Cracks symptoms and conditions

I've been taking lamictal for btwn 2 and 3 years now, for depression and as a mood stabilizer. I was on wellbutrin 300 mg, and then I had an episode of severe depression (crying all the time) while on the wellbutrin. So my doctor added lamictal, gradually going up to 200 mg.

It works, and I haven't had a really severe depressive episode since (except for circumstantial reasons), although I'm generally mildly depressed.

Side effects: My fingernails have weakened, and some have ridges down the middle that are so weak they become cracks even if there is only 1 mm of white nail growth. I thought it might be a nutritional deficiency, but I eat healthily, and I finally decided to look into the side effects of my meds. Others on this site are talking about hair loss -- I'm quite sure the nail problem is from the lamictal, as hair and nails are produced in similar ways.

I yawn every few minutes, whether or not I'm tired, which at least one other person on this forum mentioned as well, as a less common side effect. (I'd figured this was due to one of my meds -- now I know which one it is.)
I've also been concerned that I'm klutzier than normal lately. After reading everything on this site, I've just decided to start weaning myself from 200 mg towards a lower dose of 100 mg. I don't think I'll go off of it entirely, b/c it works.
One last thing I have to say is that I really recommend ACUPUNCTURE for any mood disorders. I get it for free at a school in Chicago (it's often a long wait, but free!), and many bigger cities probably have an acupuncture school where it will be cheap, if you're on a budget like I am. Occasionally, insurance covers acupuncture. Anyway, I try to go once a week, and it helps tremendously with my depression, migraines, and general energy level-- it has a very powerful cumulative effect! When I stop going, I notice huge differences emotionally, and I get a lot more migraines. My mom and sister have also had very positive experiences using acupuncture for depression and anxiety.

I actually ask to be treated for my headaches, not specifically depression, but it helps me a lot with both issues. I really can't say enough about how wonderful acupuncture is, and how much it's changed my life. Last time I was medication-free, 5 years ago, I was going to acupuncture every week for many months, and it was enough! Just don't expect it to work overnight -- just be consistent and give it some time. When I first started going every week, I noticed a difference after a month or so, although the treatments generally leave me feeling relaxed and good right afterward as well.

I have been taking Fosamax for about a year. I take the 70mg once weekly dose every Sunday morning. This past Sunday after my regular dose I noticed a pain in my lower right leg. Monday not only did my leg hurt but I had pain in my entire body from the neck down, chills, sweats, headache, stomach upset and my neck feels loose somehow and cracks like never before. It felt like I was coming down with a severe case of the Flu although I know now that I do not have the flu. It is Wednesday and I am still in pain, the chills have subsided somewhat today but the sweats have not. Previous to this I had been put on Boniva and experienced these same symptons after one dose and stopped immediately. I cannot stress how badly I feel. In between doses of Tylenol I feel terrible (8-10 500mg per day). I will now stop Fosamax and will never take another drug like this again. I just hope that this drug has not done permanent damage to my body or liver damage from all the tylenol. I too think the drug company has a lot to answer for.

I can't believe that this drug is legal and that it has not been taken off the market. I have been on it for a year and couldn't understand why I was gaining weight, nothing helped to get those pounds off. I started at 160 and now at 195 and growing. Three years ago I had triple bypass, weight 150, some of the meds caused some weight gain, but nothing like this. My joints was so sore in the morning I couldn't hardly walk, I just knew I was going to be using a walker if this kept up. BTW I'm 65 female, always been active and busy, now I just do what I have to or can and that doesn't make me happy. I have recently been having crying spells and sore throat, voice lost, and enlarged tongue. The enlarged tongue caused me to do some searching on side effects.....I am so glad I found this page. I haven't taken any puffs of Advair since., that was 3 days ago. My tongue is starting to shrink, my joints aren't as sore, my crying is stopping. The weight is still with me and might never lose it, time will tell. I don't seem as hungry and eating less so maybe there is hope. This is a drug that should have Big warning all over it. Advair has taken a year of my life at this point. If there is ever a law suit I would be the 1st to sign. I didn't have that many breathing issues and really didn't understand why the Dr. put me on it.
I usually check up on drugs before I take them, this one slipped through the cracks, guess cause it wasn't a pill. At this point I just hope that others find this in time and stop using Advair before it ruins their lives.
God Bless
Barbie Kay

I also received a kenalog injection from a dermatologist for rashes that wouldn't go away. He told me ONLY that it would probably mess up my menstrual cycle. I thought "yeah sure that sounds great" I just wanted relief from all the itching. The rash did go away but i started to notice a dent where they gave me the injection. It has since gotten bigger and I am scared and wondering what is going on with me. My doctor never told me of atrophy or even that it was a possibility. I consulted with another doctor who told me he is not sure how this couldn't happened and that they probly injected in the wrong site. i now know after coming to this site that i am not alone and it is the kenalog that has caused me grief. Doctors need to be responsible in letting patients know every detail about the drug they are using on us. I was reassured by him that my only side affect would be irregular periods. Hopefully one day mine will go away but until the people need to be educated on certain steroids.

