12/11/2025
Hello Inner Harmony Followers. Are you a senior? This post is for you or someone you love that is a senior.
Anticholinergic drugs refer to a type of medication that blocks acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter that that plays a role in memory, attention, and involuntary muscle movement.
Common medications with anticholinergic properties include Thorazine, Tylenol PM, and Benadryl.
Anticholinergic drugs can lead to drowsiness, delirium, and an increased risk of falls.
“Diphenhydramine, once a pioneering antihistamine, is now overshadowed by second-generation antihistamines with similar efficacy and fewer adverse effects. Current data suggest that the adverse side-effect profile of diphenhydramine is higher among children and older adults. This has led to countries such as Germany and Sweden restricting access to first-generation antihistamines and societal guidelines advocating for the use of second-generation antihistamines. Despite its well-documented problematic therapeutic ratio, diphenhydramine remains available in over 300 formulations, most of which are over-the-counter.
Based on a comprehensive evaluation of practice patterns and the prevalence and incidence of adverse clinical events, we believe that diphenhydramine has reached the end of its life cycle, and in its class of therapies it is a relatively greater public health hazard. We recommend it should no longer be widely prescribed or continue to be readily available over the counter.”
Sleep-aids & combos
Equate Maximum Strength Sleep‑Aid Softgels – Diphenhydramine used as a sleep-aid.
Equate Nighttime Sleep‑Aid Caplets – Simple sleep-aid with diphenhydramine.
Many combos also exist with pain relievers or decongestants (e.g., Tylenol PM, Excedrin PM, Aleve PM, Midol PM) – these use diphenhydramine plus another active ingredient.
ZzzQuil, Sominex, Simply Sleep
Cumulative Use of Strong Anticholinergic Medications and Incident Dementia
“Higher cumulative anticholinergic medication use is associated with an increased risk for dementia. Efforts to increase awareness among health professionals and older adults about this potential medication-related risk are important to minimize anticholinergic use over time.”
Diphenhydramine is a potent anticholinergic!
Here is a list of anticholinergic medications.
Do you have clients reporting frequent use of these seemingly harmless OTC remedies? 20+ years ago when my kids were little, it seemed to be recommended often. Given how seniors struggle with sleep, it appears to be commonly used in that population as well.
Diphenhydramine, once a pioneering antihistamine, is now overshadowed by second-generation antihistamines with similar efficacy and fewer adverse effects. Current data suggest that the adverse side-effect profile of diphenhydramine is higher among children and older adults. This has led to countries...
