Adverse drug reaction symptoms and conditions

May 16 y.o. daughter has chronic sinus infections and sever headaches. They said it was allergies and put her in Allegra D and Singulair. Headaches seemed better with slightly fewer sinus infections. Once I heard about the mood swings and Singulair I took her off. Then the Allegra did not seem to be able to keep up with keeping the sinus infections at bay. We finally figured out that she has a deviated septum and will need surgery. Anyway, we put her back on Singulair so we can get though the season with as few sinus infection until we can schedule surgery around high school and sports. Then we were noticing how her hair has become so thin. She used to have really thick hair and now her pony tail is to thin and small. After doing internet searching, we found out that other people are having this problem with Singulair. I took her off of it 4 days ago and already the shower has less hair in it. You can't tell a teenager that she needs to stay on a medication and lose a ton of hair. I am hoping that her hair will grow back quickly.

Took levaquin,500mg,for 10 days to combat infection in my left toe. Infection stopped,however pain in both calves is severe. Started on left leg then also rt. leg. Been off the med for 3 days. Seems to be better in am but gets awful as the day wears on. When will it stop? Is there long trm damage?

Here is an example of the fact that the medical community recognizes that there are gene based drugs. Because Singulair is modeled to be a receptor antagonist to the cysLT1 receptor and the cysLT1 receptor is a gene, I'd say that Singulair should be described as a gene based drug. I don't really care how anybody wants to play with the definition. CysLT1 is a gene with known variations. Why isn't there just an "across the board" warning for all gene based drugs that unexpected side effects are possible???? And, that doctors should watch out for individual reactions.

WMJ. 2005 Aug;104(6):61-6.Links
Gene-based drug prescribing: clinical implications of the cytochrome P450 genes.Musana AK, Wilke RA.
Department of General Internal Medicine, Marshfield Clinic, WI, USA.

The Institute of Medicine recently mandated an increased effort to improve patient safety and reduce medical error. With the description of genetic polymorphisms in the drug metabolizing enzymes, the field of pharmacogenetics may improve medical care through a reduction in both therapeutic failure and adverse drug reaction. Investigators at the Marshfield Clinic in central Wisconsin are piloting the process of gene-based drug prescribing in a variety of contexts. This paper reviews the field of cytochrome P450 (CYP) genetics and explores factors that impact the utility of this information in clinical practice.

PMID: 16218319

My nine year old daughter has been on Singulair for just over a month because of seasonal allergies. Early this morning she woke up with a terrible nose bleed. She has never had a nose bleed in her life before today! Could this be because of the Singulair?

st got back from docs,it is clear he is still drinking big pharm koolaid,if someone takes a drug and the terrible side effects dia appear when you discontinue it,it is still not proof it was the drug,oh my the koolaid is potent,if you read a side effect you will properly get it, oh my oh my,Have i ever seen the paper work involved with reporting a side effect,no but i have seen what happens to a child when you don't report.Needless to say i am looking for a new doctor,one not under the influence

I don't think that anyone can predict a time frame for getting over an adverse drug reaction. Below is my opinion but I see a lot of evidence that it is basically shared by other people maybe not exactly as I state it.

Adverse drug reactions deplete many essential nutrients from our systems. Inflammatory response is very stressful on the body. It is sometimes a very big effort to work on the diet to put back what has been taken away. It can take a long time.

Quinolines particularly deplete B-vitamins, folic acid (B-9), calcium/magnesium/zinc and omega-3 fatty acid. Sometimes the blood-lab work shows elevated homocysteine which proves that the body has suffered inflammation. Cardiologists now use homocysteine levels to show whether someone is at risk for heart disease due to inflammation. Deficiencies of B-6, B-9, and B-12 are known to cause elevated homocysteine.

Here is the pharmaceutical company ZINGER. Now companies such as Merck and Pfizer are going to offer niacin products to lower cholesterol. Well, yeh, duh !. All of these drug reactions are causing depleted B vitamins which elevate cholesterol. Then after they have tried to kill us by depleting our B - vitamins, they want to sell us another pill to give the B vitamins back to us. How many people out there are on some kind of a pill with side effects that cause inflammation? What a business? It is win, win, win.

