To Jesus:
Use this as aide to your own research and share with your doctor as appropriate.
Anticholinergics
Acetylcholine is the concentration enhancing
neurotransmitter in the brain. Substances that increase acetylcholine increase concentration & productivity. Substances that reduce acetylcholine, anticholinergics, appear to reduce concentration & productivity.
The effects of anticholinergic medications appear to mimic dementia & bring on early dementia. They reduce the ability to concentrate, learn & remember, lowering quality of life significantly.
Anticholinergics can cause hallucinations, especially in people who have or have a family history of schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder.
Level 1 is the least strong, level 3 is the strongest. Each level 1 or point appears to increase early death risk (mortality) by 26% (level 3 would appear to increase mortality by 78%) & every 2 or 3 score to increase cognitive impairment by 46%.
The effects are greater with increased strength of dosage & multiple doses during the day.
healthline.com/health/anticholinergics#warnings
Ghossein N, Kang M, Lakhkar AD. Anticholinergic
Medications. [Updated 2023 May 8]. In: StatPearls
[Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing;
2025 Jan-. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/books/NBK555893/
examples-of.net/anticholinergic-drugs-list/#common-
adverse-effects
Isocarboxazid (Marplan, Marplon, Enerzer) an MAOI is at least a type I anticholinergic Larsen JK, Krogh-Nielsen L, Brøsen K (April 2016). “The
Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitor Isocarboxazid is a Relevant Treatment Option in Treatment-Resistant
Depression” (PDF). Health Care: Current Reviews. 4 (2).
ACB list 2011
theseniorlist.com/medication/anticholinergic-drugs/
uea.ac.uk/mac/comm/media/press/2011/June/Anticholinergics+study+drug+list
Rudolph JL, Salow MJ, Angelini MC, McGlinchey RE. The anticholinergic risk scale and anticholinergic adverse effects in older persons. Arch Intern Med. 2008 Mar 10;168(5):508-13. doi: 10.1001/archinternmed.2007.106. PMID: 18332297.
Anticholinergics, esp ipratropium, can cause heart attacks in people with asthma.
worst-3 points
amitriptyline(Elavil)
amoxapine (Asendin)
atropine (Sal-Tropine)
benztropine (Cogentin)
brompheniramine (Dimetapp)
carbinoxamine (Histex/Carbihist)
chlopheniramine(Chlor-trimeton/tabs)
chlorpromazine (Thorazine)
clemastine (Tavist)
clomipramine (Anafranil)
clozapine (Clozaril)
cyproheptadine (Periactin)
darifenacin (Enablex)
desipramine (Norpramin)
dexchlorpheniramine
dicyclomine (Bentyl)
dimenhydrinate (Dramamine)
diphenhydramine (Benadryl)
doxepin (Sinequan)
fesoterodine (Toviaz)
flavoxate (Urispas)
hydroxyzine (Atarax/Vistiril)
hyoscyamine (Anaspaz/Levsin)
imipramine (Tofranil)
meclizine (Antivert)
methocarbamol (Robaxin)
nortriptyline (Pamelor)
olanzapine (Zyprexa)
orphenadrine (Norflex)
oxybutynin (Ditropan)
paroxetine (Paxil)
perphenazine (Trilafon)
promethazine (Phenergan)
propanthelin
protriptyline (Vivactil)
pseudoephedrine HCl/Triprolidine HCl (Aprodine)
quetiapine (Seroquel)
scopolamine
thioridazine (Mellaril)
tolterodine (Detrol)
trifluoperazine (Stelazine)
trihexyphenidyl (Artane)
trimipramine (Surmontil)
ACB-2 points
amantadine (Symmetrel)
belladonna
carbamazepine (Tegretol)
cyclobenzaprine (Periactin)
loxapine (Loxitane)
meperidine (Demerol)
methtrimepazine (Levoprome)
molindone (Moban)
oxcarbazepine (Trileptal)
pimozide (Orap)
ACB-1 point
alverine (Spasmonal)
alprazolam (Xanax)
atenolol (Tenormin)
baclofen
bupropion (Wellbutrin/Zyban)
captopril (Capoten)
carisoprodol (Soma)
cetirizine (Zyrtec)
chlorthalidone (Diuril/Hygroton)
cimetidine (Tagamet)
clorazepate (Tranxene)
codeine (Contin)
colchicine (Colcrys)
diazepam (Valium)
digoxin (Lanoxin)
diphenoxylate (Lomotil)
dipyridamole (Persantine)
disopyramide (Norpace)
fentanyl (Duragesic/Actiq)
fluphenazine (Prolixin)
fluvoxamine (Luvox)
furosemide (Lasix, also brain damage)
haloperidol (Haldol)
hydrochlorothiazide (Esidrix, Dyazide, HydroDIURIL, &
Maxzide)
hydralazine (Apresoline)
hydrocortisone (Cortef/Cortaid)
isosorbide (Isordil/Ismo)
loperamide (Immodium)
loratidine (Alavert, Claritin)
maprotiline
metoprolol (Lopressor/Toprol)
morphine
nifedipine (Procardia/Adalat)
prednisone (Deltasone/Sterapred)
quinidine (Quinaglute)
ranitidine (Zantac)
risperidone (Risperdal)
theophylline (Theodur/Uniphyl)
thiothixene (Navane)
tizanidine (Zanaflex)
trazodone (Desyrel)
triamterene (Dyrenium)
warfarin (Coumadin)
Clonidine (Catapres) may have an anticholinergic effect.
[Anticholinergic action of clonidine on cardiovascular
effects of the central cholinergic estimulation].
Taira CA
Acta Physiol Pharmacol Ther Latinoam. 1996;46(2):119- 26.
http://doublecheckmd.com/EffectsDetail.do?
dname=clonidine&sid=11980&eid=5692
Chest. 2010 Jan;137(1):13-9. doi: 10.1378/chest.08-2367.
Epub 2009 Apr 10.
Cardiovascular events associated with ipratropium
bromide in COPD.
Ogale SS, Lee TA, Au DH, Boudreau DM, Sullivan SD.
https://www.peoplespharmacy.com/articles/where-can-i-find-a-list-of-anticholinergic-drugs
American College of Chest Physicians. “Ipratropium
bromide may increase risk for cardiovascular events.”
ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 10 January 2010.
<www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/01/100105183800.htm>.
Annals of Internal Medicine (2008) 149: 380-390
