Community Forum

I am currently trying to recover from a bad flare I had in June/July that put me in the hospital for 2 weeks.  I was put on high doses of prednisone and I did not respond well or improve as my doctors and I would have liked.  The decision was made to try Humira and that has really helped me.  I have no pain and the BMs are in good control. 

I am still having problems with trying to return work.  I am a school teacher and the district has been very good to me and is allowing me to return just 1/2 days and be able to build myself up to full time.  My concern is that the way my head feels and how tired I am I will not make it back to work.  I am upset about this because I love teaching #1, but also because I am a single 34 year old special ed teacher in an area where teaching jobs are not plentiful.  

I guess I want to know if anyone taking humira or prednisone have the following symptoms.

Foggy/heavy head: I can't explain it any better, except to say that it makes it hard to concentrate.

Fatique

Short term memory loss:  I can be told something in the living room and forget what it was by the time I get to the kitchen.

I am trying to figure out if these are side effects of medicine or if something else may be going on.

Any suggestions are welcome.

 Reply posted for Becky002.

I was going through the same problem with pred/Humira.  My transient absent-mindedness was also accompanied by intermittent shortness of breath.  I was forgetful, had trouble concentrating, and was having trouble retaining material from my classes.  Most of us have one thing in common...prednisone.  I think that a side effect of this medication is anxiety.  It may not be an outward or concious anxiety but I think it may manifest itself in the form of difficulty concentrating and forgetting.  I felt more centered on the meds when I was doing yoga regularly.  Dunno if that helps at all.

 Reply posted for capthugh.

I started taking Humira back in April of this year.  For the first 3 or 4 months, I was getting very light headed and dizzy whenever I stood up.  I got myself a blood pressure cuff and started taking my blood pressure (because everyone told me it had to be a blood pressure issue) but it always checked out fine.  In mid to late August, the lightheaded feeling went away.  My Doc said it was probably just my body adjusting to the new medicine.  He is not concered but, of course, wants to know if it comes back.  I hope everything works out for you too.

 Reply posted for capthugh.

I am on humira as well as about seven other meds (diagnosed in August). I have the fogginess and memory loss as well. I am assuming it is because I am on several meds at once. I am hoping it gets better once they taper off some of my meds. 

The memory loss has come in handy a few times!!

 Reply posted for capthugh.

Since being sick, are you anemic? I know when my iron/hemoglobin levels are really low, I am dizzy and foggy... can't remember anything, etc. I always blamed disease, but once they gave me iron infusions, I noticed a HUGE difference. Could be something as simple as that... wouldn't that be nice, for once? Ha.

Anyway, I am on Humira as well, and have been for about three years. I have never noticed the fogginess once getting the iron infusions. Hope that is helpful!

 Reply posted for capthugh.

My 8 year old daughter has Crohns and was taking prednisone last spring when she was first diagnosed.  She is off the prednisone now and taking Imuran as her maintenance med.  When she was on prednisone I think she felt similar to what you described and it was difficult for her to go to school for a full day.  She had problems sleeping at night and felt fatigue during the day.  She also experienced serious mood swings.  She was gradually tapered from the prednisone and has been off for two months now and is back to her old self for the most part.  I have read that it takes awhile after you stop the prednisone for the side effects to go away.  We don't have any exprience with Humira, but hope this info helps.  Hang in there!! 

 Reply posted for capthugh.

I was diagnosed in Oct. 07 with Crohns.  I am currently on Imuran and suffer the same side effects.  I can't remember ANYTHING!  I've asked my doctor about it and his response was did I evetually remember tha I forgot?  Yes, but it's usually too late. He had no answer for me other than start writing it down.  I've also had the fatigue and he put me on Iron pills.  That has helped.  I've started writing things down if I know that I must remember them.  I have also started brain teasers and memory tests to try to improve myself.  So, I'm not sure that is just one specific medication or the disease itself.