Mixing medications ‘never works’
You most likely would not wash a sleeping pill down with espresso; so, why are many people taking common Alzheimer’s disease medications with other treatments that tend to ‘clash’ causing adverse effects? Alzheimer’s drugs such as cholinesterase inhibitors often react badly with other medications according to Group Health Research Institute scientists.
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You most likely would not wash a sleeping pill down with espresso; so, why are many people taking common Alzheimer’s disease medications with other treatments that tend to ‘clash’ causing adverse effects?
Alzheimer’s drugs such as cholinesterase inhibitors often react badly with other medications according to Group Health Research Institute scientists.
Cholinesterase inhibitors are reportedly today’s primary therapy for slowing Alzheimer’s disease, while anticholinergic properties can be found in drugs commonly used to treat gastrointestinal disorders, allergies, urinary incontinence, depression, and Parkinson’s disease; and can have negative effects on cognition and function in the elderly.
Researchers claimed if someone took both types of drugs – cholinesterase inhibitors and anticholinergic medications – both will reportedly “antagonise each other, and neither will work.”
One reason health care providers might prescribe conflicting medications are dementia patients often have multiple medical conditions.
“Providers, families, and patients should carefully consider the extent to which demonstrated benefits or harms in an individual patient justify long-term use of these drugs,” the researchers said.
According to the researchers, a good first step was to have “clearly agreed-upon goals” for therapy and a plan to monitor for effects and side effects.”
