Blood levels symptoms and conditions

Two days after taking my first Niaspan ER tablet I began felling itchy all over my body. The itchiness was so troublesome it kept me awake most of one night. I called my doctor's office to report the side-affect, which is listed as "serious" on the information page included with the prescription, but received no response. Obviously they don't care. In order to counteract the symptoms I took two XYZAL antihistamine tablets, which has eased the symptoms, somewhat. This may no be the most safe drug to take in order to lower high triglycerides blood levels.

Just finished reading the posts and I feel like it was written about my 8 year old. I never connected the two issues of anxiety, frustration doing schoolwork, quick to tears and leg pains. I kept telling them they were growing pains. Last night he called me from his father's and said he has suicidal thoughts... not that he wanted to kill himself, just couldn't stop thinking about it... good lord. After months of dealing with him not wanting to go to bed and not feeling safe we have an answer. I told my ex husband to stop the medication today, I will post back after a few weeks to update the progress. I usually never post randomly on the internet, but this site might have just saved my son from emotional turmoil!

I have read the posts below and thank goodness I found this site! I got an injection on Wednesday, 6/17, in my right knee and for the first 24 hours it hurt like heck - more stiff and painful than prior to the injection. On Friday I woke up shaky and started to feel anxious. My face and chest flushed a bright red which lasted all day. Saturday was worse; shaky, heart racing or palpitating, head/neck pressure with headache, hot flashes, nausea and stomach cramping/pain. I even actually had a panic attack (already a predisposition for me). I became uncontrollably weepy and depressed! Today, Sunday, I STILL have major anxiety and headache/pressure. I'm convinced the injection brought all of this on because before this, all I had was knee pain. So, WHEN will these icky symptoms start to subside? I was told the cortisone was good for 4-6 months. I can't live feeling like this everyday for that long!!! Any suggestions or encouragement?

My 4 year old Son has had diarrhea from about the last 4 weeks... we have started some tests for Celiac disease but today it only occurred to me today that he has been on Singulair for about that time frame... after all the worry and reading these other storied Im even more convinced that it maybe the Singulair..
Im just hoping that someone might read this sometime today or the next couple of days to tell me if when they come off the singulair how long did it take for the diarrhea to pass. My son had is last tablet 2 nights ago ( so he has only been off it so far for one night. But he still has the diarrhea.. should it have started to come out of his system already.

In July 2007, I was put on Levaquin for pneumonia. I was 53 years old, working full-time, active. The pneumonia was caused by aspiration when vomiting. I had never had these problems - pneumonia or aspiration - before. I had gradually worsening generalized joint and muscle pain and stiffness, which I reported to my doctor after about 5 days on the Levaquin. The pain I was experiencing was worse than the pneumonia symptoms (mostly high fever). The course of levaquin was supposed to be 14 days. After 9 days, I could not tolerate it any longer. My doctor put me on a Z-pack (azithromycin) for the remainder of my treatment. It is a year later, and I am still plagued with muscle pain in my back, shoulders, arm, abdomen - and, at its worst, my legs. The only way I'm able to function is on prescription painkillers, which I detest having to take - but they're a lifesaver. I've been seeing a rheumatologist since December '07. He dosen't seem to believe the levaquin - pain connection. He thinks I may have Polymyalgia Rheumatica. I have consistently elevated blood levels of creatine phosphokinase, a muscle enzyme which indicates muscle damage. I was on prednisone 10 mg. from early March '08 which I have just weaned off of after suffering a depressive episode with a suicide attempt at the begining of this month. I can't work now. I'm terrified of becoming permanently disabled. Finding answers has been very difficult but I firmly believe that the Levaquin started all this.

Hello To All,

I too am on this med, I have been on it for 1 year as of July 2008-

35 pounds, brain fog, headaches, eye sight for reading, chest pain and fluttering heart beat. My doctor who is my friend has told me that he will up my dose... "Dear God" any more and I will go nuts. Does anyone know of any study done in a medical journal that theu could forward to me so I can show my doctor.

Please email me at ****** I would be so very thankful.

Thanks to all and be healthy.

