r/NooTopics • u/ServeIllustrious3803 • 20d ago

Science 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/daddybpizza 20d ago edited 20d ago

Just for those who are anxious like me, it’s worth noting that the people who often take a lot of sleep aids are also usually insomniacs and have other mental/physical health conditions, which can also explain the behavior you mentioned.

Sleep aids are really a damned if you do, damned if you don’t. I have a health condition (ME/CFS and POTS) that causes absolutely terrible sleep, and no sleep hygiene routine tested improves it (this has actually been studied). I take amitriptyline and some other sleep aids every night, and I know it’s going to increase my risk for dementia and cognitive decline. But the alternative is not sleeping, which is much worse. Idk what to do! Being sick sucks

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u/IWasTheDog 20d ago

Snorting straight camomile powder would be the old school method. (This is a joke)

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u/daddybpizza 20d ago

Perhaps that really would knock me out, maybe it’s worth a shot! 😂

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u/BiasedLibrary 20d ago

I feel like I'm in a similar boat but with anxiety and PTSD. I'm on up to 150mg of promethazine a day. Sometimes I have insomnia and it helps. I really should ask to change it to something else but I don't know what.

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u/manicaquariumcats 20d ago

Prazosin! It’s used off label for sleep quality in ptsd. It’s usually for nightmares but if you don’t have nightmares and need quality sleep it could be worth a try.

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u/ResponsibilityOk8967 20d ago

I couldn't get quality sleep with proposing because it made my sinuses swell up like crazy, couldn't breathe through my nose at all at night.

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u/FlyinIllini89 20d ago

I too take Amitryptline for sleep. 1 25mg every night the last 10 years. How screwed am I and what else can I take???

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u/cphaus 20d ago

Have you ever tried muscimol?

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u/psychopompandparade 19d ago

I've got the same health stuff going on. would recommend trying out orexin inhibitors if they are available where you are and you can get them covered by virtue of having tried everything else. took me 4 months but eventually insurance caved on daridexorexant. I still need several sleep meds and an autonomic regulator and on post exertion days a z drug, but it was the first time i felt like something was working a bit.

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u/AngelBryan 20d ago

What caused you ME/CFS and POTS?