Colitis symptoms and conditions

I am so glad that I found this website, because I thought all of this was just me! Nine days ago, I was prescribed 750mg of Levaquin/once a day for 14 days. I was just about to take today's dose but after reading only page 1 on this site, will NOT be taking the 9th dose, nor will I be taking any more of this stuff at all! Mine all started with a toothache a few weeks ago, and ended up in the ENT's office with the above prescription with a CT-Sinus scan after 14 days of being on Levaquin. I always read the side effects of any prescription that I'm given, and I was aware that Levaquin could cause ruptured tendons so I've been very methodical with every move that I make...my husband had a ruptured achilles tendon a couple of years ago and that's the LAST thing I want to go through. However, after reading this site, I now understand that all of the other symptoms that I've been experiencing over the last several days are most definitely side effects of Levaquin that they aren't admitting to. Plus, it doesn't seem to appear that being cautious about how you move makes much of a difference when you're taking this stuff. Metallic taste in my mouth; Thrush and a lack of having full taste; swollen knees, extremely sore and aching legs, hips, and back/neck area; nausea; jittery spells very shortly after taking the medicine; hot, then cold spells...everything listed here! Why are doctor's continuing to prescribe this stuff left and right?? I'd rather just have a sinus infection!

I have been diagnosed with Ulceritive Colitis as well. I am about to be put on 30mg of prednisone and am terrified of these effects. I've gathered a lot of useful information from this forum and am thankful for that. Imuran, azothioprine, and remecade seem to be the most successful drugs as alternatives to prednisone. I'll ask my doctor about all three and hopefully I can avoid the prednisone. I'll be sure to post my results soon.

I really like the Zpak. I have taken it several times from things like sinus infections to lung infections. I never experienced any side effects but this time I am experiencing severe smelly gas. I don't know why but I never have such smelly bad gas before. I stink!!!!!!!!!! sure you all wanted to know that. But maybe you all have had gas from this also

i have used it for 12 years off and on, and recently had a reaction. I had worsening of my colitis, and a lot of abdomen pain and cramping.

I have been on Warfarin since the end of Aug. 2007 when I had my mitral valve replaced with a mechanical valve. I will be on it for the rest of my life. My doctor.'s all assured me there were no side effects other than the bleeding risks. I now know this is not true. The side effects I am dealing with make me sometimes wish I had chosen a tissue (pig) valve, even though I would be guaranteed another heart surgery within ten years. I am 39 years old and a mother of two young kids. Since being on Warfarin I have experienced various body aches that come on suddenly but don't stay long; extreme hot and cold; itchy hands and feet; dry hair and hair loss; seeing "spots" usually followed by a headache; very thirsty; ongoing bowel troubles, possibly developed colitis; but the worst side effect for me is the fatigue and depression. I feel like I traded in my old self for my mechanical valve. Like I said, I'd have to have a tissue valve replaced eventually, and as bad as heart surgery is, I'd rather have 10 happy years w/out Warfarin than this struggle I deal with almost everyday. My brother is a surgeon and even he buys into the "no side effects" b.s. I work out as much as I can, which used to make me feel great, now I feel like it helps me get by but not the positive effect it used to have on me mentally.

I was on Prednisone for a year and weened myself off because of the side effects.I'm back on it now and can't wait to be off again.Not that i felt that much better off of it.They started giving it to me through my i.v. in the hospital about 2 weeks ago.I was admitted for a Crohn's Colitis flare up and dehydration.The first 3 days were ok but then i felt the Prednisone kick in.It wasn't that bad until i left the hospital and started 40 mgs by mouth.I couldnt really sleep at all.Really bad panic attacks.Crazy dreams, hearing voices.I'd wake up every 20 min. dripping with sweat.I'd panic all day and night.Now I'm being weened off and am taking 20 mgs.I'm really weak.Can hardly type this.Its hard to walk.My arms and legs feel so weird.I'm having a really hard time concentrating.I feel like I'm on drugs all the time.Really dizzy,every things funny looking.Its like a really bad panic attack that never goes away.I have 2 more days then I'm down to 10mgs.Then another 7 days then I'm off.Hopefully this will all pass and i can be normal again.I can't live like this.I don't even know if any of this is making sense.I hope all is well with everyone of you and will keep you in my prayers.Hopefully we'll all be normal again soon.God bless,Carl

I have been on Warfarin for 6 months, and have had a lot of the side effects that I have been reading here since I found it. I thought I would chime in now. I was on Prednisone for Colitis when I was rushed to ER with a clot in between my eyes. I was started on Warfarin when I left the hospital and within a couple of days my legs swelled up really bad. I had to go buy slipper 2 1/2 sizes bigger than normal just so I could walk around. I have lived with them since. My Doctor says it is the Prednisone, but I was on that about a year before the swelling started.