In September of 2007 my then 13 year old daughter was put on Singular for mild asthma. At the time she was a straight A student, vice president of our school and a popular girl who's guidance counselor described as "the glue of her grade" because she was so well liked. In November she told me that she was struggling with advanced Latin and Science. She asked to drop down to on grade Latin so we did. In December her science teacher notified us that she had a C average. She told me that she thought she had ADD/ADHD and she couldn't keep up. At the same time she was having a lot of problems with friends at school and we just attributed it to being 14. 3 weeks ago we discovered that she is significantly behind in English and it was then that she told me that she is been having horrific night mares. She said that they usually involve someone killing her or her killing herself. She said that they were so graphic that she couldn't repeat it out loud. She also said that she would feel waves of anxiety that would come over her at school and she would act "witchy" to the kids in her class for no real reason. She said that sometimes when she is trying to do her homework she will read the same passage for 2 hours and still have no idea what it's about. She also said that the suicidal thoughts from her sleep happened during they day and that she had thoughts of her harming herself. Fortunately her pulminologist told us that this may be caused by singular and we immediately took her off of it which was 2 weeks ago. She has only had 1 "bad dream" not even a nightmare since. She had one anxiety attack 3 days after she was off it and she describes her moods as the "cloud lifting....slowly". Now, we have to pick up the pieces. Her grades have suffered, her friendships have suffered and most of all her self esteem is very low. I'm grateful that we found out the cause but I feel as if my daughter lost a year of her life and I worry that because Merck won't admit there are side effects we can't find out how long it remains in their system. Is anyone else concerned about the long term affect and has anyone pursued a class action suit to try to get this drug tested properly?

I had mine taken out yesterday afternoon. So here's my scoop so far: The actual procedure was easy as pie. I felt a tiny pinch...no worse than a basic pap and that was it...they said it was out! The attitude from the staff and the doctor was a whole other story.

The nurse first of all asked what kind of side effects I had been having...I told her. (See my original posting from about a week ago if you need.) She asked if I had seen my PCP, because "Mirena couldn't cause those things." (I laughed at that point!) I tried explaining to her and educating her on these and other such sites and the reality that many of us have, as well as assuring her that I have seen several doctors and specialists and after office visits, x-rays, blood work, and multiple courses of meds, there is, in fact, nothing wrong with me. She stated, "Well, you'll need to talk to the doctor about that." So in comes the doc. He states that although I "think" I'm having these side effects...the IUD is at least serving it's purpose. I admitted that I was not pregnant, however it's not really a surprising fact seeing as how I'm now fat with bad skin and the ability to either rip your head off or cry depending on the minute you catch me! His response: "Well I don't think any of that is going to change because the Mirena isn't causing it." I truly don't believe I've been as insulted by a doctor before in my life as I was in that moment! (And I'm a nurse...I've been insulted plenty!) I asked him how he was so sure of this and he again tells me: "Because Mirena isn't systemic...it only acts on your uterus." I then questioned him about the Canadian drug study done about 10 years ago proving that you can verify effectiveness based on serum plasma levels (blood levels) within 3 hours of insertion. His response was simply this: (Oh ladies...you'll love this!) "Don't believe everything you read on the internet." He asked what I would do for birth control...and I told him that I wanted a non-hormonal form of control. He tried telling me the only options I had were the Copper IUD or permanent sterilization! At that point I looked at him and said I thought what I really needed was a new GYN, thanked him for the removal, paid my co-pay, and left that building for what I think will be the very last time.

I didn't go back to work. I went home and rested. Then I cried...just a massive cathartic release...and it felt great! I'm at the point where I am so ready to feel good again and knowing that this was the first step just brought all those emotions to the forefront. I have not yet had even so much as any spotting. Still feeling (and looking) fat and bloated with bad skin...I didn't wake up and lose 10 pounds...like I had hoped for, but I remain optimistic and continue to have faith that these symptoms will go away.

I'll continue posting occasionally and document my results. Good luck to all of us out there dealing with this.

DIAGNOSED W/ HYPO IN SEPT 07 GAINED AT LEAST 35IBS PUFFY HANDS, ARMS, NECK 122IBS TO 160 NOT GOOD! CRAZY DOCTOR STARTED ME ON 75MCG WENT BACK 3 MONTHS LATER BLOOD LEVELS ARE STILL LOW HE WANTED TO INCREASE SYNT HE INCREASED TO 50MCG THAT IS NOT INCREASE IT IS A DECREASE. I ENDED IP CHANGING DOC BECAUSE HE OBVIOUSLY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT HE WAS DOING HAVE NOT HAD PERIOD SINCE JUN 07 CURRENTLY 88MCG FROM NEW DOC. I NOT SURE ABOUT SYTHRIOD SOME OF MY SYMP ARE STILL THERE

Just started taking lisinopril (2nd dose today, 20 mg) for HBP. I have had HBP for about 15 years. I was taking HCTZ, a diuretic, plus atenelol. That stuff makes you feel miserable, depressed, paranoid along with major constipation and very low potassium blood levels. I changed doctor and he has a completely different approach. So far my only side effect from lisinopril has been slight weakness in my lower jaw and the nagging dry cough. I guess you have to get used to these and other side effects. Anything is better than being depressed. Maybe the side effects will lessen as time goes by. I'm optimistic.

