What Drugs Are Known to Cause Memory Loss?
According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, the most common cause of memory loss in older adults is an adverse reaction to drugs. Seniors take an average of five prescription medications and three over-the-counter (OTC) drugs.
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Cause
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As a person ages, her kidneys and liver are less effective at breaking down drugs and removing them from the body. These medications remain active, interacting and leading to memory loss.
Types
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Many drugs can cause memory loss: anti-anxiety and sleep medications; bladder control medicines; heartburn medications; steroids; and a whole host of medicines prescribed for cancer, high blood pressure, Parkinson's disease, and pain. OTC cold and allergy remedies can also cause memory loss.
Duration
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Most of these drugs cause short-term memory loss. However, continued use can lead to long-term memory loss.
Considerations
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In some cases, memory loss occurs when two or more drugs interact. The more medicines you take, the higher your risk for drug-drug interactions.
Tips
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Your nurse, doctor, or pharmacist can perform medication reconciliation, a process that begins with a complete list of your medicines. The provider then checks for side effects and drug-drug interactions that can lead to memory loss.
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