Re: Are anti-cholinergic meds bad for memory? » herpills

> I found this on the huffington post- herpills
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>
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> Leo Galland, M.D.
> Practicing physician, author and leader in integrated medicine.
>
> Memory Loss Can Be Caused By Over-The-Counter Drugs
> Posted: 02/17/11 07:40 AM ET
>
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> Did you know that common over-the-counter drugs or prescriptions can cause memory loss and cognitive impairment?
>
> Mild cognitive impairment is a common, age-linked condition that is often an early sign of Alzheimer's disease. Its cardinal symptom is forgetfulness or impairment of short-term memory.
>
> Numerous drugs have been shown to produce mild cognitive impairment (MCI). They may create or aggravate Alzheimer's-type symptoms.
>
> (NOTE: You should NOT stop taking medications without first consulting your physician.)
>
> Most of the drugs that cause MCI have a property called "anti-cholinergic." They inhibit activity of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, which plays a critical role in memory and cognitive function.
>
> Here's the problem: only a few of these drugs are officially classified as anti-cholinergic. The official anti-cholinergic drugs are mostly used for relieving intestinal cramps or bladder irritability and are labeled "anti-spasmodic." They're at the top of the list below.
>
> But there are 17 additional types of drugs used for many other purposes that may also have anti-cholinergic effects. The list includes commonly used drugs like antihistamines, acid blockers and antidepressants. Unfortunately, many doctors and pharmacists are unaware of the anti-cholinergic properties of these medications.
>
> In an address to the American Academy of Neurology at the 60th Annual Meeting, Dr. Jack Tsao, associate professor of neurology at Uniformed Services University in Bethesda, Maryland, said, "... a lot of medicines that are not advertised as anti-cholinergic in nature actually have anti-cholinergic properties." Dr. Tsao and his colleagues followed a group of nuns and clergy from the Rush Religious Orders for about eight years and found an accelerated rate of cognitive decline in those who began using anti-cholinergic drugs.
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> Several published studies have also shown that people taking drugs with hidden anti-cholinergic effects are at increased risk for MCI.
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> It is likely that these drugs have additive effects: the more anti-cholinergic drugs a person takes at one time, the greater the risk of side effects.
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> Because the list is long and includes drugs used for many different purposes, it is possible for an individual's total burden of anti-cholinergic drug activity to be much higher than expected.
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> In addition, advanced age is associated with increased susceptibility to anti-cholinergic drugs because of a reduction in acetylcholine activity with age.
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> If you're concerned about MCI in yourself or someone you know, check the list of drugs below to see if medication might be contributing to the problem.
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> Drugs with Anti-cholinergic Properties
>
> Some of these are available without prescription and may be found alone or combined with other drugs, especially in over-the-counter cold and headache remedies. Don't just rely on the product's name. Check all ingredients. Bring this information to your doctor. Do not discontinue the use of any prescription drug without your doctor's approval.
>
> Antispasmotics: used to relieve intestinal cramps or bladder symptoms, these are also found in numerous over-the-counter and prescription combination products used for colds and coughs, with various brand names:
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> o Atropine
> o Belladonna (Donnatal and others)
> o Clidinium (Quarzan)
> o Dicyclomine (Bentyl and others)
> o Flavoxate (Urispas)
> o Glycopyrrolate (Robinul)
> o Hyoscyamine (Levsin, NuLev, Cystospas and many others)
> o Oxybutynin (Ditropan and others)
> o Solifenacin (VesiCARE)
> o Propantheline (ProBanthine and others)
> o Scopolamine (Transderm-Scop and others)
> o Tolterodine (Detrol)
> o Trospium (Regurin and others)
>
> Antihistamines: these are used in numerous over-the-counter and prescription products alone or in combination with other drugs for relieving symptoms of allergies, colds, dizziness or improving sleep:
>
> o Azatadine (Optimine and others)
> o Chlorpheniramine (Chlortimeton and others)
> o Clemastine (Contac, Tavist and others)
> o Cyproheptadine (Periactin)
> o Desloratadine (Clarinex and others)
> o Dimenhydrinate (Dramamine and others)
> o Diphenhydramine (Benadryl and many others)
> o Doxylamine (Unisom and others)
> o Hydroxyzine (Atarax, Vistaryl)
> o Loratadine (Claritin and others)
> o Meclizine (Antivert and others)
> o Pyrilamine
>
> Note: Fexofenadine (Allegra) and cetirizine (Zyrtec) are antihistamines without anti-cholinergic effects, but may cause sedation.
