Bad news symptoms and conditions

Am I the only one this happened to??

I was taking Quasense back in 2007, I had only gone through one pack of it and in March of '07 I was having minor chest pain and getting slightly short of breath from simply walking up a flight of steps. The thing that pushed me to go to an immediate care was the fact that I jogged about 10 ft and got dizzy and short of breath. At the immediate care the doctor said I should go to the emergency room to take a test to check for blood clots. I wound up stuck in the intensive care unit for 5-6 days because I had blood clots in BOTH of my lungs that covered almost my entire lungs... I could have died if I didn't go into the ER when I did, a day or two later and I may not have made it. This is INSANE to me... they basically told me that if I wasn't so young (23 at the time) and healthy (I ran track for college) that I wouldn't have made it. I don't even smoke!

I just started taking birth control after not being on any for 3 years. I have had 2 children and breast feed them. So at first I was put on a low dose pill, but I experienced break through bleeding. So the doctor recommended trying a higher estrogen level pill, Apri. The first month seemed fine, then the second month I bleed in the middle of the pack. Just like a period. I was so annoyed. I then bleed a little during the non active pill week. I cannot have 2 periods a month. I finally got my prebaby body back and then starting gaining weight with this stupid pill. My sex drive is really gone. I'm glad I know that I do have a sex drive when I'm not on the pill. I never realized how much it affects that until I was finally off it during and after pregnancy. I have dealt with bad headaches for years but did not realize it could be linked to the pill. These last two months I have had so many headaches. Some have lasted for days. After doing research I see it can affect migraines/headaches. After all this I was more than ready to stop Apri. I don't know what I will take now. I just want to see what my body really is like without the pill. It was stupid to take the pill to prevent pregnancy, because we didn't have much sex due to the lack of drive. Overall, this pill is bad news!

I was on Alesse for 3 years with no troubles except the occasional acne breakout. I got switched to Aviane a year ago and I hate it. I just went back to Alesse for several reasons.

1: My blood pressure rose from 110/70 to 160/80 in the year I was on Aviane. I'm only 24 and although I am overweight, my blood pressure has always been on the low side of normal. In the week I went off Aviane, my blood pressure dropped to 145/70. It's still high but it had gone down in just a week. My doctor's handling of this prompted me to switch doctors, too- instead of recommending I lose a bit of weight, he just prescribed a blood pressure medication which can't be taken with birth control pills.

2: Mood swings. Big time. I used to work in fast-food and having 20-30 customers lined up wouldn't bother me on the Alesse, but on Aviane I was really short with my coworkers and if we got a busy rush, I'd get cranky in about 3 orders. Not to mention, I'm a veterinary nurse and sometimes you just can't save an animal no matter how hard you try. Normally I have a very thick skin and I could leave work issues at work. I noticed, and so did my boss, that I would be very depressed and near the point of tears if we had to give bad news, whereas before I would be professional but sympathetic, as opposed to nearly breaking down in front of clients now.

3: Decreased sex drive. I'm glad I'm not the only person with this problem but it caused a LOT of trouble between myself and my ex. I used to have a high libido and now...I might be aroused once or twice per month.

4: Migraines. I'd usually get them once or twice a year, depending on how stressful work was, but now I get them if I spend more than 2-3 hours at any activity. It sucks to get a migraine when you're fishing!

5: Sleeplessness/insomnia & restlessness. I put those two together because when I DO get to sleep, I toss and turn and I'm fidgety all day. I might get to sleep at 3 AM and I have to be up by 6 AM. On my days off, I might get to sleep by 5 AM and not get out of bed until 11 or 12. I've got no energy at all and it takes me a long time to be really aware of what's going on around me.

I think the only reason I've lost weight on this pill is because I've stepped up my workout routine to get some energy. Otherwise, I'm sure I'd have gained weight. I'm relieved to find that I'm not the only woman having troubles with Aviane.

55 yr old post menopausal nurse....i had kenalog injections in each knee after knee surgery for a torn meniscus....worked great!now the bad news....2 weeks after the shots i started spotting light pink!of course i am freaking out.....have been lightly spotting for 10 days and of course im thinking the worst...i had a pelvic ultra sound today and am going to gyne for more horrible testing tomorrow.....haven't had a female issue until the shots...well if this turns out to be from the shots id still take them as my knees feel like brand new!!plz god let this spotting be from the shots!