I have a lot of weakness, and feel I cant get anything done home or work due to no energy. I have gained a lot of weight. The thing that bothers me the most is the pain in my legs and arms. I cant take anything for the pain due to the Colitis.

I have to say I went in for extreme headache and that is when they found the clot. I am a long time Migraine sufferer, and when I told my Headache Doctor that I was having headaches again they up my meds for that. I have not even had a Migraine since I started the Warfarin. My Wife is even surprised. I usually have at least one a month.

I was told to stop the Warfarin on Friday and am wanting to know more about if the side effects are going to go way. I would like to get my weight down, and the pain to go away. Guess time will tell.

I was on Entocort and I have such bad anxiety, racing heart, that the doctor has put me on anti-anxiety medicine just so I can function and had to stop Entocort cold turkey due to side effects. Also they took me off Entocort because colonoscopy showed no crohns or colitis.

Hi!
I have ulcerative Colitis. I had a bad flare up since Thanksgiving 07.I have been on Prednisone since the beginning of Dec.07. The first 3 days it was giving to me by IV every 6 hrs.I was hospitalized due to tremendous blood lost. After this my doctor put me on 60 MG a day. 6 pills of Asacol and I also was on ennama with Cortisone which totally almost killed me. The side effects were sooooooooooooo bad,let say I had them all.Right now I'm dealing with the side effects of the evil Pill " Prednisone" Moon face and this awful bloating in my upper abdomen, tiredness, no energies, heavy legs. It makes it really hard for me to get out & around.I hope my doctor will get me off this Prednisone. Not only messes it up your normal living no it also makes you look like a ugly bulldog! I hate it!

weight GAIN (25lbs in 1 year) - I am an Army Doctor - work out every day and work very hard... and healthy diet. Despite all that i GAINED weight.

abdominal distention - marked.

severe constipation - myxedematous pseudomemranous colitis is now suspected.

BUYER BEWARE!!!

I am 65, suufering from ulcerate colitis. Imuran kills my lever, I had to take a strong dose of prednisone.up to 60 mg. now after ten days I am on 30 mg.
it helps for colitis but I am not sleeping. I took sleeping pills, I can sleep about 2-3 hours in 24h.
Who could help me to be able to sleep again ? What kaind of sleeping pills or tranquilisers are recommended ?
Thank for answering also directly to my Email ******

Thank you.

I was diagnosed with Colitis just over two years ago. At the time, I was having severe symptoms and my doctor put me on 40 mg of Prednisone for 3 days, 30 mg for 3 days, 20 mg for 7 and 10mg indefinitely. The 40mg dosage caused me to not sleep at night, severe nevousness and basically feeling like I was on drugs. I felt this way until I got down to 20mg. Initially, I had swollen ankles and overall swollen feeling in my body. After I had been on this drug for more than a few months, I began to notice my hair falling out, my finger nails breaking and a severe tooth sensitivity to cold (never had this before). Over the last two years, I have been on and off of Prednisone and have had the exact same side effects each time. Right now I have been on 20mg for the last 6 months. I am meeting with my doctor this week to discuss some naturopathic solutions to get off of this horrid drug. Any one heard of using ingestible aloe vera as an alternative to Prednisone?

Originally diagnosed with PMR and was taking prednisone in high doses for 2 years with ok results, except that as I lowered the mg of prednisone the PMR symptoms returned. New doctor diagnosed RA instead and put me on Remicade. After 4 infusions I am having severe muscle pain in my upper right leg. And on occasion the beginning of the same problem in my upper left leg. Affectsmy mobility and I am taking large doses of tylinol & motrin for the pain. Doctor says this is not a side effect of the Remicade. At first I believed him, but now am having doubts. Anyone else have this side effect?

I've had 4 remicade treatments on my 2 treatment they had to stop it after bumping it up to 20 cc cause it started respitory problems and made my blood pressure go up. now when I go for treatments I have to take 75 mg of benedril and 30 mg of prednisone, now i'm noticing leg cramps, muscle pain, joint pain, my hair is falling out more than it ever did before. I'm not sure if this is related. Now i'm having bruises that don't heel up and, i'm getting sick with a respitory infection and i get frequuent migrains I also noticed tooth aches , i try to stay away from sick kids but for my crohns and ulcerates colitis i'm eather bound up or running for the restroom.

