Avail symptoms and conditions

I am a 48-year-old male that is still pretty active playing competitive soccer several times per week. I am in good health except that my BP was considered a little high back four years ago and was originally put on a diuretic which made me cramp up easily on the soccer field. I asked my doctor for something different and was changed over to Atenolol. I have been living with the Atenolol side effects for that time and finally had enough. I had recently moved and changed doctors. Now was a good time to complain about the restless nights that I attribute to Atenolol (insomnia is one side effect). My new doctor knowing that I am an athlete suggested Lisinopril.
Again, my research is after the fact and was really spurred by a trip back home and a chat with my brother who is 49 and was just recently put on Liprinopril too. He described some bazaar conditions that he believed were Lisinopril side effects. When researched, he was right. He experienced the blackness or tunnel vision and the feeling of passing out while at work. He felt that he couldn’t drive as the effects where hampering his ability to do so. He stopped taking the drug and started a regiment of fish oil with his other daily supplements. This was two months ago and he is doing great. He too is still an athlete and runs in Masters Track & Field.
For me, it was a little different. I started Lisinopril on a Friday as my Atenolol had just run out on Thursday. I asked the Pharmacist if there was an issue with starting Lisinopril after stopping Atenolol only one day apart. She said there were no issues. 5 days later, Wednesday, while at work I developed an incredible lower back pain on the left side. I began to have nausea and heavily salivate as if I was going to throw up. I ran to the bathroom where I sat on the toilet for a half hour rubbing my back & hip believing it was some intestinal issue or gas. To no avail… When I felt stabile enough, I left work only to sit in my car wondering if was going to be able to drive and if I could should I drive home or to the hospital. Well, I drove home and went to bed for a couple of hours before I felt well enough to function normally. It’s been two weeks and the dull lower back pain that feels similar to a back strain persists. I’ll be heading back to the doctor with this information and will start the fish oil with my daily supplementation program.
Thanks to this website because I was able to find at least five examples out of about the first twenty postings that matched my suspected side effects.

It must be the HCTZ... I was on Lisinopril 20mg for a month with little avail to my bp. I'm 25 and prior to taking it I was at 150/120: during I was bouncing between that and 130/90ish. A Walk-In clinic doctor started me on Lisinopril/HCTZ 20/12.5 and within the week, I had major upper back pain, trouble seeing and severe nausea. I have since gone to half a pill and feel much better. I hadn't heard of any of these side effects. Please let me know if anyone has similar experiences. My Mother thinks I dealt with a bout of the flu, my sister thinks I'm pregnant. Hmph.

*UPDATE* Two pregnancy tests and one week later and still not feeling all that much better. I'm still on half a pill and still getting nausea.

Add me to the list! I have been on 300 mg Wellbutrin for the past few years. My hair is falling out and you can see my scalp. Just like many of you, I went the thyroid tests route, to no avail. I'm so thankful that in my desperation I did a search on hair loss and this drug. I will see my doctor and get off this stuff as soon as I can. It does help with depression, but who on earth can deal with watching your hair fall out on the sink and on the floor and down your back....I'll take the withdrawal headaches, as long as I have some hair on the outside of my head. Thanks to you all for writing about it. We are not crazy!

It must be the HCTZ... I was on Lisinopril 20mg for a month with little avail to my bp. I'm 25 and prior to taking it I was at 150/120: during I was bouncing between that and 130/90ish. A Walk-In clinic doctor started me on Lisinopril/HCTZ 20/12.5 and within the week, I had major upper back pain, trouble seeing and severe nausea. I have since gone to half a pill and feel much better. I hadn't heard of any of these side effects. Please let me know if anyone has similar experiences. My Mother thinks I dealt with a bout of the flu, my sister thinks I'm pregnant. Hmph.

