Be careful with drugs that impair memory

There are many causes of memory impairment such as brain damage, substance abuse, certain diseases,... In addition, the side effects of some drugs can also cause depression as a side effect. memory loss.

Along with the aging process of the body, more and more nerve cells die, causing human memory to decline over time. This is a completely normal state of the body. In the elderly, memory decline makes it difficult to absorb new knowledge but does not affect work and daily activities much.
Dementia is an abnormal memory loss that can occur at any age. With amnesia, the person is unable to clearly remember recent events or past events (or both). Memory loss usually occurs suddenly, mainly temporary in a short time or occurs gradually, increasing in severity, greatly affecting work and daily activities.
Causes of memory loss include:
Brain damage due to brain tumor, traumatic brain injury, stroke,...; Lifestyle: Abuse of alcohol, drugs, smoking, stress, lack of sleep,...; Diseases: Having diseases that cause memory loss such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, epilepsy, depression or vitamin B12 deficiency,...; Medications: Long-term use of certain medications can cause some side effects, including memory loss.

The use of some of the following drugs for a long time may cause side effects such as memory loss, memory loss:
Benzodiazepine tranquilizers (diazepam, lorazepam, triazolam,...): is a group of drugs indicated for use in the treatment of insomnia, anxiety disorders,... Drugs that impair brain activity, weaken nerve cells, affect the transition of short memory long-term to long-term, so when using this drug for a long time can cause memory loss, memory loss; Tricyclic antidepressants (amitriptyline, nortriptyline, imipramine,...): This is a group of drugs that inhibit the action of serotonin and norepinephrine (neurotransmitters in the brain). When using this group of drugs for a long time can lead to side effects such as memory loss; The statin drug group to reduce blood fat (atorvastatin, lovastatin, simvastatin,...): A group of drugs that work to reduce cholesterol in the blood and in the brain. Cholesterol in the brain plays a role in connecting nerve cells together. Therefore, when using this group of drugs for a long time, it will reduce cholesterol in the brain, affecting the patient's memory; Group of antihypertensive drugs (atenolol, propranolol, timolol,...): This group of drugs is usually indicated for use in the treatment of high blood pressure, angina, arrhythmia,... for a long time, it inhibits the action of the neurotransmitters norepinephrine and epinephrine in the brain, leading to memory loss; Antiepileptic drugs (carbamazepine, gabapentin,...): Drugs in this group limit seizures, reduce signal flow in the central nervous system, and this can be a cause of dementia miss; The group of opioid analgesics (hydrocodone, tramadol,...): These drugs inhibit the key points on the pain transmission pathway of the central nervous system, causing loss of pain sensation. This effect of the drug also increases the risk of dementia in patients;

Dopamine agonists for Parkinson's disease (apomorphine, pramipexole,...): This group of drugs increases dopamine levels in the brain by inhibiting the enzymes that break down dopamine. At the same time, it reduces levels of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, which causes cognitive impairment. Therefore, this group of drugs can cause side effects such as confusion, paranoia, memory loss,...; Medicines to treat urinary incontinence: Anticholinergic drugs can cause memory loss because of their inhibitory effect on the action of acetylcholine - a chemical messenger. The risk of cognitive decline and memory loss is increased if patients use drugs for urinary incontinence for a long time or in combination with other anticholinergic drugs; Antihistamines for allergies (chlorpheniramine, dexlorpheniramine,...): This group of drugs inhibits the action of acetylcholine - the chemical messenger that regulates the body's functions.

Side effects of some drugs can cause memory loss or memory loss. Therefore, when using these groups of drugs, patients need to be very careful and strictly follow the doctor's instructions. During the course of taking the drug, if there is an abnormal memory loss, the patient should promptly notify the doctor for intervention and handling. It may be to reduce the dose of the drug or replace it with another drug that does not have the side effects of memory impairment.
In addition to problems with pathology, living habits, some drugs can also cause memory loss, memory loss. Therefore, when using these drugs, patients should absolutely follow all instructions of the doctor. At the same time, if you see any unusual signs of health and memory, the patient should immediately notify the doctor.