March 18th, 2024

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Forgetfulness can be precipitated by:

 

Addiction Alcohol Anxiety Depression Grief Heart Disease Loneliness Medications Nutrition Stroke


Gretchen Heuring

Medications Can Impair Memory

By | 07.25.2013

 

According to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), there are both prescription drugs and over the counter medications that can impair memory. The FDA article "Coping With Memory Loss" reports:

 

"Examples of medications that can interfere with memory include over-the-counter and prescription sleeping pills, over-the-counter antihistamines, anti-anxiety medications, antidepressants, ...and pain medicines used after surgery."

 

A study conducted by the Indiana School of Medicine and published in the July 13, 2010 issue of "Neurology" reports that over one hundred drugs may cause memory loss or confusion. Some persons are more susceptible than others but the reasons are unknown at present.

 

Sleeping Pills and Memory Loss

Elderly people have more trouble sleeping than younger folks. Some causes include waking to urinate, pain due to arthritis or other inflammations and lack of exercise. Sleeping pills can help, but they have a dark side. They can cause memory loss.

 

Daniel Kripke, M.D. Professor of Psychiatry at UCSD School of

Medicine talks about how the new class of "improved" sleeping

pills can be harmful to older adults.

 

 

Antihistamines and Memory Loss

The Mayo Clinic offers an article on antihistamines and their side effects on people who take them. This article describes the effects on older people as follows:

 

"Confusion or memory loss, difficult and painful urination, dizziness, drowsiness, dryness of mouth, or convulsions (seizures) may be more likely to occur in the elderly, who are usually more sensitive than younger adults to the effects of this medicine. Also, nightmares or unusual excitement, nervousness, restlessness, or irritability may be more likely to occur in elderly patients."

 

Cholesterol Meds and Memory Loss

Duane Graveline, a family physician, former astronaut, and former US Air Force flight surgeon writes about his experiences with Lipitor and memory loss. He says: "During that terrible interval, when my entire adult life had been eradicated, I had no awareness of my marriage or my four children; my medical school days or my ten adventure-filled years as a USAF flight surgeon; my selection as a NASA scientist-astronaut or my post-retirement decade as a writer of medical fiction."

 

Alheimer's Symptoms

The Alzheimer's Association has defined ten tell-tale signs of this terrible disease. We discuss them here.

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Shambhala Publications Inc.

 

 

woman taking test

A New Test For Alzheimer's You Can Take At Home

 

Yes, the rumors are true. There is a new test for Alzheimer's Disease that you can get online and take at home. Researchers at Ohio State University have developed the test. It's called SAGE (Self-Administered Gerocognitive Examination).

 

As with all new things, there is a caution to consider. If the test results suggest cognitive impairment, it might not mean you have Alzheimer's. There could be another cause such as depression or hidden heart disease. So if, when you take the test, indications are revealed, for goodness sake head for you doctor!

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Man With Pills and Drink

Prescription Drug Abuse
and Memory Loss

A young couple who lived near me were celebrating their wedding at her parent's house. The handsome groom carried some gifts to their car. It was parked in the street in front of the house. He was leaning over the open trunk when another neighbor, a 71-year-old woman, ran right into him with her car. He died there. The woman driver was taking prescription pain killers and said...

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woman holding her head

ElderThinker

Drugs Are Good When You Need Them

By | 6.11.2014

 

There's a big bru-ha-ha in the press right now about use of narcotics by older people. "Use has been soaring since 2007" they say. Well, has anyone noticed that the baby boomers began retiring then? There are lots more of us older folks and even more to come. So use of everything we do is increasing rapidly.

 

Drugs for anxiety or depression or sleeplessness or pain are wonderful when we need them. Ever try to sleep on an arthritic shoulder? Ever lose your hair, your hearing, your best friend and your old dog in the same year?

 

Just the same, we need to be careful and responsible. It's really easy to get hooked on meds, needing more, cheating a little to get more. They make us feel so much better. If we can't remember where our shoes are, we sure do know the way to the drugstore. Time to wake up!

 

 

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