| Everyone would like
to take a magic pill that makes memory work better. But what
about pills that can make memory worse?
Many common medications have side effects that include possible
memory impairments. The list of drugs known to cause such
side effects is long, and includes both over-the-counter and
prescription drugs. Examples include many widely used sleep
aids, cardiac drugs, and anti-anxiety medications. Additionally,
for people taking two or more drugs, there can be interactions:
Sometimes, neither drug alone disrupts memory, but the combination
might.
Does this mean that the way to a better memory is to stop
taking all your medications? No! But there are some simple
steps that could help:
- Mention memory problems to your doctor. If one of your
medications is known to cause memory impairment, then perhaps
there is another, alternate drug available that can treat
your existing medical problems without the unwanted side
effect.
- Make sure your doctor is aware of all the drugs you are
taking. This includes prescription drugs, over the counter
drugs (cold remedies, headache remedies, etc.), and also
dietary supplements and vitamins - yes, these are drugs
too!
- Try to get all your prescriptions filled at the same
pharmacy. This will help the pharmacist recognize any potentially
problematic drug interactions. Today, many chain pharmacies
have special computer programs to check for drug interactions.
Even without a magic pill to help you remember, better management
of existing medications may be a simple and effective way to
improve your memory.
-- Copyright © 2010 Memory Loss and the Brain
|
|