32 year old male here. I was prescribed Levaquin 500mg 2 days ago for 10 days after being diagnosed with cellulite which is a bacterial infection in the blood. I had a swollen and sore groin on the right side. I already take prilosec once a day for acid reflux. Since starting Levaquin the infection seems to be clearing up, but the heartburn is pretty vicious. Yesterday I thought to myself hmm, maybe I didn't take my prilosec but I thought I did. So, I took a second prilosec but with no results. Today again as listed on the bottle I waited two hours after taking the Levaquin and then took my prilosec, but no luck. I've since taken a second prilosec and a couple of tums. As I drove home from work the heartburn started reoccurring. Thats when I googled it and came to find this site and that I'm not crazy. I also had sharp pains in my wrist and hands today and feel really run down and almost mildly depressed. I can live with joint pains and feeling a little run down, but the heartburn really does effect your eating and sleeping. I guess I'll have to see how the next 7 days go.

About a month ago I was given Levaquin, for Pneumonia. After about 5 days my face and neck swelled up, Then came the Prednisone at the hospital. I have never in my 38 years not been able to control my own body. I do take Zoloft,and Xanax for anxiety. No one said I would have a problem walking (legs are not working properly) eating,sleeping, Buzzing in my head. Unable to lift my 3 year old let alone care for her, I get extremely fatigued easily. My Husband has missed a week of work, and if your like us....NOT GOOD. Even trying to type is hard I must look at every letter, It's like I REALLY have to think to make my body move.My kidneys feel like balloons in my back when I lay down,Uncontrollable crying. I can't believe this has happened. We have been going through this the whole month of May.Is anyone able to control the shakes? Even my head is shaking??? I suppose if I had tried hard drugs ever, this might be what it's like. I Pray someone can help me. I am so afraid of what is happening to my body. By the way, when they put me on the Prednisone they did not give me a taper... Had to see another Doctor for that. So as I sit here today, hands shaking, head shaking, knees feeling to loose to walk on them, Hard to breathe, or even to think the way I could a month ago. SOMEONE PLEASE HELP ME...

In late May of 2008 I had a pretty severe bipolar II crash. I was prescribed Lamictal but can not recall how much; it seemed like my doctor had a healthy fear of Stephens Johnson syndrome, Subsequently my dosage was slowly increased until, one day, I began to notice a rash. I went to the ER as directed and before I knew what hit me I was in bad shape. The good news: it wasn't Stephens Johnson, Bad news: It was something even more rare and almost fatal. Fortunately, I recovered in about 7-10 days. This ordeal seemed to throw my bipolar II for a loop, and I struggled with depression/anxiety for many months. Ever since I " came to" after the Lamictal event, I have had pain in both shoulders of all things. Imaging turned up nothing unusual

I have been taking this Leviquin for 4 days. I have had severe cramps in my calves and feet in the middle of the night. So bad that I get up and try to step em' off but to no avail. My muscles hurt so bad in my legs arms and I have been very sick to my stomach. Do these things go away? I am not taking one more of those pills. I would rather have sinus and bronchitis problems than deal with these horrific side effects!! Any feed back?

I have been taking Zetia for only 5 days, after waking this morning, I started getting what I'll call an eye "wave" which affected both eyes, and then a pain in the left side of my neck and a headache. Needless-to-say I have a call into the doctor!

