Crazy heart symptoms and conditions

Ugh, this has to be the worst medicine I have EVER been on. I was having anxiety attacks that occurred every evening and lasted for hours. Hot flash, nauseousness, inability to concentrate, thought I was going crazy.........
they started after my mom went in for open heart surgery in Nov of 2008. They put me on Xanax for attacks, and Clonazepam (double ugh), and I didn't take Effexor for a while, but my aunt convinced me to do it as I wasn't doing much better.

The thing is I'd been having issues with fatigue, heart palpitations, facial hair, etc. for several months to years and the doctors ran blood work and said everything was fine........

With the clonazepam and effexor I didn't have mood swings so much, but it was because I spent 16-20 hours a day in bed. When I first started the effexor I was told that the side effects go away after your body adjusts, and as it was the fourth or fifth anti-depressant I tried I figured I would suffer through. I lost 40 pounds (as I was/am overweight it was a good side effect in some ways) in a matter of 6 weeks, lost my appetite to the point that when I realized that I needed to do something about it I had to force myself to eat 1/2 piece of toast a day, slowing eating more...........I went several weeks only able to eat an average of 500 calories a day. I was so nauseous all the time. I was pretty much having a break down. I would only be "functioning" for 2-6 hours a day.

After going to the ER because my muscles began shaking while standing or trying to climb stairs (I'm only 28), having racing heart beats which they just prescribed more medication for, absolutely no energy, my hair falling out by the handfuls, I would wake up with it on my pillow............could not concentrate for the life of me, falling behind in school work (back to school mom), unable to do papers because I couldn't think.............

They finally tested my thyroid (runs in the family, have been telling them it sounded like my thyroid from the beginning........) my levels were finally off the charts, my TSH wasn't even registering. I was diagnosed with Graves disease........which can cause the panic attacks that they put me on the medication for in the first place.

As I figured it was probably the Graves, I tried weaning off my meds, only to feel as though I was going nuts and going to die............... I cut my clonazepam and effexor dosages in half, and within 2 days I could concentrate, and within a couple weeks I could go up and down the stairs again.............

Even now it is hard to say how much of my issues were caused by the Graves and how much was due to the Effexor combined with the Clonazepam. I was able to wean of the Clonazepam within 6 weeks by cutting my dosage in quarters every two weeks, but NOT the Effexor. I tried cut it and started having panic attacks, couldn't think, major migraines, and bed ridden........so I had to reduce it even slower.

Once I got down to half a dose, all of my symptoms went away except the fatigue. That is why I associate a lot of it with Effexor and NOT the Graves, because the symptoms did not go away until I reduced the drugs. I am now finally free of Effexor for about a month, and it was a hard road. It took me six months. I still have some issues with concentration and the occasional panic attack, but they are very minimal. I have read that this could be due to either both or one of the drugs I was on as it can take a year or more for your body to adjust.

Anyhoo, I wonder if the medication didn't trigger the Graves, or what.............but I would NEVER EVER suggest this medication to anyone.

I have gained most of the weight I lost back........but that is to be expected since my metabolism probably hit rock bottom not eating anything but toast for weeks.......

Anyhoo, I really wish that Doctors would tell you what could happen before giving you a drug. At least then when you start having these symptoms you know where and why...........rather then going in, and them having no idea?!?!?!? Funny, as if you search online you see lists that match exactly what you are going through.

I am now VERY leery about taking any meds at all, including Tylenol.

I am so glad to have found this page and learned that I am not the only person going through this. Yasmin is Horrible. The worst part is that I am only now realizing it after more than 3 years. I was such and outgoing happy party girl. Then I changed.. Depressed, anxiety, panic attacks, nervous, insecure, angry, short-tempered, thought I was going crazy, heart palpitations and the list goes on and on. Oh yeah and my sex drive non-existent when I always had a very high libido. I didn't understand what was happening to me and never thought the pill had anything to do with it. I also had beautiful thick hair which is now a few strands of oily limpy hair. I stopped the pill and it's been about two weeks. I'm not sure if it's withdrawal I'm having from what I read from other women but my heart palpitations are horrible, I'm restless, my hands are sweaty, I feel confused and dizzy, nauseous. How long until I detox my body? I just want to go back to the person I was. I went to the Gyno 2 weeks ago and mentioned my low libido and asked if Yasmin could be the reason.. The Answer: No, You need more four play. I didn't believe her and that's when I started researching the internet. I can't believe we have all gone through this and these stupid doctors don't care. If you tell them you have anxiety they give you Zanex. I just want to go back to how I use to be. I will never take birthcontrol pills again.. Yasmin should not be in the market. I've read other posts and I'm hoping my third week of post Yasmin gets better.

Just started Advair 6 days ago for cold induces asthma. I have taken flovent in the past with mild jitteryness from it. After one day was awakened at night by rapid heart beat and upper mid back pain. Continued the Advair and had 2 more of these sleeping attacks. Saw my GP today and she said to come off the advair as these are definite possible side effects of the drug. It's crazy how widely this is prescribed when so many people are having so many health issues. For me, living with the Asthma is much better than the crazy heart racing and back pain.