Is it legal? What is it perscribed for?
Not like I want to try it. Just wondering.
2007-03-08 08:18:12 · 7 answers · asked by DeAd DiScO 4 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Medicine
While Hollywood loves this concept, life is a little more prosaic.
There are a classes of drugs that can cause a limited "antegrade amnesia" (limited inability to form new memories from the time the drug takes effect). These include drugs that are used as adjuncts to anethesia such as benzodiazepines, and ketamine. There are also illicit drugs that will also product a similar effect. Most of these drugs are sedating which is part of the reason that they function the way they do.
Alcohol, the only substance you can get without a prescription is also quite efficatious in large enough quantities, but that has its own set of problems.
True retrograde amnesia (inability to recall past events) is almost exclusively a result of traumatic brain injury. Not something you want to experiment with at home!
Alzheimers preserves long term memories, but inhibits the ability to convert short term memory into long term memory, so its loosely of an antegrade amnesia, but not strickly so.
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Latest news:
You're in luck if you're a mouse!
To quote: "A single, specific memory has been wiped from the brains of rats, leaving other recollections intact."
Paper recently published in Nature:
http://www.nature.com/news/2007/070305/full/070305-17.html
2007-03-08 08:42:18 · answer #1 · answered by tickdhero 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
i dont think theres any legal, safe pill that can do that. and if there was, im sure the side effects would be immense.
im pretty sure that it is possible to clear a memory, though. through various intense therapies, and probably with the assitance of some medication, but i dont think the meds alone can do that.
2007-03-08 16:27:33 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
There is no drug which can permanently ERASE memory.
When such drug is not available, the rest of your questions hold no strength.
2007-03-10 17:45:58 · answer #3 · answered by Dr.Qutub 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Permanantly, no there is not such a drug.
And if there was, we'd have probably already used it one someone important - well - wait a minute - Reagan couldn't recall - hmmmm?
2007-03-08 17:29:15 · answer #4 · answered by Dr Dave P 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
ya, its called chlorine gas! in pill form! or just take alot of any type of pill same effect
2007-03-08 16:21:58 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
cyanide?? that should wipe everything out.
2007-03-08 16:57:16 · answer #6 · answered by Tom B 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I ... don't ... know ..?
2007-03-08 16:32:19 · answer #7 · answered by voodooprankster 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