Difficulty swallowing symptoms and conditions

My Saga began years ago when I had high cholesterol at 25 years old.
At 39 my doctor started me on Lipitor and I didn't stay on it.(no reason)
Now at 45(200 LDL) and at the urging of my father I have been on Lipitor for 24 days. He is on crestor. My father had open heart surgery at 41 and a second bypass at 55. He takes about 30 nitros a day at age 74. His brother died at 55 and father at 56, both heart attacks. So you see his concern for me, though being a female does help me.
Anyway at the time of my physical a swollen lymph node was found
on my neck. It has been there for over a month now and we have done
CT scans, mammograms & blood work . I will have a biopsy in 2 weeks on my neck. Everything has come back normal, however the pain in my
stomach started two weeks into the Lipitor. Also difficulty swallowing
like a chest infection. I lost five pounds not being able to eat much and constantly would get so bloated eating just soup. I went back to my doctor she sent me for a CT scan because lymph node issue too. Scary.
I had a biopsy on one breast as well because we are doing all these test for the lymph node swelling.
Well I have been popping Ibuprofen 600mg at a time to stop what feels like liver pain. I had hepatitis A so I know what that feels like. The pain was all over my top abdomen. I am starting to worry even more thinking I may have lymphoma. I start getting pain running down the inside of my right leg and the calf also. I spent 10 years in the Army reserve and was always fairly in shape so this was so out of the blue. I decided to go to and internal doctor because I was getting nothing from the family doctor and we still have the lymph node issue (swollen) He immediately said
stop taking the Lipitor after hearing my symptons. I still have to have a
biopsy on my neck but I am convinced Lipitor caused all the pain in my
stomach and fatigue. My doctor seems to think so too. Don't stay with a doctor that isn't aware of a drugs side effects. Definitely shop around. I hope to post again when my symptons disappear and my lymph node comes back negative.!

I have been taking warfarin for over a year now. I'm not sure if my symptoms are from the meds or not. I have a very itchy scalp, and I occassionly have difficulty swallowing. Right now I have a pinched nerve and right shoulder pain, have had it on and off for 6 months, my right index finger was numb and tingly for a month. I am currently seeing different doctors to see what the problem is, so far nothing. I'm hoping to go off Warfarin soon, against my hematologist's advice. Has anyone had any similiar symptoms while taking warfarin?

Sometimes when I use it for a continute period of time two sprays a day and but more particularily when I exceed that dose, I get a canadia infection in my mouth and throat and have difficulty swallowing. If I stop the medicine for a few days, the canadia infection goes away. Before I fitured this out my doctors had done all sorts of tests to no avail. None of them had made this connection.

This is a great site for learning more on this subject where we can get the real facts from real experiences.( Vs. the deception from drug companies who are in the business for profit.)

Lipitor is pure poison, and Dr.'s hand it out like candy. All cholesterol reducing drugs that contain statins can trigger dangerous side effects. Not many of us are informed about the real danger of statins when we are handed the perscription. Inappropriate prescribing of medications will continue to be one of the leading causes of death. And we, the patients,do not always receive enough info. from our Dr.'s about the dangers and side effects from prescription drugs.

I'm 48 yrs. young. Female, small build, (was) healthy and active, happy, and an empty nester! My husband and I had moved to another province and hence had to find a new Dr.

I was prescribed lipitor 10 mg. daily after a routine check up by my Dr. because my cholesterol was a little high.

I started taking it in the winter 2005. I stopped taking it in mid June 2007... My side effects were progressive , drug induced, and it escalated to near disabling.

I knew something was terribly wrong. Was it A.L.S., M.S., West Nile, Lupis, Alzhiemers Disease, or a new designer disease? I did not suspect that the drug lipitor was the cause until much later.

At first, my Dr. said it was menopause. I should mention; since I've quit taking the drug 3 months ago, I have no symptoms of menopause !
At least my Dr. has acknowledged and diagnosed the cause of these profound symptoms." Myopathy as a result of statins."

