7 Medications That Can Affect Memory and Cognition
The claim that medications “cause severe dementia and profound brain damage” is misleading. Some medications can cause confusion, delirium, sedation, or short-term cognitive impairment, and prolonged exposure to certain drugs—particularly in older adults—has been associated with a higher risk of dementia. That does not mean these medicines inevitably cause dementia or permanent brain damage.
Seven medication groups worth discussing with a clinician are:
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Diphenhydramine — a sedating antihistamine with strong anticholinergic effects.
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Doxylamine — another strongly anticholinergic antihistamine often used as a sleep aid.
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Amitriptyline — a tricyclic antidepressant with substantial anticholinergic activity.
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Paroxetine — an antidepressant with relatively strong anticholinergic effects.
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Oxybutynin — used for overactive bladder and associated with cognitive adverse effects.
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Benzodiazepines such as lorazepam, diazepam, and alprazolam — can cause cognitive impairment and delirium, particularly in older adults.
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Z-drugs such as zolpidem — sedative-hypnotics that can cause confusion and other CNS effects, especially in older adults
