The Memory Pill
If you experienced a painful or traumatic event, would you want a pill which could lessen the bad memories of what happened? That option might soon be here because of a drug called propranolol.
If you experienced a painful or traumatic event, would you want a pill which could lessen the bad memories of what happened? That option might soon be here because of a drug called propranolol.
If there were a pill you could take after experiencing a painful or traumatic event that would permanently weaken your memory of what had just happened, would you take it?
An ongoing study suggests it's a choice that may not be so far off. The drug is called propranolol and it's already used to treat high blood pressure. As Lesley Stahl reports, the prospect of using propranolol to modify memory has some trauma victims filled with hope, and some critics alarmed by the potential for misuse.
Sound off on this segment. Here you'll see the comments in the order they were posted.
Senior Producer: Debbie De Luca Sheh
Producers: Shari Finkelstein, Reid Collins, Jr
Editors: Terry Manning, Elizabeth Sweetnam
Associate Producers: Sianne Garlick, Braden Cleveland Bergan, Rebecca Chertok