Activity level symptoms and conditions

I have been taking Singulair for about a year and a half now, and my mild asthma is totally better. I have noticed a decrease in my shortness of breath, coughing, etc. and my allergy symptoms I struggled with for over 30 years are GONE. I also take Nasonex, so I can also attribute the improvement to that drug. But, I have had dramatic cycles of hair loss, which my hairdresser and doctor have attributed to "stress" even though I am not experiencing more stress than normal (except about the hair loss!) and the main thing for me is weight gain. I am a slim, petite 36 year old and I have gained at least 15 or 20 pounds since I started Singular. I have not decreased my activity level ( I am a waitress and walk about 5 miles each shift easily) or increased my food intake. My doctor and gyne keep telling me it's due to slowing metabolism, and implying that I'm slowing down in activity. I am not. I think it's the Singular, but I'm afraid of the allergy symptoms returning. Anyone else with significant weight gain?

Male 46 I have been on Toprol - XL for about 1-1/2 years now. I was taking 25mg and I have had all the major side effects listed on this site. depression being the worst. About two months ago without my doctors premission I started cutting the pills in half. Three days ago I stopped taking the pills altogether, I have had some of the worst headaches in my life!! I figure this is just withdrawals from the Toprol. Everyones circumstances are different, however if your doctor is not helping you go find one who will listen! If anyone else has just come off this stuff please let me know you syptoms.

I have had months of mysterious symptoms, evolving worse and worse, over time. I didn't even remotely suspect that it was my Mirena. Which I had put in over a year and a half ago.
Until, after literally because over the last couple of months. It was as though I was having extreme morning sickness. I threw up every day. Always at the same basic time. It didn't seem to matter what I ate. It felt like 'morning sickness'!!!
I've slowly, but steadily, despite increasing my exercise significantly. As well as eating far better, not worse, than before. Gained about 40 lbs.! I was 60 lbs less, just about 4 years ago. All the weight is concentrated around my middle.
I am on anti-anxiety pills. And they used to help, but now barely get me through the day. I have insomnia regardless of my sched., activity level, or mood. I had an extremely painful insertion, and months of constant bleeding, after getting it put in.
My sister was so stunned w/my symtoms recently, she made me get a pregnancy test.
I look pregnant. Feel pregnant, but alas, not pregnant. Birth control pills never agreed w/ me. I am furious these aren't presented as possible side effects to women. I had it removed yesterday at no small cost. Just hoping I can return to something like my old self soon!

Wow. To all the valid contributors and site owners, top posts and site!

I have SLE and have been found to have Lupus Nephritis (kidney). I was on 60mg, now down to 40mg of Prednisone.

After Pericarditis, I presented with terrible SLE headaches. I'm now also on Cyclophosphamide (Chemo treatment) for my Kidney and other meds for that, as well as the Prednisone, but my side effect I am having which I think is from the Prednisone is SWELLING in the face some, but especially from knees downwards getting worse throughout the day.

After reading a bunch of pages here, I suspect that it could also be not just the Prednisone but because my Kidney functioning poorly. I can't get rid of the water fast enough. I do not have anything diuretic normally because I am also diagnosed with Raynauds Phenomenon.

To balance things out, I've tried to drink the minimum side (2L for 2 days after Cyclophosphamide treatment) and funnily enough, if I have drank too much water in the day time I:
*Sleep with a big pillow under my knees/feet
*Do not drink any at night (if thirst, just have a half mouthful)
*Wee it all out throughout the night

It HAS worked and my weight, the swelling in my legs/feet has come down dramatically... It has also helped my FACE be less swollen and puffy...!

Other symptoms I had when I had prednisone only: EMOTIONAL! Twice I could not stop crying when there was completely nothing wrong with me at all (i.e. bawling my eyes out). At the time I was on 20mg when my SLE was quite much lower in activity level. I was totally "off my head".

Now I'm on 40mg, and I do get emotional more easily - but I brought the husband to my specialist once so he could get side effects explained to him directly. I also get hot flush tingles in my fingers and toes from prednisone.

