Be careful: 20 Medications That Cause Memory Loss

Prescription drugs cause over 100,000 deaths per year and cause another 1.5 million people to be hospitalized of the severe side effects.




Every medication carries some risks and memory loss is a very common side effect.



THE TOP 3 TYPES OF DRUGS THAT CAUSE MEMORY LOSS



If you are taking any prescription medication, check if they belongs in some of these three categories of drugs known to cause memory loss and other cognitive problems:

1. The “Anti” Drugs

Drugs that starts with “anti,” such as antihistamines, antidepressants, antipsychotics, antibiotics, antispasmodics, or antihypertensives, affects your acetylcholine levels.

Acetylcholine is the primary neurotransmitter involved with memory and learning. Low acetycholine causes symptoms such as: mental confusion, delirium, blurred vision, memory loss, and hallucinations.

2. Sleeping Pills

Sleeping pills are notorious for causing memory loss.

Sleeping pills have the ability to put you in a state similar to being passed out drunk or in a coma while bypassing the restorative sleep your brain needs. There are natural ways to get to sleep!

3. Statin Drugs

These drugs are used for cholesterol lowering. These medications might just be the single worst group of drugs for your brain. Memory loss is now required to be listed as a side effect on the label.

Cholesterol is necessary for memory, learning, and fast thinking as one quarter of the brain is made up of cholesterol. So it is not strange that cholesterol-lowering drugs negatively effect the brain.

20 Medications That can Cause Memory Loss

Here is a list of medications known to have memory loss as a possible side effect

• for Parkinson’s — scopolamine, atropine, glycopyrrolate
• for epilepsy — phenytoin or Dilantin
• painkillers — heroin, morphine, codeine
• sleeping pills — Ambien, Lunesta, Sonata
• benzodiazepines — Valium, Xanax, Ativan, Dalmane
• quinidine
• naproxen
• steroids
• antibiotics (quinolones)
• antihistamines
• interferons
• high blood pressure drugs
• insulin
• beta blockers (especially those used for glaucoma)
• methyldopa
• antipsychotics — Haldol, Mellaril
• tricyclic antidepressants
• lithium
• barbiturates — Amytal, Nembutal, Seconal, phenobarbital
• chemotherapy drugs

What You Can Do Next

Are you taking any of these medications? If so, we recommend you talk to your doctor if you suspect it’s affecting your memory.

Ask for better options — different prescriptions and/or making healthy lifestyle choices — instead.

Even if you have to stay on your medication, you can lessen the load on your brain by taking proactive steps such as eating a brain-healthy diet, getting the physical exercise your brain needs, and taking the right brain supplements.

Allow your brain the healthiest possible environment to stay mentally sharp in spite of the medications you are taking.

Source: http://www.cuisineandhealth.com/