Diuretics symptoms and conditions

Folks, I was on this standard diuretic for about 6 years or so. For a very long time, I did not think it was causing any significant side effects (other than having to pee a lot). I was wrong. It gave me type II diabetes.

If you ask MOST doctors and nurses about this, they will deny it strenuously. As one very good PA told me, "diuretics are our first line of defense." An RN just two weeks ago thought I was crazy to blame my diabetes on it.

But it is not my imagination. The ALLHAT study -- which, if you cite, will cause most docs and nurses to shut up right fast -- is one of the most famous studies out there. It was huge, and its authors became strong proponents of diuretics. But the same study found that if you take HCTZ for five years, you have about a 12.6% chance of developing diabetes (versus perhaps a 1 to 2% chance otherwise). I am so angry about this because no one warned me. No one told me this, so I could never make an informed decision about taking this medication. Now I will be fighting diabetes for the rest of my life!

I haven't looked at the insert for HCTZ in a long time, so for all I know they're now finally listing blood sugar issues. But they said nothing when I started in 2002, and no one bothered monitoring by blood sugar either. Even when we finally noticed the glucose readings going up, no one said, "Oh, we should take you off that diuretic."

If you do some googling, you'll discover that there are a (minority) of doctors out there who are also very concerned about this. They argue a lot at forums for doctors. This business about diabetes IS a known side-effect. It's just, as I said, that too few doctors seem to be aware of it, or if they are, seem to feel the need to inform their patients before prescribing it.

I've had Mirena for 5 months now. I bled for the first 3 months ... straight ... but months 4 and 5 I've had regular periods (which I'm hoping disappear altogether as they did with BC Pills for me). Anyway, I'm trying to weigh the pro's and con's. I'm 33 and don't want kids, so I think this is a great alternative to other BC's with the 5 year safety, however, I have seriously been CRAZY tired and lacking energy for the full 5 months and am so bloated I look pregnant (when I normally have a flat, attractive tummy). I've never experienced anything like this. I'm not ready to remove it for these irritants - yet - because I truly feel it's a fantastic concept. Was anyone able to combat these things? I'm not about to get on diuretics because that's a temporary and unhealthy habit. I drink plenty of water, work out (when I can find the energy) and eat very healthily. Any advice that's worked for others is welcome!

I have type2 diabetes and as i've read in so many of the postings of side effects that bloating was a big problem. I had this same problem. My physician immediately prescribed Lasix (furosimide - $4.00 at Walmart) and Spironolactone. These are both diuretics. I take the Lasix twice a day and the Spironolactone once a day. The Spironolactone protects against Potassium loss that comes with diuretics. My feet up to my knees were huge. At one point I couldn't even see the ends of my toes. The pain was horrible. After staring these, I lost 60 pounds in two weeks of fluid!!!!! Please talk to your physician about these. They gave me the relief that I needed. A. in Austin

I was on Lipitor for less than a week 2 years ago and the muscle pains were so bad that moving my head was painful. I called the doctor's office and was instructed to stop taking the medication; which I did and felt 'back to normal' within a few days. I haven't had my cholesterol checked since that time, or if I did before surgery, no one mentioned anything negative about it. However 6 weeks ago I had a heart attack. Apparently my cholesterol was twice what it should it have been, and my potassium was incredibly low. So I'm now on Lipitor (standard procedure after having a heart attack and high cholesterol seen as the cause of it) to ensure that another blockage does not occur.

The only problem is I'm now bloated even though I've changed my diet drastically (no more junk food or soft drinks, no 'white' flour products, no dairy products with more than 5% M.F and lots of veggies and fruits). I've lost 3 or 4 pounds but my pants are too tight around my waist, and now I have a my upper abdomen bulges over the waistline. Besides that, I get muscle 'kinks' in very places and after sitting for more than 10 minutes I limp when I take the first few steps.