Eight years ago I started with 10 mg. Lipitor and took it without problems for about five years. Doctor wanted me to change to Crestor and within four months I could hardly walk, shuffled my feet and had pain in muscles. Switched back to Lipitor two years ago and this week began to experience muscle pain so I stopped taking it three days ago. Any time I am in a prone position, or sitting, the leg pain is incredible. Walking there is minimal discomfort. Tried a massage today to no avail. Any way to alleviate this withdrawal reaction, if not, when might it dissipate?
J. in Pain

This is unbelievable... i thought everything that's been wrong with me, has been in 'my head', sex drive, weight gain, fuzzy vision, mood swings...

I honestly think this should be taken off the market. I cannot believe everyone's comments about this contraception. I have taken the pill over the years, depo provera, and thought my mood swings were bad then, but what really is the kicker, is the sex drive, hot flashes and weight gain/bloating.

At 29 years old, i have never felt the way i've felt on this, i've been trying to explain to my boyfriend 'it's just me' !, now i realize why.
as for the weight gain, i have always been conscious of my diet and exercise. for the past two weeks i have especially been trying to lose weight, but to no avail. hot flashes, it's insane. Please after reading this, look for another form of birth control. This should never have been approved. I took it out immediately after reading other's comments.

My daughter went for her yearly physical with our pediatrician. That morning we went in and the doctor insisted that she get immunized. Of course that immunization was Gardasil. My daughter felt fine and she was okay that day. After the doctors appointment she went on to school, and I went on to work to complete what I thought was to be a normal day. That afternoon I picked her up from school and she told me that she thought she may be getting sick. She complained of a stomach ache, and a mild headache. We went home and she ate very little, but told me and her dad that she felt better.
That evening she was to cheer at her first football game of the season in a neighboring town. She left with her best friend and her mother around 6 pm. at 8:44 that night her best friends mom called and told us that she had passed out at the game.
By the time that we had gotten there EMT's had taken her to the local ER, at that time she had barely regained consciousness, and her temperature was 103 degrees. Her extremities were cold, and her body was burning up. Her breathing was shallow, fast and irradic. Her pulse and blood pressure was extremely high. About an hour later the convulsions started.
After what seemed like eternity, the physician narrowed this down to the side effects of Gardasil. They started IV fluids, and meds, but still to no avail she kept convulsing. After a few days of heavily sedated sleep, she awoke to blurred vision, fever and nausea.
We were not told of any adverse reactions to this drug or we would have never given it to her!

I do not even have words to describe how I feel after reading the study on the ALA website. What is going on? Please, where do we go from here to inform and REFORM? Did anyone read the numerous accounts on this website alone? If so, did it read like a daytime soap opera, or just some people out there with nothing better to do than make up stories about their children?

Since posting months ago about my 4 year old I have done everything I can think of to get changes started, all to no avail. I know my daughter is living proof of Singulair mind altering side effects - she is now completely without the horrible night terrors, she smiles, hugs and is overall a perfectly "normal" 4 year old.

Help......we need to bring the troops together to form one unit to bring about change. Anyone is welcome to contact me to join up to provide any help or information.

I HAVE HAD THE MIRENA IUD FOR 11 MONTHS. I HAVE GAINED 11 LBS OF UNWANTED WEIGHT. I CONSTANTLY HAVE ABDOMINAL PAIN, BLOATING, AND DISCOMFORT. MY PANTS (EVEN THE LARGER SIZE) CAUSE A STRANGLING PRESSURE AROUND MY WAIST LINE. I OFTEN HAVE PAIN WITH INTERCOURSE. MY MENSTRUAL CYCLE HAS DECREASED BUT THE PMS SYMPTOMS HAVE NOT. I ALREADY HAD A PROBLEM WITH OVARIAN CYST AND THEY HAVE NOT DECREASED. I OFTEN HAVE STRIKING PAIN IN THE LOWER ABDOMINAL AREA AND IN MY PELVIC AREA. I HAVE MIGRAINES HEADACHES, BUT ALSO SOMETHING I HAD PRIOR TO IUD. I ALSO HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING A LOT OF CONSTIPATION PROBLEMS, UNKNOWN IF RELATED TO THE IUD OR THE MULTIPLE CYST. MY ENERGY LEVEL IS LOW AND PRIOR TO IMPLANT I WAS OFTEN HYPERACTIVE. ONE BENEFIT IS THAT SINCE MY ENERGY LEVEL AS DECREASED I NO LONGER HAVE INSOMNIA, SOMETHING I HAVE HAD FOR YEARS. I WOULD RATHER BE UP ALL NIGHT, THEN DEPRESSED AND UNCOMFORTABLE EVERYDAY.