I am disheartened but not surprised that so many doctors are dismissing these reports of symptoms that patients have had after taking Singulair. The only reports that I have found to share with you are from Europe and Canada. All of these reports pre-date the recent news stories regarding Singulair and suicide.

In addition to those reports, the most important thing that I have posted is the reference to the fact that Merck itself recognizes that there are genetics differences among patients that are directly linked to the potential efficacy of Singulair (montelukast). I posted a British reports on that subject and a reference to Merck's clinical trial where they studied genetical differences and montelukast.

The best thing that we can do is to try to convince our doctors that this is not politics -- the major does not have to rule. Why do European countries publish frequent reports on all adverse drugs reactions not just those of the majority of the people? One size does not fit all.

The actual incident of headache in all users according to European reports is 18-19%. So when I read that headache, adverse drug reaction to a leukotriene receptor antagonist (Singulair) is then treated by ibuprofen (a Cox-2 inhibitor), which of course gets treated for stomach inflammation or GERD by Nexium or another drug-histamine receptor antagonist, then I wonder what the hell is left to inhibit? So if a patient does not fit the profile of the 80%, do we have to make that patient catatonic (meant figuratively)? I realize that this leaves out all of the receptors that aren't affected by any of these drugs but I am just trying to make a point.

So why does Merck list headache as just one of the side effects in a category of side effects just listed as greater than 1%? And why do so many people believe that there is no scientific proof of any of the complaints that we see here at this site?

I would also like to point out a table that was in the Swedish study that showed what the adverse drug reactions were. It lists that children had night mares, aggressiveness, sleep disorder, abdominal pain, increased appetite, anxiety, fatique and several others. All of these symptoms are similar to what we are reading on this board.

This study was done in a foreign country before anything was ever announced in the American media. If you take this article to your doctor, please don't forget to print the tables. There is a link on the page.

See this link for the article.
http://www.biomedcentral.com/1472-6904/8/1

Individual case safety reports in children in commonly used drug groups – signal detection
Gertrud Brunlöf , Carina Tukukino and Susanna M Wallerstedt
Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Regional Pharmacovigilance Centre, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, SE-413 45 Göteborg, Sweden
author email corresponding author email
BMC Clinical Pharmacology 2008, 8:1doi:10.1186/1472-6904-8-1

Conclusion
In conclusion, the present study indicates that ADRs are reported for commonly used drugs in children. The number of ICSRs varies in different groups of drugs. A possible signal for montelukast and psychiatric adverse drug reactions was found, which should be further explored.

Table 2
Description of ICSRs for children in the ATC code R03DC. All ICSRs concerned the substance montelukast.

Age (years)
Dose (mg/day)
Treatment duration (when known)
ADR
SPC (Yes/No)

ADR, adverse drug reaction; ICSR, individual case safety report; SPC, summary of product characteristics
Brunlöf et al. BMC Clinical Pharmacology 2008 8:1 doi:10.1186/1472-6904-8-1

4 months ago I was diagnosed with Statin induced Myopathy. I researched on the topic of statins and the dangerous side effects through the net and corresponded with some caring people with medical backgrounds, whom were very helpful and supportive.They have pointed me in the right direction for the information I was seeking, and gave me encouragement not to give up! EDUCATE YOURSELF ON STATINS FIRST, THEN TALK TO YOUR DR.
For anyone interested, I have a list of places to google that you may find helpful. To mention a few...

-Adverse drug reaction monitoring

-Investigate statins Petition signatures-Go Petition

-WHO The safety of medicines

-Statins warning out

-Drug induced and toxic myopathies ( www.pubmed.gov)

-Statins.com

-FindArticles-Evaluation of the patient with muscle weakness

-Duane Graveline M.D. (or) Spacedoc

-RateMDS.com

I consider myself very fortunate. I'm able to walk again.The muscle pain and weakness has subsided but not completely gone. I believe at the rate that I'm improving I should be back to my old'self by the time summer rolls around. Oh yeah, and I fired my Doctor. I value my life!
ttfn,

In my case, Cipro tablets were prescribed for a potential prostate infection. The first dose was taken on 12/12/07. While taking this medication, I experienced "pens and needles" and shooting pains all over my body, leg pains behind my knees, right groin swelling to the point I could barely walk, and chest discomfort just below the sternum. The chest discomfort started after the second dose. My use of this drug was discontinued on about 12/17/07 (after 6 doses). I threw it away. Read the label BEFORE you start this medication. It's quite alarming after the fact.

