Memory loss

[Kat-]

Evening all so today I've been feeling so much better well enough to take my daughter to McDonald 😊. Driving home I couldn't for the life of me remember where I was going let alone where I live. I'm hoping it's just because I've been so out of it and the doc prescribed stronger painkillers xxx

[AimeeA]

If you're taking an opioid or morphine based painkiller you probably shouldn't be driving. Can be very dangerous. Check the warnings on the new drug to see if it advisee against driving.

[Hamptons]

I have had that, half way down M2 on a dark November night. Couldn’t remember where I was going or how to get there, then baffled as I knew I needed to face the other way so turned into services and then reasoned I would still be wrong way round. Just had to stop and wait, let head rest. Eventually, head cleared and I was able to work it out. Thankfully, any time it has happened since I have been on foot and not on a motorway.

[happytulip]

I had that happen driving home from a night shift once. I wasn't diagnosed by then but looking back I was in a flare.

I wasn't impaired by so that I couldn't drive, just no clue where I was. You've flared recently so maybe try to pace a bit more?

You can drive on opioid meds, just as long as you aren't impaired by them. Although there are levels that exceed the legal medication/drive dose. My Consultant says no more than 80mg morphine per day for driving but if I needed that much I wouldn't be going anywhere anyway. The trouble is medication depends on individual reactions and responses and weight and metabolism.

[Kat-]

Thanks everyone hope you are all well. I'm very sensitive to medication so I only drive when I feel up to it. Co-codamol 30/500 I only had 2 before bed on Monday so I'm not sure if it was them.

Back to the 8/500 for now.

Waiting for my consultant phoning not sure what he will suggest thankfully I do feel better hopefully I'm over the worst part this was a long one xxx🌻

[AimeeA in reply to Kat-]

I absolutely can't take anything with codeine.. it really sedates me and suppresses breathing and makes me nauseous.

What's odd is I can take vicodin which is another opioid, but even low dose I get knocked out and feel disoriented so can't drive with it.

So it may be too strong for you or need to switch to something else. Report your experience to the doctor though because disorientation could be a sigh of ischemic attacks which need to be watched and/or treated to prevent strokes.

Lupus patients can get blood clots and vasculitis so this symptom should be reported to your doctor for investigation just in case.

[jetjetjet]

I take Morph and Oxy and it doesn't phase me in the least . I am checked every month .Because i also take mild muscle relaxers .I think it is up to the individual as to how it effects them . My doc that the scripts for the opioids and morph and relaxers com from . he said as long as you have the issues you wil be OK BUT if someone with out the issues were to take them -THEY would have a problem . I also take a couple pothers like Gaba .I cut that back in by 2/3 rd's .because i started to have issues and i told him {the doc } and he said to me . " you have been thru this before so let me know how it goes on the lower dosage . Then again it's the individual taking it . I know if i take the oxy's to late at night i won't sleep . so i take my daily dosage first thing in the morning and then i am almost always good for the day . I take the Morph on a timed basis am pills and night time pills. I am an APS patient BUT they are bed fellows , so much the same with issues I think . But i always test neg on ANA .