I do not take that, so I can't be sure. But I do take Tramadol as needed when my pain is severe and it always makes me more absent minded and I can't concentrate on things as much. I always warn everyone in the house when I need to take it.

I don't take MTX but I am sure it's RA related for me. I joke that my ability to multitask is GONE!

I am on two pills per week MTX (from a high of 5 pills per week). the only thing I seem to notice is that I seem to have short term memory issues. Nothing what I would call serious, but stuff from six months ago someone will bring up something from six months ago (like having breakfast in a restaurant together) and i don't remember it! ahahah. this could be something else (oh, geez, please not early alzhimers....eeks!!)

MTX did a real job on my brain. The day after injecting I would even forget my name. The next day I would remember it but I couldn't remember what a spoon was called. By the fourth day after injecting I could usually recall my own phone number and address but certain words still alluded me. The doctors tried telling me it was RA brain fog and not the MTX even though I told them I was a lot better by the time my next dose was due. I still think it was the MTX and not RA brain fog as I was basically back to normal after stopping it.

Jeez I'm glad I read this one! I hadn't heard anything about "brain fog"; it kind of sounds familiar. I was beginning to think I was extra special stupid! Haven't started mtx yet so it's me not mess.

I am not on MTX but have had the brain fog lately and missed turns while driving, gotten off at wrong exits, etc. Hoping to learn more from the responses.

Mtx and the pain meds make me a blubbering nut. I think the chronic pain is what makes you so forgetful. When my pain is manageable my mind is so much clearer. Since getting off Mtx, I am a lot better, but I still find myself just dazing out, or getting distracted. I think since I'm on less drugs, my distractions are more from my being not as social as i use to be. My thoughts run away more, I have to really reel them in when I go out.

But mtx brain fog, is the pits!

I also think to much reality TV has turned my brain to mush.
=)~

I haven't taken MTX but I certainly have had RA brain fog!

I don't take pain killers or see any reality TV, so I can't blame those! Interesting that most of you blame the disease itself rather than the meds. Maybe it goes with the fatigue. Midwestliberal- great name, glad to know there are some-, I know what you mean about driving: I've taken some bizarre exits and turns too. Embarassing to hear, "Mom, you just missed the turn!" from the passenger seat.

Anyone found anything that helps? This is really driving me crazy.

KiddoGal, I love the Monument Valley photo.

I miss 2 appointments, one to the RA and one to my PCP.
The one for my PCP i believed was on Friday and they called me Tuesday and told me i missed the appointment and now i had to pay 15$ fee for not cancelling if im not showing up.

The one i missed with the RA Doc they reschedule it to February.. they are giving such a hard time instead of being understanding i never missed an appointment before im very responsible. Im on MTX and Arava.

I try to focus and concentrate because I do believe in the RA fog theory. Also when I am in pain it is difficult to think clearly. I would say RA brain fog is clearly the answer. Try to do exercises that stimulate the brain. word games, scrabble etc.

I logged in to search for brain fog.... well, I guess I found it.
I am 51 and have always been a super multi-tasker, wonder-thinker.... but now I have trouble remembering why I went in the next room or what someone just said.

Sigh. I take 10 mtx pills a week and am grateful for it enabling me to continue to do MOST things from the pre-RA life. However, it seems to be getting worse!!!

I have a mentally demanding job, so I work on puzzles constantly! I now find that I am starting to avoid taking on new responsibilities and tasks... Sigh.

Any other tips for the brain fog? I also find myself stuttering and saying "I don't know"a lot.

Ummm so this seems entertaining. I have ADHD and so one symptom for that; that I learned to live with is "brain fog" and also pretty much everything else you all described, so I can never know what comes from the ADHD or what comes from the RA or what comes from the meds. I did figure out that if I take my 25mg of methotrexate with my ADHD meds then I am very loopy ("I believe I can fly" loopy) and it is then followed by a "oh my god I'm having a heart attack" pain so I never did that again.
It would be cool if the brain fog in RA could naturalize the brainy fog from ADHD :p

dreamechaser,how and why did you get off the methotrexate.are you anything right now?Kathy