I let my physician know about my problems with the Cipro and he then prescribed Levaquin, 500 mg, which is the same class of antibiotic. This was confusing to me later since I told them about the problems with Cipro. The doctor knows best...right- so I took 1 Levaquin per day from 12/21/07 until 12/26/07, again about 6 doses. My symptoms re-appeared after about the third day. Pen and needle pains re-occurred although they never entirely went away from the Cipro, severe swelling and tendon pain behind knees- especially the left knee, some chest discomfort, swelling in the armpits, and groin area. Swelling sensations were most prevalent behind both knees and the armpits. Shooting pains also occurred everywhere in my body, especially in the arms and legs. Shooting pains also occurred in my head and jaw with no warning but were less severe. The bottoms of my feet also hurt at times. Sleep was difficult to come by so extreme fatigue set in. I have been off the Levaquin now since 12/26/07 (5 days) and still have some shooting pains but some of the swelling has subsided. The symptoms have reduced but not disappeared entirely. I will never take a quinolone antibiotic again. My suggestion to others is to file an Adverse Drug Reaction report with FDA on their Medwatch website.

I again saw the physician on 12/27/07 and he said that it's "possible" I could be having a rare side effect. Another physician I know said I was having some type of hypersensitivity to the medication but that he had never come across such a case in his practice. Just my luck.

I have been on lipitor for a little over two years now. I experience extreme joint and muscle discomfort. I am also picking up weight at an alarming rate. No matter what I do to lose the weight, it's not working. I've had several blood tests, but all come back fine..but I know I don't feel well and I'm having trouble remembering things....

Who would think an antibiotic would have such effects? I have been experienceing pain in my shoulder for about 3 weeks. This began less than 2 weeks after taking Levaquin for 2 weeks. In addition to that, I experienced side effects during the treatment. This include chest pressure and rapid heartbeat.

Yesterday, I saw an orthpaedist who diagnosed me with a rotator cuff injury.
I have one month of physical therapy to endure 3x per week now. If the pain doesn't improve in 2 weeks, then an MRI will be done. If it is ruptured, there will likely be surgery.

I am a healthy 35 year old woman with no history of shoulder problems. The doctor and others have asked what did I do to hurt myself. My answer is that I made the mistake of taking a drug that shouldn't be on the market. I don't lift weights and I didn't pitch 9 innings before this. So the only connection is a drug whose website states "ruptures of the shoulder, hands, and Achilles tendons have been reported...".

I have woarned all of my friends and co-workers about this drug. I am now on a crusade to prevent others from falling victim to this drug. I understand that the risks to the few outwiegh the rewards to many. However, when you are one of the few who is affected, your viewpoint changes. I am an educated woman and did read the side affects prior to taking the drug. I knew this was a possibility but it was "rare". Who knew an antibiotic could be so helpful and harmful at the same time!

I'm addressing this to the 52 year old healthy woman. I believe whole heartedly that the pain that you are suffering is an ADR (Adverse Drug Reaction) to the Levaquin. You must stop taking it and tell your doctor that you insist that he/she prescribe another antibiotic that is not part of the Flouroquinolone (Cipro, Floxin, etc) family. When you stop taking the drug the pain should subside, but it can linger for weeks or months after you stop taking it. Also, do not take any form of Ibruprophen (Advil, Motrin, etc) with the Levaquin. I know that I read somewhere that the two should not be taken together. Also, no steriods should be taken with Levaquin either. I am about for weeks out from my Levaquin experience and I also suffered from severe joint pain in my arms, wrists and hands down to every finger. My pain has gotten better, but every day when I wake up one or two of those joints still hurt. It comes and it goes. Trust me, everyone who reads this site or posts to this site believes you when you say it's the Levaquin. My doctor knew it was the Levaquin that was causing the pain. I didn't have to convince him and you shouldn't have to convince your doctor either. Make that doctor change that prescription to another antibiotic to treat your original problem. Take the suggestion from the other guest on this site and visit those websites to get yourself educated about this drug. You may also find comfort in knowing that you are not alone. Trust me, you are not alone.