I've been on Diovan for about 9 months and I have all of the side effects everyone else here has mentioned! Weight gain, bloating, fatigue, mood swings, extreme muscle aches- especially in my lower back and legs, hunger, and more! These Drs. are sooo stupid!!!! They tell us to lose weight and then give all of us medications that cause weight gain. I am also diabetic and my Dr. also has me take Humalog insulin- which also causes weight gain! I would enjoy hearing from everyone who has had side effects from Diovan, and I would like to hear about alternative remedies for hypertension. Good luck and Best Wishes to all of you....Kim Q.

Had total thyroidectomy 9 months ago and started taking Synthroid immediately thereafter. For the last 4 months I have noticed significant hair thinning. I have always had very thick, healthly looking hair but now it's just dry and brittle all of the time. I always feel tired and bloated around my stomach area in particular. I have always been a size 4-6 but have inexplicably gained 6 pounds in the last month. Is there an alternative to snythroid without these side effects?

Both my father (79 years old) and I (48 years old) were prescribed Lisinopril and Lovastatin in the recent past. Within a short period of time (2-3 mos), we both began experiencing excruciating Charley Horse-type cramping in our legs, and I experienced them in hands as well. My father's cramps were more severe. I quit taking the meds and he has not. His symptoms continue, mainly in the evening. My symptoms abated when I stopped taking the meds.

I don't have particularly high blood pressure, nor do I have high cholesterol, my doctor simply prescribes these meds "to prevent the onset of these problems". I am an insulin-dependent diabetic. My father suffered a massive heart attack 5 years ago.

I feel GREAT now that the meds are out of my system. Dad continues to suffer with terrible cramping in his legs and sometimes in his glutes. This can't be good for him. I assume the meds do something to his blood levels of vitamins or minerals, yet his doctor does nothing. He is going to visit a naturopath soon to see what that person recommends. He looks terrible and feels terrible.

I still think a class action lawsuit should be filed and this product taken off of the market, i felt like i lost 3 years of my life on this medication!! Not to mention i put my husband and daughter thru hell!!

I have been on warfarin for about two weeks as blood clots were found in my lung. I would like to hear from others who have developed rash ( non itching) on arms and now legs. My doctor does not seem to think it is linked to the medication, but really there is no other explaination.

I was put on Verapamil 120mg after being taken off of Atenolol which I had been on for 5 years. I also took Lisinipril along with the Atenolol. I had a couple of rough months getting off the Atenolol as there are some side effects to doing that. I was put on th Verapamil along with Enalapril and Hydrochlorithiazide, didn't feel well. Off the Enalapril and Hydrochlorithiazide now and have increased the Verapamil to 180mg. I feel so tired but can't sleep, have no energy and my heartrate is still up there. Doctor wants to add Digoxin, will this help or make it worse. I felt better on the lower dose but it wasn't controlling the BP.
Thank you for your time and would appreciate any info.

Kim
Hi BitterRN here.
All I can tell you about your hormone levels is what I too have experienced myself.
I had my hormones tested by blood and saliva 3 months after I quit bcp.
Both tests showed estrogen and progesterone levels as normal.........HOWEVER
On my saliva test My level was 11... Normal is 20-50 (I am sure I run on the higher end of that scale as I have or should say HAD the oily skin, oily hair, smalller breasts before yasmin..) This level is extremely low, and the test level stated LOW.
My blood tests drawn at exactly the same time on the SAME EXACT DAY, read normal (at the very lowest end of the scale) so my gyn said, all levels are normal.
NOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!
When I had the results evaluated by a bioidentical Dr. later she said no, the blood levels were not "normal" and her words were "for an 80yr old maybe, but not for you"

So long story short, I kept testing, with saliva tests month after month (they have to be done at a specific time every month) and here is what happened.....

Month 4 after stopping,
My estradiol went to 0.8 now in the low range
Progesterone dropped to 72 now in the low range
Testosterone went UP to 15 still low range but higher.
Cortisol went up to 9.3 High ranges are 3-8. So just a little high probably from stress.
Symptoms, still feeling up and down with ? improvement.

