Medications
Several medications affect the brain, causing short-term memory loss. Typically, these side effects also include confusion or sedation, which makes it challenging for a person to focus. Common medications associated with memory issues are tricyclic antidepressants, sedative or sleeping medications, cholesterol medications, anti-seizure drugs, anti-anxiety medications, and even pain relievers. Aside from that, drugs for Parkinson’s disease, high blood pressure, incontinence, and antihistamines also cause memory problems.
The anti-anxiety medication benzodiazepines can reduce activity in critical brain regions, particularly those responsible for transferring experiences such as short-term and long-term memory. For this reason, it can result to temporary memory loss as a side effect.
Meanwhile, cholesterol medications like pravastatin (Pravachol), fluvastatin (Lescol), Atorvastatin (Lipitor), and lovastatin (Mevacor) can also bring about memory loss. The reason is that they reduce cholesterol levels in the brain, which are necessary for forming nerve cell connections that are associated with learning and memory.
For people taking these kinds of medicine, ask a doctor to reduce the drug’s dosage or whether taking the medication can be discontinued.
