People who take this treatment from the age of 45 have an “increased” risk of cardiovascular disease.
Already known to impair cognitive abilities, a common drug could also be dangerous for the heart, according to a new study. After following more than 500,000 people in Stockholm aged 45 and over with no history of cardiovascular disease (except hypertension), scientists warn that those who take this treatment “are at increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease.” Which medicine to be wary of?
As age advances, the number of medications increases. According to the DREES, 30 to 40% of people aged 75 or over take at least 10 medications per day in France. Against chronic health problems such as excess cholesterol, hypertension or cardiac arrhythmia but also against more occasional symptoms such as those of allergies, digestive, urinary disorders… Without imagining that certain medications which treat one side can also have undesirable effects elsewhere. This is shown by the study published by the Karolinska Institute (Sweden) in BMC Medicine on February 28, 2026.
The researchers followed the participants for up to 14 years and analyzed the link between taking a common medication and the development of cardiovascular disease. “Many of these medications are used by older adults and by people with multiple health conditions. We wanted to study whether total exposure affected the risk of developing cardiovascular disease over time.”explains Nanbo Zhu, researcher at the Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society at the Karolinska Institutet.
The results are clear: the risk of cardiovascular disease increases proportionally to the quantity of anticholinergic drugs consumed annually by the participants. Those most at risk had a 71% higher risk of cardiovascular events than people not using any of these medications. “This association was observed for all types of cardiovascular disease, but was particularly strong for heart failure and various forms of arrhythmias” note the scientists. What is an anticholinergic medication?
Anticholinergic medications are treatments that block the action of acetylcholine, a chemical in the brain and nervous system. Among them, treatments against overactive bladder, such as solifenacin (Vesicare®), tolterodine (Detrusitol®) or oxybutynin (Ditropan®); antidepressants such as amitriptyline (Laroxyl®) and clomipramine (Anafranil®); antihistamines used against allergies or itching (hydroxyzine (Atarax®)), as well as in certain medications for motion sickness such as scopolamine (Scopoderm®). Finally, treatments for Parkinson’s disease and certain digestive antispasmodics can also have this effect.
“Our results indicate that cumulative drug load can affect cardiac regulation, not only in the short term, but also in the long term. This does not mean that drugs should always be avoided, but that exposure should be carefully monitored.” commented Hong Xu, assistant professor in the Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society. For researchers, these results highlight the need for prescription and rigorous monitoring of these medications.
