7 Medication Groups That Can Affect Memory and Cognition
The claim that certain medicines “cause severe dementia and profound brain damage” is too strong. Some medications can cause confusion, delirium, sedation, or memory problems, particularly in older adults, and long-term exposure to some drug classes has been associated with increased dementia risk. That does not mean they inevitably cause permanent brain damage or dementia.
N
National Institute on Aging
+1
The medication groups worth reviewing with a doctor or pharmacist include:
Strong anticholinergic drugs
Examples include diphenhydramine (Benadryl), doxylamine, oxybutynin, amitriptyline, and certain bladder, allergy, and antidepressant medicines. Cumulative anticholinergic exposure has been associated with increased dementia risk.
N
National Institute on Aging
+1
Benzodiazepines
Examples include diazepam, lorazepam, alprazolam, clonazepam, and temazepam. In older adults they can cause cognitive impairment, confusion, falls, and dependence.
P
PubMed Central (PMC)
“Z-drug” sleeping pills
Zolpidem, eszopiclone, and zaleplon can cause confusion and other adverse effects, particularly in older adults.
P
PubMed Central (PMC)
Certain antipsychotics
These can worsen cognitive outcomes in people who already have dementia and are associated with increased stroke and mortality risk. They nevertheless have appropriate uses in selected circumstances.
P
PubMed Central (PMC)
Some tricyclic antidepressants
Drugs such as amitriptyline and imipramine have strong anticholinergic effects and can be particularly problematic for older adults.
P
PubMed Central (PMC)
Some opioids and other sedating medicines
Opioids can contribute to delirium and sedation, especially when combined with other medications affecting the brain.
P
PubMed Central (PMC)
Multiple brain-active medicines taken together
The combination can be more concerning than any single drug. Using three or more CNS-active medication categories can increase risks such as falls, fractures and other serious adverse effects in older adults.
P
PubMed Central (PMC)
Don’t stop these medicines suddenly
This is especially important with benzodiazepines, sleeping pills, antidepressants, or other long-term medications. Suddenly stopping some of them can cause withdrawal or other serious problems. Have your doctor or pharmacist perform a medication review instead. NIA specifically recommends reviewing medications when an older person develops cognitive problems.
N
National Institute on Aging
Also, memory problems aren’t automatically dementia. Medication side effects, thyroid or kidney problems, vitamin B12 deficiency, sleep disorders, depression, infections and other treatable conditions can cause cognitive symptoms.
N
National Institute on Aging
If you give me the names and doses of the medications you or a family member take, I can go through them one by one and identify which ones may affect memory, confusion, falls, or dementia risk.
N
P
Sources
