Sleep medicine
Non-benzodiazepine sedative-hypnotics are a class of drugs used to treat insomnia, often referred to as sleeping pills. Examples include zolpidem (Ambien), zaleplon (Sonata) and eszopiclone (Lunesta).
Although sleeping pills are not the same as benzodiazepines, they affect brain chemicals and nerve pathways in the central nervous system. Sleeping pills can cause amnesia (memory loss) and serious psychiatric side effects such as behavioral changes, sleep disturbances, and depression.
Statins
Statins are common drugs that cause memory loss. These are cholesterol-lowering drugs for people with high cholesterol. Examples include simvastatin (Zocor), atorvastatin (Lipitor), rosuvastatin (Crestor), pravastatin (Pravachol), lovastatin (Mevacor), and fluvastatin (Lescol).
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