Taken 10mg Promethazine for sleep for just over 3 years. Saw post here about risk of dementia, can’t find it!

[Flecmac]

I am worried about the risk with Promethazine. Only saw it on here in last few days and can’t find it now! Also any advice? Thanks

[Clutter]

McDermott,

Have a look through healthunlocked.com/search/p...

[humanbean]

See this thread :

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

I mentioned dementia and anti-histamines, plus I gave some links to information on the subject. I wrote 2 or 3 posts in that thread.

[Flecmac in reply to humanbean]

Thank you

[Flecmac in reply to humanbean]

Not much hope for me then reading that!!! I put my poor memory down to fibromyalgia brain fog and now hypothyroid brain fog, but looks like it’s down to Promethazine and consequences irreversible!! My Doc said while ago that I wouldnt be able to take them long term. I took that to mean not into old age (I am 61) but they never told me about this, and they keep prescribing it!! I am really worried as my memory is bad xx

[humanbean in reply to Flecmac]

I'm afraid I don't know how big the risk is, but I don't think you are guaranteed to get dementia! If you were I think they would have banned them long before now!

Perhaps you could discuss your options with your GP and try and find something else that works for you?

[Flecmac in reply to humanbean]

Thank you. Both my parents had dementia, so it’s a worry anyway. I gave tried lots of other options for treating insomnia over many years. I would go to GP but I was there on Wednesday asking for levo increase again, this time to 50 mcg. I am not very popular there at all!!! She obviously knows something about the risks, she said last year that I wouldn’t be able to stay on it, but no explanation. I suspect that GP’s don’t tell the truth as they would be responsible. I checked NHS site and they are refuting these claims, of course!!!! Just like they won’t treat hypothyroidism correctly and refute all references to correct treatment!!! Same old story!

[humanbean in reply to Flecmac]

I wasn't aware that the NHS is refuting these claims. I'm not impressed. Until the NHS has done its own research on the subject they are just spouting hot air.

I've had severe insomnia throughout my life. I've found that improving my nutrient levels has improved my sleep. Also getting my thyroid levels, including T3, close to optimal has helped a lot. But I think the biggest help has been reducing my cortisol in the evening and at bedtime. I mostly have to pay for my own testing and treat my own nutrients, my thyroid and cortisol.

Have you ever tried melatonin? Your doctor can prescribe it if it is appropriate for you.

bnf.nice.org.uk/drug/melato...

I buy 3mg tablets of melatonin. They don't cut properly - they tend to shatter - but I've found that roughly quarter of a pill is enough to get me off to sleep. It seems to work better than a whole pill for some reason. If you did get a prescription you could try cutting one of them, and if the smaller dose works you can stretch the prescription quite a long way. Alternatively you could buy your own. I get them off Ebay.

Whatever you do, avoid the z-drugs --> zopiclone, zolpidem tartrate, and zaleplon. (There may be others.) They are terribly addictive, and people often find they don't work for very long - a few days perhaps, then people can't get to sleep with them or without them!

[Flecmac in reply to humanbean]

Tried the ‘z’s, as you say, don’t work for long and are addictive!! I did have melatonin on script but it didn’t help much and not for long. Will try again. Thanks so much for your help. xx

[Marz in reply to Flecmac]

Notice on your Bio that you are due to have surgery next month. Do hope all goes well for you. Am sure you have addressed levels of B12 - Folate - Ferritin and VitD in readiness for your surgery. If there is Nitrous Oxide in the anesthetic then be aware it depletes stores of B12 - which is not good. Of course they do not tell you this. So go well armed

[Flecmac in reply to Marz]

I assume they will allow me to take vitamins in to administer myself? I will ask at pre op. It’s on 26th this month. Op pencilled in for 3rd April. Many thanks.

[Flecmac in reply to Marz]

Taken B12 spray with vitamin C and folic acid, 14mg ferrous fumarate and 3000 D+K2 spray since Christmas. Vit D has gone up from 50 to 70 at re-test on 1st Feb, so hopefully higher by op. Thanks Marz