Month 6 after stopping, (I skipped a month due to expense, I pay out of pocket for all these tests)
MY estradiol is range but still all of my symptoms are not gone
Cortisol still a little high at 8.9.
I am feeling better than before and symptoms are resolving, but I am not feeling getting better as quickly as I would like, so I do something REALLY REALLY stupid...

I try to start my old bcp ortho novum, thinking I did well on it all those years (12 yrs) and my hormones are pretty well getting to be more normal...or so I thought, now looking back not really, still had a ways to go, but I was not thinking clearly, and started them, at first I felt like things were getting back to normal, but about 12-15 after being on it, I felt the anxiety coming back. I stopped them on day 15, and it was like all the symptoms started over again (really wanted to die, How could I have been so stupid?) I believe I would have really felt better by now if I had not tried to do this.

Anyway, I saliva tested 1 month after and I already knew before the tests came back that my testosterone had fallen again to 17
My estrogen was normal at 1.3
Progesterone was really low at 16!!!!!! normal is 100-600
cortisol high at 11.

Next month after stopping
estrogen low again at 0.9,
Progesterone coming up at 52
testosterone 15 whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!! somebody shoot me!
still feeling like sh*!
I really tried supplementing with bioidentical hormones at my doctors suggestion at this point, but It is really hard to find a dose because they are used to caring for much older women so it was a guessing game, consequently, I think i used a little too much testosterone,

Next month testing
progesterone dropped and testosterone shot up to 80!!
I called the lab and they said this indicated the dose I was using was too high, that since I tested while using this high dose, the test was registering high (in other words this was not my true level and it would come back down as soon as I stopped using it.) I asked why my progesterone went down as I was supplementing with progesterone creme as well, she said when one hormone is too high the other hormones become suppressed. Ahh.
So I quit supplementing altogether.
And now I am waiting for the next results, I should have them by monday or tuesday.
Just a side note, I am feeling better just as I was before I tried to take the bcp the 2nd time. It seems like this time I may be getting better faster? I dont know, depends on the day you ask me.
This is why i have been asking silke about her hormone levels and why I think that it may be her testosterone that is the problem, as some women have trouble getting their testosterone up after being on bcp or after pregnancy. I really feel this may be the problem as I did not feel better until this particular hormone started going up, as i felt crappy again as it dropped (especially with the anxiety) However, a doctor not familiar with hormones will say a Low normal level is normal. Its NOT.
This is just my experience. I cannot write it in stone. Hope it helps.
BitterRN

Silke
Hi, did you get copies of your labs?
Anxious to hear from you.
BitterRN

i started on synthroid around nov '05, 1 pill daily. had blood levels checked in january, dr. doubled dose. started experiencing stomach bloating shortly after, as well as some abdominal pain (which i think is from the bloating).
a few days ago, i stopped eating altogether because the bloating was too uncomfortable. stomach still bloated, feel like i've gained weight in my stomach area. very uncomfortable, even without any food in my stomach.

i was having pain in my legs and catching cramps in the middle of the night. I walk everyday and it was like having to make my legs move. I told my doctor and he gave me a blood test. Called me back and told me to stop taking the Lipitor immediately. I am now being tested weekly for the next four weeks to monitor my kidney enyzines .They have not told me exactly what was wrong yet but I must drink an excesive amount of water for the next four weeks and come off all medications except my diabetes pills until my blood levels are back to normal.

Hi, Im not much of a computer person. I from old school. Anyway, Im in my 40s and have been on the levox for about a year. I thought night sweats, head aches ,bone aches,and muscle aches were part of my aging factor. My blood levels are good as per my endocrinologist. but I too experience depression at times, constipation, irritability and fatigue as well as mental dullness. Im a very educated women and must admit , I sometimes feel like a total mental moron. Mary

Dear Sherry,

I FEEL your pain. I've never experienced ANYTHING like this and HOPE that someone brings a lawsuit!!! I see my gyno tomorrow(a woman) to get my a blood levels tested, including progesterone, testosterone, etc. She argued with me for MONTHS telling me that there was NO WAY yasmin could be causing these problems. Can't wait til she sees what a "butterball" I've become! Gotta be able to laugh, which you seem to be able to do! It's hard, I KNOW, but it will save your life!

