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Are the OTC Drugs You are Taking a Hidden Cause of Memory Loss?

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This is an older article that may not reflect Dr. Mercola’s current view on this topic. Use our search engine to find Dr. Mercola’s latest position on any health topic.

Many over-the-counter and prescription drugs can cause memory loss and cognitive impairment.  Numerous drugs have been shown to cause mild cognitive impairment, or MCI, a common condition that is often an early sign of Alzheimer's disease. These drugs may create or aggravate Alzheimer's-type symptoms.

Most of the drugs that cause MCI are "anti-cholinergic" -- they inhibit the activity of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine.  However, only a few of these drugs are officially classified as anti-cholinergic. The only official anti-cholinergic drugs are mostly used for relieving intestinal cramps or bladder irritability, but there are 17 additional types of drugs that may also have anti-cholinergic effects.

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