10 Drugs That May Cause Memory Loss

6. Parkinson's drugs (Dopamine agonists)

Why they are prescribed:
These drugs are used to treat Parkinson's disease, certain pituitary tumors and, increasingly, restless legs syndrome (RLS).

Examples:
Apomorphine (Apokyn), pramipexole (Mirapex) and ropinirole (Requip).

How they can cause memory loss:
These meds activate signaling pathways for dopamine, a chemical messenger involved in many brain functions, including motivation, the experience of pleasure, fine motor control, learning and memory. As a result, major side effects can include memory loss, confusion, delusions, hallucinations, drowsiness and compulsive behaviors such as overeating and gambling.

Alternatives:
If you are being treated for RLS, ask your doctor or pharmacist whether one of your prescription or over-the-counter medications may be the trigger. Potential culprits include many antinausea and antiseizure medications, antipsychotic drugs with tranquilizing effects, some antidepressants, and some cold and allergy medications. In this case, your RLS — and memory problems — could potentially be resolved by simply replacing the offending medication with another drug.

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