What Causes Foggy Sensation Along With Stress After Discontinuing Ibuprofen?

Posted on Sun, 15 Jan 2017

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Sun, 15 Jan 2017 Answered on

Wed, 8 Feb 2017 Last reviewed on

Question : About a year and a half ago I went to a GP for what I can only describe as feeling like I had an infection in my brain. I feel like I am in a fog most of the time and stress seems to worsen the condition.
The Doctor could not find anything wrong. I went to an ENT thinking maybe they could figure it out. No help. I tried total abstinence from caffeine and alcohol for a month or so. No change. About a week ago I went to the dentist with a bad tooth and they prescribed that I take 600 mg of Ibuprofen 3 times a day for 3 days due to inflamation in my lower jaw. On day two I felt great, or what I would call back to normal. Almost immediately after discontinuing the Ibuprofen I returned to the foggy sensation. Do you have any idea what inflamation might be causing the fog?

Answered by Dr. Dr. Erion Spaho (58 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Inflammation may be located anywhere.

Detailed Answer:
Hello and thanks for using HCM.

I have read your question and understand your concerns.

Ibuprofen is a NSAID drug that lowers the prostaglandins levels.

Prostaglandins in the other hand are found to affect brain functions such memory, cognition, so, an inflammation anywhere in the body may affect cognitive functions too.

Inflammation ( and increase in prostaglandins levels) may be caused by infections ( viral, bacterial, fungal ), by autoimmune diseases etc.

Blood tests and imaging studies are necessary to find the site and the kind of inflammation.

Discuss with your Doctor about getting evaluated by blood tests about inflammatory levels and imaging studies such chest x-rays, abdominal ultrasound etc.

Hope you found the answer helpful.

Kind regards.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad