5 drugs that could make you forget
Some have even been linked to dementia.
Drugs can cause a wide range ofSide effects- some unpleasant and other outright dangerous. "One of the most dangerous side effects that is often overlooked is oblivion," saysDavid Cutler, MD, aFamily doctor At the Providence Health Center Saint John in Santa Monica, California. "One of the reasons why forgetting can be neglected is that forgetting treatment often cannot be differentiated from forgetting the underlying disease," he saidBetter life. For some people, subtle memory loss can become a problem that affects their ability to perform daily cognitive tasks. Read the continuation to find out how five types of current drugs could make you more forgetful and what you can do about it.
Read this then:Doing this at night can increase your memory, says a new study.
Sleeping pill
If you suffer from poor chronic sleep, sleep help can help you get a better night's rest. But experts warn that taking sleep aid for an prolonged period can be accompanied by serious side effects, including memory loss and other forms of cognitive impairment.
"We know thatsleeping drugs The use is quite common in the elderly, "Yue leng, MD, PHD, epidemiologist and assistant professor at the University of California San Francisco, says the AARP. "Usually, when people have sleep problems, these default drugs are prescribed. But few studies have examined what drugs really do to their bodies and their brains," said Leng. In addition to short -term memory laps, certain sleep aids have even been linked to patients developing dementia later in life.
Cutler says that whenever possible, insomnia must be treated with cognitive behavioral therapy "which can avoid the memory problems of sleeping pills and improve mental acuity as sleep habits improve".
Read this then:If you take this painting against pain, stop now, the FDA warns.
Antidepressants
Antidepressants are a class of drugs that correct chemical imbalances in the brain, reducing the symptoms of depressive disorders. However,Harvard Health Publishing note that there are several types ofantidepressants who can cause forgetting, including paroxetine (Paxil), amitriptyline (Elavil), Desipramine (norpramin) or nortriptyline (Aventyl, Pamelor).
Harvard experts say that if youdo Discover the memory loss associated with this medication, you may be able to work with your doctor to go to another antidepressant which is less likely to cause this particular side effect. Options less often associated with memory loss or oblivion include fluoxetine (prozac) or sertraline (zoloft), duloxetine (cymbalta) or venlafaxine (effect), they write.
Drugs against incontinence
Anticholinergics are used to treat urinary incontinence, as well as other conditions such as high blood pressure, asthma and Parkinson's disease. But studies have shown that many drugs against incontinence can cause memory loss and other forms of cognitive decline by blocking acetylcholine, a chemical messenger involved in many bodily functions.AE0FCC31AE342FD3A1346EBB1F342FCB
"Our message is to be careful when using these drugs", "Jack Tsao, MD, a neurologist of the American navy who led a study on anticholinergics and the loss of memory, saidNBC News. "It can be preferable toUse diapers and be able to think clearly than the reverse. ""
Antihistamine
Antihistamine drugs such as Benadryl and Claritin are also considered anticholinergic and are known to make patients sleepy and forgetful, explains Cutler.
Studies have also linked the long -term use of these products to an increased risk of dementia. In fact, a study (viaHarvard Health Publishing), who followed around 3,500 elderly men and women aged 65 over the seven years, revealed that those who used anticholinergics for three years or more were54% more likely to develop dementia later Like those who took them for three months or less.
Hypertension drugs
It is believed that having high blood pressure in the middle of life increases its risk of cognitive decline later in life. "The inability to treat high blood pressure can cause a stroke, which is a common cause of cognitive decline," said Cutler.
However, medical interventions for high blood pressure seem to have a varied effect on memory and term. While certain types of blood pressure drugsProtective effect on memory and cognition, others are known to make patients more forgetful.
If you are currently taking blood pressure medicines, it is important that you do not stop taking it or changing your dosage without speaking to your doctor, as it can have dangerous side effects. "Stopping medical therapy is not always the best course of action when treating the oblivion caused by drugs. More often than not, evaluating the advantages, risks and options for any medical treatment is the best line driving, "explains Cutler.
Best Life offers the most recent information from high -level experts, new research and health agencies, but our content is not supposed to replace professional advice. Regarding the medication you take or any other health issue you have, always consult your health care provider directly.