This Common Over-the-Counter Medication May Harm Brain Health, Doctors Say—Do You Take It?

This common over-the-counter medication can be harmful to brain health, doctors say. It originally appeared parade.

I don’t know about you, but when conceptualizing over-the-counter drugs, I think they are generally safe for people to take. They don’t need prescriptions, people take them frequently, and the list continues.

To some extent, that’s true. However, it is important to know that over-the-counter (OTC) medications are still medications. There are still side effects and interactions.

In that memo, doctors want to warn about certain OTC Meds. It will harm your brain healththe science behind the risk and safer alternatives to consider.

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OTC drugs that can harm your brain health

The drug ingredient in question is doxylamine succinate, which is found in certain things Sleep Aids (e.g. Unisom) and first-generation antihistamines (allergic drugs such as hydroxyzine, Vistaril/Atalax, Diphenhydramine, or Benadryl. There are cognitive side effects in the long term and short term, but the former is more serious, but considers an increased risk of dementia.

“Doxylamine, the first generation antihistamine, can have a negative impact on brain health, especially when patients use high doses frequently and over a long period of time,” he confirms. Dr. Duyen Nguyen, Do, Memorial Hermann allergies.

According to her, immediate effects include confusion, drowsiness and dizziness. However, if you use it for a long time, it may lead to it Cognitive decline, Amnesiaparticularly the increased risk of dementia and delirium in older patients.

Dr. Sanjay Camboji, Marylandassociate professors of medicine and LCMC Health’s allergy and immunology experts agree. “Cumulative use over time can lead to changes in neurodegenerative conditions or exacerbate existing risk factors for dementia,” he says. “The short-term and occasional use of doxylamine in healthy adults is generally considered safe and has mild and temporary side effects such as dry mouth, drowsiness, and nausea.”

The former is also attracting attention in research. Research from 2015 Jama Internal Medicine “Higher cumulative anticholinergic use is associated with an increased risk of dementia.”

But how does that happen?

“These drugs block acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter essential for memory, attention and learning,” he explains. Dr. Chris Allen, MD, Sleep Science Advisor at Aeroflow Sleep, Board Certified Sleep Medicine Physician, and Pediatric Neurologist. “Over time, this interference can contribute to structural and functional changes in the brain.”

Dr. Deanna McDanel, Pharmd, An expert at the clinical pharmacy at UI Healthcare’s Allergy/Immunology Clinic adds, “Acetylcholine is an important chemical involved in promoting arousal and arousal,” so naturally, when blocked, a person may feel drowsy or sedated.

Other common risks that doctors refer to include daytime drowsiness, cognitive impairment and tilt, or severe drowsiness. Furthermore, the latter can impair mental arousal and increase the risk of falls and accidents, says Dr. McDonnell.

This is especially true for older people taking this medication. “In older adults, the decrease in brain sanctuaries make them more vulnerable to these effects,” explains Dr. Kambodi.

In fact, Dr. Nguyen would say that it is “very dangerous” for older patients to take doxilamine doxin succinate for long periods of time. The level of risk depends on the dose, duration, and individual factors, McDonnell adds other medications and overall brain health, as well as age.

Within certain parameters, it can be safe. “Generally speaking, doxylamine is safe to use at the lowest effective dose in the shortest possible time,” says Dr. McDanel. “It’s recommended quite regularly Pregnant woman help nausea It is effective along with vitamin B6 and is safe for the fetus. ”

The safety profile is very personalized, so your best bet is to talk to a primary care provider who knows your history.

It is also worth noting that when it comes to sleep, drugs may not be the answer we assume. “They don’t provide the deep, resilient sleep that our brains need,” says Dr. Allen. “In fact, they can disrupt natural sleep architecture and make it less REM sleepthis is essential for memory integration and emotional regulation. ”

Safer and effective alternatives

If you need more long-term support for allergies or sleep, other options are probably a safer bet. In the future, doctors will share tips and treatments to consider.

For allergies

Try new antihistamines like loratadine (claritin), cetirizine (Zyrtec), or fexofenadine (Aregra). Dr. Allen says it is generally safe because it doesn’t easily pass through blood-brain barriers and has fewer side effects.

Second-generation antihistamines are also less likely to make you sleepy, and are extremely unhappy with first-generation antihistamines. “Allergists often recommend these beyond these first-generation antihistamines because they are unlikely to cause sedation, but they maintain their clinical efficacy in treating allergic conditions,” adds Dr. McDonnell.

She also encourages steroid nose sprays, deals with underlying medical conditions, and speaks to healthcare providers.

Additionally, Dr. Nguyen mentions prescription drugs such as Monterukast and allergy shots. “Allergy immunotherapy (allergy shot) is the most effective treatment for moderate to severe allergies,” she adds.

For sleep

If you are struggling with sleep, Dr. Allen has some suggestions. His first recommendation is cognitive behavioral therapy. insomnia (CBT-I). “This is the gold standard for chronic sleep problems,” he says.

Sleep hygiene It’s still important. Do you need a review of what it looks like? Dr. Allen encourages:

Establish a consistent sleep routine
Limit screen time before bed
Avoid meth late in the day
Create a cool, dark sleep environment
Talk to your doctor about medication (or supplements) if necessary

Dr. Nguyen agrees that CBT-I and good sleep habits are good options. “This is considered the safest way to treat insomnia,” she explains.

And again, this long-term concern about doxylamine and brain health does not mean that the drug is completely out of limits. “Occasional use (such as colds and jet lag rugs) is not known to cause serious harm to healthy adults,” says Dr. Kamboj. “Hyper or long-term use raises concerns, especially in older people.”

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This common over-the-counter medication can be harmful to brain health, doctors say. It first appeared at the parade on June 17th, 2025

This story was originally reported by parade It first appeared on June 17th, 2025.

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