Prescription drugs are the reason for more than 100,000 deaths in a year and it can also cause additional 1.5 million people who can experience certain side effects that can be so serious they will have to be hospitalized.

The fourth main cause for death in the USA is the adverse drug. Each and every medication has some risks and one of those side effects is memory loss.

These 3 types of drugs are the biggest reason for memory loss

If you use some prescription medication, the chances are that this medication goes in one of these 3 categories of drugs and they can be the reason for other cognitive problems:

Sleeping Pills

The prescription sleeping pills are the main cause for memory loss. It is popular drug and its name is Ambien and some people call it the amnesia drug. Certain users have problems with sleep walking, night terrors, hallucinations and sleep driving.

Prescription sleeping pills can place you in a state that is similar to being in a state of coma or passed out drunk while it bypasses the restorative sleep your brain needs. You can try different ways for falling asleep.

The “Anti” Drugs

If you use drug which name starts with “anti,” including antipsychotics, antibiotics, antihistamines, antihypertensives, antidepressants or antispasmodics it can mean that it has a huge effect over your acetylcholine levels.

Acetylcholine is the main neurotransmitter that is involved with learning and memory. Low acetycholine can be the reason for having symptoms that are similar to dementia such as delirium, mental confusion, hallucinations, blurred vision and memory loss.

Statin Drugs

These medications for lowering cholesterol can be the most dangerous group of drugs that will have a negative effect over your brain. Almost ¼ quarter of our brain is comprised of cholesterol, which is important for learning, memory, learning and fast thinking. This means that all these drugs will have a negative effect over your health.

Medications which can cause memory loss

These are the medications which can cause memory loss like possible side effect:

• For Parkinson’s — atropine, scopolamine or glycopyrrolate
• For epilepsy — Dilantin or phenytoin
• Painkillers — heroin, codeine, morphine
• Sleeping pills — Lunesta, Ambien, Sonata
• Benzodiazepines — Ativan, Valium, Dalmane, Xanax
• Naproxen
• Steroids
• Quinidine
• Antibiotics (quinolones)
• Interferons
• Insulin
• Antihistamines
• Methyldopa
• High blood pressure drugs
• Beta blockers (especially the ones that are used for glaucoma)
• Lithium
• Antipsychotics — Haldol, Mellaril
• Barbiturates — Nembutal, Amytal, phenobarbital, Seconal
• Chemotherapy drugs
• Tricyclic antidepressants

Another list made of 12 popular over-the-counter drugs that are anticholinergic:

– Unisom (insomnia)
– Tagamet (acid reflux)
– Dramamine (motion sickness)
– Zantac (acid reflux)
– Excedrin PM (pain and insomenia)
– Tylenol PM (insomnia and pain)
– Pepcid Ac (acid reflux)
– Benadryl (allergies)
– Advil PM (pain and sleep)
– Sominex ( insomnia)
– Nytol (insomnia)
– Claritin (allergies)

What to do

If you take some of these medications and you think it has an effect over your memory you should talk with your doctor.

Try and work with him to find a much better solution for you: use different prescriptions and make new healthy lifestyle choices.

In the meantime, you should reduce the load on the brain and try and begin with proactive steps including getting the physical exercise your brain needs, following a brain-healthy diet as well as taking proper brain supplements.

You should give and create the healthiest environment for your brain so you can be mentally sharp even though you consume certain medications.