Narcotic Painkillers
These medications (also called opioid analgesics) are used to provide pain relief from moderate to severe pain. Examples include oxycodone (OxyContin, Roxicodone), hydrocodone with acetaminophen (Norco, Vicodin), morphine (MS-Contin, Kadian), hydromorphone (Dilaudid, Exalgo), and fentanyl (Duragesic).
Narcotic pain medications work by stopping pain signals in the central nervous system from being sent to pain receptors throughout the body, thus, blocking the feeling of pain. The key chemical messengers that mediate these effects of narcotic painkillers are also involved in memory and cognition. Therefore, narcotic painkillers can lead to long-term and short-term memory problems. The risk is especially high when narcotic painkillers are taken for a long time.
Dopamine Agonists
Dopamine agonists are used to treat Parkinson’s disease, certain types of brain tumors, and restless legs syndrome (RLS). Examples include pramipexole (Mirapex), ropinirole (Requip), and apomorphine (Apokyn).
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