Your brain and nervous system rely on acetylcholine to transmit signals between nerve cells. If you have enough acetylcholine the signals move quickly, if not they move slowly. There are common drugs that block acetylcholine, slowing down brain function. A drug which blocks acetylcholine is termed anticholinergic.
Over-the-counter (OTC) anticholinergic drugs include: Benadryl (allergies), Dramamine (nausea, dizziness), Excedrin PM (pain, sleep), Nytol (cold, sleep), Sominex (sleep), Tylenol PM (pain, sleep), and Unisom (sleep).
Prescription Drugs that are anticholinergic: Paxil (depression), Detrol (urinary difficulties), Demerol (pain) and Elavil (depression) are available only by prescription.
The journal Neurology reported in July 2010:
"Researchers ... conducted a six-year observational study, evaluating 1,652 Indianapolis area African-Americans over the age of 70 who had normal cognitive function when the study began ... '[T]aking one anticholinergic significantly increased an individual's risk of developing mild cognitive impairment and taking two of these drugs doubled this risk."
A study at the University of Montpelier in France involving over 6,000 elderly people concluded "Elderly people taking anticholinergic drugs were at increased risk for cognitive decline and dementia. Discontinuing anticholinergic treatment was associated with a decreased risk. Physicians should carefully consider prescription of anticholinergic drugs in elderly people, especially in the very elderly and in persons at high genetic risk for cognitive disorder."
Many people feel that over the counter drugs are safe. This just isn't true. Many of them were formerly prescription drugs and are now available OTC at reduced strength. These are serious chemicals with serious effects. The study quoted above indicates that the damage from anticholinergic drugs is permanent. We may learn how to reverse it but at the moment we don't.
Are you worried about Alzheimers? In the Indianapolis study, people using the anticholinergic drugs had 400% more likely to have cognitive impairment and those with a certain gene who used the drugs were 700% more likely to be impaired.
Avoid these drugs.
Please note: The information here is not to be followed as medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult with your physician or primary health practitioner for information regarding your own personal health and necessary treatments.