People have told me to 'keep taking Lipitor and Plavix' but exercise more. The only problem with that is that I have a brain aneurysm and the neurosurgeons don't think it can be operated on 'without it being a very high risk procedure'. The first one ruptured 10 years ago and since then I've managed to control my blood pressure. However the meds I took for that was what lead to my potassium being so low that my electrolytes were imbalanced. That combination of low potassium and high cholesterol is what lead to the heart attack.

I'm 54 and feel as though I'm losing control of 'how' I feel. Between Lipitor, Plavix and diuretics and medication for hypertension I'm not sure if it's one drug in particular that's making me 'ache, limp and look like a blimp' or if it's because of the interaction of all of them. How do I decide 'what' to stop? What's more important to look after first - my heart or my brain?

Can anyone tell me from personal experience how long it takes for swelling to go down after having Mirena removed? I have taken rx diuretics for years and been diagnosed with ALL kinds of crazy things all over this stupid device! I had it for 4.75 years before I put it all together! I fell a bit slow, but every MD I see (7) because of ALL the problems, SWORE it was not the iud. I got it removed 3 days ago and am already seeing HUGE improvements in my health. I am really hoping the leg swelling will subside soon, can anyone tell me how long it took for them?
thanks

Everyone is saying how they have or will get off lisinopril. This is a dangerous approach unless your doctor approves. What other BP drugs are considered safe with minimal side effects? After 3 days of lisinopril usage, I woke up this morning feeling very hyper inside. No outward shakes or anything like that. I NEED to take BP medicine so what are the alternatives? I'm 64, not overweight. Diuretics kept my BP in the normal range but the side effects of HCTZ kept getting worse until I had to change medication. If lisinopril is so bad why do so many doctors prescribe it?

I have been taking Lisinopril for at least three years, since my pharmacy substituted it for Fosinopril. It never occurred to me that a particularly nasty side effect was coming from that medication until I ran out and didn't take it for a few days.

My lower legs had been swelling very badly for a few years, but I didn't associate the swelling with the drug, and I had been fighting it with compression hose and diuretics. Once I stopped the Lisinopril, 90% of the edema vanished.

I am a 38 yo female. Took bactrim for UTI. Two and half days into treatment, I could not sleep. Strange dreams, agitation. Next day, absolute feeling of panic, anxiety, restlessness, loss of appetite, weakness in hands, confusion, sweating, heavy heartbeat. Went to ER, they were unfamiliar with this reaction. Seems to take quite awhile to get the medication out of your system. I will never take bactrim again.

My doctor put me on Lisinopril (10 mg) a week ago. On the third day, I felt fatigue, had a cough, entire body soreness, felt feverish, with flu symptoms. My doctor told me to stop taking it for three or four days and start it up again. I did. I felt better, especially on my forth day. I started it up again on a Monday and still felt okay, but the fatigue returned. Today, which is Saturday, I woke up feeling great. I didn't take the Lisinopril until noon time and from then on I have felt very tired. I laid down for six hours, slept two. I still have the cough and have decided to take the Lisinopril at night so that I may sleep better. I go back to my doctor the 11th of October and will let you all know how that turned out.

Hi. I just wanted to let everyone know what has happened since I stopped taking Yasmin 4 days ago. (I only took it for 2 months.) I'm still having heart palpitations, feeling of a lump in my chest, and still a bit dizzy at times. My ears kind of feel like when I'm on an airplane coming in for a landing when the dizziness comes around. I'm also still having an occasional urge to cough. I still have shortness of breath and it's very noticeable when I'm talking and saying a long sentence. I thought the symptoms would really decrease but it seems to come and go. I feel the palpitations more frequently during the evening hours. I don't know why that is though. All of this makes it really hard to concentrate a work. I was reading one blog that said to take extra magnesium and zinc. Has anyone tried that and is it effective?

I have been taking Lisiniopril for several years now for moderately high blood pressure. (10mg) I have the mild dry throat and cough but was willing to put up with it as opposed to having a stroke. What I did not count on was the fatigue, muscle and joint aches that I have developed along with feeling like I was in fog many days. Aches and discomfort in the middle of the night enough to wake me up and sometimes lasting all day (although it would subside somewhat during the day). In addition I have been having discomfort in my kidneys. I thought I was developing arthritis but was tested by my primary doctor for the gene and did not have it. Why did he not discuss the effects of this drug he had prescribed? Now that I know of other peoples experiences I am stopping this drug and will try harder to control my bp with execise and diet. My research has told me that simple diuretics will control the bp if necessary. These ACE inhibitors are nasty things...stay away!

