DRUGS THAT CAUSE TEMPORARY AMNESIA FREE

Their cognitive effects, like the other medications here, are reversible after the medications are stopped. Pain relief is a necessity, of course, and proper use of pain relievers is important.

Their deleterious effects on short-term memory have been investigated and recognized. Pain-relieving medications, particularly opioids, are important and valuable when used properly. Prednisone has been implicated in cases of clinical symptoms that mimic various mental disorders including cognitive changes. CorticosteroidsĬorticosteroids, which can be life-saving when prescribed appropriately, have the capacity to induce delirium, mood changes, or even psychotic symptoms. A recent study even suggested that prolonged use of benzodiazepines might be a risk factor for later dementia, although experts have questioned the significance of this finding, and clinicians continue to prescribe anti-anxiety medications such as lorazepam (Ativan) and alprazolam (Xanax) or sleeping pills such as temazepam (Restoril) and consider them very beneficial when used properly. Although these medications are truly a blessing for some individuals immobilized by anxiety, their use can be accompanied by sedation and mental slowing. Anxiety and Insomnia Medicationsīenzodiazepines, a class of medications used to treat anxiety or insomnia, comprise another group that has been linked with cognitive difficulties. The toxic effects of anticholinergic medications on the brain include confusion, memory disturbance, agitation, and even delirium. Dry mouth, dry eyes, constipation, or urinary retention may occur. Unfortunately, the undesired consequences of anticholinergic medications can be serious. In addition, some antidepressants (especially the tricyclics such as amitriptyline), antipsychotics, cardiac medications, antispasmodics, antivertigo medications, and antiparkinsonian medications have anticholinergic effects. Among the clinically significant anticholinergic medications are medications such as tolterodine, often used to treat urinary incontinence. Also, many medications valued for their other effects have incidental anticholinergic properties. These medications have an impact on brain cells by occupying its receptor molecules and can help people gain relief from symptoms of insomnia, irritable bowel syndrome, or several other medical conditions. This means that the medications block the effect of acetylcholine, an important brain chemical and neurotransmitter that becomes less plentiful in the aging brain. Medications that Block the Effects of AcetylcholineĪmong the best-recognized cognitively dangerous medications are those with anticholinergic properties. In this article, I’ll describe some of the most common medications linked with cognitive symptoms and describe their effects. Many medications have been shown to cause or are suspected of causing cognitive symptoms (see the table below for examples). And when the side effects interfere with attention, memory, language, executive function, or other cognitive faculties, an examining clinician might incorrectly suspect the presence of a progressive dementia.

DRUGS THAT CAUSE TEMPORARY AMNESIA FREE

Yet no medication, not even a placebo pill, is free of side effects. They can provide amazing benefits for symptoms of pain, fever, inflammation, and insomnia, just to name a few. Medications are so helpful in treating infections, cancer, high blood pressure, endocrine problems, and psychiatric conditions among other diseases. “I meant kidney, not turkey…I’ve been doing that kind of thing all the time, lately!” Was this the beginning of a serious neurological disorder? We wondered about this, but saw the language problem vanish when my patient’s antidepressant was stopped and successfully replaced by a different one.

When he saw the questioning look I gave him, he caught his mistake. “My depression is a lot better, but I’ve been having pain, right here in my turkey”, said another patient, pointing to the side of his abdomen. She was concerned too! When we stopped her sleeping pill and worked on non-medication ways to improve sleep, an extra benefit for her was memory improvement.

I wasn’t sure whether I was witnessing the beginning of a significant memory disturbance, a problem with attention, or possibly the reversible side effects of a new sleeping pill that the patient had obtained over the counter in a local pharmacy. When I brought the repetition to my patient’s attention, she said her husband had recently told her she was also repeating questions to him. We’d already finished scheduling several minutes earlier and I was surprised to hear this question repeated not only once but twice before we ended the day’s appointment. “I’m sorry, when did you say our next appointment is?” asked my patient.

If you believe that medications are affecting your memory or other cognitive functions, discuss this with your health care providers. Learn about medications that can interfere with cognition and mimic dementia.

Drugs that cause temporary amnesia