I HAD HOPED SOME OF THESE SYMPTOMS WOULD SUBSIDE TO NO AVAIL. I CANNOT LIVE WITH THE INCREASED WEIGHT, DAILY CRAMPS, AND ABDOMINAL PROBLEMS. IF THIS IS A RESULT OF THE MIRENA IUD THEN IT IS TIME TO HAVE IT REMOVED. I WAS LOOKING AT THIS DEVICE TO HELP DECREASE FEMALE COMPLICATIONS I WAS ALREADY EXPERIENCING AND AS I HAVE READ IN THE OTHER POSTED COMMENTS THE IUD HAS ONLY INCREASED AND CREATED MORE SYMPTOMS FOR ME. I ONLY WISH I WOULD HAVE FOUND THIS SITE A YEAR AGO BEFORE THE IMPLANT. I WILL BE CALLING MY OBGYN TODAY FOR AN APPOINTMENT. THANKS FOR THE INSIGHT.

I was using Nuvaring for about two years and I stopped using the Nuvaring almost three years ago because we decided to start our family. We have been trying to conceive to no avail. I have brown spotting before and after my period and my period itself is also brown. I noticed brown bleeding while using the Nuvaring, but I wasn't alarmed (foolish me) and neither was my doctor. I have been seeing a different doctor and I now have been diagnosed with endometritis, which is a chronic uterine infection that I believe was caused by the Nuvaring. I am now infertile and I believe it was due to the Nuvaring. If any other women have experienced infertility after using the Nuvaring please let me know!

I take my lipitor sporadically, but when I took it on a trip, I made sure to take it every day. My hands and arms have been numb and tingling for days, sleeping was excruciating, I tried to sit up so that there was no pressure on them, and took showers to try to improve circulation or feeling, to no avail. I stopped and now 3 days later, I am starting to get some improvement. What gives???

I am a 39 year old white male that had aortic valve replacement surgery five years ago. About three months after the surgery (which went off without a hitch) I had a tremendous spike in my BP that went on for a few days (200/100 - enough so I could see my heartbeat in my eyes!). My Dr started me on Toprol XL 75 and while it brought my BP down some, it didn't bring it down a lot. He moved me to 200 mg a day and now my BP is around 105/55 with a resting pulse around 50.

While I experienced many of the side effects listed here (feeling groggy, confused, etc) they only lasted a few months. I must admit that I did pack on about 20 lbs over six months. However, unlike so many who choose to blame drugs (or lack thereof) for their problems, I took it upon myself to start exercising and guess what?!? The weight comes off! I now weigh less than when I graduated high school, I am in better shape than any time in my life and I believe that exercise helps me sleep better at night. All of this even though I still take 200mg a day. Given that some of you say that you're practically dead at taking 25, I should be 6 feet under or weigh 400 lbs.

I guess what I want to say is that perhaps instead of jumping on the bandwagon here that Toprol causes all of your problems, perhaps you want to take your own health into your hands and begin to eat a little better and exercise (and don't give me "but my ankles are swollen!" excuse - there is something called water aerobics). I don't deny that it can cause some side effects, but it can work wonders with your BP. You just have to DO SOMETHING to help keep the weight off (which then help with the sleep problems, mental clarity, etc).

I'm trying to wean myself off Geodon and I had a minor, panic attack,. My doctor won't help me because she said I need to see a psychiatrist but I can't afford to see one. Does anyone know how long the side effect last when you get off Geodon. I am a single parent and have a job I need to function at so any advice will help. I have ,anxiety, all the time the doc had to prescribe some anti-anxiety medicine which I never had anxiety like that before. My symptoms on the medication is sleeplessness, restlessness, loss of appetite, can quit moving, racing thoughts, depression.

