New Technology Could Reduce the Side Effects of Common Medicines

Artificial intelligence might help doctors in determining whether individuals are likely to have adverse effects from widely used antidepressants, antihistamines, and bladder medications. An evaluation of a new tool to determine which medications are more likely to have adverse anticholinergic effects on the body and brain was conducted under the direction of the University of Exeter and the Kent and Medway NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust. Their findings were recently published in the journal Age and Ageing. Many prescription and over-the-counter medications that affect the brain by inhibiting the neurotransmitter acetylcholine may result in adverse anticholinergic effects. Numerous drugs, including certain bladder medications, antidepressants, stomach medicines, and Parkinson's disease have some degree of anticholinergic impact.