Though I have posted this information a couple of dozen times on this site I am posting it again for the benefit of the new victims. Fluoroquinolones, to which levaquin is but one such drug, has been associated with IRREVERSIBLE PERIPHERIAL NUEROPATHY, SPONTANEOUS TENDON RUPTURES, HEART ATTACKS, STROKES, Liver and Kidney damage, vision and hearing damage and about 14 pages worth of serious and non abating adverse reactions. If you are experiencing unusual symptoms while on this drug chances are very good that you are having one of these reactions. Please report your experiences to MedWatch as well as your physician and if at all possible try to have him or her change your medication to a safer alternative. Fluoroquinolones are a drug of LAST RESORT and are NOT to be used as a first line agent. For further information regarding the adverse drug reactions associated with this toxic chemotherapuetic agent log unto www.fqresearch.org or if you prefer to hear others described their living hell after being on these drugs check out the quinolone adverse drug reaction forum hosted by Yahoo. Currently there are over 1200 victims registered at that forum. As well as www.fqvictims.org which also has detailed reports from others whose lives have been destroyed by the careless scripting of these drugs from hell.

I cannot help but be amazed at some of the post. It is obvious that these folks have NO CLUE as to the damge these drugs can and will do and I find such idiotic posts quite insulting. There is no question that some people do quite well on the fluoroquinolones without having any adverse reaction. To make fun of those who have suffered severe and even life threatening reactions is insane. Having suffered such a reaction three years ago that now requires the intervention of at least a dozen specialist I find no humor in this. I have lost the majority of my vision, I have damage to my liver, kidneys, pancreas and joints. I am a virtual cripple as a result of such scripting abuse and damned near died as a result. If these morons would read some of the older post they will find several such post that refer to a FATAL reaction. If you have taken these drugs without such reactions you should be on your knees thanking all mighty God and not ridiculing those who have, for the next time you could very well be in my shoes. The tens of thousands of others that I have spoken to over the past three years who have suffered such damage and even worse, would gladly trade places with any of you who posted in this manner, irregardless of your obivous brain damage and warped sense of humor.

There have been numerous aditional post since I brought the following to your attention, therfore I am sending this information once agian:

Those who continue to suffer the adverse side effects of this drug may find the following to be of some help:

The following is the link to the quinolone adverse drug reaction discussion forum:

groups.yahoo.com/group/quinolones

The following is the link to the fluoroquinolone research forum:

groups.yahoo.com/group/fq_research

The following is the link to the homepage of the fluoroquinolone toxicity research foundation where you will find over 4000 articles documenting the damage these drugs can and will do.

www.fqresearch.org

I do hope that you will find some answers to all of your questions by using these links. You are far from being alone for your name is "Legions". These sites are independent of medications.com and have no relationship what so ever with medications.com I would not of even of dignified the idiotic posts I was reffering to earlier with this response had it not truly been a matter of life or death.
Such a response one could very well be expect from the ignorant physician, for they know not what they do, but these people know exactly what they are doing and deserve the scorn of everybody, whether they be a victim of these drugs or one of the luckier ones who escaped such injuries.
I find them to be a cross between a horse and a mule.

David T Fuller
Director
Fluoroquinolone Toxicity Research Foundation

Those who wish to contact me directly feel free to do so at
davidtfull@aol.com

There have been numerous aditional post (43) since I brought the following to your attention, therfore I am sending this information once agian:

Those who continue to suffer the adverse side effects of this drug may find the following to be of some help:

The following is the link to the quinolone adverse drug reaction discussion forum:

groups.yahoo.com/group/quinolones

The following is the link to the fluoroquinolone research forum:

groups.yahoo.com/group/fq_research

The following is the link to the homepage of the fluoroquinolone toxicity research foundation where you will find over 4000 articles documenting the damage these drugs can and will do.

