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Daily Mirror
03-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Mirror
Pharmacist warns hayfever sufferers not to take everyday medication due to dementia risk
With so many different hacks to help battle hayfever, one pharmacist has advised against taking one common medication due to links to dementia risks fom every day use As Brits bask in the sunshine, it can be glorious to be able to sit outside and enjoy the warm weather - but it can be miserable for those suffering with hayfever. Nearly one in four people in the UK battle hayfever and other allergies in the summer, and any sufferer will know the struggles it can bring, and with loads of hacks on how to combat the allergies, one pharmacist has warned against taking daily antihistamines. While taking antihistamines can help mask the symptoms at their peak, some people have advised to take one every day to stop the symptoms in the first place. However Deborah Grayson has taken to TikTok to address growing concerns about the long-term safety of over-the-counter allergy medications - particularly those that cause drowsiness. READ MORE: GP warns of food allergy that may be mistaken for hay fever Known as the "Godmother of Pharmacology", Deborah said there is a "distinct risk" of developing dementia from long-term use of sedative antihistamines, due to their impact on brain chemistry. Answering the common question "Can you take an antihistamine everyday?" Deborah said: "In short, yes you can, especially if you're using it for allergies, hayfever, seasonal rhinitis, allergic rhinitis and the problem is there consistently. "I would always advise taking a non-drowsy antihistamine as opposed to one that causes drowsiness because the drowsy antihistamines interfere with the neurotransmitters in the brain and if we're using those long term, there is a distinct risk of dementia as a result of this," she added. Deborah further stated that it "interferes with a neurotransmitter called acetylcholine" and warned if you're taking a sedative antihistamine such as Nytol or Night Nurse to help you sleep "that's really not something that you want to be taking everyday." The expert added: "Sometimes they might be prescribed by the GP for a particular reason and that's fine but if we're just looking for simple sleep support, then I would advocate not taking it on a regular basis." However Deborah said that while non-drowsy antihistamines are "generally safe and effective for daily use" the sedative varieties can actually "interfere with brain chemistry in potentially harmful ways." Drowsy antihistamines interfere with the brain's release of a vital chemical called acetylcholine, which plays a critical role in memory and cognitive function, she explained. Studies have shown that lower levels of this neurotransmitter are linked to the development of dementia, including Alzheimer's. According to Mrs Grayson, long-term interference could increase the risk of neurodegenerative diseases over time citing several studies, including a 2015 research paper that tracked more than 3,400 adults aged over 65 between 1994 and 2012.
Daily Mail
01-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Top pharmacist warns against over-the-counter medication taken by millions - it could raise dementia risk
Regularly taking a common hay fever remedy could substantially increase your risk of developing the memory robbing condition dementia, a pharmacist has warned. The warning comes amid unusually high pollen levels hitting the UK, leaving many sufferers turning to the medicine cabinet for help. But pharmacist Deborah Grayson said you may want to think twice about which drug to opt for to treat the sneezes and itchy eyes. In the TikTok clip, which has already racked up 17,000 views, the pharmacist of 30 years warned the one in four Britons who suffer hay fever to not rely on allergy remedies that cause drowsiness. She explained this was because some versions of the hay fever drugs — called antihistamines — have been linked to an increased risk of dementia. 'I would always advise taking a non-drowsy antihistamine as opposed to one that causes drowsiness because the drowsy antihistamines interfere with the neurotransmitters in the brain,' she said. 'If we're using those long term, there is a distinct risk of dementia as a result of this.' Mrs Grayson, who works with the Nutritional Medicine Institute, said such drugs interfere with acetylcholine — a natural chemical in the brain — which plays a critical role in memory and cognitive function. @tgopharm Can you take an antihistamine every day? It depends what you are taking and what it is for. Sedative ones come with a greater risk. If you have a question pop it in the comments #antihistamine #allergyseason #hayfever #medicationsideeffects #dementia #pharmacist ♬ original sound - The Godmother of Pharmacology 'If you're taking a sedative antihistamine such as Nytol or Night Nurse to help you sleep, that's really not something that you want to be taking everyday,' she said. She added: 'Sometimes they might be prescribed by the GP for a particular reason and that's fine but if we're just looking for simple sleep support, then I would advocate not taking it on a regular basis.' Instead, Mrs Grayson's urged people to take what she called second-generation antihistamines like Cetirizine and Loratadine which don't carry the same level of risk. But she added it was best for hay fever sufferers to see if a few easy lifestyle tweaks could help provide relief rather than relying on medications. 'One of the simplest tricks is to physically block the pollen from entering your system. Rubbing a small amount of Vaseline around the inside of your nostrils can help trap pollen before it causes problems,' she said. 'Wearing sunglasses outdoors can protect your eyes, and staying indoors when the pollen count is particularly high, usually early in the morning or late in the evening, can prevent a major flare-up. 'Showering and changing clothes after being outside can help wash away any lingering pollen, and keeping windows closed, especially at night, can stop pollen drifting in while you sleep. 'If you suffer badly, using a fan with a HEPA filter in your bedroom can also help reduce pollen in the air and give you a better night's sleep.' While multiple experts have spoken about the dementia risk of some hay fever medications and urged patients to choose alternatives, evidence on the dangers remains mixed. Dr Anthony L Komaroff, an experienced family doctor and editor in chief of the Harvard Health Letter, said while he thinks twice about using such drugs, the science was not yet settled. 'In the past decade, several studies have suggested that these pills might increase the risk of dementia, while other studies have found no risk. And all the studies are inherently flawed,' he said. Studies that have found a link between the drugs and dementia include one 2015 paper that tracked the brain health of more than 3,400 participants over 65 years old between 1994 and 2012. Researchers found there was a link between increased doses of anticholinergics — drugs that interfere with the brain's release acetylcholine like hay fever medications — and those that developed dementia. Separate 2024 research, published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, also revealed a link between antihistamines and dementia. In that study experts used data from Taiwan 's National Health Insurance Research Database from 2011 to 2017. It included more than 700,000 patients with recent-onset hay fever. They were split into groups — those that didn't take antihistamines and those that did. Around 900,000 Britons are currently thought to have the memory-robbing disorder. But University College London scientists estimate this will rise to 1.7 million within two decades as people live longer. It marks a 40 per cent uptick on the previous forecast in 2017 After making adjustments for pre-existing medical conditions, the researchers found there was a dose-dependent increase in dementia risk from taking the drugs. Hay fever drugs aren't the only anticholinergic medications commonly taken. Other examples include some sleep medications, those treating urinary incontinence, nausea, muscle tension and Parkinson's disease. In December last year, a British study on more than a million people found taking anticholinergics was linked to an 18 per cent increased risk of a dementia diagnosis. Men were slightly more vulnerable — their increased risk was 22 per cent, compared to women at 16 per cent. Dementia is a condition has multiple causes. Two of the most common are Alzheimer's disease and a reduced blood flow to the brain following a stroke, the latter being known as vascular dementia. Dementia affects an estimated one million people in the UK. Recent analysis by the Alzheimer's Society estimated the overall annual cost of the dementia to the UK is £42billion a year, with families bearing the brunt. An ageing population means these costs—which include lost earnings of unpaid carers—are set to soar to £90billion in the next 15 years. A separate Alzheimer's Research UK analysis found 74,261 people died from dementia in 2022 compared with 69,178 a year earlier, making it the country's biggest killer. While dementia is incurable treatments can combat symptoms and sometimes slow progression.
