13 years symptoms and conditions

I am shocked!! Over the last year I have experienced significant hair loss, mood swings, dizziness, cardiac issues (ended up in an ambulance for a suspected heart attack at age 37) can not go one day without Protonix, if I do I wake up in the middle of the night with horrible reflux and choking sensation. For the last 2 years I have had numerous allergic reactions resulting in shots of steriods and pred-packs..they can not find the cause (mostly when I get hot or flushed and every time I go on vacation). I never thought it could be my BCP. I have taken Yasmin, Yaz and now Ocella for about 2 years. My MD switched me from Yasmin to Yaz....b/c of HA's a year ago, I had a heavy period for 36 days, started back on Yasmin and my MD wanted me to take them continuous to skip my periods b/c of fibroids. My hair started falling out, my skin is dry with dry patches all over my legs and then my hair started falling out..thats when everyone told me I was crazy. I have a cramp in my right side all the time, I suspect from my gallbladder. I am a nurse and really thought of all of the worse things that could cause these symptoms, Thyroid, Cancer, Heart Disease, OCD, Paranoia. I think I will be stopping my Ocella(generic for Yasmin) tonight. I have been on BCP for 13 years straight, I'm scared that my periods will never be normal again? Anyone have any issues once off Yasmin??

I just had mirena removed today!! Everything was fine for the first nine months. Then i started feeling like i was pregnant and bloated and sick to my stomach all the time. It was great not having any periods until three weeks ago i started spotting and it never stopped. I was having breast pain and i even found a lump. I had to go for a mamo and ultra sound and nothing came back abnormal but what the heck is going on with my body?
I started reading the posts on here and called my doctor right away and he removed it today. I am so tried and i never sleep anymore. and i cry all the time. I am so upset i just want my body back!!! Thank you for all posting on here. I am hoping that my body returns back to normal soon. I had my tubes tied 13 years ago and was hoping never to be on birth control again but i was to control my periods each month. I also found out i know have a ovarian cyst. Is it due to the mirena? to to sure but having surgery soon for that. This whole thing is crazy!!!
Please really think about it before you put it in. I have never felt this bad in my life. I hope soon to get my life back. I have fell in to a deep depression and i need to get out of it soon. If you have any of the side effects please get rid of it. Thanks

I too have had a great deal of hair loss, deep depression and sadness.
I can't seem to remember anything, feeling very loopy...
I have just stopped taking the xl 300mg after reading all of the posts today!!! I'm going to try all natural ( B12, fish oil, st.johns wort) after being
on meds for over 13 years. the hair loss was the, well ... hair that broke the camels back. I hope it grows back.

i forgot to mention in my last posting not only 80mg a day but have taken it for 13 years almost without interruption except for 12mths when i then developed hideous diarrhea and life threatening bowel obstruction, and removal of half the bowel. tablets effect people very differently.

My eight year old son was diagnosed with mild asthma by our GP and was taking Ventolin for a persistent cough. When this didn't relieve the cough the doctor prescribed Singulair. He started the Singulair in March 2009 and within 2 months we realized that his personality had dramatically changed. It has taken us a while to figure out what was going on because eight year old boys are starting to assert themselves more and I think the side effects have been escalating over the last month. He was angry most of the time, very hateful towards his siblings, saying very dark, nasty, hurtful things. He argued every time we asked him to do something and would snap into a screaming inconsolable emotional wreck at the drop of a hat many times a day over trivial or imagined problems. He was having nightmares and bursts of hyperactivity that were overwhelming. He told us he felt frustrated all the time and hated everything. When we tried to calm him he was unreachable. Just yesterday he had his fist clenched and pulled back ready to punch me when I was trying to help him with a computer problem. He was shaking and his face was contorted with rage and he just wasn't my little boy anymore.
It has been devastating for our family and we were ready to take him to a psychologist. He is normally an incredibly considerate, perceptive, loving child, highly intelligent, helpful and fun loving with a great sense of humor.
He has also complained of leg pains and has been wetting the bed again. It was only yesterday that I began reading about other people's side effects and have taken him off Singulair as of last night. Whilst he has still been argumentative today already the aggressive intensity seems to be easing.
I am absolutely mortified that I allowed this to happen to my son and my family and I am so grateful to others for sharing their experiences.
We still need to address his asthma and will make an appointment with a specialist next week, but given his asthma is so mild he should not have ever had to suffer these side effects.
I only hope now that he has not sustained any long term effects and that his younger brother has not been scarred by the truly horrible things that my son has said to him.