I did a post a few days ago--but must add to it. I have SLE, MS, CAD, HBP, having 5 stents, asoteoporosis, arachnoiditis, cerebritis/vasculitis from lupus, chronic pain(fibramyalgia) and a bucn more that ill give u sum idea. I am also a RN for28 years and KNOW what medications can do. I mena come on lets face it--if we ALL read THOROUGHLY all the inserts with ANY medication--NONE of us wud take any of it. Even ADVIL and ASA have horrific side effect.!! I saw my doctor yesterday afternoon due to this rash--not my typical lupus reash---doesn't look like discoid lupus, it begins on my chest goes uop my face then all down my back then gradually works its way down my leg---it gets rasm, macular and some some end up with a popular looking area. The PAIN from if is almost as bad as the itch from the rash. I have had shingles and it is similar to that pain. I have been putting topical steroid base creams all over to no avail. I begged my doctor for the KENOLOG shot and discussed GREATLY the side effects: I have had a hysterectomy so that is nothing, it cause cause a psychosis, depression, panic racing thots insomnia--basically ALL the side effects everyone has mentioned---but IT WORKS -I JUST GOT UP AND THIS DIFFIGURING DISCUSTING RASH ALL OVER IS ALMOST 90% GONE!!!! Like I said I have been on steroids most of my life--and I KNOW the side effects of them--PERIOD. Educated patients READ the inserts and ask their doctors---all meds have risks but the questio is does the risk outweigh the benefit t
??????????? I am on a mediation that has you with an increase of 10-15% increase of having an heart attack--which I have had two--but I CHOOSE to take it becuz the benefit outweighs the risks. I understand 100% all the complaints concerns and everything, attorneys will NOT take cases where the medication is used and adminierted the correct way--esp. when the side effects are clearly listed. Doctors are TOO freaking bust these days to sit and TALK and explain every side effect with each of their patients. Does each of you know that the average physician HAS TO SEE at least 60---yes sixty patients A DAY???? That is actually in their contract--thata approximately 7 and a half minutes ith each of us.!!!!!!! Make a list of all ur concerns, questions etc for the doctor and I do this ---I manuaver my chair to in feonrt of the door and I DO NOT LT THE DOCTOR OUT until he has answered ALL my concerns---yea they get mad tell me I can't do that--and my response is is IF YOU can make me wait in ur office lobby for more than an hour--I will do what I have to do to get proper CARE!!! Shuts most of them up. But I am lucky I do have 6 of the most careling and compassionate physicians--I have lucked up--I have had my share of "stupid" doctors but-hey WE are the patient-=-go to another one until ya get one ya like. If you go to other website about medicine there are many more complaints and unhappy patients with medications they take. But I understand where all of US are coming from---Doctors are no different than us--and they are not GOD--they make mistakes and as long as they don't KNOWING harm you---or commit fraud--no lawsuit happening---now sueing the MAKER of kenalog MAY be a possibility( my sisiter is an attorny) thats her advice and itd have to be a class action suit and its kinda sad--patients don't ever get much in things like this but its worth a shot!!!

I got Mirena put in on July 5, 07...never had a child but Dr. said since I was 36 and not planning on having children, Mirena was a good alternative to the pill which I had been on since I was 19. On the pill I had very light 2-3 day periods and with diet and exercise, could lose weight. Now, almost a year on Mirena...the only good think that has gone away from when I was on the pill is the migrane headaches that I was starting to get on a monthly basis...but, in their place...I have gained weight, tired, have acne, cramps erratically throughout month, never know when my period will show up...some months it does not, some months it lasts 4 days (like last month), and I always feel bloated - esp. in the abdomen. I've even wondered on occasion...am I pregnant?? why do I feel so bloated?? One other weird thing, since I started running this year, I get this weird sensation that I have to go empty my bladder...this also occurs while doing intense stomach crunches...but it is not incontenance..nope never have bladder problems...it is just this funky feeling - sometimes almost a burning feeling around my uterous. Have not seen anyone post this - but it did not happen before Mirena when I ran or did sit ups...now it does - doubt this is coincidence.

