Benefit symptoms and conditions

I am a 70 year old woman, I have been on 20mg Lipitor for high cholesterol, 200 total and 25mg of Spironolactone for a not so high blood pressure, for 3 1/2 yrs. Oh, my God, the Spironolactone is a potassium sparing diuretic that is very dangerous and has many uses I didn't know about or the terrible side effects, it causes breast cancer. It's also used to treat women who have an over growth of hairiness, or on a higher dose to treat hair loss and I've gone bald on the top of my head! Plus all of the good foods we're supposed to eat for high cholesterol, fruit & veggies one isn't to eat on this drug, because of lot's of potassium, what a huge contradiction. And muscle pains, and rashes, (eczema, atopic dermatitis) that I've suffered from both.
Anyway, Lipitor, had know idea about the side effects until I looked it up on the internet and read these posts on here.
I stopped taking Lipitor last week and Spironolactone 2 days ago.
I had cholesterol test last week too and saw my dr. Wednesday. He said it was okay that I stopped the Lipitor, but not the other one, why not the other one worse then Lipitor and why am I on this strong drug, geez.
The pain and burning started in my hip for no reason, then my ankles with eczema which started soon after Lipitor, then my fingers, numbness, can't pick things up, tingling, burning. Then my feet, yes, just like all of you I have these same problems. This is not just coincidental, this is from the drug Lipitor. I get severe joint cramps in my legs, feet and fingers.
For now on before I take any drug I've prescribed I will thoroughly check for side effects and not take it if they're seriously impairing like Lipitor. I feel like a cripple and older then I should feel, I almost just felt like why live anymore if this is how it's going to be.
Since I've stopped Lipitor I feel a little better, I read that it causes permanent muscle and nerve damage though, oh I hope not, I can barely walk anymore or get up out of my chair. This is all drug induced toxicity of my system. Thanks so much everyone who posted for sharing and enlightening all of us who are suffering from this drug and others.
It should be banned along with Baycol, (a statin) which was banned a few months ago because of these same side effects. With the studies that it only helps maybe to prevent heart attack, well I'd rather be able to walk again and hopefully all this will go away, the rash, etc.

Are there any meds that are safe? I was taking 10mg norvasc. I started taking 20/25 mg lisinopril. I was doing ok on the norvasc but the added lisinopril has almost killed me. They had cut my norvasc down to 5 mg then to 2.5 mg when I started the lisinopril. 4 days ago I stopped the lisinopril and added back 2.5 mg norvasc. Back to 5 mg. The side effects seem to be letting up. Now im wondering is all of my meds are killing me. I can't live without them. My BP sores. Im so scared of what I should do. Im afraid of all my meds.

I am a 52 year old female and my bad cholesterol is fine but my good cholesterol is low. I have been taking Lipitor now for a few years and have numb hands and feet to the elbows and knees. My feet are extremely sensitive, worse at night and now I'm getting sharp pains that feel like a bug just bit me. My tongue is also always numb and I do get migraines.I have insane stomach issues and food intolerance. I also take medication for high blood pressure, acid reflux, & thyroid. I have now been diagnosed with type 2 Diabetes but control that with diet so far. Until four years ago I had nothing wrong with me. I am slim and healthy. I had a lump in my thyroid which was removed and there was a trace of cancer. Then like dominos all the other conditions lined up. I have had MRIs and all the tests and doctors insist that I am not a severe enough diabetic to have neuropathy. I can hardly wear shoes now and it hurts when I wear runners while I walk and exercise. Does any of this sound familiar to anyone? I hate that my health has become so much a part of my daily life. Does anyone have neuropathy as a result of Lipitor and am I even taking the the right medication since I don't have high cholesterol?

I just began doing research on Yaz because I just got married and my sex drive is completely, totally, unequivocally GONE. I'm 25, and I've been on it for about six months. How depressing! My body will not lubricate at ALL or respond to ANY kind of touch. My husband has developed a complex, thinking it's him. :(
After a while I began to think it was the Yaz. I've developed urinary tract infections out of nowhere; I never used to get them.
I'm getting off this pill ASAP because what's the point of birth control if you don't have sex anyway??
I feel really terrible for all of you women with mental side effects, because I know exactly how you feel. However, I've had an opposite experience. Positively, it increased my breast size and cleared up my skin. However, I was already suffering from mental illness previous to starting Yaz. I have Bipolar disorder with added anxiety issues. I was on a regimen of daily Lamictal with occasional use of Xanax for anxiety. My attacks had gotten so bad that I had to go to the emergency room. After a time, I leveled out and decided to stop taking medication because it made me feel flat. I began feeling anxious again, and it was around that time that I started taking Yaz. For me, someone who was ALREADY suffering, Yaz completely turned me around. I have never felt happier, more secure, and more normal mentally in my entire life. My moods are fantastic, I have a huge amount of energy, and I feel like nothing can stop me. It's not mania, though, as I have none of the pathological side effects. I'm just really really happy. I will miss the mental benefits of not taking Yaz, but to me, losing the intimacy with my new husband has just not been worth it.

