7 Widespread Drugs That Can Trigger Reminiscence Loss

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

Sorts: Examples of benzodiazepines embrace:

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

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

There’s additionally analysis that implies long-term benzodiazepine use could enhance the danger of dementia, which is a gaggle of mind circumstances that have an effect on reminiscence, cognition, and habits in older adults.

Alternate options: Should you’re taking a benzodiazepine and are experiencing reminiscence issues, discuss to your physician about potential alternate options.

The alternate options range relying on the situation you take them for. For instance, if you happen to’re taking a benzodiazepine for anxiousness, you and your physician could contemplate switching your remedy to a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI). You can too focus on non-drug therapies, akin to cognitive behavioral remedy (CBT).

Sorts: Widespread examples of anti-seizure medication embrace:

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 lead to issue remembering issues, paying consideration, or concentrating. This will go away over time as your physique will get used to the treatment, however different occasions it might not.

The drowsiness and focus unwanted side 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 side effects could also be extra possible if you happen to take excessive doses or a number of varieties of anti-seizure medicines.

Alternate options: Switching to a special anticonvulsant could assist with reminiscence loss, as some medication are much less prone to trigger drowsiness or different cognitive unwanted side effects than others. Different methods to deal with seizures embrace dietary interventions, surgical procedure, and deep mind stimulation.

Sorts: Examples of opioids embrace:

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

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

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

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

Sorts: TCA medicines embrace:

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.

Additionally 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.

Alternate options: Should you’re experiencing reminiscence issues whereas taking a TCA, discuss to a physician. They will advocate various therapies. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) haven’t got the identical anticholinergic results as TCAs, nonetheless, the analysis is combined on whether or not they could cause reminiscence loss.

Sorts: Examples of FGAs embrace:

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

Examples of SGAs embrace:

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

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

Alternate options: Whereas FGAs and SGAs could each enhance 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 capsules which will have an effect on reminiscence embrace:

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

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

Alternate options: As an alternative of sleeping capsules, 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 embrace:

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

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

Alternate options: Should you’re experiencing reminiscence loss whereas taking an incontinence drug, discuss to your physician. They will decide in case your treatment is the trigger and focus on different methods to deal with your overactive bladder signs. This may embrace switching to completely different medicines, akin to Myrbetriq (mirabegron) or Gemtesa (vibegron), or implementing bladder retraining and pelvic flooring strengthening workout routines.

Different elements could put you at greater threat for medication-related reminiscence issues. These embrace:

Taking greater dosages of the medicationsTaking the medicines long-termBeing of older ageTaking a number of medicines without delay

In truth, a 2021 examine discovered that older adults who took a minimum of three medicines with cognitive unwanted side effects have been extra prone to report confusion and reminiscence loss.