The effects of dementia and other cognitive decline disorders are distressing not just for the individuals who are afflicted but also for their loved ones. Experts claim that there is no proven cure for the majority of dementia types; instead, symptoms can be managed.
Some drugs, however, raise the possibility of robbing the people they touch of their freedom and memory. Since most medications alter your brain when they pass across the blood-brain barrier, doctors think that at least five medications are connected to cognitive decline. They are:
Antihistamines
Antihistamines, which are used to treat allergies and include the active component diphenhydramine, can increase the risk of dementia more quickly. Over-the-counter antihistamines cause sleepiness, according to experts, and many individuals use them as a sleep aid. In addition to causing a general loss in health, doctors warn that frequent use of this prescription may be detrimental to your brain. In a 2019 assessment of possibly inappropriate drugs for older individuals, the American Geriatrics Society included diphenhydramine, a kind of antihistamine, because of the possibility of adverse effects.
Some of these include:
Confusion
Blurred vision
Constipation
Dizziness
Drowsiness
Dry mouth
Fatigue
Urinary retention
Opiates
Opiates are typical medications used to treat pain following surgery, injuries, or cancer. Although it functions similarly to morphine in the brain, experts warn that it can have long-term consequences, such as drowsiness, which can lead to dementia. According to studies, opiate users are 15% more likely to acquire dementia.
Heartburn medication
In addition to the first two, omeprazole, a popular prescription used to treat digestive disorders including heartburn, also raises the chance of dementia. According to doctors, taking omeprazole sometimes is okay, but taking it frequently might raise the quantity of beta-amyloid in your brain, which is one of the primary causes of cognitive decline and early-onset dementia. It reduces the amount of acid in your stomach by acting as a proton pump inhibitor, or PPI.
Benzodiazepines
Although the exact relationship between benzodiazepines and dementia is unclear, researchers have shown that the drug is linked to a 50% increased risk of both dementia and Alzheimer's disease. Common benzodiazepines, such as Xanax and Valium, are frequently used to treat anxiety, sleeplessness, and even convulsions. Although they are prescription drugs, long-term use can seriously harm your brain. According to experts, the drug numbs the entire brain by going straight to the central nervous system, which helps with anxiety and alcohol withdrawal symptoms. However, over time, it may also cause dementia.
Anti-Depressants
Certain antidepressants may potentially cause dementia, according to medical professionals. Amitriptyline and other tricyclic antidepressants, which are also recommended to treat pain and aid in sleep, cause disorientation and increase the risk of falls. Researchers looked at the medical data of approximately 300,000 individuals without dementia and over 40,000 with dementia in a 2018 study that was published in the british Medical Journal. To determine whether there was a connection between these medications and a subsequent diagnosis of dementia, they examined prescribing data going back up to 20 years. According to the findings, people who had used the medications four to twenty years prior had a higher chance of receiving a dementia diagnosis.
Some drugs, however, raise the possibility of robbing the people they touch of their freedom and memory. Since most medications alter your brain when they pass across the blood-brain barrier, doctors think that at least five medications are connected to cognitive decline. They are:
Antihistamines
Antihistamines, which are used to treat allergies and include the active component diphenhydramine, can increase the risk of dementia more quickly. Over-the-counter antihistamines cause sleepiness, according to experts, and many individuals use them as a sleep aid. In addition to causing a general loss in health, doctors warn that frequent use of this prescription may be detrimental to your brain. In a 2019 assessment of possibly inappropriate drugs for older individuals, the American Geriatrics Society included diphenhydramine, a kind of antihistamine, because of the possibility of adverse effects.
Some of these include:
Confusion
Blurred vision
Constipation
Dizziness
Drowsiness
Dry mouth
Fatigue
Urinary retention
Opiates
Opiates are typical medications used to treat pain following surgery, injuries, or cancer. Although it functions similarly to morphine in the brain, experts warn that it can have long-term consequences, such as drowsiness, which can lead to dementia. According to studies, opiate users are 15% more likely to acquire dementia.
Heartburn medication
In addition to the first two, omeprazole, a popular prescription used to treat digestive disorders including heartburn, also raises the chance of dementia. According to doctors, taking omeprazole sometimes is okay, but taking it frequently might raise the quantity of beta-amyloid in your brain, which is one of the primary causes of cognitive decline and early-onset dementia. It reduces the amount of acid in your stomach by acting as a proton pump inhibitor, or PPI.
Benzodiazepines
Although the exact relationship between benzodiazepines and dementia is unclear, researchers have shown that the drug is linked to a 50% increased risk of both dementia and Alzheimer's disease. Common benzodiazepines, such as Xanax and Valium, are frequently used to treat anxiety, sleeplessness, and even convulsions. Although they are prescription drugs, long-term use can seriously harm your brain. According to experts, the drug numbs the entire brain by going straight to the central nervous system, which helps with anxiety and alcohol withdrawal symptoms. However, over time, it may also cause dementia.
Anti-Depressants
Certain antidepressants may potentially cause dementia, according to medical professionals. Amitriptyline and other tricyclic antidepressants, which are also recommended to treat pain and aid in sleep, cause disorientation and increase the risk of falls. Researchers looked at the medical data of approximately 300,000 individuals without dementia and over 40,000 with dementia in a 2018 study that was published in the british Medical Journal. To determine whether there was a connection between these medications and a subsequent diagnosis of dementia, they examined prescribing data going back up to 20 years. According to the findings, people who had used the medications four to twenty years prior had a higher chance of receiving a dementia diagnosis.
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