I've been taking toprol xl 50mg once a day for a couple of years now for "hypertension" along with atacandHCI 12.5 mg . I have gain A LOT of weight and it is very unusual! I was a vol. wrestling coach for 20 yrs. so I stayed fair to very active. I also work all day in my business as a jeweler so I don't get around as much lately. After reading posts on this sight, I am CONVINCED that My meds. are the majority to blame! I get edema if i don't watch the salts, but I took a bunch of copies from this sight to my Dr. and he about called me CRAZY! This weight problem didn't start until I took this stuff. I also am experiencing sleeplessness, frquent trips to the bathroom at night ( probably from the diuretics I NOW have to take), tiredness, and overall lack of energy. I will be seeking a second opinion about my meds and condition and will up date afterwards. STAY AWAY FROM THIS MEDICINE!!!!

I don't know why the manufacturer doesn't give all the information, but they don't. Let's see if I can help.

They do tell you that Levaquin should be taken with copious amounts of water. What they don't say is that when you stop taking the drug it doesn't immediately leave your system. So when you stop the drug, continue the extra fluids for several days. That will help to flush out the Levaquin and return you to normal more quickly. It should even have some benefical effect for those who symptoms seem to go on and on.

And, for some time after having taken the drug, continue to avoid the diuretics (like coffee). Those pass the water too quickly through the body to have absorbed the remainng drug and flush it out too.

Good luck and God bless.

Ladies!! I posted here a few days ago...I had a horrible weekend-with the excessive fatigue and panic attacks...but I wanted to share what I have discovered. I strongly believe that all of us being on Yaz and getting totally screwed up-that our electrolytes are out of whack! And our mineral balance-which is essential to our overall well-being is completely messed up. I think we all have magnesium deficiencies!!! I am blown away by this discovery in myself- I hope you all can get some relief-there is this powdered magnesium supplement called Natural Calm and I took it last night and this morning felt like a new person!! I still feel a little strange but compared to the last 6 weeks, I feel like a new person-like my old self!! I could get into a Nutrition 101 lesson on the importance of balancing calcium intake with magnesium intake but I'll let you so the research. I also have a book called Prescription for Nutritional Healing (which is an excellent resource) and it stated that magnesium deficiencies are caused by (among many other things) birth control pills and diuretics!! and as we all know-Yaz is a terrible diuretic. Good Luck and I really hope this brings those of you who try this some (if not all) the relief you can have!! Just give it a try...worst case scenerio is that if you take too much magnesium you will have diarrhea- but that is not likely to happen-take it in a controlled way!! You simply mix the Natural Calm in hot water-like tea!! It's such a simple fix to such a complicated problem. Also, I went to the doctor yesterday and had bloodwork done...waiting for the results but she thought it was my thyroid too!! That's messed up...this stupid drugs has screwed our bodies up so bad...but we can fix them...let's have hope!! We just need to get balanced out again!! Take care
Kara

Potassium

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Pronunciations









albuterol

aldosterone

angiotensin

dialysis

digoxin

electrolytes

Fanconi's syndrome

hyperkalemia

hypokalemia

polyp

spironolactone

terbutaline

theophylline

Most of the body's potassium is located inside the cells. Potassium is necessary for the normal functioning of cells, nerves, and muscles.

The level of potassium in the blood must be maintained within a narrow range. A potassium level that is too high or too low can have serious consequences, such as an abnormal heart rhythm or even cardiac arrest. The potassium stored within the cells can be used by the body to help maintain a constant level of potassium in the blood.