www.fqresearch.org

I do hope that you will find some answers to all of your questions by using these links. You are far from being alone for your name is "Legions". These sites are independent of medications.com and have no relationship what so ever with medications.com

David T Fuller
Director
Fluoroquinolone Toxicity Research Foundation

Those who wish to contact me directly feel free to do so at
davidtfull@aol.com

There have been numerous aditional post since I brought the following to your attention, therfore I am sending this information once agian:

Those who continue to suffer the adverse side effects of this drug may find the following to be of some help:

The following is the link to the quinolone adverse drug reaction discussion forum:

groups.yahoo.com/group/quinolones

The following is the link to the fluoroquinolone research forum:

groups.yahoo.com/group/fqresearch

The following is the link for the database forum maintained by the Fluoroquinolone Toxicity Research Foundation for reporting such events:

groups.yahoo.com/group/fq_adr_reports

The following is the link to the homepage of the fluoroquinolone toxicity research foundation where you will find over 4000 articles documenting the damage these drugs can and will do.

www.fqresearch.org

I do hope that you will find some answers to all of your questions by using these links. You are far from being alone for your name is "Legions". These sites are independent of medications.com and have no relationship what so ever with medications.com

David T Fuller
Director
Fluoroquinolone Toxicity Research Foundation

Those who wish to contact me directly feel free to do so at
davidtfull@aol.com

There have been almost a hundred aditional post since I brought the following to your attention, therfore I am sending this information once agian:

Those who continue to suffer the adverse side effects of this drug may find the following to be of some help:

The following is the link to the quinolone adverse drug reaction discussion forum:

groups.yahoo.com/group/quinolones

The following is the link to the fluoroquinolone research forum:

groups.yahoo.com/group/fqresearch

The following is the link for the database forum maintained by the Fluoroquinolone Toxicity Research Foundation for reporting such events:

groups.yahoo.com/group/fq_adr_reports

The following is the link to the homepage of the fluoroquinolone toxicity research foundation where you will find over 4000 articles documenting the damage these drugs can and will do.

www.fqresearch.org

I do hope that you will find some answers to all of your questions by using these links. You are far from being alone for your name is "Legions". These sites are independent of medications.com and have no relationship what so ever with medications.com

David T Fuller
Director
Fluoroquinolone Toxicity Research Foundation

Those who wish to contact me directly feel free to do so at
davidtfull@aol.com

There have been numerous aditional post since I brought the following to your attention, therfore I am sending this information once agian:

Those who continue to suffer the adverse side effects of this drug may find the following to be of some help:

The following is the link to the quinolone adverse drug reaction discussion forum:

groups.yahoo.com/group/quinolones

The following is the link to the fluoroquinolone research forum:

groups.yahoo.com/group/fq_research

The following is the link to the homepage of the fluoroquinolone toxicity research foundation where you will find over 4000 articles documenting the damage these drugs can and will do.

www.fqresearch.org

I do hope that you will find some answers to all of your questions by using these links. You are far from being alone for your name is "Legions". These sites are independent of medications.com and have no relationship what so ever with medications.com

David T Fuller
Director
Fluoroquinolone Toxicity Research Foundation

Those who wish to contact me directly feel free to do so at
davidtfull@aol.com

A recent post stated that this site has been a "collecting pool for side effects", which begs the question is that not exactly what this site is for? If you notice the link states that sending a post here is for ADDING an additional adverse drug reaction to this never ending list [specifically "Add Side Effect"}. I do not believe it was intended for any "positive" reports as they would NOT be considered an adverse event. One would also have to question as to "WHY" someone who has had a positive experience to a drug would even bother to research it. It has been my eperience that only those who are suffering would be motivated to do so. Perhaps such post are being generated by those who would profit from the sale of such a toxic drug. Something to consider when reviewing this list of post marketing reports contained herein.
davidtfull@aol.com

There have been almost a hundred aditional post since I brought the following to your attention, therfore I am sending this information once agian:

Those who continue to suffer the adverse side effects of this drug may find the following to be of some help:

