Prednisone Clarity

Hi Everyone!

  This is going to be a weird question but try to bear with me.  I've been on Prednisone on/off for 10 years.  Pretty much an annual thing.  This lastest stretch began in July 2006.  I have been as high as 80mg this time and now I'm down to 20 mg.  I have failed Remicade and pretty much every other med (my only option left is to try Imuran AGAIN and see if it may work this time)  I was trying to get into a study for Humira but was turned away because my recent upswing on the Prednisone made me "too well".  My problem is that through all this I have been in nursing school.  I have always been a good student but am kind of dropping the ball right now.  I had a really bad flare about 6 weeks ago and didn't eat for about 3 weeks.  I'm feeling better but now I'm having trouble in school.  My teacher is a nurse practitioner and thinks my major issue is the prenisone.  She knows I'm a good student etc. and knows I understand the material but come test time, my mind is all jumbled.  I have been sleeping poorly (but can't really take Ativan because it makes me SO groggy even at 0.5mg)  and maybe not eating the best but I don't know what else to do.  I was going to call my MD and maybe see a nutritionist and maybe get some new sleeping meds (suggestions?)  Anyone have any suggestions to clear my cloudy head and allow me to focus?  I can't even comprehend taking a "break" from school right now.  I told you this was a weird question....but SO important to me!

Thanks in advance,

Becky

I tolerate Prednisone pretty well, but one side effect I usually have on a higher dose is brain fog. I feel like I am out in left field, can't concentrate or focus on something for a long period of time (i.e. 10 minutes), and routinely lose my train of thought during conversation. I imagine it's what ADHD feels like. I have never taken more than 40 mg at a time... and I can't imagine what 80 mg must feel like! If you aren't sleeping on top of the Prednisone, I am sure that is your problem.

I understand completely. I just graduated from college in Feb. and it took me forever! partly becuase of the fog. Now my major was no where near as intense as nursing (English major, educationa as well) I mean you need to remember a lot!

What i did was to focus for just a few minutes at a time. I wasn't sleeping either so I had enough time to try. So it was a few minutes here a few minutes there...when i felt myself getting unfocused i would move on to something else for a few minutes and come back.

Coming down from 80 is hard. I would also try calling you GI and asking if there is anything you can do. Maybe there is a natural remedy that you can take that won't interfere with your meds.

Sounds like your teacher is understanding at least. Good luck!

When I couldn't sleep on pred, I would take two Benadryl tablets. They always put me to sleep. I could count on 3 to 4 hours solid, without being super groggy in the AM. Any pain? Tylenol PM worked well for me. Sometimes I would use it to "slow" things (bms) down for a day. Not a listed use, but it worked for me...

Hope you feel better soon!