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Dementia Risk & Commen Inhaler

27 Replies

Did anyone know risk of dementia from taking popular COPD ASTHMA inhalers use to treat lung disease.

Guess that’s why doctors not really intrested in treating those with lung dieases proactivly AS if lung diease don’t get us drugs used to treat it increas risk of use developing dementia.

One could argue that’s why research is vitally important as this loads of kids take asthma inhalers SO what about there future kids given what we know about errors pass on in our DNA.

.....................................................

Additionally anticholinergics notably improve exercise tolerance in patients with COPD.

Two commonly used anticholinergics in patients with COPD include ipratropium bromide (Atrovent) and tiotropium bromide (Spiriva).

Shocking part of story IS doctors know anticholinergics cause dementia and have done for years.

I don't know about you but given this snipet of information MAKE me wonder if my cognative inpairment is down to copd lack of oxygen

Or anticholinergics burdon inhalers used to treat my copd lung disease.

You dont want to ask about mysterious copd FALLs and what they know about anticholinergics burdun falls.

EDIT:

We can always find a piece of research with contradicts another piece of research and knowledge is growing all of the time as scientists learn more. Please use the many links provided if you wish to research it further.

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27 Replies

Guess it’s all about risk BUT would been nice to be told when given inhalers THEN I might of just asked IS there anything better.

But that smacks at patients choice NOT really in keeping with informed choice MORE just cattle 🐮 going through processes.

Dubba61 profile image
Dubba61 in reply to

This has been on BBC news today. I dare say, they've known this for some time. Again, we aren't considered priority, in informing. I've been given Spiriva as an extra 3rd inhaler. Very dry mouth n cough with it so, was considering coming off it. This makes the decision easier. Ta. 😊✌️🌻

2greys profile image
2greys in reply to Dubba61

Again there is NO mention of Spiriva or any other inhaler.

in reply to 2greys

Here is caption re anticholinergics and copd inhalers

Also i will add even tho am no expert THE lay person can tell if suffering from anticholinergics overload given so called unknown falls incontinance.

But hey what would i know really.

Medicines specifically prescribed for their anticholinergic properties (eg. oxybutynin, benzhexol and benztropine) are well recognised by clinicians.

However, clinicians may be less aware that some medicines prescribed for other purposes also have anticholinergic properties (Table 1).2,6–8 These include the inhaled anticholinergics, ipratropium and tiotropium bromide when prescribed in their usual therapeutic doses. Even medicines with minor anticholinergic properties may contribute to unwanted central and peripheral adverse events.

2greys profile image
2greys in reply to

And...where is the link?

in reply to 2greys

racgp.org.au/afp/2012/janua...

Ribbon36 profile image
Ribbon36

Never heard this before....My Grandmother died of Alzheimers so I already have the family risk....would have been nice to know about this risk as well. Thanks for posting!

in reply to Ribbon36

The talk about anticholinergics burdon and risk but you wont find research on those with COPD and there burdon count UNLESS we ask.

But you are right WOULD of been nice to have been told SO we could ask if this out better AND if not why not.

But that might smack at cost and accoutability.

Things UK hates

Ribbon36 profile image
Ribbon36

I'm in the US and have heard nothing here as well. I take the Atrovent combo in my nebulizer....so it is a higher dose although I have the puffers as well....and used to take the Spireva inhaler too.

in reply to Ribbon36

Well you are in good country YOU could ask food and drig admin ON twitter about it.

Or share post on your social media.

In UK its old boy network but more that talk about it the MORE that will be done

knitter profile image
knitter in reply to Ribbon36

Hi Ribbon, I take Combivent in my nebuliser too.

Ribbon36 profile image
Ribbon36

I don't think our new Pres cares too much about sick people when they are older.....he came into office and raised medical insurance beyond what people could afford.....especially those that are sick and used and needed it.

in reply to Ribbon36

I know lung dieases asthma dont discriminate AND those who can afford to take action DO if aware.

Then things usally drip down the line .. sorry to hear about health care system or lack OF and insurance companies have lot to anser for AS am sure this will be like CF and how they rip those suffers off when it comes to insurance.

Symes profile image
Symes

That’s me screwed then. Aside from being on inhalers practically my whole life, I’ve been on anti-depressant medication for the last 5 years.

😔

PMRPete profile image
PMRPete

Where does the article mention inhalers for COPD?

"The biggest effect was in drugs used for bladder disorders; such as oxybutynin and tolterodine; antidepressants, including amitriptyline and paroxetine; and Parkinson's disease, including benzatropine and procyclidine.

The study did not find an increased dementia risk from anticholinergics commonly used for stomach cramps, hay fever and travel sickness."

independent.co.uk/news/heal...

in reply to PMRPete

Hi you might need to read more than one study source like a say look up anticholinergics burdon

Study was BMJ in origan not caption from newspaper.

And sure why would they talk about inhalers LIKE they would BUT there it is in black and white anticholinergics in inhalers.

Like i say find me artical or research into anticholinergics burdon and copd.

PMRPete profile image
PMRPete in reply to

"But the new study — which was led by the University of East Anglia (UEA) in the United Kingdom and is now published in The BMJ — discovered that long-term use of only certain types of anticholinergics is linked to higher dementia risk."

medicalnewstoday.com/articl...

ONLY CERTAIN TYPES are linked!

2greys profile image
2greys in reply to PMRPete

.....and here is the BMJ link

bmj.com/content/361/bmj.k1315

There is NO mention of Ipratropium bromide nor Tiotropium bromide!

&

University of East Anglia

uea.ac.uk/about/-/antidepre...

PMRPete profile image
PMRPete in reply to

Anticholinergic drugs and risk of dementia: case-control study, BMJ

bmj.com/content/361/bmj.k13...

As 2greys remarks "There is NO mention of Ipratropium bromide nor Tiotropium bromide!"

BMJ 2018; 361 doi: doi.org/10.1136/bmj.k1315 (Published 25 April 2018)

Ribbon36 profile image
Ribbon36 in reply to PMRPete

I wonder if that includes nortriptyline as being another tricyclic antidepressants or just the specific one that you mentioned.

PMRPete profile image
PMRPete in reply to Ribbon36

dementiacarestrategies.com/...

Ribbon36 profile image
Ribbon36 in reply to PMRPete

Thanks Pete....It says that nortriptyline has lower AC affects. I took that for panic attacks back in my thirties for many years....but then I see pain killers to which I have had to take for brief periods as well.....like when I had my ankle crushed in a car accident.....I guess there is little possibility to escape things like this completely.....

O2Trees profile image
O2Trees

Ive known about this for a while and it's one reason, with dementia in the family, why I haven't wanted to take anticholinergics (Spiriva etc). I'll be sticking with my Symbicort. Good to hear that Ceterizine used for hay fever etc isn't a risk.

in reply to O2Trees

Hi O2Trees where did you hear about it.

O2Trees profile image
O2Trees in reply to

To be honest I can't remember Jeff, which probably means it was a while ago and it's kind of sunk into the far reaches of my (so-called!) brain.

2greys profile image
2greys in reply to O2Trees

Yes, I can confirm that this story has been around for quite a while. Like Jan 2015 at the least.

news.medicine.iu.edu/releas...

knitter profile image
knitter

Atrovent is classed as an anticholinergic medication I think. I have taken that for years.

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