#anticholinergics

😴 Sleep meds might help you fall asleep, but they can actually *reduce* the deep, restorative sleep your brain needs most.

#SleepHealth #Anticholinergics #BrainHealth

The longitudinal association between anticholinergic burden and cognitive-functional decline among older adults - PubMed Our findings, based on combined measures in assessing cognitive-functional decline in older adults, support incorporating anticholinergic burden assessment into routine care, particularly for patients aged ≥85 or those with CNS diseases and depression.

#Anticholinergics January 2026

This study investigated the longitudinal association between anticholinergic burden & integrated cognitive-functional measures in older adults

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41562586/

- #Tramadol : opioid pain reliever
- #Corticosteroids suchas #prednisone . High dose & prolonged use ➡️ psychosis
- #Amphetamines , #cannabis particularly in vulnerable individuals. Heavy or adolescent use carries a higher risk of psychosis
- #Anticholinergics scopolamine & atropine

Transient anticholinergic burden and out-of-hospital cardiac arrest: a case-crossover study AbstractBackground and Aims. Anticholinergic burden has been linked to cardiovascular events and mortality, but its association with out-of-hospital cardia

#anticholinergics Sept 2025
Conclusions:
Transient increases in anticholinergic burden significantly raise OHCA risk, particularly among individuals with higher burden levels.

academic.oup.com/eurheartj/ad...
#Pharmsky #medsky

Promethazine is not a good option to aid sleep quality, especially for people using psychiatric services | BJPsych Bulletin | Cambridge Core Promethazine is not a good option to aid sleep quality, especially for people using psychiatric services

Brilliant paper on why promethazine is not a good option to aid sleep, and yet prescribing of it has doubled in last 5 yrs. What about OTC sales too, and also diphenhydramine.
#anticholinergics
#falls #dementia #delirium
#ACBscore
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...

#pharmacology05
#Anticholinergics #vs. #Cholinergics: #Key #Differences at a #iprkashmishra Glance #MedStudents #NursingSchool #Acetylcholine #Anticholinergics #Cholinergics #NeuroPharma #MedEd #MedicalNotes #PharmaMadeEasy

July 2025 #anticholinergics
Conclusion: Higher cumulative anticholinergic exposure was associated with greater decline rates of gait speed & grip strength beyond aging and comorbidities. The accumulation of loss over time can become clinically meaningful
jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...

Great evidence highlighting the vital role pharmacy professionals play in supporting #carehome residents. It underscores the need for support to be embedded consistently to ensure all care homes receive equitable and high-quality pharmaceutical care
#pharmsky #anticholinergics #SMRs

Anticholinergic Burden: Understanding Medication Impacts on Cognition and Delirium | Ep. 102 — Psychiatry & Psychotherapy Podcast Explore the dangers of anticholinergic medications on cognitive function and their role in delirium and dementia. In this episode, Dr. David Puder and team discuss the anticholinergic burden scale, me...

Interesting podcast on #delirium, possibly caused by #anticholinergics. Also delirium may be misdiagnosed as depression, in people with, or who have had delirium.
Is there more chance of delirium being missed during night time admissions?
www.psychiatrypodcast.com/psychiatry-p...
#pharmsky #medsky

Raising awareness of dementia risk

2 great animated videos developed to raise the awareness of dementia risk with #anticholinergics
The public facing one could help with counseling prior to the initiation of certain anticholinergics. Risk/benefit. Patient Empowerment.
www.spcr.nihr.ac.uk/news/raising...

Promethazine is not a good option to aid sleep quality, especially for people using psychiatric services | BJPsych Bulletin | Cambridge Core Promethazine is not a good option to aid sleep quality, especially for people using psychiatric services

Brilliant paper on why promethazine is not a good option to aid sleep, and yet prescribing of it has doubled in last 5 yrs. What about OTC sales too, and also diphenhydramine.
#anticholinergics
#falls #dementia #delirium
#ACBscore
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...

Studies highlight great role of pharmacy profs identifying & intervening when ACB score is high
Add to discharge letter to support primary care
In the hospital setting proactive pharmaceutical interventions can signif ⏬ ACB score at discharge potentially improving patient outcomes
#anticholinergics

What is an Anticholinergic Medication?

Anticholinergic medications block acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter that regulates memory, attention, muscle movements.

#DementiaRisk #CognitiveHealth #MedicationSafety #Anticholinergics

#anticholinergics can be harmful to older people. Patient empowerment is vital to understand health,to be able to ask right questions.Espec helpful for those living in care homes & staff
Pharmacy profs can play a key role in supporting carehomes by sharing this important info
#pharmsky
#carehomes🏡❤️

Anticholinergics | Right Decisions

Why are #anticholinergics problematic?
Great info below from Right Decision Service.
Reduce anticholinergic exposure.
Assess & reduce the anticholinergic burden.
Have a plan to stop if you start them.
Consider using acbcalc.com
Improve quality of life.
rightdecisions.scot.nhs.uk/polypharmacy....

Cumulative anticholinergic exposure and white matter hyperintensity burden in community‐dwelling older adults Background Anticholinergic exposure is associated with dementia risk; however, the mechanisms for this association remain unclear. The objective of this study was to examine the association between ...

#anticholinergics
Dec 2024
agsjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
Conclusions
The highest anticholinergic exposure was associated with greater white matter hyperintensity (WMH) burden

The anticholinergic burden in patients with chronic kidney disease: Patterns, risk factors, and the link with cognitive impairment Background People with chronic kidney disease (CKD) have an elevated risk of cognitive impairment (CI). Medications with anticholinergic activity are recognized for their adverse reactions on centra...

#anticholinergics
Study emphasises the importance of careful prescribing of anticholinergic drugs for patients with CKD.
Cognitive impairment, risks.
#pharmSky #MedSky
doi.org/10.1111/jgs....

Risk of dementia associated with anticholinergic drugs for overactive bladder in adults aged ≥55 years: nested case-control study Objective To investigate whether different anticholinergic drug treatments for overactive bladder have differential risks for incident dementia, in a large representative population of older adults in...

#anticholinergics
What this study adds:
'the risk of dementia was found to be substantially associated with cumulative use of oxybutynin hydrochloride, solifenacin succinate, & tolterodine tartrate
bmjmedicine.bmj.com/content/3/1/...
#PharmSky
SupportingCareHomes🏡❤️