This can be a great benefit to someone who is perhaps bipolar, but I think if you're healthy mentally to begin with, it can have the opposite effect.

my name is Brittany and i have had my mirena since around February 2009 and at first i had some severe pain for a few days and bleeding non-stop for about three months.. but other than that for the first two months I had no problems or complaints! i thought it was the best idea any could have thought of! But i was so wrong..the constant UTI's and Yeast infections are unbearable! I have never had a yeast infection or this many UTI's in my life! I have a feeling it is due to the mirena! I'm completely uncomfortable all the time and can't wait for it to get removed! I would never recommend this to anyone!!! yea i didn't get pregnant, but i'd rather have 20 kids then be in the uncomfort that i am in! Also, I am now on zoloft and an anti-anxiety med! i have never had any of these problems before this and im hoping they will all go away! plus the oily skin and acne!! omg!! i had the most perfect skin and now i can't even walk out of the house without make-up on! Mirena is not for me!

I am so relieved to have found this site... i have been miserable for almost 2 weeks, i broke out with hives last week and never found the cause but with that and some breathing problems they put me on prednisone. I have been miserable since, i couldn't eat drink sleep or do anything else at all pretty much and i have had diarrhea, and a ton of other symptoms... i feel bloated acid reflex muscle aches headaches dizziness chest pain & pressure very weak feeling mood swings and depression the jitters and heart racing and from what i read and researched this is all from the steroid prednisone.... thankfully the doctor ended my dosage sooner than it was prescribed and last night i took my last pill... i now am just wondering when or how long will it be till i feel myself again and can have a good nights rest?? I will never use this medicine again!! I am just soo relieved to have found some answers on here.

I'm sorry so many have had such negative experiences with YAZ/Yasmin. Mine has been nothing but good. No other pill has worked for me with regard to my PCOS, painful cramping, bloating, etc. and I've been on it over 4 years. When my insurance wouldn't cover the cost I tried others as a substitute, and none worked half as well. On any other pill my periods were so painful, that cramps woke me up in the middle of the night. I pay out of pocket for it because it's the only pill that has really helped me...and I tried 4 or 5 others, all with no benefit/relief for my painful periods and PCOS.

As for mood swings/depression, I was/am already on a daily low dose of paxil, so perhaps that preempted any mood effects like those described by some. All I know is, this pill works for me when nothing else has and the only real negative side effect I have from it (if you can call it that) is increased urination from the diuretic to counteract bloat. Can't say I mind so much.

I'm sorry it's not been the same for others. :(

I have had terrible hair loss while taking Wellbutrin - the generic version Bropupion. My hair loss started only 4-5 weeks after I started taking the med. Only today I made the connection and after googling Wellbutrin and hair loss I found this and other sites all saying how many, many people have had this same problem I am nearly hysterical. The hair loss has been dramatic and terrible. I can see bald patches on my scalp. I am a 48 year old woman. The tragedy is that I have had no benefit at all for taking this drug other than weight loss.
I had other side effects like dry mouth, palpitations, hostile feelings, tremors.
I am going off it TODAY.

I am 30 yrs old, have been taking YAZ for a little less than one year. Loved it at first, my PMDD seemed a lot better, my skin cleared up. (I had adult acne) The decreased sex drive was immediate and after a couple of months I noticed the stomach pains, headaches, and extreme hunger in the mornings as well as shortness of breath and occasional dizziness. I even went to my regular doctor for an inhaler due to the shortness of breath. Since I started this pill to now I've gained a lot of "solid" weight that seems very hard to lose. I've gone from a size 4 to an 8. The only benefit has been that my skin is a lot clearer but as soon as I take the last pink pill in the pack my face breaks out again. This past month I've had horrible mood swings. My anxiety is worse than ever and I overreact to the smallest things. I can't stand myself and feel like a crazy person. While the thought of having acne again makes me very sad, I will no longer take YAZ.

