Long Term Meclizine Use May Increase Risk of Dementia

Are you taking Meclizine daily to avoid dizziness?  Have you been doing this for an extended period of time?  If so please keep reading.

(First thing’s first: In order to understand this research study, you will need to know that Meclizine falls under an umbrella of medications referred to as “anticholinergics.”)

A study of over 3,000 participants, set out to determine if anticholinergic use increased the risk of dementia.  The answer their research points to is: yes.

According to the study in JAMA titled “Cumulative Use of Strong Anticholinergics and Incident Dementia,” the highest increase in risk of developing dementia was seen in people who had taken this medication for over 3 years.  The study also relayed that people didn’t have to be over medicating to have this adverse affect.

Dr. Gray, the lead author of this study, told Medscape, "We found an obvious dose-response relationship between anticholinergic drug use and risk of developing dementia: the higher the usage, the greater the risk.” Dr Gray continues that, “The pharmacist or doctor may not even know. Education on this issue is key, and both the public and doctors need to be encouraged to use alternative treatments where possible."

Because this medication is so heavily utilized with those dealing with vertigo and BPPV, I found this information to be incredibly relevant.  The article encourages people to avoid use of this medication particularly when people aren’t seeing a benefit, which makes logical sense, but now there is some good evidence as to why not.

I would like to mention that the participants of this study were all over the age 65, so it is unclear if these results can be generalized to people of all ages.

As always, as a physical therapist I do not have any prescription rights, and never offer advice on starting or stopping medication.  I do, however, feel comfortable encouraging people to educate themselves, and to speak to their physicians and medical providers about what they are putting into their bodies.

Gray SL, Anderson ML, Dublin S, et al. Cumulative Use of Strong Anticholinergics and Incident Dementia: A Prospective Cohort Study. JAMA Intern Med. 2015;175(3):401–407. doi:10.1001/jamainternmed.2014.7663