I have a history of sinus infections. After two rounds of Augmentin did not clear up my latest one, my doctor finally gave me the steroid pack and Avelox. He had tried to avoid the steroids. I have had them so many times. I finished my steroids 5 days ago and my Avelox yesterday. I read the side effects and did as it suggested. Since it mentions low potassium would not be good I ate a banana every day and had some orange juice to keep my potassium levels up. The drug warms against taking any pain killers such as Aleve, Advil, etc. One earlier reviewer admitted taking Aleve and had a bad reaction... well.... bad move.... I have had no real side effects that I can say for sure are Avelox related. I did feel a little less focused at times, but was not obviously groggy or woosey. I did have a little abdominal discomfort that I usually do not have with drugs, but it was short-lived and only occurred 3 of the 10 days. Many people have bad effects because they do not follow the warnings against anti-acids, pain killers, low potassium, etc. Some people are more likely to react to any medicine, while others like me rarely have a side effect. My tendons did not hurt... nothing.... People who are out of shape, have a poor physical life style, etc. sometimes help contribute to the drugs reactions by being in basically poor physical health to begin with. America is one of the fattest, out of shape nations out there due to our abundance of everything. The majority of persons can take Avelox with no real issues. I will take it again. I truly feel concern for those who had problems, but sometimes we are partly guilty by how we don't take care of ourselves when we are well...... As with any drug, some persons will react no matter what... It's often just a matter of inherited genetics...... Be safe everyone, and take time to evaluate how you take care of your body and really decide to do better. For the record I am almost 58, 5-9 158 pounds and work out semi-regularly.... Take care of that temple God gave you. Its the only one we get on this Earth,,,,,,

I've been on the Nuvaring for 9 days and have been bleeding everyday since! I am 34 and have tried several kinds of BC and I have never had a period for 9 days in my life. After reading these posts I now understand why I have been emotionally out of control for the last week! The Nuvaring is bad news and my opinion, and I took mine out today!

I HAVE TAKEN AVELOX BEFORE FOR A URI/BRONICAL ASTHMA AND I DIDN'T HAVE ANY PROBLEMS . THE SECOND TIME I WAS PRESCRIBED THE AVELOX WITH IN 20 MINS I STARTED TO BREAK OUT FROM HEAD TO TOE IN A VERY BRIGHT RED RASH AND FELT LIKE I WAS ON FIRE . I FELT LIKE I COULDN'T CATCH MY BREATH AND STARTED TO GET VERY ANIXOUS .I WENT TO AN URGENT CARE CENTER AND HAD TO GET A SHOT OF BENADRYL TO STOP THE REACTION . I WILL NEVER TAKE THAT STUFF AGAIN . IT IS VERY NASTY STUFF AND WOULDN'T RECOMMEND THAT ANYONE TAKE IT. STAY AWAY FROM IT FOR YOUR OWN SAFETY ...IT SHOULDN'T BE ON THE MARKET !!!!!! ITS BAD NEWS

I've been reading about Mirena for months and seen that everyone is having the same side effects. I gained about 30 lbs. I got cystic acne along with oily skin with this flakey layer on top. Instead of gaining weight evenly it seems to have started collecting in different areas. I've gone from being a size 2, to having a spare tire. It also gave me mass amounts of cellulite compared to what used to be there. Especially on my legs and butt. It seems to have thinned my skin and hair. Constant bloating, infections and terrible odors, loss of sex drive, UTIs and bladder infections for the first time and a few in a row, etc.
Well after trying so long to get someone to take it out without insurance, I found a post from a girl who took hers out herself. She said she squatted down, grabbed the strings with two fingers and gently pulled it out. I read that 5 minutes ago and mine is OUT. I ran to the bathroom, I was so excited!! washed my hands and did the same things she described and it's finally gone. GIRLS, DO IT NOW! It's easy and painless and maybe we can get back to normal. I've tried every diet, every cream, every face wash.... I work at Sephora and I use great products on my skin... and none of it has been able to do a bit of good. You're not paranoid, it's the Mirena. When I pulled it out it actually had a mucus plug on it... And I read that one of the ways it works is to change the chemistry of your vaginal discharge. Anyone else notice a creamier almost chalky consistency? I think anything that stops your periods for so long, and does so many different things to the way your body works, all at once, has to be terrible for you. It's bad news. I'd rather have another baby than put my body through this again. I feel like it aged me in body and mind. Please don't be scared, go take it out.
And everyone who does, or gets it taken out should update the rest of us on any positive or negative changes. I will post regularly and anyone feel free to ask questions or tell me about your experiences... Let us know if you find a birth control method that doesn't have life altering side-effects.

I was prescribed Levaquin about 3 months ago. Not only did I have horrible insomnia while taking the medication - even after taking ambien and the lunestra - the insomnia continued. It messed my sleep cycle up so bad, that now, even months later, I have major insomnia problems, and am now trying to get off the sleeping pill downward slide too. I recently went to see a sleep specialist MD, and when I told him about taking Levaquin, he knew exactly what I was talking about. This drug is bad news, and really should be taken off the FDA approved list. Please, don't take this drug if you value your sleep (unless you don't mind functioning on 3 hours a night for months).