Signs & symptoms I experienced are as follows;

Severe stomach pain.
Muscle pain, aching , weakness, stiffness, tenderness esp.to the lower extremities. Eventually, I could only shuffle to walk.
Pain in the palms of hands.
Stiff neck, shoulders, arms and lower back.
Trouble getting up from a seated position, and climbing stairs.
Extreme fatigue.
Hot and cold sweats
Night sweats
Fevers. High and low grade fevers.
Ringing in the ears.
Difficulty swallowing, and fear of choking.
Pain in the esophagus.
Memory loss, difficulty concentrating, forgetfulness.
NO appetite, yet a lot of weight gained around the abdomen area.Bloated.
NO taste buds.
Speech affected, slurring words and mispronouncing. Tongue felt swollen.
Trouble breathing at night, would wake up coughing ( and I was not smoking then).
Trouble sleeping.
Loss of balance and coordination.
Blurred vision esp. in the morning.
Sharp shooting pains in the Rt. thigh.

Most of the symptoms have now subsided. I still have some foot pain and leg cramps and muscle stiffness... and poor concentration. Putting this together has been done with great difficulty, as I seem to pause a great deal and forget what I was trying to say. The recovery process is slow but at least it's progress. My Dr. has not prescribed any more medication. I've done my own research, after the fact, and started taking coQ10. and I've noticed a big difference!

Quality of life? Well, I'd rather have high cholesterol and die from that, than be poisoned again by statins. What quality is there, to live an extremely painful, useless and unfulfilling life? We were all guinea pigs, and we paid a terrible price for this! I hope we all can recover from this with no long term side effects.
If you are considering taking cholesterol lowering drugs do some careful research on statin drugs before you take them, and read the testimonies from those effected by them.
sj.

I have been prescribed Lamictal for seizures, and am currently taking 400mg daily, with my 300mg of Dilantin. Had horrible side effects this weekend-nightmares, exhausted, worsening depression, crying jags, difficulty swallowing. Has anyone else experienced mood changes for the worse while on this drug?

Originally, i was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism. This was about 6 years ago. I was on a beta-blocker for 3 years. Afterwards i was diagnosed as being hypothyroid (about 2.5 years ago). I've been taking synthroid ever since. At first my dosage was .075 mg. It was changed to .05 mg a year ago. I haven't gained any weight since i became hypothyroid, but i've had many other problems. Some of them include, difficulty swallowing and breathing, heaviness in throat area, memory loss, insomnia, lack of focus. These are the most serious problems.

I was prescribed Lisinopril six weeks ago. Yesterday I was rushed to the urgent care facility nearby with difficulty swallowing and hugely swollen lips. The emergency MD prescribed prednisone and zyrtec for the extreme allergic reaction which was attributed to the Lisinopril. The swelling has gone down although it is still quite noticeable and my throat is extremely sore although I am able to swallow liquids that are lukewarm. I am a white female age 53 and have blood pressure that measures 133/80. I am fit and eat healthfully, and have an interest in a more holistic approach to controlling blood pressure issues (which I truly wonder if I really have). I did not experience headache, nausea or depression, however constipation has been severe since beginning even a low dose of Lisinopril of 10 mg.

Hi Kim123,

Your story sounds like an exact exact replicate of my own. I stopped Yasmin in May 06, and until now am still suffering from it's effects. The first 4 months off were the absolute worse. I became an exact opposite of my former self. All of sudden, I would get SEVERE panic attacks esp. while eating.... I too lost 14 pounds and went from somebody who couldn't stop thinking about food, too somebody who absolutely detested and feared it.

I went to tons and tons of Doctors. The one thing that they finally found was subclinical hyperthyroidism with a tsh as low as .009. Finally in October of 06, after getting to the point of wanting to end it all, I gave in and took fluoxetine 10mg, every other day. I feared taking any more drugs because of what Yasmin did to me., but at that point it couldn't get any worse. At that point I finally started making slow, but steady progress. The fluoxetine helped a lot with the anxiety and also with my gastrointestinal problems. I researched many hours on the drug type and realized most Dr's prescribe to high of a dose and it is better to take the lowest possible dose to avoid the extra side effects.. Btw, I never had any side effects from the drug.