I'm 25 years old and approx 5 weeks after my second Gardasil injection started feeling sick. It has been 6 months now and still no relief. I have been to the doctor 13 times in the past 6 months, before this vaccine that was how much I was there in 13 years. This experience has been a nightmare and everyday I wake up wishing it was. I have had numerous blood tests, a CT scan, an esophagram, seen multiple doctors and it is so frustrating having them not believe you. I used to be happy, healthy and a social butterfly. Went on a job interview today and felt like I was out-of-body not really knowing what was going on. It is absolutely horrible to know that no one can help and be completely unsure of how long this will last. I just graduated from college and I'm supposed to be starting my life and now it's not knowing if this nightmare will ever end. I have had dizzy spells, chronic sore throat, unbelievable headaches with no relief from any OTC drugs or prescription migraine meds, extreme fatigue, hot flashes, night sweats, dry/itchy/watery eyes, ear pain, side pain, jaw pain. I pray for everyone who is going through this nightmare. ALL I want is to be healthy, feeling like my old self. I would give up everything to just be healthy again, pre-Gardasil.

Hello... I started taking Levothyroxine last July for slight hypothyroidism. I felt great for the first 6-7 months, but then in January the problems started for me. I was getting severe anxiety which the doctor said was stress and he also thought I was depressed. I knew I wasn't, but he put me on Ativan and Prozac. The week I took prozac was the worst week of my life. I thought the effects I had were from the prozac, but now I know now it was my thyroid spiking, which the doctor never checked my levels during this period. My heart rate doubled, I had insomnia, was gagging, sick, felt like my body was on speed and wanted to die. I was prescribed a beta blocker for my anxiety previously which I had never taken, but decided to take when my heart was racing, which helped me feel a bit better for the week, but I knew something was wrong. I had this happen again recently for about a week (and I was on nothing but levothyroxine). I know what anxiety is and I have never had anxiety or depression my whole life until these episodes that happen when taking this medication. By the time I went to the doctor to get labs done, I had been feeling a bit better and he said my levels were fine. I am now wondering if it's side effects from the meds or if it is spikes in my levels making me hyperthyroid instead. All I know is that I cannot live like this!! I have a 3 yr old and I need to be happy and healthy like I used to be before this medication... no more heart racing, racing thoughts, anxiety, and insomnia. Please help!!

I am 72 years old and in 1995 I had an artery blockage and had angioplasty.Upon my release from the hospital I was put on several prescriptions, beta blockers, cholesterol, Aspirin, Vitamins, etc. which I had been taking regularly for 13 years without any problems. In 2008 after having chest pain and going to the hospital my heart doctor advised me I had Atrial Defibrillation and put me on Warfarin and also told me to stop taking all the vitamins I was using along with my daily aspirin dose and one of my prescriptions. Since then I have had constant shoulder and muscle pain in my arm and leg. I have had several treatments by a chiropractor and several physical therapy treatments and the pain has not subsided. My memory has gotten worse also however I thought that was due to my age until I read some of the above side effects of Warfarin. I definitely have a lack of energy and also changed my diet due to the Warfarin. I have informed my heart doctor about the problems and he advised it is not due to the Warfarin. I don't agree with him after reading all the posts, but I am not a doctor. I will continue my prescribed dosage and Pt/Inr tests as schedule for a while, but if my pain etc doesn't get better I will probably do like the lady's posting and stop the warfarin on my own.

Hi,
I have been on Cilift for anxiety and depression for 13 years. I also have hypothyroidism so am on Eltroxin every day. I have been on Urbanol for a while but it was not helping the extreme anxiety. I was prescribed Seroquel and have been on it for 3 weeks. My anxiety seems to be far worse, especially in the mornings but it does help me sleep at night. Stilnox sleeping tablets were not working. I have a pain in my chest, severe headaches, tingling feeling in my hands and a 'funny head'. I am on Yasmin as I have the Mirena but it does not work. The Mirena is still fitted. I have now read on this site (thank goodness I came across it) that both these cause extreme anxiety. I have now stopped the Seroquel and plan to stop the Yasmin and have the Mirena removed. If you have any similar experiences please comment.

