Drug-induced amnesia
Encyclopedia
Drug-induced amnesia is amnesia
caused by drugs. It may occur due to the use of recreational drugs such as alcohol, and it is used in surgery in order to make a patient forget painful or otherwise traumatic procedures.
, or likely to be particularly traumatic. The drugs most commonly used for this purpose are a 2'-halogenated benzodiazepine
such as midazolam
or flunitrazepam
is the drug of choice, although other strongly amnestic drugs such as propofol
or scopolamine
may also be used for this application. Memories of the short time frame in which the procedure was performed are permanently lost or at least substantially reduced, but once the drug wears off, memory is no longer affected.
Amnesia
Amnesia is a condition in which one's memory is lost. The causes of amnesia have traditionally been divided into categories. Memory appears to be stored in several parts of the limbic system of the brain, and any condition that interferes with the function of this system can cause amnesia...
caused by drugs. It may occur due to the use of recreational drugs such as alcohol, and it is used in surgery in order to make a patient forget painful or otherwise traumatic procedures.
Medical usage
Premedicants may be used to help a patient forget surgery or medical procedures, particularly those not performed under full anesthesiaGeneral anaesthesia
General anaesthesia is a state of unconsciousness and loss of protective reflexes resulting from the administration of one or more general anaesthetic agents...
, or likely to be particularly traumatic. The drugs most commonly used for this purpose are a 2'-halogenated benzodiazepine
Benzodiazepine
A benzodiazepine is a psychoactive drug whose core chemical structure is the fusion of a benzene ring and a diazepine ring...
such as midazolam
Midazolam
Midazolam is a short-acting drug in the benzodiazepine class developed by Hoffmann-La Roche in the 1970s. The drug is used for treatment of acute seizures, moderate to severe insomnia, and for inducing sedation and amnesia before medical procedures. It possesses profoundly potent anxiolytic,...
or flunitrazepam
Flunitrazepam
Flunitrazepam is marketed as a potent hypnotic, sedative, anticonvulsant, anxiolytic, amnestic, and skeletal muscle relaxant drug most commonly known as Rohypnol...
is the drug of choice, although other strongly amnestic drugs such as propofol
Propofol
Propofol is a short-acting, intravenously administered hypnotic agent. Its uses include the induction and maintenance of general anesthesia, sedation for mechanically ventilated adults, and procedural sedation. Propofol is also commonly used in veterinary medicine...
or scopolamine
Scopolamine
Scopolamine, also known as levo-duboisine, and hyoscine, is a tropane alkaloid drug with muscarinic antagonist effects. It is among the secondary metabolites of plants from Solanaceae family of plants, such as henbane, jimson weed and Angel's Trumpets , and corkwood...
may also be used for this application. Memories of the short time frame in which the procedure was performed are permanently lost or at least substantially reduced, but once the drug wears off, memory is no longer affected.