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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

#51

Post by jcl »

ggchappell wrote: post #40

This is apparently a new study, but the idea is not new. For example, see this article from American Family Physician in 2009: http://www.aafp.org/afp/2009/0301/ot2.html A quote: > Background: Medications with anticholinergic properties are often associated with adverse events, including falls, cognitive dysfunction, delirium, and loss of independence. That's from 2009, and it is stated as something already known. Al…

That's weird... The following article has a quote from one of the dementia study authors that specifically calls out loratadine/Claratin as an antihistamine that does not have anticholinergic effects:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/science/science-news/1137023...

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

#52

Post by fpgaminer »

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-…

As someone who doesn't respond to second-generation antihistamines, this sucks. The one I take is even listed on the "anticholinergic" Wikipedia page (Chlorpheniramine). I've always been worried about the long term effects of the drug, and limit my dosage as much as possible. I guess an allergy free life is worth some dementia risk later down the line.

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

#53

Post by Moru »

fensipens wrote: post #41
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 sati…

Thankyou, I was just about to search for Allegra, my current favourite.

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

#54

Post by k-mcgrady »

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 sure that happens to some people but I doubt it happens to a majority and everyone I knows pops whatever they can get their hands on for the cold.

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

#57

Post by fit2rule »

pdabbadabba wrote: post #4
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.

> I prefer to go with alternative medicines ex. local honey, lemons, etc. These alternatives clearly have the advantage of being side-effect free for most people, but I have always been very skeptical about their effectiveness. Are there actually any reliable studies on the efficacy of local honey in treating allergies? And I thought that the role of vitamin C in warding off colds had been pretty well debunked. (I as…

Try it for yourself, and don't be so dependent on third parties to tell you how to live your life. There's nothing to lose and a whole world of independence to gain. Honey and lemon is awesome if you have a cold - if you're not trying it yourself because there isn't a study to prove its efficacy, then you're missing out on one of the true great values in life: experiencing things for yourself.

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

#58

Post by fit2rule »

pdabbadabba wrote: post #10
marincounty wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That Placebo Effect is so strong I don't even bother to debunk natural remedies. Plus, I might be throwing the baby out with the bath water, but right now I'm very skeptical of a lot of pharmacuticals studies. They just lied to us so many times when it comes to the efficacy of their newest drug.

I get your skepticism, but does it not help that pharmaceutical studies are closely reviewed by the FDA before a drug can be marketed? Getting a new drug approved is far from easy.

The same FDA that is staffed by ex-pharmaceutical executives, and the same pharmaceutical companies that are staffed by ex-FDA staff? The FDA is really not something you can reasonably, or should, trust.

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

#59

Post by aidenn0 »

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?

just like the other person who replied to you, a neti-pot and pseudoephedrine (which you have to go to the pharmacy counter to get in the US, but does not require a prescription).

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

#60

Post by ggchappell »

jcl wrote: post #51
ggchappell wrote: post #40

This is apparently a new study, but the idea is not new. For example, see this article from American Family Physician in 2009: http://www.aafp.org/afp/2009/0301/ot2.html A quote: > Background: Medications with anticholinergic properties are often associated with adverse events, including falls, cognitive dysfunction, delirium, and loss of independence. That's from 2009, and it is stated as something already known. Al…

That's weird... The following article has a quote from one of the dementia study authors that specifically calls out loratadine/Claratin as an antihistamine that does not have anticholinergic effects: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/science/science-news/1137023...

Yep, that's weird.
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