Some of these symptoms truely could just be simply the result of ovulating again - that is what my Dr. told me...that on the pill I never released an egg...so now my body was getting used to ovulating again. Well...if that is the case, I just can not stand it anymore...I get it removed June 26th - next week so hopefully I'll be able to post back that these symptoms are gone or have removed. Going to go on the pill again...which has its own side effects...but I sure did not have as many when I was on it. Husband has offered to go under the knife to take care of him...but I'll see how the pill does again. Hoping to reclaim my life and actually lose weight as I've been dieting and exercising while on Mirena to no avail!

This website has been a blessing for me - a person who seemed to feel crazy for all the symptoms I was having. I had mirena put in place in March 2008 after the birth of my second child in December. I was so excited that I didn't have to worry about birth control - I could focus on taking care of my family and work, etc. I couldn't have been more wrong about it. All was fine at first until April of 08 (two months later). I started to notice a red, bumpy rash on the trunk of my body. It progressively got worse with each passing day. It began to look like hives on my legs (behind my knees) and then on the inside of my arms. It has gone all over my back and finally to my face last night. I looked at the mirena website and it said to call your doctor if you had a rash with hives. So I did and they assured me that mirena WAS NOT systemic and couldn't be the problem. They maintained that it was probably an outside source. Instead they offered an anti-depressant. I needed something to help with what I was going through, so I started on Lexapro. That has been the only positive thing that has kept me from falling apart. What's the use in calling them if they don't listen to you? I have finally decided to have the mirena taken out in two days. I am so ready to get back to feeling normal. I was wondering if there was anyone else out there with similar side effects with the rash. If someone would have told me that this was a possibility, I would never have signed up for this!!!!!!
I will post again once I have it out and give an update!!

I've been using yaz for about 3 weeks; I am 27 years old and am a newly wed. I have seen a dramatic decrease in my sex drive, which, of course is a major issue for my husband and me. Since I have been on it, I have had no desire, not climax, nothing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :-(

See, I'd really started to like it... it is the only hormonal birth control that I have tried that has not made me have frequent head and stomach aches- I've tried abstinence, the diaphragm, ortho, ortho lo, the ring, IUD, abortion, rhythm, withdrawal, the pill. No Avail.

...Oh, well, on to find another method- one that does give those of us who have issues with hormonal birth control headache and body aches, one that is simple, and does not kill embryos (thank you, Jesus)!

I Timothy 3:16
And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.
We serve a mighty God. Mighty enough to create the entire universe, and come down, as a man and live on His earth, still having all power in His hand, die, and rise again, leaving His spirit to dwell until He returns again.
What a mighty God we serve.