oh please your all a bunch of whiners. I don't understand that when people get something medically new that they seem to blame every little thing on it!!! seriously!!! if it were so bad it would not be on the market..... i have had it for two years.....a little cramping in the beginning which is NORMAL and as STATED on the side effects list. YOU MUST UNDERSTAND that these are listed because they DO AND HAVE happened to other people. That is why they are listed! NOW if you died, got cancer, pregnant or what have you then you can bitch. BUT PLEASE don't complain about the LISTED side effects. it is a wonderful product and it does just as it claims. yea the cramping sucks....the spotting is a pain.....men can feel it during intercourse and yes sometimes they can bump it and hurt you. also it causes cysts to grow on your ovaries which can sometimes require surgery. it can also grow outside your uterine wall at time. and it can fall out. all kinds of things can happen that are LISTED. what i would recommend people should do BEFORE they leap into bed with a new contraceptive is RESEARCH the SIDE EFFECTS BEFORE you decide you want it or not. its simple read the damn sheet and decide if you can live with the side effects. maybe one....or all...or none. THEN DECIDE.

This medication works well for back pain and as a bonus helps my worn knee due to its favored use as climbing stairs with left side cramps my back on up to the base of my skull and I would have to leave work early and I need money this has helped put in many 10 12 hour days it does boost heartburn sometimes though the benefit outweighs the heartburn for now.

Well, my Fiancee (Sandra) started taking Topamax a few months ago. Her side effects have included: loss of energy, tiredness, tingling in the feet, nausea, chest pain, appetite lose, rapid weight loss, and a severe decrease in her sexual drive. The worst of the side effects is her sudden and unpredictable mood changes. She verbally assalts me and her children all the time. She is aggressive and picks fights over anything and everything. I love her with all my heart but I can not live like this. So bottom line, Topamax has gotten rid of her migraines and/or decreased their frequency and severity. And the cost of that benefit is the destruction of the relationships with the people that love her most.

I started this week the third pack of Loestrin24fe and NOW I am happy with it. I took it after nuvaring which I did not tolerate anymore at all. I took it after the birth of my daughter and the first time was good, I then had 6 month with no bc at all and went back on nuvaring. I had to stop after 3 month, I could not take the side effects anymore (terrible acne -worse than no bc, much worse, fatigue, etc).

The first month was pretty bad but better than nuvaring, so I sticked to it. My gyno told me it would take 3 month to see the effects of the pill on my acne and I could have spotting.
Here is the long list of side effects I had the first month (random order): bloating, mood swings, body aches, extreme fatigue, nighmares, weight gain (8 pounds at least) which I never had in the past with my previous bc, sensitive breast (gained a size as well, I don't really need it though), tummy irritation, nausea, painful sex and itch/pain (like I'm going to have a vaginal infection but I don't. I've had this on my other bc pill when I was younger) and finally the spotting (20-22 days on 28!! but no period that first month).

As soon as I started the second pack the spotting disappeared totally, my skin started to look a lot better (no more nasty painful spots). I had a 2 days period (I used to have a 5-7 days period), almost no cramps during my period, breast tenderness decreased, no more mood swings etc...
What is still here though: WEIGHT (I'm navigating between 8 pounds and 6 pounds weight gain since I started loestrin24fe), fatigue (less than first month), itch/pain like vaginal infection (even if the feeling of it is much less than the first month).
I like the 2 days period and no painful acne anymore. That is a real benefit for me after months of pain and treatments which brought no result. I think it might continue to get better month after month. As my gyno told me, I have to be patient to see the full result of the pill.

All in all, I'm more and more happy with this pill.

I don't have a Mirena, but I have been thinking of getting one. I am doing my research and I am shocked!

I made an appointment w/ my gynecologist to talk about birth control a month ago and I was very, very, very uncomfortable with how hard she pushed the Mirena on me...I felt as if there was some sort of benefit she would receive if I actually got one. Sounds a little nuts going back and re-reading this, but I have never had one form of birth control forced on me like that.

As a 35-y-o mother of three, I don't need these kinds of side effects. Thanks to everyone for sharing their stories; Mirena is officially off my list of consideration of birth control options.

