Unfortunately, the main reasons of death in the United States are adverse drug reactions. Prescription drugs lead to over 100,000 deaths annually, and more than 1.5 million cases of hospitalized people with severe side-effects. The following three categories of prescription drugs lead to numerous cognitive issues, including memory loss:

1. Sleeping Pills

Sleeping pills often lead to memory loss and cause a state similar to being in a coma or being drunk. Therefore, they do not restore the sleep needed for the body in order to repair itself. For instance, Ambien, a popular drug, is known to be “the amnesia drug” as it leads to hallucinations, night terrors, sleep walking, and sleep driving.

1. Statin Drugs

These drugs are one of the most damaging drugs for the brain and are used to regulate the cholesterol levels. This is due to the fact that ¼ of the brain is composed of cholesterol, needed for thinking, memory, and learning. However, they also cause memory loss and similar adverse effects.

1. The “Anti” Drugs

All “anti” drugs, such as antihistamines, antibiotics, antidepressants, antipsychotics, antispasmodics, or antihypertensive affect the acetylcholine levels in the body, which is the main neurotransmitter needed for memory and learning. Its low levels cause blurred vision, memory loss, dementia, delirium, mental confusion, and hallucinations. Richard C. Mohs, former vice chairman of the Department of Psychiatry at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine, composed the following list which includes 20 drugs which cause memory loss:

• Antibiotics (quinolones)
• Sleeping pills – Ambien, Lunesta, Sonata
• Painkillers – morphine, codeine, heroin
• Insulin
• Chemotherapy drugs
• Epilepsy – Dilantin or phenytoin
• Barbiturates – Nembutal, Phenobarbital, Seconal, Amytal
• Antipsychotics – Mellaril, Haldol
• Parkinson’s disease – atropine, glycopyrrolate, scopolamine
• Benzodiazepines – Xanax, Valium, Dalmane, Ativan
• Quinidine
• Beta blockers
• High blood pressure drugs
• Interferons
• Naproxen
• Tricyclic antidepressants
• Methyldopa
• Lithium
• Antihistamines
• Steroids

In case you use these drugs, you should consult your doctor and find out if they affect your memory. You can always find a healthier alternative, at least another medications or lifestyle changes. You should be more physically active, take some supplements, and consume some foods beneficial for the brain, in order to lower the load on it. You should preserve the brain health in order to remain sharp and healthy in general.