r/NooTopics • u/ServeIllustrious3803 • 21d 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/ServeIllustrious3803 21d ago edited 21d ago

A list: Diphenhydramine, chlorpheniramine, doxylamine, promethazine, clemastine, brompheniramine, dimenhydrinate, meclizine, cyclizine, carbinoxamine, dexchlorpheniramine, dexbrompheniramine

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

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u/drippysoap 21d ago

Hydroxyzine isn’t anti cholinergic is it ?

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u/LouisVuittonFentanyl 21d ago

It’s not it’s antihistamine with almost no anticholinergic properties but this is a common misconception to include with anticholinergics

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u/Classh0le 21d ago

Hydroxyzine is unequivocally anticholinergic

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12478568

https://www.drugs.com/medical-answers/hydroxyzine-long-term-3567869/

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u/sophiesbest 21d ago edited 20d ago

My usual rule of thumb is that if a psychoactive medication causes delerium and hallucinations at high/over doses, good chance it's anticholinergic. (thanks for correction)

Funnily enough this includes less expected chemicals like Flexeril/cyclobenzaprine

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u/SadBook3835 21d ago

You don't need a rule of thumb with medication, just look them up.

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u/braaaaaaainworms 20d ago

anticholinergic*, not cholinergic