After not being on birth control for about 13 years due to previous complications, I decided to go on YAZ since theyre were SO many rave reviews. it was to clear up my skin, lessen my periods and make my chest a bit bigger... also to not get pregnant ;) after being on it for 7 months i FINALLY realized all the harm it was doin to my body. the reason why i started to look for answers was because i had ZERO sex drive which has *never* been the case for any reason. i found that it can be a side effect of the pill but when i started looking at other side effects of YAZ i just kept nodding my head and saying "so THATS why i my vision is getting worse... so THATS why im completely depressed all the time and don't want to go out like i use to... so THATS why im having horrible leg cramps at night and awful joint pain... so THATS why my period is heavier, longer and more painful... so THATS why i started getting horrendous MIGRAINES out of no where!!!" i would lie in bed all day, instead of doing my every day routines, i stopped talking to my friends, didn't want my bf near me and couldn't go to work when i had my period because the bleeding was uncontrollable. after being off of it for three days, my sex drive was back, i wanted to go out with my friends again and most of the joint pain stopped. i made the foolish choice to "wait it out and see what happens" but my doctor told me to stop taking them immediately when i told him of my symptoms. It took me far too long to come to this conclusion and if you are suffering from multiple side effects, just stop taking it as soon as possible and go from there. There is NO reason to have to live like this from a birth control pill. i made that mistake and hope others wont in the future.

After not being on birth control for about 13 years due to previous complications, I decided to go on YAZ since they're were SO many rave reviews. it was to clear up my skin, lessen my periods and make my chest a bit bigger... also to not get pregnant ;)

after being on it for 7 months i FINALLY realized all the harm it was doing to my body. the reason why i started to look for answers was because i had ZERO sex drive which has *never* been the case for any reason. i found that it can be a side effect of the pill but when i started looking at other side effects of YAZ i just kept nodding my head and saying "so THATS why i my vision is getting worse... so THATS why im completely depressed all the time and don't want to go out like i use to... so THATS why im having horrible leg cramps at night and awful joint pain... so THATS why my period is heavier, longer and more painful..."

i would lie in bed all day, instead of doing my every day routines, i stopped talking to my friends, didn't want my bf near me and couldn't go to work when i had my period because the bleeding was uncontrollable.

after being off of it for three days, my sex drive was back, i wanted to go out with my friends again and most of the joint pain stopped. i made the foolish choice to "wait it out and see what happens" but my doctor told me to stop taking them immediately when i told him of my symptoms. It took me far too long to come to this conclusion and if you are suffering from multiple side effects, just stop taking it as soon as possible and go from there.

There is NO reason to have to live like this from a birth control pill. i made that mistake and hope others wont in the future.

Wow! Let me tell you my story: I was first diagnosed with HBP (170/140) during a high school sports physical in the beginning of 8th grade (I was about 14 years old). I was in top shape and a very healthy eater. I had probably (from what I remember) every test done to see what was the cause of this hypertension - and the only thing found was that my kidney's produce too much renin (the hormone that increases BP). I was then put on Lisinopril 10mg. Everything continued good for about 6 years - I also stayed in shape and ate healthy. However, throughout those 6 years, I did notice my curly hair turing straight and my incredibly (can't do nothing with) thick hair started to thin and become stylable. Now...I do know this is my fault, but in the past 2 years my healthy eating habits have slipped, I've gained weight and started smoking - plus have a sit down, don't move kinda job. However, about 1 year ago, I had a slight spike in my pressure and my doctor added a diuretic (HCTZ 12.5mg) to my lisinopril. Ok, that brought the pressure down and all seemed well. Then..... in December 2008, not long ago, I started not feeling well. Thinking I was sick, I went to the doctor's to find my blood pressure to be 190/140. Immediately, my does was increased to 30-12.5mg. That brought a quick drop in my BP down to 110/66 - I was so darn dizzy I could barely function. I was also but on short-term disability because all this caused me to be off work for so long. Unfortunately, when my dose was adjusted to 20-12.5mg and the dizziness stopped I went back to work. Now, I can't go back on S.T.D. for many, many weeks. And....... The past month has been complete HELL!! My hands (mainly fingers) and toes are almost always cold, I've been dieting for over a month and am struggling to lose weight, my hands and feet go numb more often than usual - I never used to find myself waking up in the middle of the night because of pins/needles feeling, my hair is thinner than ever and stick straight - I'm afraid I'm not gonna have any left, I have UNBEARABLE headaches (sometimes all I want to do is sleep and sometimes, like tonight -it's 4:12am- I can't sleep), I have acne like a teenager - mind you, I never had more than 1 to 2 pimples at a time growing up, and that was rare (I was lucky)... Thank god for FMLA, or I would of lost my job since I've spent so much time home since I thought all was good and went back to work. Only wish I could make a dollar again. Now to top it off...I was referred to a nephrologist (kidney specialist) who after seeing me only once for about 30min and reviewing bloodwork from the end of January (I had a high calcium level as well as some others that deal with the kidneys) wants to take away the diuretic (HCTZ) part of my medication (hopefully to reduce the calcium level) BUT DOUBLE MY MG OF LISINOPRIL. HE WANTS ME TO TAKE 20MG TWO TIMES A DAY. I was starting to think all these new symptoms that came on so quick were a result from the increase of lisinopril - now I think I'm sure. I'm not changing my medications until I can talk this over with my PCP - I'm going to ask we try a medication change. Does anyone have any suggestions? Or any suggestions why a 20-year-old has blood pressure as high as 190/140 with no family history of HBP or really any health problems? Any suggestions why the kidneys are producing too much renin? Any meds that drop the pressure and we don't get headaches - I can live with cold limbs and numbness - it's the headaches that are rendering this 24-year-old helpless :(

