Most of us forget, from time to time, where we’ve left our phone or wallet. But if you notice that you repeat questions over and over, or often forget what you wanted to say, that may feel like a bigger problem.

It’s easy to think that those memory mishaps could be the first signs of dementia or Alzheimer’s Disease. But your forgetfulness may not have anything to do with permanent memory loss. The cause might be the prescriptions or over-the-counter drugs you take[, says Gary Small, MD, chair of psychiatry at Hackensack University Medical Center in New Jersey. “Older adults tend to have multiple chronic illnesses that require medications with side effects such as problems with memory,” he explains. “Our brain also becomes more sensitive to medication side effects as we get older.”*

Here are some common types of drugs that can cause memory problems. If you suspect any of them may be impacting your brain, talk to your primary care provider.  Be sure to bring a list of your current medicines and supplements to your appointment.

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Antianxiety drugs (benzodiazepines)

Doctors often prescribe these medicines to help calm people with anxiety and improve sleep. But they can also make you feel groggy. That can make it harder for you to pay attention and think clearly[, says Dr. Small. “This class of drugs tends to have a long half-life, which means that they stay in your bloodstream for a while”, he adds.

Dr. Small recommends lifestyle methods to calm anxiety. Breathing exercises, meditation and physical activity may help. It’s also important to get enough sleep. Research shows that sleeplessness can increase anxiety by up to 30 percent the next day.*

Cholesterol-lowering drugs (statins)

Some research shows that statins may have a negative impact on memory, while other studies show that they may help protect it.* “If you start a new statin drug and notice a change in memory, let your doctor know, because it may just be that particular medication,” says Dr. Small. “You may not have the same side effect with a different one.”

Hypertension drugs (beta-blockers)

Beta-blockers may cause memory problems because they interfere with a major brain chemical messenger — norepinephrine.* Beta-blockers can treat anxiety. An easy fix for this is to ask to switch to another class of high blood pressure drugs, such as diuretics or ACE inhibitors.

Sleeping aids (sedative hypnotics)

Many sleep medicines can slow down your brain. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration warns that the medication effects may linger into the next day.* Sometimes, in older adults, a sleep supplement such as melatonin is a better option, says Dr. Small.

Incontinence drugs (anticholinergics)

This class of prescription drugs can be useful to treat an overactive bladder. But they also block the effects of acetylcholine. That’s an important brain chemical that’s involved in learning and memory. Studies show that people who use anticholinergic drugs are more likely to develop dementia than people who don’t use them.

Your dementia risk may increase the longer you use them. One study found that people who took an anticholinergic for at least three years had a 54 percent higher risk than those who took the same drug at the same dose for three months or less.*

Certain over-the-counter antihistamines

Some antihistamines are also anticholinergics. So they may impact your memory. If you have hay fever or a case of the sniffles, Dr. Small suggests that you look for a medicine with a non-anticholinergic antihistamine.

Narcotic analgesics (opioids)

These drugs help to relieve pain. But they can interfere with memory, especially if you take them for a long period of time, says Dr. Small. Talk to your doctor about other medicines you can take for pain instead. Acetaminophen is an option that won’t make you foggy and is not highly addictive.

Antidepressant drugs

Tricyclic antidepressants may impact memory because they too are anticholinergic. Talk to your doctor about changing your medicine if you suspect the one you’re taking may be making you forgetful.

*FOR MEDICATION AND MEMORY ISSUES SOURCE: Do D and Schnittker J. Utilization of Prescription Medications with Cognitive Impairment Side Effects and The Implications for Older Adults’ Cognitive Function. Journal of Aging and Health. January 6, 2020.

*FOR SLEEP AND ANXIETY SOURCE: National Coalition on Aging. Anxiety and Older Adults: A Guide to Getting the Relief You Need. April 22, 2022.

*FOR STATINS AND MEMORY SOURCE: Ballantyne, C and Nambi, V. Journal of the American College of Cardiology. Statins and Your Memory: “Forget” About It? June 2021.

*FOR BETA-BLOCKERS AND MEMORY SOURCE: Shah R, Babar A, Patel A, et al. Cureus. Metoprolol-Associated Central Nervous System Complications. May 2020.

*FOR SLEEPING AIDS AND MEMORY SOURCE: U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Taking Z-drugs for Insomnia? Know the Risks. Page last reviewed March 6, 2024.

*FOR INCONTINENCE DRUGS AND MEMORY SOURCE U.S. Harvard Health Publishing. Common anticholinergic drugs like Benadryl linked to increased dementia risk. January 19, 2022.

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