Benzodiazepines memory loss

One side effect that concerns patients and physicians alike is memory loss, or amnesia. This usually happens only when benzodiazepines are given intravenously (through a needle in a vein). Some people report that they have difficulty learning new tasks when taking benzodiazepines. However, these effects usually last only a short time and go away after the person has taken the drug for a while. 

Nevertheless, the GABAergic properties of benzodiazepines remain their most important clinical application. Over the past 30 years, the most widely used benzodiazepine drug has been diazepam (1.6). It is an anxiolytic, sedative, and muscle relaxant the anxious, depressed person becomes more outgoing and relaxed. There have been many diazepam analogs. Oxazepam (4.177) and lorazepam (4.178) have similar effects. Temazepam (4.179), flunitrazepam (4.180), and flurazepam (4.181) are useful sedative-hypnotics. Clonazepam (4.182) is a clinically useful anticonvulsant. Brotizolam (4.183), a novel benzodiazepine analog, seems to be an effective sedative-hypnotic. Midazolam (4.184) is an imidazolo-benzodiazepine that is water soluble and thus easily injectable. It is a hypnotic sedative with marked amnestic (i.e., memory loss) properties and is used in dentistry, endoscopic procedures, and induction to anesthetics in the elderly and in... 

In addition, some benzodiazepines cause dizziness, confusion, clumsiness and falling, and memory loss when the drug levels in the body are at their highest. This can be a problem if you are awakened in the middle of the night by a fire alarm, a crying baby that needs to be fed, or some other reason. Also, there are potential serious interactions of benzodiazepines with alcohol—if a person drinks alcohol... 

Although the BZDs have minimal depressant effects on respiration, when combined with other CNS depressants (alcohol, opioids), BZDs can cause fatal respiratory suppression. However, most non-BZD sedatives may also cause death by suppression of breathing and heart failure if taken in sufficient quantity. Benzodiazepines can also cause some degree of memory loss called anterograde amnesia—a form of amnesia that involves the formation of memories after a specific event a person with anterograde amnesia cannot remember information presented to them after ingesting the BZD, a process similar to an alcohol black-out. 

Zaleplon possesses several of the clinical characteristics of traditional benzodiazepines, including the potential for additive CNS depression when administered with alcohol or other CNS depressants, a low potential for abuse, and relative safety in overdose. Zaleplon exhibited sedative effects similar to those of the benzodiazepines, with a lower likelihood of such undesirable side effects as memory loss, interaction with alcohol, and abuse potential [22],... 

Benzodiazepines may also cause memory loss (anterograde amnesia), apneas, disabling residual effects on alertness, and may potentiate the CNS depressing effects of alcohol. 

Buspirone, gepirone and ipsapirone, all azapirones have been proven to be effective in generalized anxiety disorders. The compounds maintain the level of efficacy during the period of treatment. The time lag to onset of action is two weeks. The side effects of these drugs (gastrointestinal complaints dizziness and headache) are totally different from those of the benzodiazepines (sedation, memory-loss and withdrawal syndrome). 

Drugs employed have sedative or hypnotic properties with a rapid onset and induce memory loss during the period when the drug is active. The most-prevalent drugs detected, apart from alcohol, are the benzodiazepines and h5 notics (zolpidem and zopiclone). A wide range of other drugs, such as GHB, ketamine, sildenafil, methadone, buprenorphine, diphenhydramine, trimeprazine, acepromazine, thiopental, pentobarb, doxylamine, and cyamemazine, have also been reported in DFC cases. 

Amnesia eyes. Loss of memory, inability to recall past experience. Anterograde amnesia refers to an inability to recall events after a drug (e.g. a benzodiazepine) or ECT. Retrograde amnesia refers to the loss of memory occurring prior to the incident that causes amnesia. 

Virtually all effects of the benzodiazepines result from the action of these drugs on the central nervous system. The most prominent of these effects are sedation, hypnosis, decreased anxiety, muscle relaxation, anticonvulsant activity, and anterograde amnesia, in which individuals may experience a loss of memory for events that occurred while under the influence of the drug events occurring after the drug has worn off are remembered normally. 

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