Ironically, what I used to use to help me fall asleep is one of the things that keeps me awake at night.
I used a first-generation antihistamine right before bed for ten years. These can quickly make you feel sleepy, as anyone who has taken them for allergies or as a sleep aid will attest.
It has been an essential part of the midlife insomnia toolset for me and many of my friends. However, research is increasingly showing a connection between long-term use and an increased risk of dementia in later life. In my frantic pursuit of uninterrupted sleep, have I unintentionally piled up major future issues?
What is the issue, then? Some of these medications, which have been available for almost 80 years, are marketed as short-term sleep aids.
Allergies, motion sickness, nausea, and insomnia can be effectively treated with brands like Piriton, Phenergan, Nytol (not the herbal one), and Boots Sleepeaze. These brands work by preventing histamine, a chemical released by the immune system to protect the body, which causes allergic symptoms.
Furthermore, according to Dr. Ahmad Khundakar, dean of integrated science and associate professor of pharmacy at Teesside University in Middlesbrough, “they also block the release of a brain chemical called acetylcholine.”Because it controls functions like thinking and attention, this molecule is essential to brain function.
I’m worried about this. Long-term acetylcholine-interfering medication use has been associated with cognitive deterioration and a higher risk of dementia in older persons.
According to a US research of 3,500 women and men over 65, the cumulative intake of these medications raised the risk of dementia.
As a 53-year-old, I’m becoming more concerned about my excessive use of antihistamines, writes Alice Smellie
Pharmacists claim that some drugs contain short-acting antihistamines, so you must take a tablet every four to six hours.
For this reason, at the age of 53, I’m becoming more concerned about my excessive use of antihistamines. It is important to note that I am solely responsible for this, not the drug. If you show a middle-aged woman a sleeping solution, you can bet your bottom dollar that she will accept it despite the cautions about “short-term use only.” Or maybe I’m just particularly stupid.
They have been a part of my life for decades, which is the problem. I experienced terrible hay fever as a young child. The vividly coloured liquids in the two brown glass bottles my parents always kept in the refrigerator were the antihistamines that kept me functioning throughout the summer.
I used more contemporary drugs as an adult, such loratadine, but I had sleeplessness in my late 30s (which, now that I think about it, was probably perimenopause).
I tried a drink of the allergy syrup I’d purchased for the kids one evening, recalling that it usually made me sleepy, and sure enough, I quickly fell asleep.
Over the course of the following several years, this developed into a habit, and I eventually found myself taking it in pill form most nights of the year (which is, as I mentioned, very discouraged).
It turned into a crutch, and as life got busier and more hectic, sleep felt elusive without the pleasant forgetfulness I thought one pill would bring.
Pharmacy associate professor Antihistamines, according to Dr. Ahmad Khundakar, disrupt a molecule essential to brain function.
I now worry that there will be a cost because my memory is sporadic and I frequently struggle to find the proper word.
I’m not by myself. Camilla, a friend of mine who is in her fifties, claims to share the same fear. For years, I’ve taken an antihistamine two or three times a week to help me fall asleep. I’m afraid I’m putting issues off till later.
Do we have reason to be afraid? The existence of an association is undeniable. However, the best way to characterise these medications is as a “modifiable risk.”
Dr. Khundakar says, “I’d be cautious about saying these drugs cause dementia.”Usually, the underlying illness process is already present. However, excessive use of these medications can undoubtedly exacerbate dementia and have long-term effects on cognition. Acetylcholine activity in the brain is significantly reduced in Alzheimer’s disease and dementia with Lewy bodies, two of the most prevalent types of dementia.
I’m embarrassed to acknowledge that I have dismissed my usage with a casual “Oh!” (false surprise) “Do they make you feel sleepy?”
Wendy Lee, the professional and governance manager at Well Pharmacy, is a little taken aback by my revelation. For instance, Piriton’s antihistamine has a short half-life, so you must take a tablet every four to six hours. If you have a daily allergy, a chemist will likely enquire why you need it and suggest a substitute.
Fortunately, second-generation antihistamines, such as loratadine, cetirizine hydrochloride, and fexofenadine (brand names include Clarityn, Piriteze, and Allevia), which I swear by for my hay fever, do not prevent the release of acetylcholine. This is especially true this year, as the Met Office issued a red alert last month due to “very high” pollen levels.
Lee adds that antihistamines sold for sleep issues, such Boots’ Sleepeaze, should only be used occasionally and for as little time as is advised.
Dr. Neil Stanley, a sleep expert, cautions that chronic sleeplessness is another risk factor for dementia and that sleep deprivation is likely more harmful than using antihistamines.
“The thing about these first-generation antihistamines is that they don’t keep you asleep and the effect will only last for four days,” he adds, adding that I was wasting my time.
I argue that I took them for years. “Placebo effect,” he remarks somewhat suddenly. Oh no.
Regarding dementia risk, Dr. Khundakar notes that although the underlying reason is typically unknown, there are fortunately many things we can do.”Genetics is only part of the story for the common, late-onset type of dementia,” he adds. “In general, anything that’s good for your heart is good for your brain.” Exercise is therefore believed to improve cognitive function. Excessive alcohol intake, poor nutrition, and smoking are all recognised risk factors.
Fortunately, I stopped taking antihistamines three years ago when I reached fifty. At the same time, I started exercising more, made significant dietary improvements, and recently started using a vagus nerve gadget called SONA, which has helped me sleep better.
Many of us are afraid about dementia, yet it makes sense to reduce any chances. Ditching my needless antihistamine habit is part of that.
Before making any changes to your medicine, speak with a doctor.
