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Dementia 'linked' to common over-the-counter drugs

bbc.co.uk

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Re: Dementia 'linked' to common over-the-counter drugs

#41

Post by fensipens »

slavik81 wrote: post #36

This study might not be the final word, but as someone who has taken quite a few antihistamine pills over the years, I was certainly a little concerned upon seeing hay-fever mentioned. I'm glad to see that the medication I took is a little different from the ones in the study. From the article: > A study has linked commonly used medicines, including over-the-counter treatments for conditions such as insomnia and hay-…

Let me complement your helpful answer with some details about the stuff I'm eating..

Fexofenadine (Allegra, Telfast..):

"Unlike older antihistamines, fexofenadine does not have anticholinergic activity." http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/406437_3

Bilastine (Bilaxten):

"No anticholinergic adverse events were observed in the clinical trials.." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bilastine

"bilastine's safety profile is satisfactory, since it lacks anticholinergic effects" http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22149338

Re: Dementia 'linked' to common over-the-counter drugs

#43

Post by meursault334 »

sanderjd wrote: post #25
Zaheer wrote: post #2

I stopped taking over-the-counter drugs years ago unless its vitally necessary. Common colds, allergies etc are not too difficult to bear in most circumstances and with the all the side-effects of pharma drugs I prefer to go with alternative medicines ex. local honey, lemons, etc.

Honest question: what convinces you that over-the-counter drugs have a negative effect rather than a neutral or even positive effect?

It's pretty well documented that over the counter pain killers such as acetaminophen, aspirin, and ibuprofen can have long term negative consequences with long term use. Allergy meds appear to be joining this group. In many cases the threshold for harm is fairly low in terms of lifetime cumulative dose. In some cases there are long-term benefits to these drugs(aspirin for instance) but there are definitely downsides. That isn't to say that pursuing alternative treatments to colds and allergies makes sense.

Re: Dementia 'linked' to common over-the-counter drugs

#44

Post by mrfusion »

aidenn0 wrote: post #39
k-mcgrady wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I agree with the parent when it comes to things like the cold. I seriously don't understand people who take paracetamol and tons of other over the counter stuff for that. When it comes to allergies though (hay fever in my case) I can barely function without antihistamines (and with them I'm still a wreck). I haven't found any of the home remedies to be effective for it whereas in the case of the cold plenty of water…

My wife will reliably get acute sinus infections following a cold if she doesn't take decongestants. She is generally aversive to taking any medication, but after 8 sinus infections in one year, she now always takes decongestants when a cold starts.

I'm thinking I might have that same issue. Can you share what works for her?

Re: Dementia 'linked' to common over-the-counter drugs

#45

Post by mrfusion »

contingencies wrote: post #30
satellitecat wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

One thing I've found is that honey is an amazing sore-throat cure.

For coughs, check out olive leaf extract. I very rarely recommend things, but it's amazing how suddenly and completely it makes you stop coughing!

That sounds amazing. Can you recommend a brand, dosage? Are you saying it cures the cough or just suppresses it?

Re: Dementia 'linked' to common over-the-counter drugs

#46

Post by gress »

scott_s wrote: post #34
gress wrote: post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They are based on evidence, but that evidence has not been scientifically evaluated.

Which, to me, is equivalent to saying it's not based on evidence.

Which means that you are also saying that the court system is not based on evidence.

Re: Dementia 'linked' to common over-the-counter drugs

#47

Post by gress »

justinsteele wrote: post #32
gress wrote: post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They are based on evidence, but that evidence has not been scientifically evaluated.

And given how that worked for cultures before the modern age, I'll stick to those who choose to study medicine. Not those who simply prescribe whatever they felt worked once, for a reason unknown to them.

Why do you need a straw man to justify your point?

Re: Dementia 'linked' to common over-the-counter drugs

#48

Post by silencio »

mrfusion wrote: post #44
aidenn0 wrote: post #39

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My wife will reliably get acute sinus infections following a cold if she doesn't take decongestants. She is generally aversive to taking any medication, but after 8 sinus infections in one year, she now always takes decongestants when a cold starts.

I'm thinking I might have that same issue. Can you share what works for her?

I'm not the parent, and I haven't had 8 in one year, but I've had a few, and my colds always come with congestion...

I use the hell out of neti pots/sinus rinses, steam inhalation (like a cup of tea - which, drinking lots of fluids also helps), and pseudoephedrine.

Re: Dementia 'linked' to common over-the-counter drugs

#49

Post by contingencies »

mrfusion wrote: post #45
contingencies wrote: post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

For coughs, check out olive leaf extract. I very rarely recommend things, but it's amazing how suddenly and completely it makes you stop coughing!

That sounds amazing. Can you recommend a brand, dosage? Are you saying it cures the cough or just suppresses it?

Two tablets (recommended daily max) suppresses for me the actual coughing within 15 minutes absolutely and completely for about 6 hours. Brand here in Australia is 'Living Healthy'. Each capsule: (1) 2.92mg dry olive leaf (Olea europaea) (2) 35mg equiv. to Oleuropein (3) 100mg Arographis paniculata leaf dry (4) 2.5mg equiv. to Andrographolide (5) 5mg zinc gluconate.

Image @ http://www.terrywhitechemists.com.au/living-healthy-olive-le... ... manufacturer 'Orion Laboratories' recently acquired by http://www.perrigo.com.au/

Re: Dementia 'linked' to common over-the-counter drugs

#50

Post by anonbanker »

contingencies wrote: post #30
satellitecat wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

One thing I've found is that honey is an amazing sore-throat cure.

For coughs, check out olive leaf extract. I very rarely recommend things, but it's amazing how suddenly and completely it makes you stop coughing!

replying as breadcrumbs so I can reference this remedy later.
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