The problem might be if you have trouble remembering things and you have taken some of the medications we are going to talk here. According to the doctors, in the past memory loss was only a part of the aging process. But, currently, scientists have proved that memory loss is not inevitable. During this life, our brain has the ability to grow new cells and reshape the connection.
As most of you know memory loss can happen with alcohol and drugs, head injuries, strikes, heavy smoking, severe stress, sleep deprivation, lack of vitamin B12, or illnesses like Alzheimer’s. But you may not know that some prescribed drugs can also affect your memory.
The number one death cause in the United States is adverse drug reactions. Prescribed drugs cause more than 100.000 deaths per year, and over 1.5 million hospitalized patients that have experienced adverse drug effects.
Medications that Cause Cognitive Health Issues and Memory Loss
Statin Drugs
These drugs are used to control high cholesterol levels. But they can cause you brain damage. As we all know, our brain is made out of 1/4 of cholesterol. Even thought it is needed for memory, learning, and thinking, they still can cause side-effects and lead to memory loss.
Sleeping Pills
Sleeping pills can cause memory loss or a state of coma. They don’t regulate the sleep that the body needs. Take Ambien as an example, it is known as an amnesia drug due to the fact that it causes night terrors, hallucinations, sleep driving, and sleepwalking.
‘Anti’ Drugs
Antispasmodics, antipsychotics, antihypertensive, antidepressants, antibiotics, antihistamines and all are included in anti drugs. These can affect the levels of acetylcholine in the human body, the main neurotransmitter essential for learning and memory.
Blurred vision, hallucinations, mental confusion, delirium, dementia, memory loss, and other health issues can occur with the low levels of acetylcholine in the body. Anticholinergics are the drugs that can block the effects of acetylcholine. Some of the most common side effects of anticholinergics are:
- Dry mouth
- Blurred vision
- Confusion
- Lightheartedness
- Loss of bladder control
- Constipation
- Difficulty to urinate
20 Drugs that Lead to Memory Loss
According to the former vice chairman of the Department of Psychiatry, Richard C. Mohs, here is a list of 20 drugs, which lead to memory loss:
- Steroids
- Antihistamines – Dimetane, Clistin, Tavist, Vistaril, and Benadryl.
- Lithium
- Methyldopa
- Naproxen
- Antidepressants – Vivactil, Elavil, Anafranil, Norpramin, Pamelor, and Surmontil.
- Interferons
- High blood pressure drugs
- Beta blockers (particularly those used for glaucoma)
- Quinidine
- Insulin
- Benzodiazepines – Ativan, Dalmane, Librium, Klonopin, Doral, Versed, Restoril, Valium, and Xanax.
- Parkinson’s disease – scopolamine, glycopyrrolate, and atropine.
- Antipsychotics – Haldol and Mellaril.
- Barbiturates – Amytal, Seconal, Phenobarbital, and Nembutal.
- Epilepsy – Phenytoin and Dilantin.
- Chemotherapy drugs
- Antibiotics (quinolones)
- Painkillers – heroin, codeine, and morphine.
- Sleeping pills – Sonata, Lunesta, and Ambien.
If you are taking these drugs, check the possibility of them affecting your health as you can always find something better.
You should also take healthier foods, food supplements, be more physically active to have a good health of the brain.
Well-Known Over-the-Counter Medications that Lead to Memory Loss
Be aware that popular medications also can lead to memory loss. They actually block the action of the acetylcholine neurotransmitter.
12 popular OTC medications that are anticholinergic:
- Zantac(acid reflux)
- Unisom (insomnia)
- Tylenol PM (insomnia and pain)
- Tagamet (acid reflux)
- Sominex (insomnia)
- Pepcid Ac (acid reflux)
- Nytol (insomnia)
- Excedrin PM (insomnia and pain)
- Dramamine (motion sickness)
- Claritin (allergies)
- Benadryl (allergies
- Advil PM ( sleep and pain)
Many studies have shown that over-the-counter medications like Benadryl increase the risk of Alzheimer’s. Therefore, always consult with a doctor and be careful of the medications that you take.