I've been on it for about 4 months. It does seem to help but I've had problems with steriods (prednisone) taken as a result of colitis.
In the case of Advair I get the hoarse voice and sleeplessness.
I'm also concerned about the long term use of this drug on my lungs. It is a steroid. I have diffuctly in breathing, especially taking a deep breath.
Does anyone know of any studies on how safe Advair is for your lungs or the rest of your body.We have had very bad experiences with Steroids.

my 17 year old son needed a hip replacement as a result of steroids (not Advair) this summer.
BEWARE OF STEROIDS.
lets find out about Advair.
Does it have any adverse steroid Affects??
please let me know.

Thank you

Peter W
******

Colitis? My daughter has been on Singulair and is experiencing problems with colitis. Anyone else?

I have taken this medicine on and off for a year now. I have severe ulcerated colon colitis. This medicine works wonders for me. When nothing else works. This product does not get rid of, or make it go all the way away, but it relieves my suffering a great deal. I go next week to see my GI for a new problem. Liver damage. I do not know if this medicine caused it. I do not drink. Never have. I do take lots of other medicines. Anyone ever heard of liver damage due to this drug?

ANOTHER SIDE EFFECT????

Been awhile since I posted. After 3m on it I had horrific anxiety and panic attacks. It's now 3m since I took my last pill and I am 95% back to normal.....however......

Over the past month I had to see a gastro doc because of horrific left side pain, vomitting and constipation (TMI but some of what came out was bloody mucous). After a CT scan and colonoscopy I have been diagnosed with colitis. I have NEVER had gastro issues my whole life. After reading up on colitis and IBD/IBS I have read that there is a connection with colitis and birth control pills bringing it on.

Anyone else?

Denise

To the person that said weight gain is an excuse...have you ever heard of Cushing's syndrome or disease..well I've had both. The disease is an over production of steriods that your adrenal glands produce and is usually caused by a tumoron the adrenals or pituitary gland. In my case it was on the pituitary gland. I've always weighed around 125. The tumor caused me to have a moon face and gain so much weight that people didn't recognize me. I also had to have a hip replacement because the high amounts of steriods in my system caused avascular necrosis of the hip. I was 33 at the time. Now, two years later and cured from the Cushing's disease because of surgery to remove the tumor, I am on prednisone for colitis. I had lost all of my weight from the Cushing's until I started taking pred. again. I've only been on them for 3 months and am down to 5mg. I am depressed and very anxious, and Xanax is NOT helping.

started taking predisone for colitis
no one told me you couldnt stop this wen you wanted,nor about side effects,just worked out for myself wen i turned into a psychotic loony ,around the same time as i started taking this stuff glad i found this site seems there are people with same symptoms and much worse

I experienced all the above side affects as well. I have ulcer-colitis. I did notice, however, when you start to taper off of the doses it helps if you drink TONS of water....seems to rid the symptoms a little faster.
I've been off prednisone for 1 yr and still have occasional leg cramps and redness on inner thighs, my eyesite is not what it was prior to prednisone. i will not take medicine again unless Dr tells me life or death!

Since starting on Neurontin for headaches, a little over a year ago, I've been diagnosed with: IBS, Colitis and High Blood Pressure. I have also had swelling and pain in my ankles and legs and constant debilatating abdominal pain and bloating. I tend to go from constipation directly to diarreha. I never had trouble with my blood pressure (other than with my first pregnancy) until I started taking this medication. It always ran about 115-120/75-80. I've started looking at info. on the web regarding Neurontin. I've learned a lot. It has many more side effects and medical causes than I was first informed about. The makers are also being sued for having their Reps. lie about it's uses and "cures". I've also read that it has terrible side effects when trying to stop. It has helped my headaches, but I feel I've paid a price for them to stop. I think that my headaches were not as bad as the abnominal pain that I'm experiencing. I'm going to see my Dr. and find ou how to stop taking it.

Ihave ulceative colitis.
i first started taking 40 mg of prednisone but it did not help me out so they increased it to 60 mg for a week, then i went on 50 for 3 days, 40 for 3 days, and now i am currently on 30mg for 2 weeks. i hve notice a huge gain in my appitite. i cant stop eating...i eat a meal and i am already thinking of the next one. i used to have a six pack but now its gone in only a few days, now i have a pot belly and is just getting bigger. my face is swelling and my knees hurt sometimes. i hope the side effects go away after i am done taking this stuff. i dont know how much wight i iwll gain. i hope not too much cuase i am not aloud to exersice untill im off predisone.