Unfortunately, drug side effects are the leading cause of death in the United States. Prescription drugs are responsible for more than 100,000 deaths and 1.5 million hospitalizations each year due to serious side effects.
The following three types of prescription drugs can cause a variety of cognitive problems, including memory loss.
Put to bed
Sleeping pills often cause memory loss and cause a state similar to coma or intoxication. Therefore, they do not restore the sleep necessary for the body to heal itself.
For example, the popular drug Ambien is known as the “amnesia drug” because it can cause hallucinations, nightmares, drowsiness, and drowsy driving.
Statin drugs
These medications are the most harmful to the brain and are used to control cholesterol levels. This is because the brain contains ¼ of the cholesterol needed for thinking, memory and learning. However, they cause memory loss and similar side effects.
“Against drugs”
Antihistamines, antibiotics, antidepressants, antipsychotics, antispasmodics and antihypertensives affect the body’s levels of acetylcholine, a key neurotransmitter necessary for memory and learning.
Low levels can cause blurred vision, memory loss, dementia, delirium, confusion and hallucinations.
Richard S. Moos, former vice chair of the Department of Psychiatry at Mount Sinai School of Medicine, has compiled the following list of 20 drugs that impair memory.
Antibiotics (quinolones)
Sleeping pills – Ambien, Lunesta, Sonata
Painkillers – morphine, codeine, heroin.
insulin
Chemotherapy drugs
Epilepsy – Dilantin or phenytoin
Barbiturates – Nembutal, phenobarbital, Seconal, Amytal.
Antipsychotic drugs – Mellaril, Haldol.
Parkinson’s disease – atropine, glycopyrrolate, scopolamine.
Benzodiazepines – Xanax, Valium, Dalman, Ativan.
Quinidine
Beta blockers
Medicines for high blood pressure
Interferons
Naproxen
Tricyclic antidepressants
Methyldopa
Lithium
Antihistamines
Steroids
If you take these medications, check with your doctor to find out if they affect your memory. You can always find a healthier alternative, or at least other medications or lifestyle changes.
You need to be more active, take supplements, and eat brain-healthy foods to reduce the strain on your brain.
You must keep yours