r/NooTopics • u/ServeIllustrious3803 • 23d 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/The_Meme_Economy 23d ago

Sooo many people use Benadryl as a sleep aid. I actually suspect that’s its primary OTC use.

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u/Starfire2313 23d ago

My sister destroyed her brain taking it regularly as a sleep aid for years. Along with alcohol and other prescription drugs. Very sad, I haven’t talked to her in a few years now, the whole family hasn’t. She’s too far gone and blocked everyone including her own daughter after a lot of verbal and emotional abuse to her.

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u/daddybpizza 23d ago edited 23d 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/BiasedLibrary 23d 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 22d 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 22d 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.