There's a good reason why certain medications are referred to as over the counter: they are generally safe with very minor side effects, and you can buy and take them even without the prescription of a doctor.
However, it looks like that these OTC drugs can do more harm than good in the long run, especially when it comes to increasing your risk of dementia.
A new study that has just been recently published in JAMA Internal Medicine points out that a long-term use of certain OTC drugs drives the risk of developing dementia among older people.
Although the study didn't name any brand, these drugs have anti-cholinergic effect. This is normally found in medications used in dizziness especially vertigo, insomnia, respiratory disorders including asthma and chronic bronchitis, and gastrointestinal disorders such as gastritis.
A team from University of Washington headed by Dr. Shelly Gray initiated the study that was participated by more than 3,000 men and women at least 65 years old. These individuals didn't have dementia before the beginning of the study. They then browsed through their pharmacy and medical records, identified which ones would have anticholinergic effect, determined the dose and frequency of intake, and then compared these data to the dementia risk of the subject after 10 years.
For the study, the drugs that were investigated were involved in treating depression, dealing with allergies and hay fever, and managing incontinence. About a fifth of the medications were brought over the counter by the study's participants.
They discovered that those who took the medications on a daily basis for the next 3 years had an increased risk of the disorder. To be specific, about 797 of the subjects were diagnosed with dementia. As to the medications, the individuals took at least 10 mg a day of doxepin, 5 mg a day of oxybutynin, and 4 mg a day of diphenhydramine over the next 3 years.
This doesn't mean, however, that these types of drugs should be avoided at all costs. Rather, drug management should be considered. For example, the doctors may provide an alternaive, and if that's not possible, these drugs should be given in low doses and at a short prescription period.
