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What Causes Brain Fog While On Lithium?

Posted on Fri, 25 Nov 2016

Question: hi Dr. Mendiratta, you responded to me five days ago but I never got notice of it until now. They have always taken monthly levels on my lithium and I must have always been at normal levels, especially taking a below therapeutic dose of 450 mg. Even with that, it was too much for me. Since I previously previously stopped seroquel previously with no effect, it has to be the lithium that is causing much of the problem. I have been having brain fog, although not a medical term. It is hard for me to think and to focus at times. I understand that B12 might help. What do you think?? Hope the family is ok. XXXXXXX ( I think that I have the right specialty for Dr. Mendiratta as my mind went temporarily blank!)

Answered by Dr. Naval Mendiratta (2 days later)

Brief Answer:
Delayed Reply

Detailed Answer:
Good evening XXXXXXX

Sorry for the late reply. Was out of town...

PS: Must thank you for your reviews..keeps me motivated to do the right thing.

As for the thinking and focus, It has a lot to do with your disease and plus the whole lot of medicines you are on...Keep doing your meditation and yoga, it does help. B 12 can have a good effect. I am not sure how additional help it will do. If you take non veg food, you already will have sufficient B 12 unless some malabsorption is happening. Dont add any more medicines to the already big list...

Yeah everyone in the family is ok. Daughter had a mild infection, better now..Gives us a hard time in taking her meals...phew

HOpe your CBT is going well

Take care

REgards
Dr Naval

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Naval Mendiratta (2 hours later)

hi dr.Mendiratta, and get that daughter of yours well! I want to thank you again for many months of encouragement and expertise---I wouldn't have made it without your hope and understanding. When I looked up brain fog on the computer it said that absorption of B 12 might be a problem for older adults and that's why I ordered some lozenges on line. It just might help even more if that's the case. I'm just trying to do everything that I can to help myself. You mentioned that I'm taking alot of meds and you're right, some not doing me any good. I'm thinking of stopping seroquel, ritalin, and midodrine since it was given to me to raise my blood pressure when I stand up and walk. The lithium was causing that problem. What do you think about doing this? Half of my meds are fish oil, vitamin D, a multivitamin, and a couple of others that could be considered supplements. I finished the 400 pages of CBT and I'm glad that I read it. A therapist really has to know what he or she is doing or the patient won't return. Take care, XXXXXXX

Answered by Dr. Naval Mendiratta (33 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Additional medicines

Detailed Answer:
Good evening XXXXXXX

Thanx, my daughter is better now...The pollution here gets to everyone at times.

Well, yes lot of vitamins and the neccessary medicines..Everyone does interact somewhere or the other. My suggestion would be to consult your physician first before taking these drugs off. As midodrine is used for orthostatic hypertension, so you may wanna take it off slowly.

As for the supplements, I never ask my patients to take it beyond 3 months. I always tell them to supplement it in their diet cause natural foods have the best and richest supplements. So that is another way of cutting down on medicines.

With CBT, I am a bit clueless...Cant advise you much on it...But as long as you are absorbing something good out of it, it is good...

SO next step is to reduce the medicines to minimum

Do let me know for more queries

Regards
Dr naval

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Naval Mendiratta (42 hours later)

hi Dr. Mendiratta, you must not use as many processed foods as we do in the USA. I wouldn't take the chance of coming off of fish oil, multivitamin, vitamin D, maybe one or two more. Besides I'm a long term diabetic so my body needs all of the help that it can get! As far as midodrine I never had high blood pressure in my life and it was prescribed for low blood pressure which I don't think that I had either. You and I both thought that the CFS was probably the cause of my light headedness. I have less of it after stopping lithium. I still have brain fog at times, whatever that means but I'll always live with something, don't you think? XXXXXXX

Answered by Dr. Naval Mendiratta (3 days later)

Brief Answer:
Delayed Reply

Detailed Answer:
Good evening XXXXXXX

sorry for Late reply. Was out of town and had this whole festive season going on here...

Yeah, little bit of brain fog does come with age. It is not a medical term , but a part of it does come with medicines/age/and even with diabetes...And also as a part of CFS. Nothing you should be worried about...

I hope you are keeping well and coping up well...good we are off lithium at least

Do let me know for more queries

Regards
Dr naval

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Naval Mendiratta (36 hours later)

Dr. Mendiratta, at the moment I'm losing my battle with feeling much better. I do not regret from stopping lithium and seroquel but the improvement isn't much. I stayed home from group for 2 days because of feeling poorly. Since I've done some reading on vitamin B 12 deficiency, there is a big connection with my symptoms. I have to have reason to hope. I will get my supply of XXXXXXX B12 5000 mcg today or tomorrow. They will dissolve under my tongue, one mo supply. Research says that they are more effective than shots. It has to do not so much with my diet but with my absorption. I'm trying really hard to help myself. And so have you. I didn't ask any questions but you can respond as needed. XXXXXXX

Answered by Dr. Naval Mendiratta (3 days later)

Brief Answer:
Vitamin B 12

Detailed Answer:
Good evening XXXXXXX

I replied a bit late as I thought you would have started your Vitamin b 12 supplements by now and may have a little bit effect of them.

Dont lose the battle...You should meet Dr XXXXXXX once more and see if he wants to adjust your medications as they may have reached the point of saturation where they are not making you any better. So either we increase some dose or change some medicine.

Dont delay it and let the old stage come back

DO let me know if any further queries

REgards
Dr Naval

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Naval Mendiratta (3 days later)

hi Dr. Mendiratta, B12 was the missing link to the 5+ year health puzzle. I've been on the lozengers for a week and I'm feeling pretty darn good. I just can't believe it. My next step is to stop ritalin as it hasn't done anything for a year. And I'm so proud that I discovered it myself when I put "brain fog" into my computer. I'm just happy that I feel so much different. What a birthday present---today. I want nothing else. I'm not used to this feeling. I'm just use to laying on my bed for hours at a time. I can't thank you enough for helping me these last 8 months. How are you? XXXXXXX

Answered by Dr. Naval Mendiratta (18 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Vitamin B 12

Detailed Answer:
Good evening

Hey XXXXXXX .Wish you happy bday and many happy returns of the day...Have a great day and year ahead..

Well, I am glad you are feeling good now...Didnt know B 12 can make such a difference to the memory and brain fog...But thats good it is working for you and you are feeling as good as needed...I think you can eventually cut down on medicines which are not working for you...I think you know it best which one is helping you and which one aint...

I have been good...Just occupied with lot of work and studies...

Keep feeling good XXXXXXX ..

Good to see you excited

Take care

Regards
Dr Naval

Note: For further information on diet changes to reduce allergy symptoms or to boost your immunity, Ask here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar