Conflict of interest symptoms and conditions

My husband has been taking Lipitor for a year. Several weeks after he started taking it he had muscle aches and when he went for a follow-up we discussed this concern and the neurologist said that it was ok and would go away. He had a stroke several years before and had some damage and he was tired. He complained about him getting weaker and his muscles hurting, he has left shoulder and arm pain. His chest hurts on the right side and doctors told him that he has inflammation between the muscle and chest wall but it has not cleared up after many months and meds. He is so weak now and is dropping things. He has some muscle twitching. I think it is from the Lipitor because the symptoms started after he was put on this drug. Doctor says that it is very unlikely..Has anyone else had these problems while taking Lipitor???

I am 34 years old. I am a pharmacy tech. I have asthma and allergies. I have taken singulair pretty much every day since it came out on the market. I've had asthma since i was about 10 years old. I took theophylline as a kid. Steriods on and off especially during times when my allergies are bad. I still use Advair during the fall and spring. Every drug has a side effect. However breathing is pretty good damn thing. Do I have days when I feel low? Yeah. Do I sometimes have nightmares? Yup. Are "natural" products the answer. Not always. The fish oil that some of the posters are touting can also cause GI problems. Some of the natural products contain herbs and other plant derivatives that can be harmful for a child that suffers from allergies. Not proactively treating asthma can be deadly. Some of the parents are suggesting steriods as the answer - those can cause weight gain, growth suppression and can lead to a worsening of asthma.

Singulair has never made me feel like I've wanted to kill myself. I was more depressed and angry as kid when my asthma did not allow me to partipate in normal childhood things. I was sad and hated life when I couldn't keep up with friends at recces because I was having trouble breathing. You have to outweigh the costs with the benefits. I am more irritable when I have asthma flareup then I am on a normal day. For me, I choose to breathe. And singulair has been helping me for almost a decade.

I'm not saying the medication isn't causing these symptoms but maybe there is an underlying cause to your child's depression.

Any drug has a side effect. But without medical research and the medications that come with them - people would still be dying of simple diseases and we wouldn't have vaccinations. As a society, as a whole, we are a culture that looks to someone else to fix things and then blames the people who try to fix it. We need to stop being the "hot McDonald's coffee'" society.

Thanks for the update Kate,as we wait with interest in what Merck has to say,I hope it is not a repeat of the Lung Associations report.To review past clinical studies,i dont know feels crazy,to ignore post marketing reports,well ignorant.My fear is after making my report to the FDA,that was the end of it not one follow up for further information,not one question on how our recovery was continuing nothing.All my letters to my congressman not one reply,i did not ask for a reply,but if someone wrote to me as often as i write,i would at least want to rule out stalking.Clinical trials are what they are,they are for profit,and not the profit of the participant,but profit for the companies and clinics holding trials,this by itself is a conflict of interest.We must continue to demand change the very future of our children demands it.Those of us who have seen the ravages of this drug must still shout out till we are heard our experiences do count no matter what the out come of this investigation.Good luck to all keep fighting

To redaurora:
I am completely angered by your story!! I can't believe that an OBGYN would be so ignorant to think Yasmin didn't play a role in your mild stroke when it's one of the risks listed RIGHT ON THE PACKAGE. Honestly, it seems like we all have to do our own research on these things... it's the only way we can get trusted information (which I have thankfully gained from all the women on this site).
I did some research and found that doctors claim their number one source for information on side effects are the pharmaceutical companies themselves (like they are going to admit there's a problem). Also, I have a friend involved in marketing pharmaceuticals and you wouldn't believe what kind of perks docs get from drug reps! (conflict of interest??)
It really makes you wonder....good luck with your recovery from yasmin. I am 4 months off Yasmin as well and still suffering...