Unfortunately, the leading cause of death in the United States is drug side effects. Prescription drugs cause more than 100,000 deaths and 1.5 million hospitalizations for serious side effects each year.
The following three types of prescription drugs can lead to many cognitive problems, including memory loss.
Put to sleep
Sleeping pills often cause memory loss and induce a state similar to being in a coma or being drunk. Therefore, they do not restore the sleep necessary for the body to heal itself.
For example, the popular drug Ambien is known as an “amnesia drug” because it can cause hallucinations, night terrors, drowsiness, and sleep-driving.
Statin drugs
These drugs are the most damaging to the brain and are used to control cholesterol levels. This is due to the fact that the brain has ¼ cholesterol, which is necessary for thinking, memory and learning. However, they cause memory loss and similar side effects.
“Against Drugs”
Antihistamines, antibiotics, antidepressants, antipsychotics, antispasmodics, and antihypertensives all affect the level of acetylcholine in the body, the main neurotransmitter necessary for memory and learning.
Its low levels can cause blurred vision, memory loss, dementia, delirium, confusion, and hallucinations.
Richard S. Mohs, 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 blocker
Medicines for high blood pressure
Interferons
Naproxen
Tricyclic antidepressants
Methyldopa
Lithium
Antihistamines
Steroids
If you are taking these medications, check with your doctor if they are affecting 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 stress on your brain.
You have to keep your brain healthy to stay sharp and healthy in general.
