In 2017, public health officials in Massachusetts announced an unprecedented event in which 18 people between the ages of 18-52 with a history of opioid use suddenly lost their ability to form memories. MRI scans would show acute damage to the hippocampus area of their brains known as “bilateral hippocampal injury.” By the following year, a total of 40 people had reported similar cases.
Long-term drug-induced amnesia (like the cases above) is extremely rare, and studies are still ongoing to understand it. However, several drugs have long been known to cause temporary amnesia that lasts up to 24 hours. In this article, we explain what amnesia is and what drugs cause it.
In the state of Texas, drug poisoning deaths increased by more than 75% between 2017 and 2021. At San Antonio Recovery Center, we understand the challenges that come with managing a substance use disorder. When you reach out to our drug rehab for help, you’re not just calling another rehab – you’re connecting with the largest recovery alumni network in San Antonio, which means you will never walk alone again.
There are several types of amnesia, but when an amnesic event happens because of substance use, it is almost always “anterograde” amnesia.
Anterograde amnesia is an experience in which a person is unable to form new memories. A drug-induced anterograde event typically lasts between a few minutes and a few hours, or sometimes for as much as 24 hours.
This type of amnesia affects your memory of things that happen after the event (or substance) that caused it, not before.
Iatrogenic amnesia is a different type of drug-induced amnesia that occurs as a result of medical treatment, most often involving Benzodiazepines or anticholinergic drugs.
Iatrogenic amnesia includes situations where drugs are administered to purposely induce amnesia, such as for surgery or diagnostic testing.
“Memory loss” is an umbrella term that covers many different conditions and underlying causes. Amnesia falls under the umbrella of “memory loss.”
Anterograde amnesia can be caused by many things, including drugs, trauma, head injury, or an underlying neurological disorder. If you experience amnesia, don’t ignore it. Instead, make an appointment to see your healthcare provider and be honest with them about what happened.
Certain drugs can interfere with the brains’ ability to adequately process or form memories.
People living with addiction are more vulnerable to instances of amnesia because the parts of our brain connected to addiction overlap with the areas that support cognitive function, including memory.
The medical community is still learning about drug-related amnesia and memory loss, and we don’t have all the “why” and “how” answers yet. Researchers are constantly making new discoveries, sometimes even disproving previously-held beliefs.
Below is a list of drugs most commonly-know to cause amnesia. If a drug is not on this list, it doesn’t mean that it can’t cause amnesia. Research on drugs and memory loss, including the possibility of opioid-related amnesia, is ongoing.
Alcohol can cause a form of anterograde amnesia referred to as a “blackout.” People who experience a blackout may appear functional but will have no memory of events that took place during the episode.
Blackouts happen when you drink a lot of alcohol quickly and they are more likely to happen to social drinkers than people managing an alcohol addiction.
Anticholinergics, such as zolpidem, eszopiclone, and zolpidem, can cause amnesia.
Benzodiazepines like alprazolam can cause anterograde amnesia, especially when taken in high doses or intravenously.
Also known as Rohypnol and GHB, or “date rape” drugs, Flunitrazepam and Gamma-Hydroxybutyrate cause amnesia.
Ketamine can cause significant memory blackouts, the severity of which depends on the individual and the dosage.
Memory is an important part of our well-being. It helps us interact socially, perform our jobs, and form and maintain relationships.
Being unable to access or form memories can be a scary experience.
Most drug-related amnesia comes and goes in less than a day, then your brain returns to normal. However, many drugs can cause severe memory impairment or cognitive damage that doesn’t simply disappear the way amnesia does.
If you’re managing a substance use disorder, you don’t have to go it alone. San Antonio Recovery Center is a community-focused facility that can help you with nearly any substance challenges you face - including complex dual-diagnosis conditions. Give us a call today at 866-957-7885, or contact us through our website.
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