Mental fog: Suffering from mental fog... - British Liver Trust

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Mental fog

Red50 profile image
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Suffering from mental fog and forgetfulness, is their a cure or medication for this? Feeling lonely and depressed

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Red50 profile image
Red50
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5 Replies

There may be more than one cause of brain fog with liver disease, but excess ammonia in the blood is a common reason for this, and can be treated with meds (lactulose & Xifaxan).

Getting your ammonia level checked is usually the first step. This is a simple blood test, but it must be done in a hospital rather than your doctor's office as the test must be done immediately after the blood is drawn. Your doc should have a way of ordering this test for you.

Lactulose is often effective for mild to moderate ammonia problems, but if this does not completely eliminate the problem, Xifaxan can be added for greater effectiveness.

If you're in the early stages of alcohol recovery, sometimes the recovery meds can cause brain fog, & this should resolve once you start tapering off these meds.

Hope you can get this sorted out soon.

Hi Red50,

You did not mention if you have been diagnosed with cirrhosis.

Forgetfulness and mental fog can be symptoms of many things and your doctor would be the best place to start.

If you are seeing a doctor it seems you should call and make a new appointment with your concerns - a notebook for questions you want to ask and the answers he/she gives is helpful, at least it is for me.

Wishing you the best,

Mary

Stizzer profile image
Stizzer

Prior to my liver transplant I had Hepatic encephalopathy and the symptoms sound similar. Toxins are getting to the brain and causing issues similar to those you have mentioned. I was prescribed Rifraxamin ??, as I was confused I cannot remember the exact name or spelling. It helped a little with my symptoms however with this diagnosis you will not be able to drive until after transplantation. Approximately a month post transplant the symptoms disappear and you can concentrate on getting better. Good look for the future.

Red50 profile image
Red50

Thank you all for replying. I’m sorry I forgot to say I was diagnosed with non alcohol liver cirrhosis 6 months ago, finding it hard to cope 🙁

jazzjam profile image
jazzjam

Hey, I am sorry you are feeling so low, it’s a big dose of information being told you have liver disease and maybe brain fog also. Do you have anyone to talk it through with? Or maybe your doctor can put you forward for counselling if you think talking it out may help.My doctor thinks I have slight Encephalopathy caused by liver disease, toxins getting to the brain. I take lactulose. I think it’s worth going back to see your doctor and saying how you are feeling.

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