Just to let most of you know, that Kenalog will only last several days to a month, if you continue to have symptoms, you need to see your doctor. If you receive kenalog inject frequently then the symptoms and side effects may continue, not letting your body rid of it before your next dose. You should always ask your healthcare provider what it is that you are about to receive, and what the side effects are, it is also up to you to make your healthcare choices, become informed. And never let anyone give you a steroid inject in your arm, unless its for your joints, thats why they are given in the gluteus muscle, because it can cause indentations, and the arms are more seen than the buttocks.

I set out this morning to do some internet research on women's hair loss and I am SO glad that I ended up here. My hair has been thinning slowly but surely - most noticeably right at my hairline and I'm pretty distraught. I have no history of baldness on either side of my family and I know this isn't a genetic issue. Anyway, I ended up on the American Hair Loss Association website which lists birth control as a culprit (never considered this - I'm 28 and I've been on the pill for 12 years). This made me decide to look into the side effects of my birth control which just happens to be...AVIANE (I didn't even know the name - that's how aware I was.) This is starting to sound like beating a dead horse, but I was on Alesse for 10 years with NO problems whatsoever. From 2006-2008 I was put on a generic form because I was under military healthcare. They basically gave me whatever generic they had "in stock" that day so I didn't even stay on a consistent generic birth control, which is bad news. I just thought I was turning into a crazy, emotional bitch who hated life because I moved away from my home and family for my husband's military career. I actually learned to make peace and manage it...until the hair loss. Call it vanity but that's where I draw the line. This part is key: I didn't see the consistent hair loss until I got on a steady stream of AVIANE. Once my husband got out of the military, I went to a regular obgyn but opted for the generic form of Alesse (so the say) just to save money (at the time I still haven't put it together that it's the bc that's been making me unhappy.) I've been on just AVIANE since July 2008 and started noticing hair loss around September 2008, have seen no regrowth and I think it's getting worse. That search led me here and I am so glad it did - on top of the balding, the last few months I have been moodier than normal, have small fits of rage (that fade quickly, thank god), have been mildly depressed and unable to really enjoy life, I've gained about 5 pounds without a lifestyle/diet/exercise change, I've had more cystic acne (although daily exfoliation has helped this immensely) and lo and behold, 2 days into the placebo week and I feel GREAT. I have one more week on this month's pack - I'm making a doctor's appointment on Monday and I am DONE with AVIANE.

My dr. put me on Lipitor. I took it for 4 months. At the 4 month mark, I was SO depressed, I couldn't function. Crying constantly, no concentration..almost like I was in a trance most of the time. I had problems finding the correct words to use, was paranoid about everything and everyone. I actually thought I must be in the early stages of Alzheimer. Honestly..I didn't know what was wrong with me. I had an actual "pain" in my heart and pins and needles feelings in my fingers and hand on the right side. My forearm became terribly "achy". I went back to the dr. and she said.."oh, I think you're depressed!" Gave me a prescription for celexa (anti-depressant, and sent me on my way. I went home..decided that I WAS NOT going to take an anti-depressant and began to do a little research on the lipitor. Amazingly..I couldn't believe the info that I found with people who had the same symptoms as me! I stopped taking it immediately and within 2 days..my depression and paranoia went away. However I am left with such weakness and pain in my rt. forearm and bicep as well as both shoulders. I went back to the dr. and explained what I had done (guess I shouldn't have mentioned about what i had read on the internet) Because she wouldn't believe that the lipitor would cause that and also said that I had been off of it long enough now(4 months at that point), that any pain that i was experiencing would be all gone! She wouldn't believe me and made me feel like I was crazy!! So..now not sure what to do. Will the pain go away, I wonder? Is there a way to "detoxify" one's self to rid us of all the bad stuff or is the muscle damage permanent and does it keep on going and just keep destroying the muscles, even though we've stopped taking the stupid stuff?? I wish someone could come up with an answer, because I don't know who to go to ask. I can't believe how weak my arms have become since taking it. Will it ever improve I wonder?

