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Higher Doses of Pred & Mental Cognitive Ability

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Posted 11/5/2007 4:49 AM (GMT 0)
Has anyone noticed a deteriation in their congnitive abilities when you are on higher doses, say 40-60mg of pred?  Such as mental fogginess, forgetfulness, hard to concentrate and focus on simple tasks even when you are for the most part, rested?  This tends to happen to me.
Posted 11/5/2007 5:03 AM (GMT 0)
Yup when I was at 50mg and 40mg I couldn't think right, i'm on 30mg now, it's not happening as much now :)
Posted 11/5/2007 1:15 PM (GMT 0)
I recall being in a fog most of the time when I was on pred. I think I was, I forget. I also think the problem lingers. I use to have a pretty good memory, now it sucks. This could be from stress, other current meds, or just that old age illness they call CRS. Thats Cant, remember, $#!+...
Posted 11/5/2007 1:38 PM (GMT 0)
Yes I find it was not good at 40 mgs, it does get better as I lowered, I think not having much sleep made a difference in my ability to think.I still have trouble remembering some things like words but I am keeping my brain sharpened up by reading lots of post and interacting with my favorite people IBDer's.I do find one good benefit from the pred. and that is I don't get worried as much about getting test done as I am already half in limbo .lol gail
Posted 11/5/2007 4:13 PM (GMT 0)
Yep. One of the reasons why I HATE this drug. Yet I cannot deny that it works soooo good at keeping my GI system in check and I used less of the other drugs while on this. However, my memory got so difficult, my mind so hazy, I couldn't wait to go down on a lower dose. Now I'm reading Dostoevsky and am able to remember beyond 2 minutes. Still can't remember all the the citric acid cycle...had that down once....
Posted 11/5/2007 4:20 PM (GMT 0)
I don't recall, don't remember. Actually, I usually tried to drop to 20 or 10 mg as quickly as possible, since the mood swings & anger control problems are just TOO much at high doses. Which might also drop your mental focus..

Matthew
Posted 11/5/2007 4:24 PM (GMT 0)
I was on 40mg. during finals last semester and I knew it was going to be really hard so I started studying pretty early and never stopped until the tests. I found I was obsessed with my studies, I was thinking of the things I had to remember all day and even dreamed about it at night I was so worried. It was more stress that way, but I still got my A's, lol. It's very hard to stay focused and like Matthew said, the emotional swings make it even worse.

My sympathies to you, I hope you can start tapering soon.
Posted 11/5/2007 8:24 PM (GMT 0)
Well, i'm on 40mg now and it's not serving to help my probs ANY! I want to go back to entocort, at least i didn't have all the crappy side-effects and I could sleep at night. My mood swings are awful and can't remember what I'm saying, in the middle of a sentence! I'm going to the doc tomorrow for a check-up and demanding to taper off this drug. Good luck with the fogginess! Tidings, from my fog to yours!
Posted 11/6/2007 1:08 AM (GMT 0)
I had many nasty side effects including night sweats, insomnia, muscle cramps in hands, dizziness, confusion, difficulty speaking and maintaining a thought without having my mind wander, and personality and mood changes. Some of the memory retention problems remain, and it has only been 6 monthes since I stopped taking it and 8 monthes since I started. But it worked, and I guess I would rather have less memory and not be on the pot 12-20 times a day than be on the pot and remember all about it.
Posted 11/6/2007 2:08 AM (GMT 0)
I has many of the same symptoms as Bob plus what I described as a sort of out of body experience- just spacey and sort of like I was watching maysef go through my day. Sixty mgs was the worst, although the mood swings and depression were worst at 40 mg. I got off the stuff at the end of September although I know its still in my system.
Posted 11/7/2007 3:21 AM (GMT 0)
Nice to know I'm not losing it by myself! Thanks Guys! Especially to Matthew...who said, " I don't recall, I don't remember". I don't know if you meant that to be humerous....but it cracked me up!
Sigh....I guess it's time to go to bed....hope I remember to get up! Darn...left the dog outside again!
Poor thing is standing at the patio doors staring at me like I betrayed him! And the saga continues......
Posted 11/7/2007 5:19 PM (GMT 0)
The second time they put me on 60 for a flare I couldn't shake (I tapered down and then flared hard and had to go from 5 to 60mg) I completely lost my mind. I had to start therapy and get put on anxiety and depression medication. I had so many symptoms and really was scared, I would forget things immediately after they were said to me. I couldn't process information the way I used to. I felt like I was on some kind of speed I was jumping from one thing to the next, racing thoughts, relentless cleaning, sleeplessness, forgetfulness.. I mean the list goes on.. It was hard and scary to me. I felt high, out of body almost.
I got off them in June and am doing much better. It does come back, you won't always feel that way. Its the evil dark side of pred!
Posted 11/7/2007 11:05 PM (GMT 0)

when i was on prednisone i just to feel tired alot and then at night i would have alot of energy.go figure.i was on and off prednisone for some time.i haven't been on it for a couple of years now,and i'm finding that i can't remember certain things from past events in my life.i don't know if its because of the pred,bt it might be.i would also caution you on the effects prednisone can have.the can last for a while or a lifetime.i don't want to freak you out with too many details yet,so if you want to reply to me,i can answer any questions you might have about pred.i have some experience.

drs 

Posted 11/8/2007 3:26 AM (GMT 0)
Uhh what are we talking about?? Oh yeah..
Yes, I started to & then decided to be more serious.
Like someone said, I really didn't need to remeber every trip to the Restroom on a given day!

Matthew
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