# Amitriptyline and Dementia
**URL:** https://mvertigo.org/t/amitriptyline-and-dementia/23842
**Category:** Antidepressants
**Tags:** amitriptyline, dementia, medication, migraine
**Created:** [November 5, 2024, 1:40pm UTC](https://mvertigo.org/t/amitriptyline-and-dementia/23842 "2024-11-05T13:40:44Z")
**Posts on this page:** 7
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Lindamarie](https://mvertigo.org/u/Lindamarie)
#### Post date: [November 5, 2024, 1:40pm UTC](https://mvertigo.org/t/amitriptyline-and-dementia/23842/1 "2024-11-05T13:40:44Z")
Hey
I’ve been reading about amitriptyline and dementia comes up several times. Is anyone here concerned about the fact that we are taking something that may cause dementia and is that at super high doses? I’m on 15 mg. Just concerned and wondering the opinions of you guys
Thank you
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### Author:  [@turnitaround](https://mvertigo.org/u/turnitaround)
#### Post date: [November 5, 2024, 2:04pm UTC](https://mvertigo.org/t/amitriptyline-and-dementia/23842/2 "2024-11-05T14:04:28Z")
Please remember to populate the Category 🙂
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### Author:  [@addy15](https://mvertigo.org/u/addy15)
#### Post date: [November 5, 2024, 2:06pm UTC](https://mvertigo.org/t/amitriptyline-and-dementia/23842/3 "2024-11-05T14:06:39Z")
I don’t know about that drug, but doctors have told me to stay away from opioids because they can cause early stages of dementia. I guess it makes changes in your brain. But I feel if you find something that gives you your life back, you have to weigh the options.
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### Author:  [@turnitaround](https://mvertigo.org/u/turnitaround)
#### Post date: [November 5, 2024, 3:38pm UTC](https://mvertigo.org/t/amitriptyline-and-dementia/23842/4 "2024-11-05T15:38:07Z")
Yes, there is a strong _association_:
> **[Anticholinergic drugs and risk of dementia: case-control study](https://www.bmj.com/content/361/bmj.k1315)**
>
> Objectives To estimate the association between the duration and level of exposure to different classes of anticholinergic drugs and subsequent incident dementia.
>
> Design Case-control study.
>
> Setting General practices in the UK contributing to the...
But note:
> **Conclusions** A robust association between some classes of anticholinergic drugs and future dementia incidence was observed. This could be caused by a class specific effect, or by drugs being used for very early symptoms of dementia. Future research should examine anticholinergic drug classes as opposed to anticholinergic effects intrinsically or summing scales for anticholinergic exposure.
The lower the dose, the better, imho. 15mg really is a very minimal dose though.
I was on 20mg for 1.5 years and got off it as soon as I felt it was not significantly improving my symptoms (which still persisted)
My oto-neurologist urged me to come off it too, stating that it was “not healthy” to be on the drug for longer than necessary.
Initially life was unbearable without the control it provided though. I particularly appreciated the way it controlled nausea.
I felt cognitively “brighter” once I was off the medication and my bowel behaviour returned to normal which was a big bonus.
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### Author:  [@DizzyandConfused](https://mvertigo.org/u/DizzyandConfused)
#### Post date: [November 5, 2024, 6:55pm UTC](https://mvertigo.org/t/amitriptyline-and-dementia/23842/5 "2024-11-05T18:55:02Z")
Agreed its quality of life now over a risk in the future, a risk that might never happen. Its something to be aware of and advisable to be on the drug for the minimum possible time, but everything in life carries a risk. Crossing the road, driving a car, pretty much everything we do.
Many of the studies on anticholinergenics are carried out on people over 65 who may be taking several drugs of this nature, rather than younger people. They are already at higher risk of dementia due to age, the blood brain barrier being less robust and other factors.
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### Author:  [@turnitaround](https://mvertigo.org/u/turnitaround)
#### Post date: [November 6, 2024, 1:51pm UTC](https://mvertigo.org/t/amitriptyline-and-dementia/23842/6 "2024-11-06T13:51:11Z")
Yeah although most of our drugs cross that blood brain barrier and that’s kind of the point 🙂
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### Author:  [@sheepdog\_lord](https://mvertigo.org/u/sheepdog_lord)
#### Post date: [November 10, 2024, 6:11pm UTC](https://mvertigo.org/t/amitriptyline-and-dementia/23842/7 "2024-11-10T18:11:15Z")
they increase the risk, but the effect size isn’t overtly powerful. additionally the dosage for migraine prophylaxis is quite minimal and not really at the level that would cause substantial anticholinergic activity. this risk is even lower for younger patients.
its more beneficial to your longterm health to get your migraine under control than to worry about the anticholinergic effects of these drugs