Guys,

Thank you for making me feel sane... I started to take Lisinopril about 12 hours ago. I have had a headache for about 10 hours straight. I feel very confused and moody. I can't concentrate. I'm only taking 5mm. I feel very tired

Besides the pain you can forget sleeping while on Levaquin. I was up until 5:00am freaking out about everything.

This drug is bad news!!!!!

I've been on Nuvaring for about two and a half weeks. I was previously on the patch and had done pretty well with, but I thought it was worth trying something new with a new doctor that I trusted. Or so I thought. I worry a lot about my health and I always feel like I may be imagining things, but I have noticed in the past two weeks a scary pain in my chest below my left breast that has been getting worse. It has been hard to sit certain ways, sleep on my side, and even breathing is sometimes uncomfortable. I am so glad I read this blog! I had a feeling the change had to do with the Nuvaring, but I have several other medical conditions that I didn't want to rule out either. I think this was it, I only hope it goes away. I also am breaking out like I did when I was sixteen overnight and I'm losing some hair in pretty much one spot directly in the front of my head. I have been extremely lethargic and very hungry. Also extra anxious and I don't want to go anywhere and do anything, even necessary things like going to the grocery store or the pharmacy or gas station. I can't function and I have to!! This thing is ruining me. I also can tell you all that I feel Nuvaring is damaging b/c I have been on anxiety medicine for years and have been fairly happy with it, but in the past two weeks I feel more nervous, shaky and uncomfortable in public, I also tend to cry easily and have been in just a pretty bad mood. It has been hard to just be happy, even when the situation is light hearted. I feel like Debbie Downer or something. I have also had gastric bypass surgery and cannot eat much and do not easily gain weight, but since the ring I have felt more appetite and feel like I may have gained a pound or two, which is rare for me. This ring is bad news, beware!

The second day after I started to take Lotrel 5/20 my blood pressure lowered considerably (good news) The bad news was about 45 after taking
Lotrel I felt a gradual tightening in my lower neck that traveled up and increased in intesity until it felt like someone was tightening a noose around my neck! I could not inhale ANY air. Nothing. For about 30 seconds I struggled managed to croak air OUT not IN and say "anaphlactic shock 911" to my son. Just before I thought I was going to pass out I was able to get air in and gradually breath. I have never been so frightened in my life.

Hi, just wanted to give all an update....day 8 off the Doxy, by the end of the 6th day off the doxy, I began to get a clear head again....I would feel great, then all of a sudden a fog would come over me for about 5 minutes with ear ringing, and go away....this happened about 3-5 times...my left arm and left side of my face felt hot, but i did not have a fever....thats when I knew the doxy was leaving my system...day 7 i felt fine, but went into a slump...laid in bed for about 12 hours, I think this was due to still having no appetite and barely eating for 3 weeks, I lost a bunch of weight . I felt mentally clear finally, the bout of depression that the doxy put me in was lifting, but still felt physically weak. Today, I woke up feeling fine, ate a croissant for breakfast, forced 4 sliders down for lunch, and finally was able to eat some dinner. The good part is that another user on this board was kind enough to mail me letting me know that she went through the exact same side effects, and assured me that they would subside with time, especially the loss of appetite and depression/anxiety...takes about 2-3 weeks off the meds for everything to start getting back to normal....She also told me that the doxy has a very long half life...so it does stay in the system awhile....but im starting to feel slight improvements as the days go by...the bad news...i don't think the doxy cured everything. Im considering taking ionic silver instead of any more antibiotics....one other caution...beware of Levaquin...I was on this at first for 5 days along with the doxy, and that drug truly is (in my opinion) dangerous. I read some of the side effects people were having, including myself and was horrified....I thought something was weird when my middle finger on my left hand went numb for a day, left hand was warm, right hand was ICE COLD, sudden and sharp pains in the back, like I pulled a muscle, that left me unable to move for a few days, and severe diarrhea. Anyways, please feel free to mail me if you have any questions....support is the most important thing a person can have because of the fear and anxiety these drugs put you through.

