Change in my life symptoms and conditions

I have been on the NuvaRing for a year now and this was the first month I skipped by my own fault in forgetfulness. I went on the ring to regulate my hormones and thought it was useful to have a birth control method that overcame my pill-taking forgetfulness. It has worked really well not only in the hormonal department, but with period regulation and cramps. So many have had adverse reactions with their sex drive and emotions, but I was a lucky consumer. BUT THEN I forgot to insert the ring this past month; I was traveling and one day led to the next and you know how it goes. I brushed it off as a "medication free" month and proceeded with making my plans to move from the West Coast to the East Coast.

Last week was the week before my period and I began to experience HEAVY anxiety. Though I was happy and life was great (even with the large change in my life) my body was reacting in distress. At first I dismissed it as anxiety from moving, but then when I got my period it dawned on me. Usually I would experience heavy cramps before my period but the anxiety replaced it. I didn't even know my period was coming. My regular body clues were off base and this anxiety lead to a heavy chest feeling, short breaths, dizziness, headaches, breast soreness and general feelings of depression. As a woman I can be perfectly honest and say this is entirely hormonal because

Today I went online to research and was more than happy to see that I am not alone in the symptoms this birth control has caused me. Oh my goodness, I am almost excited to get back on it after my period to see if it dramatically changes on the flip side. I cannot continue feelings like this.

I've had the Mirena since Aug. 2006 - three years now. I considered having it removed because of intense irritability, depression, suicidal thoughts, and lack of interest in sex the past 5 months. I went to my doctor's office this morning to have it removed, but kept an open mind to alternatives. I'm 39 years old, and the doctor indicated that at my age, some of these issues are normal. I found a list of Menopause side effects, and many are similar to Mirena's side effects! At any rate, I asked if there is a way to offset these side effects so that I can keep the Mirena. She gave me an estrogen patch called "Vivelle", and I'm hoping that will help. Has anyone else tried estrogen therapy to offset Mirena's side effects? I still have the Mirena and will follow up in a few weeks.

Got Mirena put in 2 months ago. Side effects: hair loss, slight weight gain, bloated stomach (can't even suck it in anymore), 2+ week periods, spotting, tired all the time, foggy headed (Like I need a cup of coffee)...

I'm 39 years old and have 2 kids (youngest is age 2). I don't like BCP's and was sick of condoms so I thought I'd try Mirena. Especially since my periods were starting to get heavier (guess it's my age). The insertion was extremely painful. I yelled out in the doctors office. I turned pale and got sweaty and lightheaded. That I didn't expect. I was okay the next day. I soon noticed that A LOT of hair would shed out when I washed my hair, brushed , etc. Not a normal amount at all. It's been 2 months now and my pony tail doesn't even feel the same. I've lost a lot. It's everywhere. Have to put it up when I cook. Thinking of calling my doctor this week to get it removed. I haven't had sex anyway since it was inserted b/c of the LONG periods anyway. It's just gross and stinky. Plus I'm so bloated. My pants fit differently. I've only gained about 3 lbs. I really wanted Mirena to work too. I think about the side effects too often and it's affecting the quality of my life. I'm in tune w/my body and this is the only change in my life so I know it's a real side effect. When I mentioned this to my doctor she said she had only really heard of women complaining about the bleeding pattern and moodiness. She had never heard of the hair loss but now that I read this site, I see it's quite common. It's listed as a side effect too on the medical websites. Good luck ladies. I'm making the call this week.

Hi!
I add Mirena inserted in arch. I had mine inserted, no for birth control, but to give me lighter periods. When I asked my doctor, they told me there were no side effects. I was fine for the first few months. I had a lot of spotting, but no more heavy periods. But I was getting headaches every day, lower back pain, and I was always tired. The realized something was wrong when I weighed myself and gained 7 pounds in two months. I am a very healthy eater with two small kids, I have no time to sit down, so I don't know how I could have gained the weight. I went to my regular md and got a complete physical. I went back two weeks later for the results and she told me all of my tests and the numbers were perfect. She sad I was in perfect health. She wanted to treat me for depression and give me a sedative to relax me. I told her I wasn't depressed and not going to take the meds. I forgot to mention to her about the mirena. When I got home I remembered that has been the only change in my life. I did the research, and so many of you had the same problems as me. Well I called my ob, and of course they said they never heard of such side effects, but I demanded it be taken out. I had it removed on Tuesday July 7th and I still have a lot of heavy bleeding, but at least I am feeling better. Good luck to you all.

I'am 45 year old female and I have been on simvastatin 40mg for at least 6 months. Here in the past 3 weeks I have had very weak legs and arms,they felt like they were wet noodles. I also was getting these week spells where it felt like I couldn't lift my arms or legs cause they was so weak.I had pain in my ear and big bad headaches that wouldn't leave. My heart feels like it skips a beat and I get very bad anxiety attacks. I have been to the ER several times and they can not find anything wrong. I even got very dizzy. The ER doctor told me that the dizziness and headaches was from a inter ear disturbance,well I think the inter ear disturbance might have come from the simvastatin after running across this web site. I'm going off the simvastatin tomorrow! Oh yeah and forgot to mention the weight gain and the tiredness and how I feel like a couch zombie. I think I'll stick to my salmon oil.

Hi All -

I hate to read how Advair has affected all of your lives negatively however, after reading the information on this site, I feel so much better about what I have been experiencing.

