!! (joking here) Think about the times you’ve heard something really concerning about a medication, and then it’s taken off the market….. only to return under a new name. The true long-term impact of these drugs on the brain, will continue to unfold as “WE” continue to take them, because “WE” are the ones that provide the data (side effects or death) for long-term use of any medication. Here are just a few of these medications. Psych/Anxiety Meds meclizine, amitriptyline, paxil, clomipramine, clozapine Parkinsons amantadine, benztropine Motion Sickness scopolamine Heart furosemide, digoxin, Anti-diarrheal : diphenoxylate atropine, Anti-ulcer: cimetidine, ranitidine, Urinary oxybutynin, propantheline Diphenhydramine (Advil PM, Aleve PM, Bayer PM, Benadryl, Excedrin PM, Nytol, Simply Sleep, Sominex, Tylenol PM, Unisom, etc.) Chlorpheniramine (Actifed, Allergy & Congestion Relief, Chlor-Trimeton, Codeprex, Efidac-24 Chlorpheniramine, etc.)