i am 28 years old and started the YAZ pill and have only been on it for 5 days and it is horrible stuff it causes me to be weak and feel like my body has a ton of bricks on it i have a hard time breathing i also have sever back pain and the day after i started it i started to bleed very heavily . I seen to be extremely moody and am am sad and angry just like that . Before i was on it i had very light periods some discomfort for one day and then it was gone but none of the other systems . My arms hurt and i feel confused as we speak and out of breathe and i am still bleeding . I also have nightmares and fill sick to my stomach unless i eat then it subsides for about a hour. I think this is the worst thing i have ever been on in my life . Plus the doctor who gave me this meds knows i have depression issues and knows i smoke i knew from the moment she mentioned me taking it some then was just not right . I urge to stay away from this new so called miracle med it is bad news and yes i know you are not suppose to be smoking on it so why did she prescribe it to me?????

Only on it for 1 month so far and already having issues. I apparently have the worst case of endometriosis all my doctors have seen, including a cancer specialist that had to do all my surgeries because of the severity. Granted, I am only 31 years old and have had a full hysterectomy. So, after 3 surgeries I am still having severe abdominal pain and bleeding (don't know where that is coming from since I don't have a uterus anymore) so they said try Lupron and I finally gave in. Now I started getting such severe pain in my lower back that I can't stand for longer than 15 minutes and terrible side aches. I started getting headaches (which I already take pills for for years now),and have gotten the hot flashes as well. What are we to do ladies? I am so sick of complaining to the doctors about pain. You feel as if you are a big cry baby. What are my options here and does this ever stop?

I'm a 46-year old male and went to my family physician 10/20/08 and was prescribed Avelox for an ear/sinus infection. Like others I've read about I also was given a (free) coupon/voucher for 10 pills redeemable at my local pharmacy. I ingested one 400mg tablet and went to work, within 1-hour I began feeling oddly all over having numbness passing across my arms and shoulders and had to leave work remainder of day. 10/21/08 I ingested pill #2 and that was the back breaker...within hours of taking the pill I began having numerous complications consisting of numbness in chest and arms, numbness in legs, I lost control of my muscles having wobbly legs and weakness in arms, I experienced neck fatigue, had weird receptor flashes, pain in my knee joints, continually thirsty...all these symptom generated panic attacks and paranoia and I was frightened thinking that something more medically severe was wrong with me. I began to think the only thing different is my ingesting Avelox, that's when I began researching the side affects and bingo the testimonials from others whom have taken this antibiotic have experienced same or similar complications indicating Avelox is at fault. Avelox is bad news period and I am so bummed that I was prescribed this devil antibiotic....this drug(antibiotic) must be taken off the market and I will support any cause that supports removal of this evil drug and I strongly urge that no person accept Avelox. My only regret is that I did not research this drugs potential side affects prior to ingesting. I have always felt reasonably safe taking medication prescribed my my family doctor but I now doubt my doctors competence in terms of awareness as it related to the consequences and/or endangerments the medications prescribed may have on any patients health.

My question is; can you and I count on the FDA to protect us? No we can't and that's disturbing because this is another case where another of our Federally controlled agencies has failed miserably, don't be mislead thinking that because it's federally controlled that We or all drugs prescribed are safe. What's the problem? The problem is there are to many powerful drug companies pushing new drugs daily/yearly and the FDA has no possible manpower means to keep up and thoroughly test and time evaluate each drug, large caliber drug companies are aware of this having millions invested in development of drugs therefore pressure for FDA releasement and the FDA crumbles allowing unproven and/or toxic drugs such as Avelox and others to pass into our pharmacy markets. Fact is not only does the FDA miss the boat but so do physicians, arguably many physicians spend little to zero effort actually researching the drugs the powerful drug company reps are pushing on them, as a result we have far to many doctors over medicating and/or prescribing dangerous and sometimes deadly drugs to their patients.

In closing many people have stated they have taken Avelox having no side effects, later these same people claimed they now are experiencing side affects. This invites curiosity; curiosity such as; what has changed? Why no previous side affects and suddenly the drug causes side affects leaved one wondering did the drug manufacture change the drugs chemistry components thus the once affective drug has now become a health risk. Lastly one must question who is chemically auditing/testing and how often are drug manufacturers audited to insure that a drug that passed FDA approval standards still meets health and safety requirements months and years later.