Combining Commonly Used Drugs Linked to a Greater Risk of Death and Declining Brain Function

New Study: Combining Commonly Used Drugs Linked to a Greater Risk of Death and Declining Brain Function

The findings of anew study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society further support the importance of having your doctor regularly review your prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) medicines to ensure the additive risks of side-effects do not outweigh the benefits.

This study specifically looked at prescription and over-the-counter medicines that are known to affect a chemical in the brain called acetylcholine. Acetylcholine is important for passing messages from nerve cell to nerve cell, but many common drugs interfere with it as a side effect. Medicines that block acetylcholine activity have the potential to cause side effects such as constipation, drowsiness, confusion, memory problems, difficulty thinking or focusing, dry mouth, blurred vision, dizziness, and slowing of urination. Examples of medicines with anticholinergic activity and a potential to cause these side effects include antidepressants such as amitriptyline (Elavil), imipramine (Tofranil) and clomipramine (Anafranil), tranquilizers such as chlorpromazine and trifluoperazine, bladder medication such as oxybutynin (Ditropan) and antihistamines such as chlorpheniramine (Chlor-Trimeton) and diphenhydramine (Benadryl).

In the current study, eighty medicines were rated for their "anticholinergic" activity. They were ranked 0 for no effect, 1 for a mild effect, 2 for a moderate effect and 3 for a severe effect. A combined score was calculated in 13,000 patients aged 65 or over, by adding together the scores for all the medicines they were taking. The study found that participants with a medicine score of four or more were at an increased risk of death compared to patients taking no anticholinergic drugs. Those taking medicines with a combined score of five or more had lower scores on a cognitive function test which supports previous research showing a possible link between anticholinergic medicines and problems with thought processes.

To see a list of the eighty medicines included in this study, please visit:
http://www.mediguard.org/r/06niGDPqB82

For more information, please visit:
http://www.mediguard.org/r/0YKxoxtQ6Lkg

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WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?

It is important not to jump to conclusions about this new study. This study cannot say that the anticholinergic medicines caused death or reduced brain function - the study merely suggests that there was an association. Further research is needed to understand possible reasons for this link.

This alert is a good reminder for you to attend your routine doctor's appointments for regular monitoring of your health. Since some over-the-counter medicines have anticholinergic side effects, be sure your doctor is aware of all of the medicines and supplements you are taking. Doctors are aware of the risks of combining different drugs and it is a good idea to ask your doctor to regularly review any medicines you take routinely and as needed, including any OTC products.

Please do not panic or stop taking your medication. If you have any concerns about your current medicines, please continue taking your medicines and follow up with your family doctor or pharmacist to discuss your concerns.

For updated risk ratings on all of your registered medications, or to update your medication list, please log into your profile (https://medsafetyalert.mediguard.org/user).

You can also reach your profile by clicking on the link in the top right corner of any page on our web site.

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