I am soooooooo glad to have found this site. I, like many, many of you, also thought there was no way in the world all my symptoms were being caused by the Mirena IUD, because all of my doctors have told me time and time again that the level of hormones being released by this thing is SOOOOOOOO tiny that it couldn't possibly be causing all that's happening. I had the Mirena inserted in February 2007... by August of 2007 I started experiencing hives all over my body that began as a burning/tingling in my hands and feet, and within a matter of a few weeks had spread to my entire body. I now have had this on-going rash (hives) that never has fully gone away for the past 9 months. My doctors all could not tell me at all what was causing it. I have been taking antihistamines like crazy to keep it "in check" but some days even those do no good. My grandma and mother kept telling me to get this IUD out, but I told them it couldn't possibly be from it due to what the doctors had told me and because I'd had it in since February and didn't get hives until August. However, I truly believe this MUST be the cause, as it's the only new thing in my life during that time period... I've always used the same soaps, ate the same foods, and NEVER have I had any outdoor allergies. It MUST be the Mirena. In addition to the hives, I CANNOT LOSE WEIGHT, have stayed at 174 pounds since having this inserted. I have tried exercise, dieting, etc. and notice NO changes. Due to the ongoing hives my body is going through a constant fight against this allergy, and as a result, my neck has a giant cluster of enlarged lymph nodes that will NOT go down in size. Probably because my body never gets rid of this foreign body so it's continually tried fighting it and just can't so they stay swollen. I had my lymph nodes biopsied and I do NOT have cancer... I am going tomorrow morning to have it removed immediately and I will be absolutely STUNNED if it turns out to not be the cause. I am THAT certain the Mirena has caused all of this. I would NOT recommend this IUD to ANYONE. It is absolutely the worst thing I've EVER experienced in my life. I plan to get in contact with the attorney mentioned in an older post below about the class-action lawsuit. I have spent 9 months of living in pure misery with burning, itching, red and swollen hives all over my body, living in total anxiety not wanting to leave my house and have others see me and think I have a disease. Not to mention all the time and medical costs that I have incurred from seeing doctor after doctor that can't diagnose me.

Like most of you state in your posts.........I cannot begin to describe how relieved I am to have found this site. I honestly thought I was losing my mind. I had Mirena placed in December '06. It was uncomfortable during the actual procedure, but not too bad. Then within a day or two I was in severe pain and bleeding like crazy with severe lower back pain. I was told to take ibuprofen and allow my body to "adjust". I went for my follow-up ultrasound and the placement looked fine although I was still bleeding like crazy and very uncomfortable. After several more calls they brought be back in for another ultrasound, told me that my uterus must have gotten bacteria in it during placement and that I had an infection. They sent me home on antibiotics and pain medicine. I bled pretty regularly for 6 months straight accompanied by lower back pain, fatigue, and headaches. Finally the bleeding let up only to be followed by a multitude of other nasty side effects. Depression, anxiety, fogginess, forgetfulness (severe), waking up with headaches every morning, nausea (to the point that I can't tell you how many pregnancy tests I've taken), weight change (redistribution, thicker waist, tummy, and hips even though actual number only changed by about 5 pounds), feeling swollen and bloated when I wake up in the morning, NO libido whatsoever and feel like crying during sex because it's nearly impossible to reach orgasm (this has never been a problem previously), hair loss (becoming more noticeable over time), dandruff, boil-like acne on my face and back, dry eyes and blurred/double vision, chronic yeast infections and dryness in that area too. The list goes on and on. I went to three different doctors and had tons of bloodwork done, all came back normal (thyroid, hormones etc....) I was told over and over that it couldn't be the Mirena. HA! How can this many women be delusional? I called last week and got an appointment for May 20 to get it removed. After reading this forum my husband called the doctor himself and I don't know what he said, or how he managed to do it.........but I'm going in tomorrow morning at 10:20 am to get it removed and you better believe I'm going in armed with this website and others I've found. Physicians need to be more aware of this! Even if it's not common, it's miserable for the 1 in 1,000 woman who gets the worst of the side effects. It's literally ruining my life and my marriage. It's impossible to be a good wife and mother when you feel terrible everyday.

-Amanda

I have been taking Lamictal for about 8 weeks now for depression. My docs have tried me on approximately 15 other antidepressants with no avail. I cannot take the side effects. ALL of them I stayed on for months to see if the side effects would go away. Zoloft was wonderful BUT gave me SEVERE diarrhea (last episode was 15 times in one day). So, I am trying to figure out if the Lamictal is giving me increased muscle/joint pain. I do have Fibromyalgia but I swear, since I've been on the Lamictal I feel like somebody wacked my knees and legs with baseball bats. This time last year I was walking/running 3-4 miles 3-4 days a week. Now I can't even walk up the stairs.

Lib

I started on it in June 2007, by December, I had gained 20 lbs, was out of breath most days and was weak all over. Had general sore muscles and felt out of strength. Been off now 5 days, strength is returning and am feeling much better. No weight loss yet but at least I feel much better. Sleeping was not affected one way or the other.