The first four months, I couldn't eat anything. I had chest pressure, tightness, difficulty swallowing/ sometimes breathing, anxiety, panic attacks, all day nausea, chills.

Now at almost a year off, the chest pressure and swallowing problems ceased. The nausea ceased though depending on my cycle I still cannot eat too much and sometimes feel ill after eating. The anxiety is much less and the chills went away. So even after a year off, I still cannot eat as I used to, but I did make progress and so will you.

Kim, it's probably going to be a long hard journey back to health as all of us on these boards now. The one thing that keeps me going is knowing that eventually there will be more good days then bad... and that one day I will have my health back and that I will never ever take for granted again.

Best wishes, and God bless.

Jen

I am glad I am not alone!!! I started taking this in the hospital via IV for PID and sent home with 100mg 2x day. I have completed my dosages(quitting a day early because i have been on it over 10 days) and I am thrilled to be off. Each day the side effects got worse.
I have severe tightening in my chest, mentrual like cramping, difficulty swallowing, fatigue and white splotches on my face.
What I dont understand is why all of use can report these but yet nothing on the pamplet mentions any other effects other than gastric symptoms like vomitting and diarehea.
Now, I wonder how long it will take for the side effects to diminish?!

extreme deep muscle pain, right leg
difficulty ennunciating words
memory loss
difficulty swallowing
fatigue
neck pain

More.. I forgot about the other side effects I had; the aching calves in my legs when trying to fall asleep, dry mouth with difficulty swallowing, tongue feeling funny, food and taste not right, light headiness, almost fainting when I reached to the ground to pick up something, makes me feel like I'm going to pass out when I stand upright. Will never take this damn stuff again. Besides what ever happen to the other anitbiotics. They cant make as much money.... you know the deal.

I was taking Levaquin and Medrol Dospak for an upper respiratory infection in the beginning of May 2006. On the fourth day I became violently ill-vomiting and diarhea every twenty minutes, weak pulse, cold clammy skin, low blood pressure, dry mouth difficulty swallowing, muscles spasms and extreme weakness. I was taken to my doctors office where I was given IV fluids as I was dehydrated. All medications were stopped. I went home to try to recover from what I thought was the flu. I had muscle aches and started getting severe joint pain and burning in feet. My mouth was painfully dry ...back to dr. he said I might have Sjorgens Disease (autoimmune disease) and Reactive Arthritis. I have never had anything like that before. He recommended a Rhumatologist...that Dr. said to keep doing what I was doing with first Dr...I was trying despartely to find out what was wrong and get well as my daughter was getting married in June. These symptoms increased and the fatigue was awful. All blood tests were normal except for a slight elevation of CRP which shows inflammation. I still do not know what caused this and what to do about it. I have started to feel better regarding the finger and wrist and shoulder pain as I was prescribed pain medication and more steriods. The pain in the joints of the knees and ankles and toes is lessening. The fatigue is still there. The scary thing is I never thought it could be from a medication and right now I am again on Levaquin and Medrol Dospak for another upper respiratory infection....I am on my second day of meds and after reading this I wonder if I should contiue??

