OTC Drugs Like Excedrin PM Stops Brain from Working

I just received my regular e-mail update from Dr. Mercola's site and was somewhat startled to read that over the counter (OTC) drugs have been proven to negatively affect the brain causing long term cognitive impairment.  Some of these drugs include Excedrin PM, Benadryl, Nytol, Unisom, Tylenol PM, Demerol, Paxil and some of others were culprits named.  These  drugs are what are called anticholinergic drugs and they block a nervous system neurotransmitter called acetylcholine.


I find this alarming because I've had to use a sleep aid for as long as I can remember and I notice my mental ability to retain things have slipped over the past couple of years.  I joked and shrugged it off as being part of giving birth but now that I read this, I can't help but wonder if those pills to help me sleep actually help my brain to keep sleeping?  Irony is I woke up in the middle of the night, took one and started reading to help me fall back asleep when I got this e-mail.


Dr. Mercola provides all the study information and suggestions on how to sleep without these help aids here.    Dr. Mercola, Dr. Blaylock and Dr. Sears have fantastic information on their sites if you haven't had a chance to check them out, you should.  I sometimes wonder if the information age is good or bad as there just seems to be so much to worry about but then on the flip side, we wouldn't know as much without it.