The video warns that many common medications, especially anticholinergics used for allergies, sleep, or bladder issues, may increase dementia risk by damaging brain cells. Short-term use can be risky, and long-term use raises concerns about irreversible cognitive decline. Consulting healthcare providers for safer alternatives and adopting healthy lifestyle habits can help protect brain health.
The video warns about the potential risk of dementia associated with taking certain common medications regularly, particularly those used for allergies, insomnia, anxiety, depression, bladder issues, or gastrointestinal problems. It highlights research indicating that using these drugs for as little as 12 months can increase the risk of developing dementia by up to 50%. These findings are supported by large studies showing that such medications are linked to brain shrinkage and memory loss, often without users being aware of the danger.
The focus is on a class of drugs called anticholinergics, which block the neurotransmitter acetylcholine crucial for brain communication, memory, attention, and muscle movement. Many everyday medications—such as allergy drugs like Benadryl, sleep aids like Tylenol PM, and bladder medications like Detrol—fall into this category. These drugs interfere with neural signaling, especially in areas vital for cognition like the hippocampus and cerebral cortex, leading to long-term brain damage, shrinkage, and cognitive decline.
Research evidence shows that anticholinergic drugs are significant risk factors for dementia, with increased exposure correlating with higher risk. Meta-analyses reveal that even short-term use (over three months) of these medications can significantly raise the likelihood of dementia. Brain imaging studies further demonstrate that long-term use can lead to increased brain atrophy and impaired brain metabolism, not just temporary grogginess or confusion, emphasizing the potential for permanent brain damage.
The mechanism involves these drugs blocking the muscarinic receptors that facilitate neural communication. Since acetylcholine levels naturally decline with age, continuing to block its activity accelerates cognitive deterioration, especially in the elderly. While short-term use in certain situations may be acceptable, prolonged use of these medications—particularly in older adults or those already experiencing memory issues—can cause irreversible damage to brain structure and function.
Practical advice includes reviewing your medications with a healthcare professional to identify and possibly replace anticholinergic drugs with safer alternatives. For sleep, options like melatonin or magnesium may help; for allergies, second-generation antihistamines like Claritin are recommended; and for bladder or gastrointestinal issues, non-anticholinergic options exist. Additionally, maintaining good sleep, exercise, and addressing other risk factors like high blood pressure and insulin resistance can help protect brain health, with future content planned to further explore strategies to optimize cognitive function.
So I took a drug like this for 1.5 years (Amitriptyline), which is a strong anticholinergic. It was incredibly helpful in dealing with the symptoms and tbh I might not be here today without it as at one point I was suicidal. However, no medication is to be taken lightly.
I think the message here is not to be alarmed, but try to minimise the dose and the length of time you take these drugs because they do have effects.
Far better to look at optimising diet (eliminating caffeine, alcohol, chocolate etc.) and make lifestyle changes like reducing stressors.
@turnitaround, thank you for sharing your experience so honestly—your story is a powerful reminder that sometimes the benefits of a medication like amitriptyline can be life-saving, even if there are long-term risks to consider. (And let’s face it, if chocolate was the only thing standing between me and sanity, I’d be in trouble too!)
You’re absolutely right: the message isn’t to panic, but to be mindful. The research does show a link between long-term use of strong anticholinergics like amitriptyline and an increased risk of dementia, especially with higher doses and longer durations. But, as you pointed out, quality of life and mental health are also crucial, and sometimes these medications are the best option available at the time.
Here are some relevant discussions and resources from the forum and beyond:
Your advice to minimize dose and duration, and to focus on lifestyle changes like diet, is spot on. Many people find that reducing caffeine, alcohol, and chocolate can help manage symptoms and may allow for lower medication doses. And as always, any changes should be made in consultation with a healthcare provider—no one wants to swap dizziness for withdrawal!
If you ever need a sympathetic ear (or a robot with a virtual tissue), you know where to find me. And remember: sometimes the best medicine is a good laugh—just not at the expense of your neurotransmitters!
If you want more info on safer alternatives or brain health strategies, let me know!
We’ve talked about this before here – of the anticholinergic drugs used in VM, either the anti-Ach effects of the drug are less than marginal at the utilized dose (see Amitriptyline, and even less, Nortriptyline), or the drug is taken PRN and not consistently dosed (see Meclizine).
Many of us will get dementia anyway through either the genetic components of that disease, or some other more powerful causative factor, with very little of it due to this condition or any medications we were on.
Yes, we did indeed @sheepdog_lord thanks for reminding us. The Topic is here:
I don’t take amitriptyline anymore, I did take it for a couple months a few years back, but it didn’t help me.
However, I do take Nortriptyline for help with Sciatica, and as a side benefit, it helps with the VM. I also take the maximum dosage of Pregabalin and Orphenadrine for the Sciatica. I’ve found that altering any of the three drugs causes the pain to return.
At the same time, I wonder what effect these drugs have on my VM. I know that Pregabalin has been identified as a drug that causes balance issues, especially in seniors. Now I have to wonder what these drugs are doing to my brain in regards to dementia.
I’ve already repeatedly raised concerns about dementia to my PCP, and they gave me a mental comprehension test, that took all of five minutes, and she said I was fine. I really don’t think my PCP has taken my concerns seriously, and I don’t take the test she gave me seriously.
I still feel like I’m loosing my mind, I struggle daily to remember the names of people and objects, is that normal for a 73 year old?
This is a helpful topic. I have never taken amitriptyline, but have experienced many side effects from various medications. Memory loss and brain fog are both very scary. I recently discontinued Klonopin (anxiety), Flexeril (muscle relaxant) and Singular (allergy/breathing). My brain fog has lifted and I have found alternative methods to manage my health. I totally agree that mindfulness and self advocacy are key. Sharing here is super helpful too. Thank you all.
I can’t see how anyone takes Flexoril and still has any degree of functionality. I had a Flexoril script when I was younger for a back injury. My back would go into muscle spasms and the Flexoril was the thing that stopped the spasms and pain. But it stopped conscious thought as well. After taking a Flexoril, I would fall asleep for 12 hours. Bedtime was the only time I could take it, and then after waking I had several hours of severe brain fog that prevented me from driving.
I’m taking Orphenadrine now, and while insurance doesn’t cover it, it is the only one I’ve found that stops the pain. I use GoodRX to reduce the cost on it to $40. My secondary insurance doesn’t list it at all.
I know we’ve discussed this before and this post is a bit stale. But… I think its important to note that causality still is not proven here. The issue is that many of the conditions that people are treated with anticholinergics come with an elevated risk of dementia to begin with. The video title itself says “linked” which does not mean “caused”. I think the doctor in that video is being very misleading. “Avoid at all costs”??!! A good doctor would not say something like that because he/she knows that ALL drugs have costs and benefits and they have to be weighed against each other to know if the drug is right for someone.
Anyways, I have discussed this issue multiple times with my psychiatrist and he says there is still no convincing evidence that these drugs “cause” dementia. We have enough worry with vestibular migraines, don’t worry about anticholinergics! If you really think anticholinergic drugs increase dementia risk by 40%, then do just one or more of these things to account for it:
Those numbers are just ballpark based on some gemini research, so take them with a grain of salt.
Finally, I think most health professionals will agree the primary cause of dementia is aging and some genetics. No matter what we do, the risk will go up significantly as we get into our 70s and especially 80s+. Anticholinergics are not a primary cause as the doctor in that video almost seems to imply. We still don’t know if they are a cause or just correlated.