I've been taking Topamax now for about 6 weeks, and my headaches are still just as bad as ever, except now I have headaches with the thrill of numb fingers, confusion, weight loss, memory loss, an absolute horrid taste in my mouth, and now the latest.... my hands feel dirty all the time. Has anyone experienced this?? I just feel like my hands are dirty. I wash them, and a half hour later, it almost feels like there's a film on them, and I have to wash them again. Almost ocd-ish. So 6 weeks in.... Anyone have any advise on how much longer I should give this topamax before I give up on it & try something else? My doc said it should have worked by now if it was gonna - but I have read on here, that it sometimes can take months...? I just don't know if I can take these side effects, AND the headaches for much longer without going NUTS! {grin}
Any advise?

While taking Levaquin I experienced insomnia and anxiety. One week after completing 500mg a day for 10 days, I began experiencing Tendonitis in my right hand/wrist and have had an incredibly painful earache with tinnitus and vertigo. The ENT doctor diagnosed TMJ, but I do not grind my teeth or clench my teeth. My jaw operates just fine with no immediate pain, but the earache persists almost constantly. The ENT doctor's solution was Vicodin, but I want a cure not a pain treatment. I don't believe I have TMJ and wonder if it could be the temporal tendon. I am indirectly aware of two other people who have had the same experience, and I wonder how many others are out there. If any one else has experienced this and has any knowledge or advice to offer, I would greatly appreciate it. I have no idea who to go to about this. The ENT doctor does not have any solutions, and I doubt a dentist can help me because I don't think it's TMJ.

Has anyone had a problem with mouth or tongue sores? My oral surgeon elimnated anything serious, but still can't for sure tell me why the left side of my tongue is sore and red. Leiton planus was mentioned, I found that on one site to be associated with certain blood pressure medications.

Well, I started taking this medication for a bad rash from a tick it was called Rocky Mountain Spotted fever.

From day one, i felt as if my personality changed, i felt like i was not me. I felt very calm, mellow and toned down. But it seemed to be a good calm and relief from daily stress. Also another thing id notice is strange cracks in my jaw, also I have been having the most vivid dreams ive ever had. The dreams seem to be borderline reality and dream, and i dont know if its related to the drug. But wow, They are some pretty crazy dreams and i remember them all perfectly.

One thing i can say i like from taking this, it seems i get a very good nights rest when i wake up in the morning. I dont seem to be tired, because im not a morning person.

Since taking Lipator I completely lost may balance.I couldn't walk through the house withu bumping into the walls and I couldn't walk down the sidewalk without shoving my husband to one side.
My skin is shriveling up and so dry it cracks. After one week of being off Lipitor my balance is back to normal, I suppose the other symptoms will take longer to get back to normal.
At first I was on a strict diet that I never varied from and still my chlorestrol did go down. The doctor said what I had was inherited chlorestol and would have to take medication for it.
So, What do I take?
Jean

i have taken levaquin and had to stop. immediately after ingestion i had dizziness and stomach pain. after 5 days my skin began to change. it became very dry and started to crack. i had dandruff on my face as well as in my hair. some of these cracks began to bleed. this continued long after i quit taking the drug. i still have hives and dry skin and am consulting my doctor for treatment.... i would not recommend!!!

its 500 in the morining. i thought it was wierd the pharmisist warned me not to play sports while on this drug as it tightens up tendons that can lead to other injuries. im on my 7th day now on a 10 day prescription. it has been getting harder to sleep every night, now i have a burning rash or hives that started in one leg and are spreading everywhere, my jaw is shaking uncontrolably, and my eyes are on fire, what kind of testing do they do, what kind of doctors give prescriptions based on wonderdrugs. there is adeeper underlying problem than my current joint weakness upset stomach, shaking, and hives and did i fail to mention my eyes are on fire, im tired during the day and the rash has been getting worse. i dont like to not sleep suspect LEVAQUIN at 500 in the morning and find this website. im a very physically active person but not lately my tendons ache. this bs better subside soon IM FINISHED WITH IT all my body cracks topped with hives

I had been using Loprox for seborrhoeic dermatitis of the face for a month or more with varying effect because I was not consistent in following the routine of application twice a day. I was also consistently using Loprox shampoo with definite improvement to the scalp. One day the affected parts of my face suddenly got much worse. The skin reddened and swelled and began to burn and itch. It looked awful. There was no explanation for this sudden effect except that it coincided with a series of very sunny days in July when I was outdoors quite a bit. My condition did feel a lot like a bad sunburn. I concluded that the cream must have made my skin much more sensitive to sunlight, promoting burn. Note that parts of the face that normally burn first--the nose, for example--were not affected. Note also that I have had the condition for several years untreated and never had any particular reaction to sunlight.

While the sunburn was healing, I started applying Loprox to one side of my face and over the counter cortisone cream to the other. The cortisone side has now cleared up much faster, while the Loprox side has cracks in the skin and little scabs.

I've been taking Advair for a couple of months for allergy-induced asthma. Have been working out like a fiend and watching my diet yet have gained 30+ lbs. Also find that my voice has changed (it cracks sometimes now when I speak), and my anxiety--a problem from before I went on Advair--has worsened. My bones ache at night, and I am (was) a healthy, fit 30 year old who has never had such aches in her life. But I can breathe so darn well!! All of these posts are amazing evidence that Advair is, at best, good for for the short-term and (potentially) dangerous in the long-run. Are there other, safer, options out there? What have the rest of you done when you've gone off Advair?