I have been on Synthroid for about five months. I started out on a relatively small dosage- 50 mcg. My Doctor upped me 50 mcg every month after he checked my TSH levels. They started out at 150, and right now they're at a 10. I hate this medication. Im now on a 250 mcg, and my side effects keep getting worse. I have probably lost about a third of my hair. I started to loose weigh, but i don't feel like i really am anymore. I am very moody, and also emotional. I lash out for absolutely NO reason whatsoever. Im hot, cold, but can never find a comfortable temperature. Im always tired, No matter if i just wake up, or if its time to go to bed. He's put me on Celexa, he said i was just depressed. But its not depression. Three months ago i wouldn't have lashed out for something as small as the mail didn't come. I hate to be this way, and i wish i didn't have to take this medication for the rest of my life.

I am a 44 year-old woman. I have been taking Topamax for 13 years! I take 100mg at bedtime (would NEVER take it during the DAY--that's ASKING for sedation). I take it along with 400mg of Wellbutrin & 30mg of Lexapro!!! I've taken various doses over the years. It was initially prescribed as a mood-stabilizer for my bi-polar II, and so happened to control my migraines. Happy Days!

When I FIRST took Topamax I remember having the strange feeling of small miscroscopic "fish" (or something) swimming under my skin, across my cheekbones and over the bridge of my nose. I never got a rash or anything. I did not feel that this passing side effect was anything I "couldn't deal with" as the medication stablized my mood without the HORRID side effects of Lithium, Depakote, Valproic Acid, etc!!!

All this time I have done very well and have NEVER had any health problems from the Topamax. I am VERY confused by folks who claim it gave them "mood swings"--as its effect is to make your mood stable!!! I don't understand how that could happen. Also this is a LOT of people having MAJOR effects from VERY low doses of the drug (50- 75mg mostly). Perhaps folks are medication sensitive OR something else is going on as well???

I have been on the nuvaring since May of 08 to relieve my endometriosis. At first I loved it; less cramping, lighter periods, but then around November I started feeling stressed. Lots of anxiety during the first few days of every cycle to the point it was like I was paranoid. I'm not one to worry about what to do if my husband dies but with the Ring I was getting these feelings. I thought it was stress of work messing with me, maybe some winter blues. When I finally got around to seeing my Dr. he said it could be the ring and I needed to get off of it. He's putting me on the pill and I look forward to seeing if things change.

I have been on Levoxyl for years. I was diagnosed with Hashimoto's when I was 13 years old. I'm 35 now. I have been on every medication made and this is the only one that didn't make me want to sleep all the time. I have suffered from Depression my whole life, but that started before the thyroid too. My mom was one of the first people to be treated with Iodine when she was a kid and it worked for years then her thyroid acted up again in her 50's. When she was younger it was Hyper and now it went Hypo. She takes Levoxyl now too and it's been great. I think part of my problem has always been a lack of exercise. A lot of the symptoms everyone has mentioned went away for me when I started hiking and walking regularly. After being inactive for so long due to the depression and exhaustion because of the poor diagnosis of my thyroid medications for so long, my blood pressure was too low, my circulation was poor and my depression got worse . Now with a combination of meds for my depression and my Levoxyl, I don't feel like there is a giant weight on me when I wake up in the morning. So many of the meds described have similar side affects I've stopped judging by side affects and rather my energy level, my weight, goiter size and sleep pattern.
Just my experience. Good luck to everyone

So the FDA spent 9 months studying clinical trial data that was not designed to monitor psychiatric events. That sounds productive.

