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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 9 of 9. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Stargazer2 on June 26, 2019, at 0:29:35
So if you are on an anticholinergic for depression, psychosis or other diseases there is a risk of developing dementia.
You will have to determine if your meds are In this category of drugs and bring it to your doctors attention to see what you should do. I would at the very least try and reduce my dosage to reduce the risk that has been associated with the meds. I think Remeron, amitriptylline and Seroquel may be in that category but look your meds up to be sure.
Posted by PeterMartin on June 26, 2019, at 0:51:51
In reply to Anticholinergics associated with dementia, posted by Stargazer2 on June 26, 2019, at 0:29:35
Yea I saw that article that's making that rounds but it's causal. Maybe people who are more prone to dementia seek help for other psych issues and thus get put on psych meds that often affect ACh.
Also Tricyclic antidepressants are said to be the most Anticholinergic meds there are. This 2016 study says Tricyclics actually reduce the risk of dementia: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26845268
The other types up it slightly but point is it's more likely that we really just don't know at the moment. For everything you take that might increase the risk there might be obscure sh*t you're taking the lowers the risk.
I mean I currently take Metformin and have been for over a year to offset MAOi weight gain. Some studies have shown that reduces the risk of dementia (although other conflict that). Lithium....some studies find it reduces the risk of dementia....
We just need to hope that dementia itself is understood better before we reach an age where it starts to take hold. On a long enough timeline I think most humans reach the point where their brain dont' function as they used to. Hopefully there'll be better medicines in the future.
But by all means if you're taking an Anticholinergic that's unnecessary maybe this would be a reason to talk to your doc.....
Posted by linkadge on June 26, 2019, at 11:41:33
In reply to Anticholinergics associated with dementia, posted by Stargazer2 on June 26, 2019, at 0:29:35
Remeron is not anticholinergic but amitriptyline is and Seroquel is too (to a lesser extent).
There are degrees of anticholinergic activity. Some TCA, for example are only weakly anticholinergic.
Linkadge
Posted by Stargazer2 on June 26, 2019, at 20:56:46
In reply to Re: Anticholinergics associated with dementia, posted by linkadge on June 26, 2019, at 11:41:33
Unfortunately my age is now an issue after having depression for more than 40 years. My rule of thumb is reducing all meds to the lowest dose possible and I do this on my own and almost always can lower a dose. I see a few on this site on on extreme doses of some meds. Unless I was convinced that a very high level was warranted I would not stay on certain meds and certain dosages for long. Just my belief. I know when my doc ordered an anti psychotic I already knew I would not increase the dose much because I feared TD. The fact that I am still alive shows how far I have come. I only bring up things that I feel are important for others to know about it...not to say it will work for you but because it might. I do not over think or over analyze the meds, how they work, on what neurotransmitter system they impact because I rule nothing out. I have gotten off of this site because I was spending way too much time living as a depressive and not living life. I do understand that it does become your life at times but hopefully it is not your life. There is a difference. I only wish improvement for everyone. I definitely would not be here unless I took control of what I would take, and I have an amazing doctor who gives me a great deal of control over my situation. He knows I have become the expert and he is there when my situation unravels as depression will over and over as long as you are alive. Mine has never gone away completely. I now know it is a generic flaw and not a reaction to a bad life or negative situations. Healing thoughts for all.
Posted by Stargazer2 on June 26, 2019, at 20:56:48
In reply to Re: Anticholinergics associated with dementia, posted by linkadge on June 26, 2019, at 11:41:33
Unfortunately my age is now an issue after having depression for more than 40 years. My rule of thumb is reducing all meds to the lowest dose possible and I do this on my own and almost always can lower a dose. I see a few on this site on on extreme doses of some meds. Unless I was convinced that a very high level was warranted I would not stay on certain meds and certain dosages for long. Just my belief. I know when my doc ordered an anti psychotic I already knew I would not increase the dose much because I feared TD. The fact that I am still alive shows how far I have come. I only bring up things that I feel are important for others to know about it...not to say it will work for you but because it might. I do not over think or over analyze the meds, how they work, on what neurotransmitter system they impact because I rule nothing out. I have gotten off of this site because I was spending way too much time living as a depressive and not living life. I do understand that it does become your life at times but hopefully it is not your life. There is a difference. I only wish improvement for everyone. I definitely would not be here unless I took control of what I would take, and I have an amazing doctor who gives me a great deal of control over my situation. He knows I have become the expert and he is there when my situation unravels as depression will over and over as long as you are alive. Mine has never gone away completely. I now know it is a generic flaw and not a reaction to a bad life or negative situations. Healing thoughts for all.
Posted by PeterMartin on June 27, 2019, at 13:14:17
In reply to Re: Anticholinergics associated with dementia, posted by Stargazer2 on June 26, 2019, at 20:56:48
Have you ever been on Lithium? I searched pub med a lot yesterday regarding dementia and it does seem like Lithium could be helpful. Areas w/ higher lithium levels in the ground water have less incidence of dementia - stuff like that.
I know there was a study a few years back that showed continued use of Lithium also leads to increased grey matter in the brain.
I have a ton of old Lithium Carbonate. I used to enjoy it at 600mg along w/ Marplan. After a couple years though I realized Lithium (+Marplan) was causing my blood pressure to get very high (160/95 average). At that point I came off Lithium.
I may try to "microdose" it a bit though....I don't think it takes much to get some benefit.
Posted by Lamdage22 on June 30, 2019, at 21:35:09
In reply to Re: Anticholinergics associated with dementia, posted by PeterMartin on June 27, 2019, at 13:14:17
I also think it has anti-suicidal effects. I take 225mg
Posted by Hordak on July 1, 2019, at 19:18:35
In reply to Anticholinergics associated with dementia, posted by Stargazer2 on June 26, 2019, at 0:29:35
Remeron / Mirtazapine doesn't exhibit any meaningful anticholinergic properties. It's a strong antihistamine.
> So if you are on an anticholinergic for depression, psychosis or other diseases there is a risk of developing dementia.
> You will have to determine if your meds are In this category of drugs and bring it to your doctors attention to see what you should do. I would at the very least try and reduce my dosage to reduce the risk that has been associated with the meds. I think Remeron, amitriptylline and Seroquel may be in that category but look your meds up to be sure.
Posted by Hordak on July 1, 2019, at 19:22:26
In reply to Re: Anticholinergics associated with dementia, posted by linkadge on June 26, 2019, at 11:41:33
Gillman's favorite Nortriptyline... :=D
> There are degrees of anticholinergic activity. Some TCA, for example are only weakly anticholinergic.
>
> Linkadge
This is the end of the thread.
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