Various studies from Johns Hopkins University and other institutions have identified a plethora of medications that could potentially have an adverse impact on the brain.
The impact of medications on the brain can vary widely, but there are at least 24 “classes” of drugs that are known to have potentially adverse effects on cognitive function. If you are on one or more of these types of medications you may have a difficult time thinking or feeling better, without switching to something with fewer side effects. And as you will see in Steps 4 & 6 below, and elsewhere on this website there are a variety of safer substances/nutrients and behavioral strategies that may be just as effective, if not more so, in addressing your issues.
See for example, this Harvard Medical study of SAMe (S-adenosylmethionine, a naturally occurring antidepressant created by our bodies from various nutrients) vs a popular SSRI medication for drug-resistant depression. In short the add-on therapy with SAMe in these patients produced double the response rate AND remission rate compared with placebo within a 6-week period.
Moreover, depressed individuals who take SAMe, or a sublingual B-12, or 5-HTP, L-theanine, GABA or Valerian (potent nutritional concentrates) often report feeling better within an hour! Whereas some antidepressant meds can take a week or so before people feel better. So the idea that medications work faster and better than natural remedies, isn't always or necessarily the case. Plus the fact that natural remedies seldom come with adverse side effects, makes these gifts from God or Mother Nature worthy of serious consideration.
Below are 20 classes of meds that can adversely affect memory or cognition. We won’t explore these in greater depth here, but if it looks like you may be on one or more of these meds, check out the more complete listing and alternatives under Step 6 NeuroToxins below.
For a better understanding of the implications for just one of these categories watch this video by Geriatrician Leslie Kernisan, MD on 7 different types of anticholinergic meds used for allergies, pain, bladder control, depression, vertigo, itching or as muscle relaxers, and how they can adversely impact memory.
To recap these sub-types include:
Antihistamines like Benadryl,
PM Tylenol or Advil PM versions of pain killers
Medications for overactive bladders or incontinence
Meds for vertigo, motion sickness, like Dramamine and nausea
Meds for itching like Benadryl or Vistaril
Pain meds like Tricyclics for Nerve pain or shingles like Elavil
Some antidepressants like Paxil
Various muscle relaxers
See this class as well as 4 other classes of meds that can impair memory or cognition.
Click here for a list of 15 additional categories of medications that have been shown to rob the body of nutrients essential to brain health. This could be very helpful if you are on medications, to help you figure out what nutrients you need to supplement.
If you do not see your particular medication(s) listed among the above we would encourage you to visit Drugs.com, enter your medication in the search window, and when your med pops up click “side effects” under the description, then look for any issues that relate to cognitive abilities like confusion, difficulty concentrating, memory loss, dizziness, anticholinergic, lethargy or insomnia, etc.
For another independent look you can also go to Wikipedia and enter your med. Then scroll down until you see “Adverse Effects.” Or simply ask your cell phone if your medication can affect cognition. (While Wikipedia did not identify any for Paxil, my cell phone found 3.)
(You are advised not to stop any prescribed medications without first talking with your doctor or provider, as there may be other adverse consequences. And even if you do choose to withdraw from one or more of these meds, you need to work with someone who is trained in such a process (See options under Step 7), who knows what they are doing, as adequate replacements need to be in place before the withdrawal takes place, to avoid potentially serious consequences.)
Remember that individual responses to medications can vary, and not everyone experiences adverse effects. It’s essential to discuss any concerns with a healthcare provider, especially if you’re taking multiple medications or notice changes in your cognitive function.
