Brain Fog

[sd1234]

Earlier this year (prior to discovering I had active hepatitis B), I began treatment for ADD and depression ... as I was becoming increasingly distressed about my inability to concentrate, focus, or organize any part of my life.  I still feel as though I'm always just getting by ... trying not to let things fall through the cracks (i.e., paying bills on time, doing laundry, keeping up w/my billable hours (I'm an attorney), etc.).  Recently my friend gave me this book ("Hepatitis B, The First Year," by William Finley Green), and it mentioned that "brain fog" is one of the symptoms of an active hepatitis B infection.  Does anyone else have any experience with this?  I'm currently taking Adderall, but it really has very minimal effects.  The only way I feel alert and focused is taking Adderall, in addition to consuming large quantities of coffee.  It is so crazy to me that what I think is ADD could actually be caused in part by the active infection in my liver!

Thanks.

[luckyman316]

Thanks Steg. I'm not on peg... I am on Tenofovir. However, brain fog started right when Chronic Hep B went active, before I went on any meds. I've noticed it clear up a little bit after 1 month on meds but not completely. I'll do a search for the probiotics you talked about. Some of my research has let me to know B vitamins needed, (B6, B9, B12) so I may try this as well.

[stef2011]

if you are on peg brain fog is due to cytokines storms, if not you have an issue with your gut microbiota, add probiotics to your diet which will lower toxic substances in your blood that make brain fog.....in my older posts you can find some names probiotics used on uncompensated cirrhosis human trials, sorry i dont remember the name of the bacteria.the trial was nitazoxanide plus the healthy bacteria and it was in a south america university maybe you can get it by google search

[luckyman316]

I am upping this post for those interested. Ever since mine went active, my brain fog started and has not gone away. I'm on meds. Some days I feel as if it's all gone. Other days, it feels like it's there (and pretty bad too). Hoping that it goes away when treatment makes it undetectable.

[sd1234]

Ha ha ... I guess it's comforting to know that there is a semi-substitute for the alcohol I miss so dearly :)

[sd1234]

Thank you for your comments.  

I have seen reputable psychologists and physicians and am certain that I have depression and symptoms of ADD based on my own self-awareness, professional advice, and research that I have reviewed.  (I'm a lawyer w/a science background - endless speculating without research is not my thing :))  

To ascertain the cause of my ADD symptoms, I will maintain all current treatment/behaviors, etc. ... I'm going to continue my low dose of Adderall and coffee regimen and see if I notice any improvements w/improved liver function (assuming the Baraclude works for me ... I'm only on week 5).  It will be a clinical trial on myself!  If it works, I may stop the Adderall ... if I don't notice a difference, I'll probably increase the dosage so I can lay off the coffee (however, I read that consuming at least 4 cups of coffee/day may help prevent the development of HCC!!).

As a side note, MRI can be a very useful in assisting with the diagnosis of many types of mental illness, because certain patterns of brain activity are associated with particular diseases.  Not all psychiatrists are hacks :)

Anyway, I hope you are doing well overcoming any Hep B issues you might have.  Thanks again.

[Sharp7]

And if you are still worried about the side effects of Baraclude:
refer page 3 (Table 2) of http://packageinserts.bms.com/pi/pi_baraclude.pdf

[Sharp7]

Confusion is definitely one of the several possible symptoms of liver disease and of one of its treatments (interferon).
Try to google for "hepatic encepalopathy"

I'm not trying to scare you: mental disorders (I am not even sure that you do have one) have several potential causes. If you (or your doc) have good reason to suspect that your liver disease is responsible for it, by all means, please go ahead and test for it. I do advise against speculating endlessly, and making no attempt to gather data to either confirm or rule-out factors.

Another thing: I have heard plenty of scary stories about the American Psychiatric industry. Heck, in India too, I have come across psychiatrists prescribing needless tests (MRI for OCD) and medication. Please consult a *reputed* psychologist too about your ADD and depression diagnoses.

[bram44]

A side effect of anti-virals is dizziness. I use Viread, there are days I feel as if I am drunk :)

[sd1234]

I apologize, I should have been more clear.  I don't think Hep B causes ADD ... I think that the problems that I have focusing (which have come and gone intermittently throughout my life) could mimic ADD, and it's possible that I don't have ADD at all.

I am currently being treated for chronic hep b (acquired perinatally), so it will be interesting to see how the treatment (Baraclude) affects my mental clarity :)  

Also, thanks for the article!

[bram44]

There is no proof that Hepatits B (acute or chronic) can lead to ADD.

Here is a link to causes of brain-fog : http://www.drlwilson.com/Articles/brain_fog.htm

One of the symptoms of Hep-B is fatigue.

Whether ADD is connected to Hep-B or not, you may want to contact a doctor and ensure Hep-B is monitored or treated.