What drugs can cause memory loss?

It’s common for your memory to decline as you get older, but we are often quick to blame memory loss on aging or stress.

If you notice occasional periods of memory loss or brain fog, it may not be your age or lifestyle but your prescription medications.

While smoking, drinking excessive amounts of alcohol, or head trauma can cause memory problems, most people are unaware that their medications can also have side effects that affect memory.

Taking time to understand the side effects of a new course of medication before you take it can be helpful.

Here are several medications that may cause memory loss:

Benzodiazepines

Benzodiazepines are a group of medications that doctors often prescribe to help manage symptoms of anxiety or panic disorders.

They improve the activity of the neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid, which is a chemical that helps you feel calm. It slows down the activity of your brain and central nervous system.

Examples of these medications include:

• alprazolam (Xanax)
• clonazepam (Klonopin)
• diazepam (Valium)
• lorazepam (Ativan)

While these medications are very effective at managing conditions such as anxiety and panic disorder, they can cause various side effects. This includes impairment to your memory.

According to a 2020 review, benzodiazepines can cause difficulties with creating new memories, known as anterograde amnesia. This is where you may find learning and remembering new information difficult.

Other possible side effects of benzodiazepines include:

• dizziness
• nausea
• restlessness
• muscle aches
• tremors
• trouble concentrating
• fatigue (low energy)
• dependency

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Antidepressants

Tricyclic antidepressants are second-line treatments that doctors often recommend for treating symptoms of depression. They are an older group of medications that aren’t so common in recent years.

These medications stop the body from using up certain chemicals in your brain, such as serotonin and norepinephrine. This helps boost your mood and energy by increasing the amount of these chemicals in your brain.

Tricyclic antidepressants include:

• amitriptyline (Elavil)
• desipramine (Norpramin)
• amoxapine (Asendin)
• nortriptyline (Pamelor)

Tricyclic antidepressants may negatively affect your memory and cause symptoms like confusion.

This is because the drug prevents the effects of acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter responsible for many bodily functions, such as learning and memory.

Anticholinergics

Anticholinergic medications can help manage symptoms of incontinence or an overactive bladder.

These medications block the activity of acetylcholine, which prevents the bladder from overactivity. This helps prevent involuntary contractions of the muscles around your bladder.

Examples of these medications include:

• oxybutynin (Ditropan XL)
• tolterodine (Detrol)
• trospium (Sanctura)
• solifenacin (Vesicare)

Anticholinergics can also affect your memory and cause issues such as confusion and agitation when taken for a long time or alongside other anticholinergic medications.

Medications to help with sleep

Doctors sometimes prescribe sleeping medications, or nonbenzodiazepine sedative-hypnotics to help treat insomnia and other sleep difficulties. These medications can also help you manage severe anxiety.

They include:

• eszopiclone (Lunesta)
• zaleplon (Sonata)
• zolpidem (Ambien)

These medications cause fewer side effects than benzodiazepines, but they act on the same pathways in your brain, meaning they can also cause problems with memory.

This is more likely to happen if you take them for long periods or at high doses.

First-generation antihistamines

First-generation antihistamines are the oldest medications available for treating symptoms of allergies, like sneezing or itching skin.

They lower the amount of histamine your immune system reacts with, allowing symptoms of allergies to decrease. A common example includes diphenhydramine (Benadryl).

First-generation antihistamines also block the activity of acetylcholine, which can affect your ability to learn and keep alert. These cognitive difficulties are more likely to happen in older adults.

Antihistamines can affect the following functions:

• alertness
• attention
• memory
• executive function
• reaction time
• vigilance

Can memory loss from drugs be reversed?

It’s not unusual to experience neurological side effects from medications.

The good news is that most side effects or changes to your brain during the time you take the medication are reversible and can improve once you stop taking the medication.

Often, it’s just a matter of allowing the chemical balances in your brain to readjust and equalize.

When should you speak with a doctor?

Memory loss can make everyday life more difficult. If you’re concerned about your ability to think, whether you believe it can be medication-related or not, you should speak with a healthcare professional.

Some symptoms to look out for include:

• repeating questions
• difficulty following questions
• repeatedly feeling confused
• difficulty maintaining new information

Summary

There are many medications that affect your memory and cause symptoms such as confusion and agitation. Many of these drugs work by inhibiting acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter that plays key roles in many bodily functions.

Examples of drugs that may affect your memory include:

• benzodiazepines, such as alprazolam (Xanax) and clonazepam (Klonopin)
• antidepressants, such as amitriptyline (Elavil) and desipramine (Norpramin)
• anticholinergics, such as oxybutynin (Ditropan XL) and tolterodine (Detrol)

If you’re concerned about memory loss, speak with a doctor as soon as possible.  

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