Potassium balance is achieved by matching the amount of potassium taken in with the amount lost. Potassium is taken in through food and electrolyte-containing drinks and lost primarily in urine, although some potassium is also lost through the digestive tract and in sweat. Healthy kidneys are able to adjust the excretion of potassium to match changes in dietary intake. Some drugs and certain conditions affect the movement of potassium into and out of cells, which greatly influences the potassium level in the blood.

Hypokalemia
In hypokalemia, the level of potassium in the blood is too low. Excessive potassium loss usually results from vomiting, diarrhea, chronic laxative use, or colon polyps. Very occasionally, excessive loss results from excessive sweating in conditions of extreme heat and humidity. Many foods contain potassium, so hypokalemia is rarely caused by too little intake in people who eat a balanced diet.

There are several reasons why potassium may be lost in the urine. By far the most common is the use of diuretics that cause the kidneys to excrete excess sodium, water, and potassium. In Cushing's syndrome, the adrenal glands produce excess amounts of aldosterone, a hormone that causes the kidneys to excrete large amounts of potassium (see Adrenal Gland Disorders: Cushing's Syndrome). Excessive potassium is also excreted by people who eat large amounts of licorice or chew certain types of tobacco. People with Liddle's syndrome (see Tubular and Cystic Kidney Disorders: Liddle's Syndrome), Bartter's syndrome (see Tubular and Cystic Kidney Disorders: Bartter's Syndrome), and Fanconi's syndrome (see Tubular and Cystic Kidney Disorders: Fanconi's Syndrome) have rare defects that interfere with the kidneys' ability to conserve potassium.

Certain drugs (such as insulin

and the antiasthmatic drugs albuterol

, terbutaline

, and theophylline

) increase the movement of potassium into the cells and can result in hypokalemia. However, use of these drugs is rarely the sole cause of hypokalemia.

A mild decrease in the potassium level in the blood usually causes no symptoms. A more severe decrease can cause muscle weakness, twitches, and even paralysis. Abnormal heart rhythms may develop, especially in people with heart disease. Even mild hypokalemia is dangerous in people taking the heart drug digoxin

. The diagnosis is made by determining that the potassium level in the blood is low.

Potassium usually can be replaced by eating potassium-rich foods or by taking potassium supplements by mouth. Because potassium can irritate the digestive tract, supplements should be taken in small doses with food several times a day rather than in a single large dose. Special types of potassium supplements, such as wax-impregnated or microencapsulated potassium chloride, are much less likely to irritate the digestive tract.

Most people who take diuretics do not need to take potassium supplements. Nevertheless, doctors periodically check the potassium level in the blood so that the drug regimen can be altered if necessary. Alternatively, potassium-conserving diuretics (such as triamterene

, amiloride

, or spironolactone

) can be added to the diuretic therapy, but only in people whose kidneys are functioning normally.

Hyperkalemia
In hyperkalemia, the level of potassium in the blood is too high. Hyperkalemia usually results when the kidneys do not excrete enough potassium. Probably the most common cause of mild hyperkalemia is the use of drugs that decrease blood flow to the kidneys or prevent the kidneys from excreting normal amounts of potassium. Such drugs include triamterene

, spironolactone

, and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors. Hyperkalemia can also be caused by Addison's disease, in which the adrenal glands do not produce sufficient amounts of the hormone aldosterone, which stimulates the kidneys to excrete potassium (see Adrenal Gland Disorders: Addison's Disease). Kidney failure can result in severe hyperkalemia.

Hyperkalemia can also result when a large amount of potassium is suddenly released from the cells. A sudden release of potassium from the cells can result from crush injuries (involving the destruction of large amounts of muscle tissue), severe burns, or overdoses of crack cocaine. The rapid movement of potassium from the cells into the bloodstream can overwhelm the kidneys and result in life-threatening hyperkalemia.

Mild hyperkalemia causes few, if any, symptoms. Usually, hyperkalemia is first detected when routine blood tests are performed or when a doctor notices changes on an electrocardiogram. A high level of potassium in the blood is dangerous. It can cause the heart rhythm to become abnormal. If the level is very high, the heart can stop beating.