I have been on Singulair longer than I can recall... at least 10 years, maybe longer. My 7 year old son has been on it since he was probably 12 months old. Neither one of us have had any problem reported here. No depression, no sleeplessness (until I weaned him from naps, he slept up to 13 hours a day), no leg cramps, nothing. We are two of the happiest, most well adjusted people you could know. And, best of all, we haven't had any asthma attacks. Bottom line, different drugs react differently in different people. Don't let the post here stop you from trying a medication that for some could mean the difference between life and death depending on how asthmatic they are. As with any drug recommended by your doctor, try it. If you experience adverse reactions, stop it ASAP. It's that simple.

Have been on simvastatin on and off for 15 months now. First of all 10mg came off for a while - cholesterol level up to 7.6 again so was put on 40mg. Very nauseous and came off the 40mg. Went back on to 10mg in Nov. and since then no nausea at all. At present I am getting terrible pain when laying down in my right leg from my hip into my buttock right down to my foot. It is similar to cramp in leg but it lasts sometimes for a couple of hours. Cramp usually disappears in a few minutes but it is the same sort of sensation. Also needle-like pains in my hand and foot. Above symptoms only since going onto Simvastatin. Would be interested in any others have these symptoms too. Trouble is damned if you take them and damned if you dont. Current research does show however that there is no benefit to women over 60 taking these wretched pills - everybody reading this should try and get or borrow the book by Dr Malcolm Kendrick entitled The Great Cholesterol Con (Dundee UK GP) written in 2008 who also is of this opinion. I am not advising not to take Simvastatin but please do research and read this book and reach your own decisions.

Thank you all for posting your stories about Mirena. I've had the Mirena IUD for almost 2 years. I have had a number of side effects from my Mirena that I did not realise until I read this blog and thought about when it started. The worst is the decreased libido, especially because I am a newly wed. I also have extreme migranes and cramping a couple of times a month. I have spotting and heavy bleeding at least twice a month for a week at a time. My sleeping has suffered, it takes me much longer to go to sleep and I wake up periodically through the night. I am getting a lot of acne. I'm 26 and have never had any children. I am going to get it removed soon but the benefit is that it is one of the least expensive contraceptive devices over the long term. There may not have been much testing during development about the level of hormones and the location of dispersal. I think the Mirena IUD needs redevelopment, it's a great idea but it looks like I'm not alone in the intense side effects.

i think all you people are just mental cases, this is all of your minds ways to try to rationalize being insane. Panic attacks on an antibiotic!! Come on, really do u all think its the dox?? Even the doctors don't believe u. Funny that its not on any of the common or less common side effects anywhere on the internet!!!

My fiance is 27 years old and she has Mirena for about 5 months now. She had her son about 10 years ago so I don't think any of her symptoms are postpartum related. The thing I noticed most after she's had Mirena done is that she's always tired and taking naps whenever possible. She's also had tons of acne issues since she's been on Mirena. The thing that I don't like the most about the side effects is that she claims shes always "out of it" and "zoned out". She even complains that she has anxiety attacks too, where she gets pain in her chest.

A friend of ours recommended her to use some estrogen control herbal pills and that's helped her acne and her mood a lot. But I mean, she shouldn't have to take any pills to "counteract" the side effects. I guess the thing I'm upset about is that THE DOCTOR NEVER WARNED HER ABOUT ANY OF THESE SIDE EFFECTS. I personally, don't trust doctors 100% and I'd be naive to think that all doctors are advising for just your benefit. There are doctors out there for sure that have financial / relationship gains with pharmaceuticals for prescribing certain brand drugs. I'd be very vary especially for the people who wrote here saying their doctor INSISTED they kept Mirena. Something not right there...

Hi everyone...I have had Mirena out for almost 2 weeks now and I am back to my normal self already!!! I haven't lost any weight yet but I know that will come off in time. I, too, am on YAZ and love it so far. I have my phone set to calendar so I remember to take the pill every day or else I will definitely forget.

The best part about being back to my normal self is that I am enjoying my children again. I don't treat them like slaves, yell/scream at them for no reason, or want to be away from them. There has been a remarkable difference in them as well. They are not so whiney and they have more fun with each other. A benefit to that is that my 6 year old who asked me a few months ago if there were any extra chores she could around the house is cuddling with me on a daily basis. She wouldn't do that at all before. She is doing better in school too. My 3 year old is listening better too. I love my girls!!!

So, I am more than happy that I got my Mirena out and equaly grateful that my doctor (who happens to be a man and a new doctor) didn't try to convince me to keep it in.

New life and new me, here I come.

