Does Xanax Cause Dementia or Memory Loss?

In the past year, almost 13% of people in the U.S. reported using benzodiazepines — like Xanax (alprazolam). Most of these people (80%) took the medication for anxiety. A smaller group (20%) took it for insomnia. Xanax and other benzodiazepines can be prescribed for short-term use for both of these issues.

But the way that benzodiazepines affect the brain means they can also affect memory. And when people experience these side effects — particularly older adults — it can lead to concerns about dementia. 

Here, we’ll explain how Xanax and other benzodiazepines affect memory. We’ll also cover what the science says about its connection to long-term conditions like dementia. 

Do benzodiazepines like Xanax cause dementia?

Researchers aren’t sure if benzodiazepines cause dementia. They’re trying to understand the connection. One study found a link between long-term benzodiazepine use and ongoing memory problems. But another study suggests that these longer-term memory problems are very small and would probably go unnoticed. 

Even if there’s a connection between memory loss and benzodiazepines, it doesn’t necessarily mean that the medications caused the memory loss. For example, Alzheimer’s disease and dementia can cause anxiety. And people with these conditions are more likely to get treatment for anxiety than their peers. But in this scenario, the medication isn’t the cause of the memory loss, although there’s a link.

Older adults are at higher risk for unwanted side effects from benzodiazepines, including memory changes. But even though there’s overlap between the symptoms of dementia and the effects of benzodiazepines, it’s important to note that the underlying cause is different. 

Dementia is caused by slow damage to the brain over years — from things like clogged blood vessels, strokes, and head injuries. People with dementia have permanent difficulties with:

• Forming new memories

• Personality changes

• Difficulty with basic activities of daily living

This is different from the way benzodiazepines change receptors and chemicals in the brain.

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Does Xanax cause memory loss?

Xanax can cause short-term memory loss of events that occur while the medication is in your system. While it’s active in your body, memory gaps can occur. You may forget events or conversations that happened after taking a dose of Xanax, similar to the way people have trouble remembering their dreams. 

Xanax is a type of benzodiazepine, a group of medications that mainly treats anxiety disorders. Xanax and other benzodiazepines also affect: 

• Mental processing speed

• Attention

• Memory

• Physical activity

This effect wears off as your body breaks down the medication. Your body can take anywhere from 6 to 20 hours to remove just half of a Xanax dose. And your body takes much longer than that (4 to 5 times as long) to completely remove the medication.

It’s important to note that other benzodiazepines — like diazepam (Valium) — can last even longer. As a comparison, the body takes 20 to 100 hours to remove half the dose of diazepam.

Is memory loss from Xanax reversible?

Yes. Current research suggests that it’s largely reversible. People over the age of 65 may be at a slightly higher risk for ongoing memory deficits even after stopping benzodiazepines. But these memory deficits are relatively mild.

In many cases, people who take Xanax don’t know that it can cause temporary difficulty with forming new memories. This may cause concern about having a serious condition like dementia. The good news is that once you stop taking the medication for several days, these effects on memory should go away. 

If you’re considering Xanax for anxiety, experts recommend using other anti-anxiety medications. And if you’re taking Xanax and want to stop, be aware that long-term use increases the risk of withdrawal symptoms. You can reduce withdrawal by slowly decreasing your dose before completely stopping it. 

Be sure to discuss this process with a healthcare professional.

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Written by:

Valerie Anne Jones, MD

Val Jones, MD, is a physician who is certified by the American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (ABPMR).

Edited by:

Karla Robinson, MD

Karla Robinson, MD, is a medical editor for GoodRx. She is a licensed, board-certified family physician with almost 20 years of experience in health through varied clinical, administrative, and educational roles.

Reviewed by:

Frank Schwalbe, MD

Frank Schwalbe, MD, is an assistant professor of anesthesiology at the Yale School of Medicine. He has practiced anesthesiology for 30 years.

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