Sadly, the leading causes of death in the United States are adverse drug reactions. Each year, prescription drugs cause more than 100,000 deaths and more than 1.5 million hospitalizations due to severe side effects.
The next three categories of prescription drugs cause numerous cognitive problems, including memory loss:
Sleeping pills often lead to memory loss and cause a coma-like or overeating-like state. Thus, they do not restore the sleep the body needs to repair itself.
For example, Ambien, a popular drug, is known as an “amnesia drug” because it causes hallucinations, night terrors, sleepwalking and sleep-driving.
These drugs are some of the most destructive to the brain and are used to regulate cholesterol levels. This is because ¼ of the brain is made up of cholesterol, essential for thinking, memory and learning. However, they also cause memory loss and similar negative effects.
“Anti” drugs.
All “anti” drugs, such as antihistamines, antibiotics, antidepressants, antipsychotics, antispasmodics or antihypertensives, affect levels of acetylcholine in the body, which is the main neurotransmitter needed for memory and learning.
Low levels cause blurred vision, memory loss, dementia, delirium, confusion and hallucinations.
Richard C. Mose, former vice chairman of the department of psychiatry at Mount Sinai School of Medicine, compiled the following list, which includes 20 drugs that cause memory loss
Antibiotics (quinolones)
Sleeping pills – Ambien, Lunesta, Sonata
Painkillers – morphine, codeine, heroin.
Insulin
Chemotherapeutic drugs.
Epilepsy – Dilantin or phenytoin.
Barbiturates – Nembutal, Phenobarbital, Seconal, Amytal.
Antipsychotics – Mellaril, Haldol.
Parkinson’s disease – atropine, glycopyrrolate, scopolamine
Benzodiazepines – xanax, valium, dalman, ativan
Quinidine
Beta-blockers
Drugs to treat high blood pressure
Interferons
Naproxen
Tricyclic antidepressants
Methyldopa
Lithium
Antihistamines
Steroids
If you use these medications, you should consult your doctor to see if they are affecting your memory. You can always find healthier alternatives, at least other medications or lifestyle changes.
