It is estimated that prescription drugs is responsible for 100,000 fatalities annually, making it the fourth leading cause of death in the US. It is also deemed as the primary cause for the hospitalization from severe side effects of the drugs of approximately 1.5 million people.
One of the most common side effects of prescription drugs is memory loss. It is therefore important that you gather as much information as possible in order to prevent the adverse effects of prescription drugs and in effect maintain a healthy lifestyle.
The chances are that your off the counter prescription drug may be classified as one of those known to be a major cause of memory loss and a whole lot of other cognitive issues.
Sleeping Pills
It has been proven that sleeping pills cause memory loss. Your prescription sleeping pills acts by circumventing the invigorating sleep that your brain requires. It therefore renders you in a state similar to a coma or being intoxicated with alcohol.
The easily available drug – Ambien which is referred to by people as the “amnesia drug” has been known to cause in some people -- hallucinations, night terrors, sleep walking and sleep driving.
Statin Drugs
The purpose of these drugs is to lower cholesterol and it is estimated that a quarter of the brain is made up of cholesterol therefore making these drugs extremely dangerous to the brain. This is because the cholesterol in the brain is necessary for memory, learning, and fast thinking.
It has now been mandated that memory loss be included as a side effect on the label of these type of drug. For further research check out; Exposed: Why Cholesterol Doesn’t Cause Heart Disease and If You Take Cholesterol Medication, You Must Know This!
The “Anti” Class of Drugs
The primary neurotransmitter involved with memory and learning is known as Acetylcholine. The lowering of the level of Acetylcholine in the brain can lead to symptoms very similar to dementia, such as memory loss, delirium, blurred vision, hallucination and mental confusion.
Drugs labeled as “anti”, for example, antibiotics, antidepressants, antipsychotics, antihistamines, antihypertensive, or antispasmodics, have been known to adversely affect your acetylcholine levels by significantly lowering it.
It is important to note at this point that the following medications listed below have been proven to cause memory loss, as a possible side-effect of their use;
This list was compiled by Richard C. Mohs, Ph.D, a former vice chairman of the Department of Psychiatry at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine.
- Antibiotics (quinolones)
- Antihistamines
- Antipsychotics, such as Haldol and Mellaril
- All drugs used in the treatment of high blood pressure
- Barbiturates, such as Amytal, Nembutal, Seconal and Phenobarbital
- Benzodiazepines, such as Ativan, Dalmane, Valium and Xanax
- Beta blockers (particularly those used for the treatment of glaucoma)
- Chemotherapy drugs
- Drugs used for combating Parkinson’s disease, such as Atropine, Glycopyrrolate, Scopolamine
- Epilepsy drugs, such as Dilantin or Phenytoin
- Insulin
- Interferons
- Lithium
- Methyldopa
- Naproxen
- Painkillers, such as Morphine, Codeine and Heroin
- Sleeping Pills, such as Ambien, Lunesta, Sonata
- Steroids
- Tricyclic antidepressants
- Quinidine
See Your Doctor
If you are taking any of these medications and the chances are that you are probably on one or more of the drugs listed above; see your doctor immediately if you believe the drug(s) is adversely affecting your memory.
When you meet your doctor get him to recommend a different prescription, one that does not have memory loss as a side-effect on its label or that is not listed above. Alternatively your doctor may recommend a change in lifestyle for you. That would be preferable if it leads to an improvement in your health.
Whatever prescription your doctor recommends you can also engage in deliberate personal development by eating a healthy diet especially one that is rich in brain development nutrients. You can also take the right brain supplements and carry out exercises that are also beneficial for your brain.
Ensure that you abstain from the prescription medications highlighted, see your doctor immediately if you are encountering any form of memory loss and take up a healthy lifestyle.
Read the Full Article Here: Warning: Taking One of These Medications Can Cause Permanent Memory Loss
Source: www.realfarmacy.com
