Study: Common drugs dangerous together
LONDON (UPI) -- Older people taking a combination of common medicinesto treat routine conditions may risk death or dementia, a Britishstudy says.
Researchers say some well-known brands of allergy tablets, painkillersand sleeping pills, many available over-the-counter, constitute apreviously unrecognized health risk when taken in combination, TheDaily Telegraph reported Friday.
Some common bladder medications, heart drugs, eye drops and asthmatreatments were also found to be possible risks, the newspaperreported.
All of the drugs in question work by blocking an important chemical inthe nervous system called acetylcholine. Previous research has foundthat an excess of acetylcholine-blocking drugs can have a harmfuleffect on the brain and its function.
The study found that older patients who took a combination of suchdrugs had a 20 per cent chance of dying within two years, comparedwith 7 per cent for over-65s who did not take anything.
"What is really the problem is the additive effect," said researcherIan Maidment, a pharmacist at Kent University. "It is the cumulativeburden, which is very damaging."
The risk is that many patients may be regularly takingover-the-counter drugs their doctor is unaware of or which they do notreally need that increase their dosage up to a dangerous level,researchers said.
Copyright 2011 by United Press International
--
Hollecrest & Associates Inc -"Turnaround Consultants" .
Sunridge Lodge "Back to Eden" Quality 24/7 care
261 Oakhill Drive, Brantford backtoeden.ontario@gmail.com
"Building elder peer communities that are cozy,caring and comfortable" -
Brant Positive Action Group "a positive community affirmative action group"
No comments:
Post a Comment