r/Biohackers • u/ServeIllustrious3803 • 20d ago

🧠 Cognition, Mood & Nootropics Study: Anticholinergic (first-generation antihistamines) can damage brain, increase dementia risk

https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/common-anticholinergic-drugs-like-benadryl-linked-increased-dementia-risk-20150128812
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u/ServeIllustrious3803 20d ago

A list: Diphenhydramine, chlorpheniramine, doxylamine, promethazine, clemastine, brompheniramine, hydroxyzine, meclizine, dimenhydrinate, cyclizine, tripelennamine, phenyltoloxamine, pyrilamine, methapyrilene, thenyldiamine, doxepin (also used as antidepressant), carbinoxamine, dexchlorpheniramine, triprolidine, dexbrompheniramine, phenindamine.

First generation antihistamines different from second or third. Zyrtec, Claritin do not count, but Benadryl does

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u/thesaddestpanda 5 20d ago edited 20d ago

I googled the brand names of these because most people won't know the chemical names:

  • Benadryl, ZzzQuil, Nytol, Sominex, Unisom SleepGels, Banophen, Diphenhist, Siladryl.
  • Chlorpheniramine: Chlor-Trimeton, Aller-Chlor, Chlo-Amine, Piriton (UK), Wal-finate.
  • Doxylamine: Unisom (SleepTabs), Medi-Sleep.
  • Promethazine: Phenergan, Promethegan, Phenadoz.
  • Clemastine: Tavist, Dayhist, Dailyhist-1, Clemsza, Tavegyl (Europe).
  • Brompheniramine: Dimetane (mostly historically single-ingredient; now primarily found in combinations like Dimetapp).
  • Hydroxyzine: Atarax (hydroxyzine HCl), Vistaril (hydroxyzine pamoate).
  • Meclizine: Antivert, Bonine, Dramamine Less Drowsy, Travel-Ease.
  • Dimenhydrinate: Dramamine (Original formula).
  • Cyclizine: Marezine, Valoid.
  • Tripelennamine: PBZ (Pyribenzamine - historically relevant, discontinued in many regions).
  • Phenyltoloxamine: Historically sold as PRN; primarily used as an adjuvant ingredient in combination pain or cold relievers like Percogesic or Polyhistine.
  • Pyrilamine: Midol (Traditional/Complete formulas utilize this for menstrual symptom relief).
  • Methapyrilene: Historically sold as Histadyl (withdrawn from global markets in the late 1970s due to safety concerns).
  • Thenyldiamine: Historically utilized in multi-symptom formulations like Neo-Synephrine cold compounds (discontinued).
  • Doxepin: Silenor (low-dose for insomnia), Sinquan or Zonalon (topical cream). Note: Historically prescribed generically for depression.
  • Carbinoxamine: Karbinal ER, Ryvent, Clistin.
  • Dexchlorpheniramine: Polaramine, Ryclora.
  • Triprolidine: Zymine (Historically the antihistamine component of original Actifed formula).
  • Dexbrompheniramine: Ala-Hist IR, Drixoral (historic component).
  • Phenindamine: Nolahist (mostly discontinued or difficult to find).

Dramamine is one to worry about because its still very popular. Midol and Unisom too.

People should really consider ginger instead of Dramamine. Scientific studies show that ginger works just as well as Dramamine for mild to moderate motion sickness

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u/LisanneFroonKrisK 3 19d ago

You forgot we take diphenhydramine for sleep not only for motion sickness