My chronic pain has really increased since being on Lamictal for 15 months for bipolar. I have had fibromyalgia for years. The bipolar developed after that. Since starting Lamictal, I have developed headaches so severe that I have been off work 3 times in the past 7 months, inc. 5 weeks recently. I've always had headaches, but these new, more severe headaches are non-stop. I have to take 3 time-release 100 mg codeine tablets every day, plus Gravol to keep the headaches bearable. Even then, many days I end up bed-ridden. I've also developed chronic, very bad plantar facsiitis in my left foot since starting Lamictal. I did weeks of intensive physio, plus swimming therapy to no avail. Finally had to get a cortisone injection in my foot.

I hate being like this; I like my job and was used to leading a very active life, despite the fibromyalgia, before I went on Lamictal. I briefly tried Lithium recently, but it had a whole other set of side effects, so I am really frustrated.

Has anybody else had increased or new pain since being on Lamictal?

Rosslyn

I've been taking Topamax for a couple of months now to help with my lifelong (I'm 47) migraines. I had been taking at least 10 Axerts each month, using Amyltriptyline about twice a month, and had completed one lifetime's supply of Aleve (my belly revolted so it's only Tylenol for me from now on). I'm on 100mg and have very mild tingling, which I tell myself is a message that I don't have a migraine (hooray!). For me, this is a wonder drug - it nearly completely prevents my suffering. The problem is that I have absolutely raging diarrhea. I've spent weeks on the BRATTY diet & using probiotics to no avail so I've begun dropping my dosage to 75 mg to see if that helps. I would do nearly anything to continue taking Topamax.

Interestingly, I had more fuzzy brain problems taking excess Axert & Amiylriptyline than I do now on Topamax. I feel much less like I have ADD now. Amazing how differently meds affect different people.

About two months ago, i noticed an indentation forming on my right glute. I am very active in running and figured that it was possible to have pulled or injured the muscle somehow. I began to massage the area thinking I could repair this "knotted muscle", but to no avail. Instead it became worse and more indented. About a week ago, I went to a regular family practice doctor to check it out after two other doctors we're stumped. She immediately recognized it and called it 'lipodysmorphia', a complication caused by the Kenalog shot. The steroid breaks down the muscle and the body then absorbs it. Everything suddenly clicked! About 5 months ago, I had a steroid injected in that very area to treat a bout of Sinusitis. When asked if the muscle would ever come back, she said that my best bet would be to see a cosmetic surgeon and request filler of some sort. What?! I work out almost everyday to get the perfect glutes and now I have to get filler!! I'm very self- concious now because of the look of it. It looks like a handful of muscle has been removed from my butt. I no longer can wear tights or fitted jeans because to me it looks so obvious. I will do my best to build it back up with weights, but i'm not too hopeful at this point. I just wish that I was aware that this could've possibly happened. I would have never sacrificed my womanly and curver posterior. Jamie, 28, Henderson, NV

I took Adoxa for six months, and was so happy my skin cleared up, that it took me longer than it should have to come to terms with the other side effects. I took 200 mg/2x/day. I have experienced many, if not all of the things listed here: nausea, diarrhea, depression, all early on. I too stopped menstruating after several weeks of being on it. What has been more disturbing to me are the after-effects. I stopped taking Adoxa nearly two mos ago, and have been on hormones (progesterone, I am only 33) for the last several months to restore, but to no avail. I have had massive bloating, water retention, constipation, and my doctors believe they are all inter-related to taking this drug for so long. It has taken trips to countless doctors to even get to that conclusion. Unfortunately, I do not have a great solution for recovery. Has anyone else experienced this? My GI has had me taking Florastor (a probiotic, at any drugstore but you HAVE to ask for it-$40 and kept behind the counter) and thinks it will take at least another month to see benefit. My doctors said next they will treat for IBS but wanted to see if the effects would reverse themselves first.