Nerve pain drug Lyrica has readers fretting over memory
Q: Since I started taking pregabalin, my memory has disappeared. Is this a side effect? I used to remember everything, and this is disconcerting. A:
When we checked the official prescribing information for pregabalin (Lyrica), we found that the most common side effects are dizziness and drowsiness. Other adverse reactions that have been reported in clinical trials include “thinking abnormal,” amnesia, confusion and memory impairment.
One research report notes that although drugs such as pregabalin and gabapentin (Neurontin) are widely used, “few data are available on the effects of these drugs on cognitive functions, such as learning memory” (Research in Pharmaceutical Sciences, June 2017). Other readers have also complained about memory loss while taking pregabalin.
Discuss this problem with your prescriber. If you ever consider stopping this drug, have your doctor plan for your taper. Stopping suddenly can lead to adverse reactions.
Q: I’ve had herpes for over 35 years and taken acyclovir to suppress it for nearly that long. When I miss my medication, I can perceive cognitive impairment. It clearly makes a difference in how alert I am and how well I can perform. My mother-in-law has Alzheimer’s. Her doctor agreed to put her on daily acyclovir, and she has improved. Is there any research to support antiviral drugs against Alzheimer’s disease? A:
Thank you for sharing your story. For decades, the predominant theory has been that Alzheimer’s disease is caused by a buildup of amyloid plaque in the brain. But most of the drugs created to reduce amyloid have been disappointing.
Some scientists believe that beta amyloid may actually be how the brain protects itself from infection (the “pathogen hypothesis of Alzheimer’s”). Herpes was proposed as one possible culprit over four decades ago (Canadian Journal of Neurological Sciences, August 1982).
Epidemiological data from Taiwan show that people with a history of herpes are more likely to develop dementia. Those who took antiviral medications had a “decreased risk of dementia” (Neurotherapeutics, April 2018). Two studies are currently underway to test whether the anti-herpes drug valacyclovir (Valtrex) can delay or prevent dementia.
Q: You’ve written about older people taking too many medicines. My parents were each on 14 different drugs in their 90s! I kept begging them to speak with their doctor, but his answer was always, “if it’s working, don’t stop.” To me, this seemed unscientific and stupid.
When they went into assisted living, the doctor there reduced their medications to the only two medicines they each really needed. As a result, both of them felt much better.
My dad had been on three drugs to combat the side effects of a prescription he didn’t need to begin with. I understand that doctors don’t want to mess with success, but this is totally ridiculous.
A: Your parents’ experience is not as unusual as it might seem. Many older people end up taking a fistful of drugs, leading to an increased risk for side effects and interactions.
A study published in JAMA Internal Medicine (Feb. 6, 2023) showed that “deprescribing” can be done safely without triggering adverse events, hospitalizations or deaths. It’s not a do-it-yourself project, though, and must be supervised by a health care professional.