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> Antacids: these are histamine H2 antagonists, used to relieve heartburn and stomach pain. For more on acid suppressing drugs, see my article "Stomach Acid and the Future of Health Care":
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> o Cimetidine (Tagamet)
> o Famotidine (Pepcid)
> o Nizatadine (Axid)
> o Ranitidine (Zantac)
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> Note: Although these drugs have relatively weak anti-cholinergic activity, their use is associated with MCI in older adults.
>
> Antidepressants:
>
> o Amitriptyline (Elavil and others)
> o Amoxapine (Asendin)
> o Citalopram (Celexa)
> o Clomipramine (Anafranil)
> o Desipramine (Norpramin)
> o Doxepin (Sinequan and others)
> o Duloxetine (Cymbalta)
> o Escitalopram (Lexapro)
> o Fluoxetine (Prozac)
> o Imipramine (Tofranil)
> o Lithium
> o Nortriptyline (Pamelor, Aventyl)
> o Paroxetine (Paxil and others)
> o Protriptyline (Vivactil)
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> Muscle relaxants:
>
> o Carisoprodal (Soma and others)
> o Chlorzoxazone (Parafon Forte and others)
> o Cyclobenzaprine (Flexeryl and others)
> o Methocarbamol (Robaxin and others)
> o Orphenadrine (Norflex and others)
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> Antiarrythmics: used to treat cardiac arrhythmias:
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> o Digoxin
> o Disopyramide (Norpace and others)
> o Procainamide
> o Quinidine (Quinaglute and others)
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> Antiemetics: used to suppress nausea or vomiting:
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> o Promethazine (Phenergan and others)
> o Prochlorperazine (Compazine and others)
> o Trimethobenzamide (Tigan)
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> Antipsychotics: used for severe psychiatric disorders:
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> o Chlorpromazine (Thorazine and others)
> o Clozapine (Clopine and others)
> o Mesoridazine (Serentil)
> o Olanzapine (Zyprexa)
> o Promazine
> o Quetiapine (Seroquel)
> o Thioridazine (Mellaril)
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> Antiparkinsonian: used in the treatment of Parkinson's disease and related disorders:
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> o Amantadine (Symmetrel)
> o Benztropine (Cogentin)
> o Biperiden (Akineton)
> o Procyclidine (Kemadrine)
> o Trihexyphenidyl (Artane and others)
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> Miscellaneous:
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> These drugs were shown to have anti-cholinergic effects at high concentration. They may exert clinically significant anti-cholinergic side effects when used at high doses or in people with impaired kidney function or a heightened susceptibility to anti-cholinergic side effects:
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> o Amoxicillin (an antibiotic)
> o Carbamazepine (Tegretol, a drug for controlling seizures or chronic pain)
> o Celecoxib (Celebrex, an anti-inflammatory pain reliever)
> o Cephalexin (Keflex, an antibiotic)
> o Diazepam (Valium, a tranquilizer)
> o Diphenoxylate (Lomotil, a drug for diarrhea)
> o Fentanyl (Duragesic, a narcotic pain reliever)
> o Furosemide (Lasix, a diuretic used for fluid retention)
> o Hydrocodone (a narcotic pain reliever, found in Vicodin)
> o Lansoprazole (Prevacid, a proton pump inhibitor, used to reduce stomach acid)
> o Levofloxacin (Levaquin, an antibiotic)
> o Metformin (Glucophage, a drug that reduces blood sugar, used by diabetics)
> o Phenytoin (Dilantin, a drug for controlling seizures)
> o Temazepam (Restoril, a sleeping pill)
> o Topiramate (Topimax, a drug used for preventing migraine headaches)
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> A medication does not have to be swallowed or injected to exert systemic effects.
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> Anti-cholinergic eye drops may affect the brain. They are used to dilate the pupils. These include:
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> o Cyclopentolate
> o Homatropine
> o Tropicamide
>
> Anti-cholinergic Herbs: Numerous herbs and natural products have anti-cholinergic effects and may be more hazardous than medications. Here are those that have been studied the most:
>
> o Amanita muscaria (fly agaric)
> o Amanita pantherina (panther mushroom)
> o Arctium lappa (burdock root)
> o Atropa belladonna (deadly nightshade)
> o Cestrum nocturnum (night blooming jessamine)
> o Datura metel (yangjinhua, used in traditional Chinese remedies)
> o Datura suaveolens (angel's trumpet)
> o Datura stramonium (jimson weed)
> o Hyoscyamus niger (black henbane)
> o Lantana camara (red sage)
> o Phyllanthus emblica (Indian gooseberry)
> o Solanum carolinensis (wild tomato)
> o Solanum dulcamara (bittersweet)
> o Solanum pseudocapsicum (Jerusalem cherry)
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> Learn more about herbs, traditional uses and side effects in my Herb Guide
>
> In addition to memory loss and cognitive impairment, anti-cholinergic drugs may cause nervousness, confusion, disorientation, hallucinations, restlessness, irritability, dizziness, drowsiness, blurred vision and light sensitivity.

Some see things as they are and ask why.
I dream of things that never were and ask why not.

- George Bernard Shaw

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