There is a large group of patients that have developed cognitive defects, including Alzheimer’s disease, due to medications that were taken over prolonged periods of time. For instance, data now indicate that daily use of antihistamines for more than three years produces a high incidence of cognitive and memory defects.

In addition, sleep aids such as Benadryl, allergy medications such as Chlorpheniramine, antidepressants such as Doxepin, and Amitriptyline also cause cognitive problems. The same is true of overactive bladder drugs such as Oxybutylene and Tolterodine.

Additional data have shown that Type 2 diabetes drugs such as SCLT II inhibitors — which work by causing blood sugar to be secreted in urine — also trigger muscle and joint pains.

FDA data show that these drugs can produce a ketoacidosis, a serious condition in which the body produces high levels of blood acids. This condition may actually require hospitalization.

The type of drug that can be used to treat these conditions safely are called phytoceuticals, which have no significant side effects.

Additional data has also shown that some calcium supplements present an increased risk of heart attack because many of them contain calcium carbonate made from ground limestone, rather than healthy calcium from sources such as vegetables.

Some antidepressant drugs have also been linked to cognitive defects and memory loss.

There is growing understanding that complications from commonly used drugs may be partially to blame for the high incidence of cognitive defects and Alzheimer’s disease in this country.

The best suggestion is to rely, instead, on homeopathic medicine, which tends to treat the underlying cause of the symptoms and not just the symptoms themselves — as most pharmaceuticals do.