Which medicines cause memory loss?

That's a great question because medications are one of many different things that can cause memory loss--it's not always Alzheimer's! In fact, an adverse reaction to drugs or drug interactions is one of the leading causes of reversible dementia in older people. There are literally dozens of different medications that may cause memory problems in certain people. These include antianxiety drugs and sedatives like Xanax, Valium, and Halcion; heartburn drugs like Tagamet and Pepcid; incontinence drugs such as Detrol or Ditropan; and some antidepressants -- but this is far from an exhaustive list. The effects depend on the individual and on other drugs being taken. It's not that these drugs should be avoided completely, but that their use should be monitored. Caregivers need to watch for unusual symptoms after a new prescription has begun; often changes like memory loss are assigned to "age" or a pre-existing condition instead of the medication. Older people are especially vulnerable to side effects from medications because normal changes in the kidney and liver cause them to metabolize drugs less efficiently.