I am a South Florida female, now 61, who started taking 10 mg daily Lipitor in 2000, when aged 55, for high cholesterol. Lipitor worked. My cholesterol dropped from 270 to 207 and stayed there for 5 years.
Early 2006, I began feeling unsteady in the mornings so started taking Lipitor at bedtime, instead. Also began taking CoQ10 along with it.
Then I started feeling oddly foggy, mentally, but was under a lot of stress at home, so discounted it. I became clumsy, dropping things and stumbling. Had a bad fall in February and injured my left knee. As the left leg got better I realized I was also limping on the right leg. Soon I had to use a cane to get about and needed to use my arms to get up out of a chair. I was slurring my words. I sounded drunk and was tired all the time. I couldn't turn keys or door handles. Emotions were near the surface. I would burst into tears over a newspaper cartoon.
Before long I was so weak I could only stagger around my house by hanging onto the furniture. Still no pain whatsoever, (apart from horrible nightime cramps and spasms throughout my whole body) just increasing muscle weakness and being in a constant daze. I was having difficulty swallowing and often aspirated bits of food. I began worrying about having MS or ALS, or having had a stroke, so made an appt to see my doctor. Suddenly the possibility of it being the Lipitor dawned on me at last and I stopped taking it the first week of April 2006. (I now know I should really have eased myself off it in case of sticky platelet rebound.)
Within a week of stopping the Lipitor I felt so much better and brighter. By the time my doc's appt came around in May my mental fog was lifting and I was walking a bit better, but dragging my right foot. My right calf was wasting just as my right thumb muscle had. My doc diagnosed a dropped right foot and a claw hand and referred me to a neurologist. She also sent me for a brain tumor MRI, which was negative
I had for years been waking at 5am every morning to urinate. Within two weeks of stopping Lipitor I was sleeping through till 7am and having no problems during the day. Bladder muscles must be able to regain their strength quickly. I also noticed that the dry mouth that for years had plagued me was gone. Instead of constantly chewing gum and carrying bottled water I have regained a normal saliva flow, something I had completely forgotten ever having. The muscle cramps completely stopped, and also the awful nightmares.
Two months later I seemed to reach a plateau in improving, so decided to see the neurologist in July 2006. He dismissed my theory that it was Lipitor, saying he'd never such seen such side effects and sent me for two MRIs of my spine. The neurologist thinks it's probably ALS as he observed some muscle twitches and has referred me to a specialist in Miami. I haven't made an appointment as I am convinced it was the Lipitor and hope no permanent damage has been done and that I will eventually regain muscle mass and strength.
Lipitor is a poison derived from toxic mold -- red yeast rice. And though it may be safe for some, I believe there are many people suffering needlessly from taking it and the other statin drugs.
I was lucky enough to have a home pc and discover others are in the same boat, but what about all the old folk and working moms and dads taking Lipitor who don't have the time, ability or resources to research this? They are alone in their Lipitor fog, stumbling and slurring, many being diagnosed with dementia and neuropathies, having no idea that their medication is causing such horrible side effects.
Yes, my cholesterol shot up without Lipitor, but I am now on an organic, glutamine-free diet, mainly vegetables, fish and fruit, oatmeal every day, CoQ10, Omega 3 and lots of vitamin C and hoping to keep it somewhat under control.
Any other South Florida sufferers of similar statin-induced myopathy are welcome to e-mail me. Let's get the word out and some support groups going.

Shortness of breath, not able to walk very far, get awake during the night gasping for breath, difficulty swallowing, and dizzy spells, where everything is spinning for several minutes.
I quit taking lipitor on my own, and within two days, I was walking and running 6 miles with no problem. No more shortness of breath, difficulty swallowing, and not waking up gasping for breath.

Started Zocor in May 2005, took for approx. three weeks. Had been given samples by GP. Stopped June 10, 2005 due to problems. Following is a list of symptoms as they occurred. Head shake, thinking and speaking problems, difficulty swallowing, weakness, low back pain, muscle spasms, pain in legs (especially left leg) Kidney pain, dark urine for one day only, and especially extreme fatigue. GP said was Myopathy. didnt seem to know cause. Continued to get worse untill approx. July 15, 2005. Started phy therapy. This helped to build back the muscles lost but would only build to a certain point. Presently, april 2006, Most of the symptoms have abated but I still have difficulty walking and standing very long. Had to quit working, could not handle. I will keep updating as I progress. This has been some nightmare.

Update: I posted a message on 2/15, detailing my experience with Lisinopril 5 mg. I'm happy to report that the marathon coughing is finally over :) Yes, it felt like the coughing would never end! It gradually subsided in a span of two weeks. I would still occasionally cough as I noticed that there still seems to be an abundance of phlegm. But at least the constant coughing is gone. And, no more stress-incontinence as long I don't start the hacking cough. I feel so much better. I'm not as dizzy or light-headed. I'm still on Benicar 20mg (an ARB II ? not an ACE) and HCT 25mg. So far, no intolerable side-effects. My bp is controlled and will soon go for a follow-up visit. Just hoping I won't have to take this poison again.

