EXCERPT: Many common over-the-counter drugs contain anticholinergic ingredients, including antihistamine medications sold under the brand names Benadryl and Chlor-Trimeton, sleep aids such as Tylenol PM, Aleve PM and Unisom, the motion sickness medication Dramamine and various cold medicines. READ MORE…
A June 2019 study[10] in JAMA that assessed the dementia risk associated with various anticholinergic drugs found the link was strongest for:
-
Antidepressants (tricyclic antidepressants such as imipramine,[11] doxepine or amitriptyline have strong anticholinergic effects, whereas SSRIs such as citalopram and duloxetine have lower anticholinergic effects[12])
-
Antiparkinson’s drugs
-
Antipsychotics (such as clozapine,[13] chlorpromazine or olanzapine[14])
-
Bladder antimuscarinics (such as oxybutynin or tolterodine,[15] prescribed for overactive bladder)
-
Antiepileptic drugs (such as oxcarbazepine or carbamazepine[16])