The following is the link to the quinolone adverse drug reaction discussion forum:

groups.yahoo.com/group/quinolones

The following is the link to the fluoroquinolone research forum:

groups.yahoo.com/group/fqresearch

The following is the link for the database forum maintained by the Fluoroquinolone Toxicity Research Foundation for reporting such events:

groups.yahoo.com/group/fq_adr_reports

The following is the link to the homepage of the fluoroquinolone toxicity research foundation where you will find over 4000 articles documenting the damage these drugs can and will do.

www.fqresearch.org

I do hope that you will find some answers to all of your questions by using these links. You are far from being alone for your name is "Legions". These sites are independent of medications.com and have no relationship what so ever with medications.com

David T Fuller
Director
Fluoroquinolone Toxicity Research Foundation

Those who wish to contact me directly feel free to do so at
davidtfull@aol.com

Those who continue to suffer the adverse side effects of this drug may find the following to be of some help:

The following is the link to the quinolone adverse drug reaction discussion forum:

groups.yahoo.com/group/quinolones

The following is the link to the fluoroquinolone research forum:

groups.yahoo.com/group/fqresearch

The following is the link for the database forum maintained by the Fluoroquinolone Toxicity Research Foundation for reporting such events:

groups.yahoo.com/group/fq_adr_reports

The following is the link to the homepage of the fluoroquinolone toxicity research foundation where you will find over 4000 articles documenting the damage these drugs can and will do.

fqresearch.org

I do hope that you will find some answers to all of your questions by using these links. You are far from being alone for your name is \"Legions\". These sites are independent of medications.com and have no relationship what so ever with medications.com

David T Fuller
Director
Fluoroquinolone Toxicity Research Foundation

Those who continue to suffer the adverse side effects of this drug may find the following to be of some help:

The following is the link to the quinolone adverse drug reaction discussion forum:

groups.yahoo.com/group/quinolones

The following is the link to the fluoroquinolone research forum:

groups.yahoo.com/group/fqresearch

The following is the link for the database forum maintained by the Fluoroquinolone Toxicity Research Foundation for reporting such events:

groups.yahoo.com/group/fq_adr_reports

The following is the link to the homepage of the fluoroquinolone toxicity research foundation where you will find over 4000 articles documenting the damage these drugs can and will do.

fqresearch.org

I do hope that you will find some answers to all of your questions by using these links. You are far from being alone for your name is "Legions". These sites are independent of medications.com and have no relationship what so ever with medications.com

David T Fuller
Director
Fluoroquinolone Toxicity Research Foundation

"Levaquin was not the cause of my pain symptoms. "
I saw my doctor (a rare good doc) who after a full exam said Levaquin was not the cause of my pain symptoms.

I stongly suggest that your physician take another look at the PDR for levaquin. Such pain as you are describing is also an adverse drug reaction to this drug. I am not saying the levaquin is to blame but the odds are very good that it is. Very few, if any phsicians even have a clue as to the damage that fluoroquinolones can and will do to a subset of those prescribed and dismiss such concerns out of hand stating "it cannot be the drug" when in fact it is. Within this class of antibiotic more than 50% have been removed from clinical use due to toxicity issues. Spontaneous tendon rupture has been reported since 1982, and more recently pheripheal nueropathy as well.

There have been almost a hundred aditional post since I brought the following to your attention, therfore I am sending this information once agian:

Those who continue to suffer the adverse side effects of this drug may find the following to be of some help:

The following is the link to the quinolone adverse drug reaction discussion forum:

groups.yahoo.com/group/quinolones

The following is the link to the fluoroquinolone research forum:

groups.yahoo.com/group/fqresearch

The following is the link for the database forum maintained by the Fluoroquinolone Toxicity Research Foundation for reporting such events:

groups.yahoo.com/group/fq_adr_reports

The following is the link to the homepage of the fluoroquinolone toxicity research foundation where you will find over 4000 articles documenting the damage these drugs can and will do.

www.fqresearch.org

I do hope that you will find some answers to all of your questions by using these links. You are far from being alone for your name is "Legions". These sites are independent of medications.com and have no relationship what so ever with medications.com

David T Fuller
Director
Fluoroquinolone Toxicity Research Foundation