One thing I noticed, on the following day I stopped Lisinopril, I had difficulty swallowing like even a teaspoons worth of food. It lasted for about a week and I was bloated. I was sure that I was having a bad reaction. But overall, things are generally better. I can say that life is good again :) The doc said that for some, it does take some time for the body to rid itself of the Lisinopril.

I disagree with the guy who implied that perhaps these are perceived symptoms. I think not! I am living proof that indeed, Lisinopril is the culprit. Like I said, I was never on any prescription drugs for the long haul other than your garden variety antibiotics. When I developed pregnancy-induced hypertension during my third pregnancy, I was put on Methyldopa for a few months. Any drugs I take, I always notice adverse side-effects. I'm in-tuned with my body when it comes to that, as are most people here who had complaints. So to suggest that these are "general and can be caused by and associated with many things" -- is an ignorant comment. It's not mass hysteria. Most people who posted here have already suffered the side-effects before they read what others wrote. They know from experience and observation that their condition was not normal after taking this drug and not because they first compared symptoms with other people.

You wrote: "Perhaps I would feel different if there had been a strong and relatively immediate reaction to the drug, but much of what I read suggests to me that people have other issues and problems, not a side-effect."

Wrong! Even the doctor concedes that many people do have these bad reaction to this drug. Not everyone is wired the same way, so naturally, some won't notice immediate side effects unless they're extremely allergic.

I was started on Toprol XL 50 mg 3 weeks ago and am stopping it immediately. I have had 3 trips to the ER with shortness of breath and left sided chest pain. Other symptoms include a 10 pound weight gain, leg/feet swelling, difficulty swallowing, tremendous fatigue, headache, periods of feeling faint/lightheaded, extreme nausea and constipation with abdominal bloating. I have never felt so horrible in my life and will NEVER take this drug again.

I was on Fosomax for only two weeks and I experienced severe chest pains and the inability to swallow. I spent 5 days in the hospital on morphine until I was able to swallow and get liquids down. Even my siliva touching my esophogus caused horrible spasms to my chest. This is a horrible drug. What I found difficult to believe it that the doctors "poohed-poohed" the idea that Fosomax had anything to do with what happened to me. If it wasn't for my sister, an RN, who saw Fosomax being advertised and heard the warning of the side effects of chest pains and difficulty swallowing, I would have gone home from the hospital and taken another dose.

Morphine sulfate causes me to have difficulty swallowing. Instead of being an automatic process, one I normally do without thinking, I have to consciously force the muscles in my mouth and throat to perform the swallowing action. I do not notice other side effects.

After about two weeks of use, I started having dry mouth, severe swelling of different portions of my upper an lower lip and sides of my face. Also, ! had hives all over my body, which would subside after around 8 to 12 hours after taking an antihistamine. I also experienced difficulty swallowing.

Ihave been taking 20 mg Lipitor for 3 years and have noticed loss of feeling in the ends of my toes. This loss is now extending to all my toes and my ankles are getting stiff. I have trouble standing if I have squatted down and from time to time have difficulty swallowing. Some times , particularly when out in the wind, I have great difficulty breathing and now carry an asthma spray. Is all this due to Lipitor.??? By the way I sometimes hit the wall when walking and have to be careful going down stairs. I also suffer from gas and constipation.(61 years, female, tennis player)

poor small motor control, difficulty swallowing,tremors,not swinging arm when walking, weakness,confusion,anxiety/panic attacks,constipation,stacked writing, getting tested for Parkinsons and am thinking it may be my 3-4 year use of Lipitor.

hoarseness-lost voice;difficulty swallowing;unilateral vocal fold paralysis

DRy throat,Hoarseness,difficulty swallowing

Side effects from Accupril? You name 'em, I got 'em. Started the drug about 2 weeks ago and have had dry cough, dizziness (usually when lying down and/or changing position), light headedness, fatigue, shortness of breath and one day I had hoarseness and difficulty swallowing. Have been changing the dosage but the effects keep coming back to one degree or another.