Buzzy symptoms and conditions

I have been on 10 MG of Lipitor for almost 3 years. Since I began taking it I have had recurring issues with an anxious feelings, my lower GI is constantly churning and I feel like I am stressed out. I have a low stress job, a stable happy family life and yet I feel nervous all the time. I sleep for 3-4 hours and then wake up and am unable to get back to sleep. I have been forced to take a nap ever day after lunch just to get through the day. Additionally, I developed tremors in my hands and was diagnosed with something called Benign Essential Tremor and put on another medication to control the shaking.

Yesterday I decided I had enough of this and went to see my cardiologist to discuss the symptoms. I stopped taking the Lipitor on my own 2 days before. The doctor told me that none of my symptoms were related to Lipitor! I replied that I was convinced that they were all in fact caused by this drug. He suggested I stop taking the statin for 2 weeks and see if the symptoms stop. I am now on day 4 without lipitor and am already feeling less anxious.

I went to the Nuerologist 2 weeks ago and got her to discontinue the anti-tremor medication. I am going to get all this crap out of my system and hopefully get my life back.

II started taking Lipitor in August of 07. My cholesterol was 180 with my good always being low in the 30's. My first blood test revealed a dramatic change in my readings with my total being 144 and my good rising to 41. At the end of December I started developing a slight ringing in my ears which progressed into a stiff aching neck, burning eyes and equilibrium issues. As someone else describe having whip lash. I was told by my doctor that these are not side effects due to Lipitor. I have also developed a buzzy feeling in the nerve in my right calf with slight weakness sensation in my thigh. The symptoms are constant and exhausting to deal with. It has been six weeks since the onset of these symptoms. I was given an antibiotic for an inner ear infection but no change in symptoms. I have seen a neurologist which gave me exercises to do for Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo, wasn’t that. I am waiting to see an ENT in two weeks to see what he comes up with and then back to a different neurologist after that. I keep asking myself is it the Lipitor? I am going to stop taking it to see if these symptoms disappear.

I know this probably isn't "new"...started on 20 mg. daily after a severe asthma attack. Emergency room here had ALL my history. Doctor (?) should not have even given me this because I take Lamictal (an anti-convulsant) for bi-polar. I was never told about "weaning off" until I contacted an R.N. @ BC/BS of AL. I've had severe tremors, headaches, nausea, diarreha(sp?), black-tarry stool, buzzy-head, severe mood swings, blurred vision, swelling of all joints, sore throat, ear aches, very bad mouth sores, ravenous appetite, hot/cold flashes, dizziness, overall "where am I & what's going on" confusion, hysterical crying spells, racing heart, increased B/P...etc, etc, etc!! For me, there is NO good reason to take this demon drug!! I feel like I should be back in lock down and preparing for more ECT treatments. (Flashback from 6 yrs. ago) My prayers go out for anyone who takes this. From now on, I leave my asthma attacks to God and only God. Blessings to all.

Well, so far I have been lucky as my side effects have been bareable. I have had to take prednisone twice due to ulcerative colitis flares. The first time I started at 40 mg I.V. while in the hospital. Within 2 days I had gone from having 15-20 BM's a day, to 2 or 3 a day. Within 9 days my diarrhea had cleared up (and I was able to leave the hospital). I noticed after about 4 or 5 days of being on prednisoe that my appetite had gone through the roof. I was inhaling the tasteless hospital food like it was gourmet cuisine, and then I mooched food off the teenage in the bed beside me, and anyone else that had any. After loosing about 30 pounds in the previous few months from the colitis, the weight gain was actually a plus. Other effects from the prednisone were night sweats, insomnia, mood swings (I was really irritable), joint pain, and kind of a buzzy head feeling. The Doc tapered me quickly on the following schedule:

40mg 2 weeks
30mg 1 week
25mg 1 week
20mg 1 week

then dropping 2.5 mg's a week to 10, then 2.5 mg's per every 2 weeks until 5mg, then off.

I noticed the side effects diminished alot once I was under 20mgs.

The second time on prednisone after another colitis flare has been a lot easier to take. The only effects I noticed this time were appetite, buzzy head and joint/bone pain (especially in my neck). which again decrease alot when I got under 20mg.

Like I said, I feel lucky that my problems haven't been as bad as many who have posted on this site. If you are new to prednisone, don't get to scared by everything you here. If you are taking it, it is probably because you have little or no choice. Stay positive and maybe you will be lucky like me.

Doc said I may feel drowsy for a while (actually said it will "feel like you were struck by a rolling pin, so try to not be alone") Well, he's honest to say the least. Thing is I have taken three doses, fourth due today. First one was kind of that buzzy pre-buzz feeling you may get if you have had one drink too many, but are not actually "drunk". What I'm finding scary now is the last two nights. Apparently I, ahem, fell asleep while my hubby was trying to (ahem again, sorry) "romance" me - which I've never done and I can't remember much about last night. It's like once I turn off the tv and get ready for bed now, I'm gone waaaaaaaay before I'm asleep .... does that make sence?? Yeah, I'm tired, but even in the times when I couldn't sleep for 5 nights straight I could remember things. Now it's like I'm not even "home"! This may not be because of the medicaiton - I used to "shut down" (dissociate) and pull my conciousness away from stressful situations as a kid, after my dad was struck and changed by a car accident. I'm wondering if this medication, in it's three days in my system, has taken me back a few steps in my progress out of that dark place. Yeah, things are very stressful, but until just now I could recall things and I'm "blinking in and out again". With no memories when I "go" elsewhere. I'm not a multiple personality, just to clarify. I just shut down when too much stress is piled on and it's been a rough 5 months between marital arguments, health issues of my own and my husbands, concern about my child (which parents know is overwhelming in and of itself), my mother has been hospitalized 5 times in 5 months for either heart or lung failure and is a new patient on dialysis. . I worry about my sister and her newborn. . . so it was only a matter of time I guess till my psychological instincts took over, but so fast and so furious? It has to be the Toporol reacting to my own pre-diagnosis. (in my case I don't have another "personality" I just end up going through the motions and remember nothing - I have many blank spaces from when I was a kid, and it all started after my dad went to work one night and got smashed by a truck. He lived, but came home totally different - physically he was ok, looks wise, but inside. . . .he was angry, vicious and not the man who raised me. I say often that he actually DID die that night, in his soul. He's come around lately, but now I'm 32, at the time of the accident I was an 8 year old daddy's girl who didn't get hugs anymore. . .sorry, just wanted to clarify is all) Anyone else have something like this? I don't know whether to be frightened or not even! Feel free to email if you want.