Over the Counter Drugs and Your Brain
There was a study report discussed this week about increasing the risk of dementia from the use of certain over-the-counter (OTC) drugs. We don’t give OTC medications the attention they deserve because we don’t need a prescription to buy them. This study revealed that certain hay-fever, sleep aids, and treatments for bladder control can increase the risk for developing dementia.
The brain health section of the AARP website (aarp.org) published the findings of this study. The study followed 63434 participants, aged 65 years and older. These participants were monitored for 7 years. OTC drugs like Nitrol (sleep aid), Benedryl (antihistimine), and Ditropan (bladder control) were the class of drugs under study. The results demonstrated that of this group, 637 developed Alzheimer’s disease and 160 developed other forms of dementia. 54% of those taking a drug had an increased risk of dementia as opposed to a control group that didn’t take any of these medications. The non-use group did not increase their risk for dementia.
If you take these drugs daily for 3 years you can increase your risk of dementia by 60%. These drugs are anticholinergics and they work by blocking acetylcholine – the neurotransmitter compromised in Alzheimer’s disease. The fear is that these drugs will exacerbate or trigger Alzheimer’s disease. And, many of these drugs are taken by older adults who may be more vulnerable to Alzheimer’s disease.
The class of benzodiazepines (Valium, Xanax) received an update also. It was believed that after stopping these drugs the brain would be clear again. New studies indicate that this might not be true. These drugs can cause confusion and slow down mental processes. If these drugs are discontinued before the 3 month mark, the risk for dementia stays low.
There are safe alternatives to these medications. It is important to talk with your doctor about health issues you are experiencing. These drugs can interfere with other prescription medications as well. Over-the-counter drugs are nothing to guess about. Don’t self-diagnose or self-medicate. The cost can be higher than just financial.
(aarp.org)