You may laugh about “senior moments,” unless you are having them more frequently. Then fears about Alzheimer’s may start to cross your mind. If that happens, begin to log a date and time for each memory lapse. Also record whether you took any medications or supplements before the lapse occurred. After two week of notes, begin to look for patterns. You might learn that lapses seem to occur soon after you take a medication or supplement. If so, there is great hope!

Medications, Memory Loss and Confusion
The Johns Hopkins website (www.johnshopkinshealthalerts.com) states, “In geriatric clinics, the most common cause of reversible dementia including memory loss is an adverse reaction to medications.” Many common medications (and their generic forms) list memory loss or confusion as a side effect, including

? Allergy medications: Benadryl , Diafen, Vistaril
? Anesthesia: General and short-acting.
? Anti-anxiety medications: Ativan, Librium, Valium, Xanax
? Antidepressants: Elavil, Desyrel, Lithium, Pamelar, Sinequan, Tofranil
? Anti-seizure medications: Dilantin, Phenobarbital, Phenytoin
? Heart medications: Aldomet, Atropine, Catepres, Digitalis, Diuretics, Inderal, Lopressor
? Hypnotics: Ativan, Barbiturates, Chloral Hydrate, Serax, Xanax
? Stomach acid reducers: Pepcid, Tagamet, Zantac
? Parkinson’s drugs: Bromocriptine, L-Dopa, Sinemet, Symmetrel
? Pain medications: Narcotic and non-narcotic brands
? Sleep medications: Ambien, Dalmane, Halcion, Restoril
For a more complete list, go to “Free Articles” at www.FeedYourBrain.org.

Learning More about Your Medications
Be aware that medications affect people in different ways. Not all persons taking the same medication will experience memory loss or confusion; likewise, you could experience these symptoms from a medication not listed. If you (or a loved one) have memory lapses after using any medication, consult your pharmacist for potential alternatives. Then talk with your physician about a drug switch.
To discover if memory loss or confusion is a side effect of your medication, go to a search engine like Google, and type in the name of your prescription and the words “memory loss.” Then hit Enter to see what appears.
For example, my daughter and I were visiting my mom while she was in a nursing home. Shortly after mom took a medication, my daughter commented, “What did they give Grandma? She seems loopy.” I asked the nurse, who replied, “Marinol.” So I went to Google, typed in “Marinol + memory loss” and found a page of 10 websites with information about this drug’s effect on memory! When her physician ended that drug, mom’s confusion stopped.
Here are other examples about drugs and mental function. For about six months after I had Versed anesthesia for sinus surgery, I experienced short-term memory loss. Gradually my memory returned. Similarly, being given Ativan caused both my father and a friend to exhibit extreme confusion that stopped when the drug was withdrawn.

Decreasing Drug Interactions
If aging loved ones take two or more medications, they may exhibit memory loss or confusion because of interactions between drugs. While she was taking the antidepressant Remeron, a relative was put on oral Fentanyl for pain after a fall. In a few days, her conversations became limited; I was told she had dementia. Since she didn’t have dementia before the fall, I investigated “Check My Meds,” at the website http://www.aidsmeds.com/cmm. After entering the drugs Fentanyl and Remeron, I clicked the button “Check interactions” and learned that both drugs decreased mental alertness. I gave the printout to her physician and requested a medication change. My relative’s alertness returned.
You can use the above website to learn about drug-drug and food-drug interactions for all your medications. This becomes especially important when you (or a loved one) take two or more prescription drugs. At the website www.AskaPatient.com, you will find reports from other individuals about side effects from specific medications.
If you don’t have a computer, take your medications list to a pharmacist and inquire about interactions and side effects. You may also search your medications using computers at local libraries. The more you know about your medications, the more you protect your memory. The mind you save may be your own!
For even more information about ways to improve your memory, go to www.FeedYourBrain.org

© Sandy Baumann, 2008

--------------------------------------------
Sandy Baumann, M.S., is an author, health coach, and professional speaker. You may email her at emergingfree2000@yahoo.com.