Diarrhea drug caused ‘brain fog’ Published: 8/14/11 @ 12:00 From People's Pharmacy
Q. I appreciate your warning about “brain fog” due to anticholinergic drugs. I took Lomotil to control diarrhea from irritable bowel syndrome only when I went out for an event.
At first, I thought my episodes of brain confusion were caused by senior moments. After reading your column, I realized I was taking an anticholinergic medication. I stopped taking Lomotil and regained my mental clarity.
A. Lomotil (diphenoxylate and atropine) has been on the market for more than 50 years to treat diarrhea. This drug, like scores of others, interferes with the action of a brain chemical called acetylcholine. This anticholinergic activity can lead to brain fog, memory problems and confusion.
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Medications in this category that might surprise you include anti-anxiety agents such as alprazolam, antidepressants such as amitriptyline, antihistamines such as diphenhydramine and drugs for overactive bladder such as oxybutynin and tolterodine.
It makes sense since their action would be just the opposite of Aricept.
I read about this earlier this year. It made me search for the cause of my constant diarrhea (gluten sensitivity) instead of just taking Imodium to control it. And having gone gluten-free I feel better than I have in many years.
A 2006 Mayo Clinic study of the relationship of Celiac Disease (which causes diarrhea in 50% of the cases) and Dementia--three of the 13 cases showed improvement or stabilaziation on a gluten-free diet-- makes me wonder if the cause of their dementia wasn't just the meds they were using to control diarrhea. A lot to consider. I wish someone would do more research.
Lori - I have read that report before. My husband never took anti-diarrhea meds until a few months ago. After his GERDs surgery he would have a bought of diarrhea within 30 minutes. Galantamine (and aricept) can cause diarrhea. I got so tired of the mess in the toilet that I started giving him a low dose which has helped.
I have no doubt medications can cause brain fog, memory problems, etc. My husband was on a cholesterol drug and by day 3 he could not remember anything he had done or who he spent the day with. I researched and threw them away.
Lori - Because the Aricept caused diarrhea with my dh I have cut his 5 mg tabs in half and will discontinue them completely as soon as they are gone. I never noticed much, if any, cognitive improvement in him with the Aricept, just diarrhea. I have been giving him 2 Immodium tabs/day to control the diarrhea, which didn't help as long as he was on the Aricept. Now, I think I will start weaning him from the Immodium (after reading these posts) and see if he can remain diarrhea-free.
Constant battle these days trying to maintain some kind of equilibrium. We were never "drug" takers before; now they are my life savers.