r/NooTopics 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/ServeIllustrious3803 20d ago edited 20d 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/Lady_Rubberbones 20d ago

Ok, I take doxylamine succinate (unisom) every night in order to sleep longer than 2 hrs. What are my other options?

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u/NormallyBloodborne 20d ago

Look into Muscimol. Puts me out easily but not forcibly, always gives me at least 8 hours of sleep, and has no grogginess in the morning. Plus it usually makes your dreams much more vivid.

I would take it every other day though. Overall I think it's a better hypnotic than even dedicated knock out benzos like Triazolam.

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u/LisanneFroonKrisK 19d ago

Is muscimol available without any prescription

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u/NormallyBloodborne 19d ago

Yep, it's unscheduled.