Could pill wipe out our bad memories? Drug used to treat multiple sclerosis found to help us forget experiences that caused pain

• Mice given fingolimod forgot about previous experiences that brought pain
• Study offers hope drug could wipe traumatic events, phobias and hang-ups
• Experiments carried out at Virginia Commonwealth University, US 
  

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

PUBLISHED: 00:34 GMT, 26 May 2014 | UPDATED: 12:00 GMT, 26 May 2014

It sounds like the stuff of Hollywood fiction. But a pill that wipes out bad memories could eventually become reality, scientists believe.

Experiments on mice found those given fingolimod, a drug used to treat multiple sclerosis, completely forgot about previous experiences that had brought them physical pain.

The US study, at Virginia Commonwealth University, offers hope of a drug that could eradicate memories of traumatic events from years ago and help patients overcome phobias, eating disorders and even sexual hang-ups.

Dailymail