Alert: 8 Types of Drugs That May Affect Memory and Cognitive Health

stopped abruptly.

5. Stimulant Medications
   Stimulant medications, including amphetamine-based medicines, are prescribed for conditions such as ADHD and narcolepsy.

When appropriately prescribed and monitored, these medications can improve attention and functioning. Claims that therapeutic stimulant use inevitably causes permanent memory loss or brain damage are not supported by the available evidence.

 

Nevertheless, stimulants can have important side effects, including insomnia, anxiety, increased heart rate, increased blood pressure, and, in some circumstances, cardiovascular complications. Their use should therefore be monitored by a healthcare professional.

6. 6. First-Generation Antihistamines
      First-generation antihistamines such as diphenhydramine can cross the blood-brain barrier and have anticholinergic effects. They may cause drowsiness, confusion, impaired attention, and memory problems, particularly in older adults.

 

Long-term exposure to some medications in this class has been associated with an increased risk of dementia in observational studies.

Newer antihistamines, such as cetirizine, generally have fewer sedating and anticholinergic effects, although they can still cause drowsiness