That's like saying you're going to look for an orange in an apple orchard and spend 9 months doing it.

I went from a rational non-emotional women to a crazy person!!! I feel awful. I would rather have pain than feel this way. I can't sleep though constantly fatigued. Achy body, headaches. Everything tastes like cardboard so I'm not eating well though I have gained a few pounds. I am severely emotional. I almost left my husband this weekend whom I adore, can't stop crying, very depressed and irritable. I want nothing more than to be alone and sleep, which no one can live that way. I am a mother of 3, a wife, and have a full time job. I can't function properly. I will never undergo hormone treatment after I get through this! I am currently on Lupron, just had laporoscopy 2 weeks ago for the 5th time all for endometriosis and I'm only 25. I started Premarin today to assist this anxiety and mood swings. Wish my family and I luck.

Correction to posting below, its been 13 years..not 15. I can't count :)

I have had numerous side effects with tramadol (nausea, heart skipping beats, restless legs at night) but I was too desperate and needed something so I just started taking 2 half pills a day (total of 50 mg). Well, now I've quit after about 2 years because I have sudden onset swelling and tendinitis in both of my achilles tendons. There was absolutely no trauma involved and tramadol was my only medication. After doing research online, I found that this is a rare side effect to some other medications but it hasn't been mentioned for tramadol. I truly believe this is a side effect that just hasn't been reported yet. Also, it can lead to both tendons rupturing. I just hope I stopped the medication in time so that it doesn't lead to that. It's only been a few days and I have a lot of pain and difficulty with stairs. I think this will take a while to get over -- like all orthopedic related problems.

I had Mirena put in about a month ago. I am 44 and I smoke, so the traditional birth control methods are not safe for me. ( I can tell you, the pull out method only works for 13 years.....I now have a 3 year old daughter to go along with my 20 year old son and 16 year old daughter....LOL.) I researched Mirena and decided to give it a try. I have had bleeding since it was inserted but nothing I cannot deal with, I knew this would be a possibility going in. I do get headaches now, but have no idea whether they are caused by allergies or Mirena, since it is allergy season right now. What everyone reading these posts needs to remember is that if you had no side effects, you probably would not have visited this site after the Mirena insertion. So, it really is a one sided site, without the feedback from those who got Mirena, and have gone on carefree with their lives. I only came to this site to see if headaches were a side effect, since I have experienced several this month and that is not common for me. Anyway, I am glad I did not look here before the Mirena because I may have not gotten it .....I plan on being open minded and wait a few months to decide for myself.

My Daughter has been the same way .. she had the headaches, stomach pain, very depressed .. she has missed 6 months of school she was afraid to go to school, shopping, and being left alone.. I have put her on medication for her depression, and anxiety . i have her in therapy for this... she is not the same child i just want my beautiful daughter back..We are having a hard time with her from school to he social life.. and from her tring to kill herself.. My daughter is only 13 years old...I think someone needs to pay for this... please there must be help out there...How long must this go on before people (FDA, Merck, ALA, etc.) will take this seriously?!?!?!?!
I want my beautiful katelynn back........................
--

I have had all the side effects on 10 mg of lipitor for 13 years. My new doctor told me to get off "TOPROL" and take Bystolic (a new blood pressure reducer).

My doctor believes its the blood pressure medication and not the Lipitor.

Anybody has thoughts on this?

well i've had two endo. surgerys and my last dr. put me on lupron and i only had to take a 3 mth supply but i should have had my first period and i haven't, i feel like i've gain about 5-10 lbs and i'm not sure if it's the bloating from not having my period or if it's the shot? my hot flashes haven't stopped and i sweat all the time now! my mood isn't as bad as it was and my headaches are going away i just wonder when i'm gonna beable to get pregnant? please let me know if you hae anything similar

I have been on Zoloft for 13 years, up and down with the dosage. I don't believe I should be on this for the this length of time. My doctor says I may take it the rest of my life. I am long over the situation that caused me to take it in the first place.

I have been trying to come off of it and feel terrible. I am not depressed. Such physically ill.