More updates. I post every week with updates. I am now 3 weeks post Mirena. yes I had ALL the side effects everyone else has listed. All side effects have subsided except for the weight gain. My bloating disappeared right away which was severe water retention and possibly blood. For instance my breasts went down and stopped hurting immediately and my belly improved but I have not shed the FAT that my body stored thinking I was prego. So I might have lost 5 or 10 lbs. Thats the only side effect I am still dealing with and will have to start dieting and exercising to jump start my sluggish metabolism. The most recent side effects I want to report at week 3 to disappear is MY SEX DRIVE IS BACK!!! WOW! and....I finally am sleeping soundly through the night!
You will hear from me when I lose all the silly weight I gained. But it might not be until its warm enough to get outside and walk, run and ride my bike and play with the kids. Im in hibernation right now!LOL And Im too wimpy to starve myself at the moment!
To all of your contemplating removal: There is absolutely no benefit to keeping the Mirena that could outweigh the long term destructive side effects. Dont wait, it doesn't get better. Just get it out now.

I've only been on Yaz for about 1 week now. The following may seem strange, but I've been paying very close attention as my pmdd was so bad that my fiance was contemplating leaving me. What I experienced right away: more balance in my mood meaning that I nothing was too high or low, at the same time though in the mornings i woke up feeling depressed. High sex drive and two of the best orgasms I've ever experienced. Slight constant headache. Become teary at least once per day, but the thing is...these are feelings I used to just stuff... but now I am expressing them so it's actually a benefit. I asked him tonight,... "have you noticed a difference?" He said "Oh yeah". I'm laughing most of the time (he's really funny), i'm more light hearted and less serious! I'm more balanced in my thinking. I hate the headaches though.

My doctor prescribed me Neurontin today, and I heard that you can become addicted to it. I am scared to start taking it due that fact. I also read on the internet that it produce psychoactive effects, and I do not want any affects like that because I have a small child to care for. Has anyone experienced any effects like that? I like to feel sober and not drugged up. I have only taken 100 mg so far, but I am supposed to gradually up the dose.

Thank you to all of the ladies that have written to this site. I've never sent in feedback, but it has been so helpful to read these stories and try to diagnose my issue. I am in the second month of the NR and will remove it tonight. We have 2 children (2.5 and 18 months) and are unsure about more so we have been hesitant to get my husband fixed. I found the site while unable to sleep because of a migraine during the first month. I have never had migraines before, but figured it was from a head cold Then the almost intolerable itching began...that has been awful, but I thought it may just be the "adjustment period". Because of 2 small children and a stressful career, I didn't notice the loss of sex drive right away. But recently, I noticed that NOTHING turns me on. I have always been able to orgasm almost every time we have sex (or even on my own), but now I cannot even stimulate myself or get turned on from sexy shows or ANYTHING. I am only having sex for him and it burns like crazy in my vagina right after we have sex. It was bad enough with babies in the house, but now I seem to have no sex drive AT ALL. So, the whole point was to get away from condoms but since I don't want or enjoy sex...guess that logic goes out the window. To sum up...migraines, crazy crotch itch, and no sex drive. I'm sure this works for some women, but if it is not working for you, take it out. I'll write again after I am clear of it to update.

I am a male 45 years and used simivastin another statin for three and a half years. Over this time i had severe muscle pain at time then about 4 months ago the muscle pain in my legs came on with a vengeance. It started in both thighs then calfs got very tight sore ankles feet and eventually got in to my arms. A deep achey sort of a pain and an irritability that casesa feeling like a toxin in my inside elbows that makes me want to stretch all the time. I feel very weak compared to my former self. I tried many things to alleviate the pain but nothing really took the pain away or even decreased it much. sometimes i would lay and groan in agony. I especially noticed that draghts and weather changes made me feel worse????. I stopped taking the simivastin 6 weeks ago. I have not had a lot of improvement but must admit thet i have been trying to push my self over this and probably done more damage. My ck levels are normal but my liver enzyme is increased a little. I started also to take q10 and L- carnitine along with magnesium. I might be improving a little each day but nothing definite. I saw a rheumatologist who has no diagnosis and isn't to committal on whether the statin is to blame. He put me on celebrex which has finally given me some relief. Can anyone relate to the worsening of symptoms with cooler changes in weather? and is there anything else i could do to hasten recovery? Thank you to all contributors on this board although it is the first time i have contributed this board has been a scores of help to me.