7 Frequent Drugs That Can Trigger Reminiscence Loss

Some generally used medicines have been linked to reminiscence points and extreme forgetfulness.

Sorts: Examples of benzodiazepines embody:

Ativan (lorazepam)Xanax (alprazolam)Valium (diazepam)Restoril (temazepam)

Impact on reminiscence: Benzodiazepines are recognized to have an effect on reminiscence perform. Particularly, they’ll trigger gentle, short-term reminiscence loss that will get higher as soon as the drug is stopped.

There may be additionally analysis that means long-term benzodiazepine use could improve the danger of dementia, which is a gaggle of mind situations that have an effect on reminiscence, cognition, and habits in older adults.

Options: When you’re taking a benzodiazepine and are experiencing reminiscence issues, speak to your physician about potential alternate options.

The alternate options range relying on the situation you are taking them for. For instance, should you’re taking a benzodiazepine for nervousness, you and your physician could think about switching your remedy to a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI). You may also focus on non-drug therapies, akin to cognitive behavioral remedy (CBT).

Sorts: Frequent examples of anti-seizure medication embody:

Lamictal (lamotrigine)Topamax (topiramate)Tegretol (carbamazepine)Vimpat (lacosamide)Keppra (levetiracetam)

Impact on reminiscence: As a result of anti-seizure medication work by calming mind exercise, they’ll have an effect on regular mind perform. This will likely end in problem remembering issues, paying consideration, or concentrating. This will likely go away over time as your physique will get used to the remedy, however different occasions it could not.

The drowsiness and focus unwanted effects attributable to anticonvulsants can have an effect on your short-term reminiscence, making it onerous to soak up and retailer new info. These unwanted effects could also be extra possible should you take excessive doses or a number of sorts of anti-seizure medicines.

Options: Switching to a distinct anticonvulsant could assist with reminiscence loss, as some medication are much less more likely to trigger drowsiness or different cognitive unwanted effects than others. Different methods to deal with seizures embody dietary interventions, surgical procedure, and deep mind stimulation.

Sorts: Examples of opioids embody:

Oxycontin (oxycodone)Vicodin (hydrocodone/acetaminophen)MS Contin (morphine)Percocet (oxycodone/acetaminophen)Dilaudid (hydromorphone)

Impact on reminiscence: Opioids are recognized to intrude with the hippocampus, part of the mind concerned in reminiscence and studying.

They could additionally change the degrees of sure chemical compounds in your physique which are concerned with cognitive perform. Analysis has additionally proven that individuals who use opioids have the next danger of growing dementia than individuals who do not use them.

Options: Options to opioids could embody nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medication (NSAIDs), Tylenol (acetaminophen), anticonvulsants, antidepressants, topical ache medicines, and muscle relaxers.

Sorts: TCA medicines embody:

Elavil (amitriptyline)Pamelor (nortriptyline)Silenor (doxepin)Tofranil (imipramine)

Impact on reminiscence: TCAs alter the degrees of sure chemical compounds within the mind, akin to serotonin and norepinephrine.

In addition they have anticholinergic results, which means TCAs block acetylcholine, a chemical messenger concerned in reminiscence and studying. These mechanisms can result in reminiscence impairment, even when the TCA is taken on the beneficial dosage.

Options: When you’re experiencing reminiscence issues whereas taking a TCA, speak to a health care provider. They’ll advocate different therapies. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) do not have the identical anticholinergic results as TCAs, nevertheless, the analysis is blended on whether or not they could cause reminiscence loss.

Sorts: Examples of FGAs embody:

Benadryl (diphenhydramine)Chlor-Trimeton (chlorpheniramine)Dramamine (dimenhydrinate)Phenergan (promethazine)

Examples of SGAs embody:

Zyrtec (cetirizine)Allegra (fexofenadine)Claritin (loratadine)

Impact on reminiscence: Analysis exhibits antihistamines are linked to an elevated danger of dementia, with FGAs having the next danger than SGAs.

Options: Whereas FGAs and SGAs could each improve the danger of dementia, the danger is decrease with SGAs since they do not cross into the mind as simply. Your physician can advocate whether or not an SGA is suitable for you.

Sorts: Sleeping drugs that will have an effect on reminiscence embody:

Lunesta (eszopiclone)Sonata (zaleplon)Ambien (zolpidem)

Impact on reminiscence: A 2023 examine confirmed that sleeping medication elevated the danger of dementia in individuals who had been white. One other examine from 2021 discovered that sleeping drugs can negatively influence potential reminiscence, or the flexibility to recollect to do one thing sooner or later.

Options: As an alternative of sleeping drugs, melatonin could assist with insomnia. There are additionally healthful sleep and life-style habits that may make it simpler to go to sleep and keep asleep.

Sorts: Overactive bladder anticholinergics can embody:

Sanctura (trospium)Ditropan (oxybutynin)Enablex (darifenacin)Vesicare (solifenacin)Detrol (tolterodine)

Impact on reminiscence: Analysis has proven that overactive bladder anticholinergic medicines can improve the danger of dementia. They’ll additionally negatively have an effect on sure elements of cognition, akin to working reminiscence, which is the flexibility to recollect info over a brief time frame.

Options: When you’re experiencing reminiscence loss whereas taking an incontinence drug, speak to your physician. They’ll decide in case your remedy is the trigger and focus on different methods to deal with your overactive bladder signs. This may embody switching to completely different medicines, akin to Myrbetriq (mirabegron) or Gemtesa (vibegron), or implementing bladder retraining and pelvic flooring strengthening workouts.

Different components could put you at increased danger for medication-related reminiscence issues. These embody:

Taking increased dosages of the medicationsTaking the medicines long-termBeing of older ageTaking a number of medicines directly

In truth, a 2021 examine discovered that older adults who took at the least three medicines with cognitive unwanted effects had been extra more likely to report confusion and reminiscence loss.