Rita

I had poison ivy and was prescribed a 10 day step down dose of prednisone. I stopped taking it on 10/17. I am a diabetic. I noticed lower fasting blood levels while I was taking the prednisone. I have been off of it for 15 days. Since I've stopped the medication I have higher fasting blood levels, headaches, increased heart rate, dry mouth in the a.m. I want to feel like myself again. My fasting blood levels ranged from 95- 106, now they are 120 - 130!

@ Guest, #12837 (water retention):

I've got the same problems with water retention after Yasmin and I'm feeling horrible. Looking into the mirror shows a completely other figure and person as I was before this horror trip!!

I had been thinking about a water pill, too, but at last I figured out, that perhaps it would be better to wait on and let my body recover by itself. And in my family doctor's opinion all the water will go away when my body is back in balance after this Yasmin horror. Surely it may take months to get there, but after I had been putting so much Yasmin poison into my body for over 5 years I don't want to go on taking chemicals and perhaps making it worse and worse...

Yasmin has got a diuretic in it. So during taking Yasmin your body got diswatered every day and every day. So I suppose that after getting off Yasmin all the cells of your body, which had gotten used to being diswatered all the time, are now absorbing the more water they ever did before just like a dried out sponge!! Perhaps that's the reason for this horrible bloating of our whole bodies.

Another way would be to get your potassium levels checked. Low potassium levels also can be causing water retention and many other symptoms most of the women here are suffering from after Yasmin. I read, that Yasmin interferes your electrolytes, minerals and vitamines and in some women in a very heavy way. So after getting off Yasmin there may be an imbalance in all that too!!

Other things that should be checked out (or by yourself taken as a supplement) is your blood levels of magnesium, zinc, b-vitamines and potassium (as already mentioned above), cause Yasmin can cause a total lack of all that and that can cause many of the withdrawal effects of Yasmin as anxiety, lack of energy, muscle fatigue, nervouseness, depression, and so on!!

If you're not sure, if the mentioned happens to you, too, you should search the internet for symptoms of that mineral- and vitamine lack. Perhaps you may find a solution for your problems there!!

For that reasons at the moment I am taking agnus castus to get my hormones back in balance (didn't have a period since easter this year!!), magnesium, zinc (which can help to get your normal cycle back, too!!), potassium and a complex of b-vitamines in hope to help the after Yasmin symptoms to go away (still got muscle fatigue sometimes, nervousness, anxiety and a little dizziness, but all in a very low way, not at all as heavy as during taking Yasmin!!).

I hope my little researches can help some of you getting better again soon!!

We'll get our lives back, believe it!!! It just takes very much patience from each of us and big support and understanding from our family and friends!!

All the best and a big hug to every Yasmin victim out there!!

I LOWERED MY CHOLESTEROL BY NOT DRINKING COFFE AND NO FAT IN DIET.

Healthy Heart Reports

Coffee Raises Homocysteine And Cholesterol

A study from Denmark shows that drinking four or more cups of filtered caffeinated coffee per day raises blood levels of both cholesterol and homocysteine, and that stopping drinking coffee lowers both of these values.

Having high blood levels of either homocysteine or cholesterol increases your chances for getting a heart attack. Many studies show that coffee raises cholesterol in Europeans, but not in Americans. This was explained by the fact that Europeans drink unfiltered coffee, while Americans drink it filtered, and filtering removes a component of coffee that raises cholesterol. Now, this study shows that drinking four or more cups of even filtered coffee raises cholesterol, showing that the filter does not remove all of whatever chemical raises cholesterol. If scientist can agree on these studies, the recommendation is for you to drink only filtered coffee and then not more than three cups a day.

Abstention from filtered coffee reduces the concentrations of plasma homocysteine and serum cholesterol - a randomized controlled trial. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 2001, Vol 74, Iss 3, pp 302-307, B Christensen, A Mosdol, L Retterstol, S Landaas, DS Thelle. Christensen B, Univ Oslo, Ulleval Hosp, Dept Med Genet, N-0407 Oslo, NORWAY

Lithium apparently causes organ problems, as well as dehydration, so you should be very careful that you drink alot of fluids, avoid heavy sweating(exercize, saunas, etc.) I had'nt been told that the main ingredent was salt, so thats can be a problem for others as well, ibprofin is BAD while taking lithium, as it raises blood levels.So basically im telling what I had to learn the hard way, so be particular, and aware of what NOT to do wlile taking this pill.although the LISTED side effecs are few, this effective medication can be harmful in many ways, so educate yourself!