For all those people worried about WEIGHT - I highly recommend one of those scales (I know I can get one for $40AUD) which can tell you your WATER level as well as weight (you have to input your height). If you are running at 70% instead of 60% water, then you know your weight is 10% overstated, but just due to the water.

meow

I have been on the NuvaRing for a little over a year now. Up until a few months ago it has been fine. I have gained a little weight but I don't know if I can blame that on the ring since my activity level has changed. But now I am having SEVERE headaches with sensitivity to light. They started out coming once a week or so but now they are almost everyday. The doctor has given me a CT Scan to rule out anything else but she thinks its my ring.

In August of this year, we started giving my son 4 mg of Singulair daily for his asthma and seasonal allergies. We just found out about the connection between hyperactivity and Singulair the other day and now everything makes sense. This fall, we noticed his activity level jumped up several notches, he couldn't seem to sit still anymore and would be bouncing off the walls from morning to night. He was pretty high energy before but this was VERY VERY high energy. He could barely sit still to eat meals. He became quite dramatic and tantrums became common - he wasn't the easy-going kid he used to be. And he started waking up in the middle of the night, sometimes sobbing, where previously he had always been a very sound sleeper.

Three days ago we learned about these possible hyper side effects of Singulair and two nights ago we stopped giving it to him. Last night he sat down and actually ate a good dinner with us. This morning, he seemed a tad bit calmer. We are hoping the rest of the effects will go away soon. Needless to say - no more Singulair for him. We'll find other ways to deal with his allergies and asthma.

After reading these postings I hope that the cause of my daughter's psychological problems is being caused by Singulair. She always showed signs of adhd because of her activity level and distractabilty. However, after becoming asthmatic at age 3 we put her on Singulair as a last resort at age 4.

I thought her tantrums, increasing moodiness etc was caused by jealousy of her new baby sister. I also thought she was being manipulative.

She just turned six and her moodiness increased to the point where she has threatned to kill herself three times and actually ran to the street saying she wanted to get run over by a car last Friday all because i ordered her to put her hairbrush away!

I have started taking her to a psychologist and am starting psych testing because the problems may not be from the Singulair although i hope so.

Her activity level and lack of focus at school has also been a big problem with respect to her teachers.

I'm praying she'll get better soon. I have to say that although many people say their doctors didnt believe them my daughter's allergist did immediately. She said she doesn't like Singulair although she prescribes it because it is effective in controlling allerygy symptons. But she completely believes that it can cause the symptons listed on this website. She said it's all or nothing though. Either the child gets better in no more than 3 weeks or they don't. No in between.

My son is 6 1/2 and very active. He has been taking zyrtec and nasonex for about 3 years. He has always been a little on the heavy side since about 3 years old even though his eating and activity level would not support this. About 3 months ago we added singulair to the mix because the other 2 meds just don't seem to do the tricks for his allergies in the fall and winter and needless to say he has been healthier as far as that goes that he ever has, however his weight keeps going up and up and his face looks swollen. He is about 9 pounds overweight. We have increased exercise, lower fat diet and reduced portions but nothing is working he keeps gaining. He is 6 1/2 and weighs 67 pounds. I called my dr today to see if he knows if the meds could be the cause and he did some research and says he can not find anything to support this. Any help, input or information would be appreciated.

Colin's Mom

I have diagnosed osteoarthritis, two joint replacements, looking at a third, and my knee hurt at time. Bad fall over a year ago led eventually to spine surgery with fushion of several vertebrae. Before fall I had some back pain and have had the shoulder pain for years(and now requires partical reaplacement). I was very active and relatively athletic doing agility with my dog. After fall and sugery for pinched nerves, I have never felt normal. Too much pain all over, fingers still numb, don't feel safe running with my dog. I suffered muscle degeneration due to the pinched nerves. Finally after numerous expensive test etc, rheumatologist suggested kenalog shot if I didn't feel better soon. Also tentative diagnosis of gout but my stomache could not handle pills for gout. So I got a shot of kenelog. - Super! I felt "normal" for the first time in over a year, didn't feel weak in knees, felt I could walk faster and further. Positive side effect was clearing my sinuus' and clearing up cough from phlem from sinus area. Got shot about 5 weeks ago and it has gradualy faded. I do not feel as painedl, but my activity level has decreased. I want another shot.