I have had asthma all of my life. I was taking Albuterol (as everyone does) to control it when I had an attack, Singulair and Serevent (only prior to exercising to help stop an attack from happening). I went to a new pulmonary doctor with a bought of severe bronchitis and he told me that I was "not controlling my asthma properly" and that I should have been on Advair a long time ago. I trusted him and started taking it twice a day.

I have been on it for 17 days and over the past five days I started having severe anxiety over my breathing functions. I was monitoring every breath I took and wasn't breathing unless I told myself to. This started causing severe panic attacks...I HAVE NEVER DONE THIS BEFORE IN MY LIFE!!!!! I am not prone to anxiety or anything like that and I have had asthma ALL MY LIFE!!! This was an entirely new behavior. I thought I was going crazy...I couldn't stop thinking about breathing.....I analyzed what was new in my life and what I have been doing differently that could cause this change in my life and the only new thing was Advair. My husband had to give me a Xanax (something that I have never taken in my life) just so that I could function and go to work. So I went on line and I found at least 50 web sites like this one devoted to Advair and a link to panic attacks, anxiety, depression, etc...I STOPPED TAKING IT!!!!! I don't care what my doctor has to say...the benefits are not worth this drug taking over my life and changing me as a person. I am done. I will deal with my asthma as I have always done so and I don't care if he thinks that I am "not controlling it". I left a message for the doctor and I am still waiting to hear back. I haven't taken the Advair since yesterday morning and the panic attacks have started to get milder. I am still a little bit focused on the breathing but only if I am alone and not preoccupied. I have to believe that these side effects will go away in time and when the drug is out of my system. I learned a valuable lesson. I will only take a drug if I research it first.

Thank you all for your comments....you have helped me to preserve my sanity. We all can't be feeling the same thing and not attribute it to the culprit..ADVAIR!!!!

I had my thyroid removed 3 months ago and felt great until I started Levoxyl. I've worked my way up to 75 mcg. I cannot finish 9 holes of golf due to muscle aches and throw up my dinner most nights. The only change in my life since the surgery is the addition of Levoxyl. I've heard this will go away after 'a month or so'... Is this true?

I have been experiencing severe hair loss and thought it was the Fosamax, so stopped that drug, but the hair loss is continuing. I have found only one article relating Singular to hair loss.

Wow I am so glad I found this site! I was put on linsinopril 10mg three weeks ago because my insurance wouldnt cover norvasc which I was fine on. But the past couple of weeks Ive been waking up in the middle of the night with this unbearable itch in my throat and coughing like I never had before. I also noticed that my skin was itching relentlessly. I just figured it was winter itch. I also notice that my stomach seem to always be bloated and my mentral cycles were no longer regular. At the same time I started this medicine I started a new vitamin so I was figuring that I was allergic to something in the vitamin, so I stoped taking the vitaman but the coughing and itching didnt stop, so by process of elimination the only other thing that change in my life was this lisinopril so I went on the web and found this site. After everything I read I am conveinced it is the lisinopril causes these reactions. Today is sunday and needless to say I am not taking the lisinopril anymore. After reading this I will call my doctor monday morning and find something else to take. If anyone found a good BP med that is covered by aetna, please let me know. Tamyj1972@yahoo.com

I want to say first that I have been taking 50 mg. of Zolft now for about 5 years. I take it at bedtime. I hve only forgotten to take it once or twice in five years. The times I did forget however, I would have very strange images in the black space when I close my eyes. If I could get up and take it before going to sleep, in about 20-25 minutes the images would stop and I would fall peacefully to sleep. The nights that I did not take it at all I would have very strange and disturbing dreams. Even with these minor side effects, Zoloft is still one of the best things that has ever happened to me. It has made such a change in my life that I can't say enough good about it.

I have chronic sore throat, burping, sore gums after i started on yasmin. Had a upper gi series xray done for the acid reflux which came out to be totally normal. Only change in my life was taking yasmin so i guess the sore throat and the reflux might be related to that. Anyone had the same side effects?

Have been taking Lipitor for 6 days. After the second day I began having depression spells that caused me to cry all the time (even when driving down the road) and have two fights with a family member almost to the point of disowning them. The only change in my life at this time is the Lipitor. I am a 62 year old female who is normally not bothered by stress or depression on a daily basis.

A positive story, for once:
Hi, I'm just finishing up my first month on yasmin, and I just wanted to share that I have experienced no side effects whatsoever. I was terrified of starting it--I mean, I had visited this site and others like it and almost nothing positive was listed--plus I've never been on BC before, but I decided to give it a try. There has been no change in my life--no weight gain, no bloating, no anxiety, no depression, no tiredness, nothing. I am 20, active, work out several times a week, a stressed-out student, and have a fairly healthy diet...or as much as is possible at my age. So for those of you hesitant to start yasmin, give it a try. It may work for you, it may not, but don't give up before starting!

I have been on effexor XR for the past going on 6 years. It has made a dramatic change in my life. It has helped my depression and anxiety enourmously. At first I had constipation but that changed when I changed my diet. I too tried to go off effexor cold turkey and ended up in a clinic on my way to work. The first week I felt like I was on a HIGH - felt fabulous - then I started driving erractically - very bizarre throbbing in my head, headaches. Then the crying started uncontrollably - became paranoid - felt like something was going to swallow me up from the feet up and I was afraid to drive as I kept thinking I was going to crash my car. By the time I got to the clinic - I was bouncing off the walls.. Had to go back on it. If I miss one dose I could sleep forever! Angela West - Windsor.