For mild hyperkalemia, reducing the potassium intake or discontinuing drugs that prevent the kidneys from excreting potassium may be the only treatment that is needed. If the kidneys are functioning, a diuretic may be given to increase potassium excretion.

For severe hyperkalemia, immediate treatment is essential. A resin that absorbs potassium from the digestive tract and passes out of the body in the stool can be given by mouth or enema. When this treatment is given, doctors also induce diarrhea so that the resin, with potassium absorbed into it, is quickly expelled.

When more rapid treatment is needed, the person may be given an intravenous solution containing calcium, glucose, or insulin

. Calcium helps protect the heart from the effects of a high potassium level but does not actually affect the potassium level. This protective effect lasts only a few minutes. Glucose and insulin

drive potassium from the blood into the cells, thus lowering the potassium level in the blood. If these measures do not work or if a person has kidney failure, dialysis may be necessary to remove the excess potassium.

Early signs of magnesium deficiency include loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, and weakness. As magnesium deficiency worsens, numbness, tingling, muscle contractions and cramps, seizures, personality changes, abnormal heart rhythms, and coronary spasms can occur Severe magnesium deficiency can result in low levels of calcium in the blood (hypocalcemia). Magnesium deficiency is also associated with low levels of potassium in the blood (hypokalemia)

Who may need extra magnesium?

Magnesium supplementation may be indicated when a specific health problem or condition causes an excessive loss of magnesium or limits magnesium absorption

* Some medicines may result in magnesium deficiency, including certain diuretics, antibiotics, and medications used to treat cancer (anti-neoplastic medication)

Examples of these medications are:
o Diuretics: Lasix, Bumex, Edecrin, and hydrochlorothiazide
o Antibiotics: Gentamicin, and Amphotericin
o Anti-neoplastic medication: Cisplatin

Individuals with poorly-controlled diabetes may benefit from magnesium supplements because of increased magnesium loss in urine associated with hyperglycemia [

Magnesium supplementation may be indicated for persons with alcoholism. Low blood levels of magnesium occur in 30% to 60% of alcoholics, and in nearly 90% of patients experiencing alcohol withdrawal . Anyone who substitutes alcohol for food will usually have significantly lower magnesium intakes.

Individuals with chronic malabsorptive problems such as Crohn's disease, gluten sensitive enteropathy, regional enteritis, and intestinal surgery may lose magnesium through diarrhea and fat malabsorptio

Individuals with these conditions may need supplemental magnesium.

Individuals with chronically low blood levels of potassium and calcium may have an underlying problem with magnesium deficiency. Magnesium supplements may help correct the potassium and calcium deficiencies

Older adults are at increased risk for magnesium deficiency. The 1999-2000 and 1998-94 National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys suggest that older adults have lower dietary intakes of magnesium than younger adults.

In addition, magnesium absorption decreases and renal excretion of magnesium increases in older adults . Seniors are also more likely to be taking drugs that interact with magnesium. This combination of factors places older adults at risk for magnesium deficiency . It is very important for older adults to consume recommended amounts of dietary magnesium.

Doctors can evaluate magnesium status when above-mentioned medical problems occur, and determine the need for magnesium supplementation.

Table 4 describes some important interactions between certain drugs and magnesium. These interactions may result in higher or lower levels of magnesium, or may influence absorption of the medication.

Table 4: Common and important magnesium/drug interactions
Drug Potential Interaction
# Loop and thiazide diuretics (e.g. lasix, bumex, edecrin, and hydrochlorthiazide
# Anti-neoplastic drugs (e.g. cisplatin)
# Antibiotics (e.g. gentamicin and amphotericin)

These drugs may increase the loss of magnesium in urine. Thus, taking these medications for long periods of time may contribute to magnesium depletion

# Tetracycline antibiotics
Magnesium binds tetracycline in the gut and decreases the absorption of tetracycline

Magnesium-containing antacids and laxatives
Many antacids and laxatives contain magnesium. When frequently taken in large doses, these drugs can inadvertently lead to excessive magnesium consumption and hypermagnesemia, which refers to elevated levels of magnesium in blood.

What is the best way to get extra magnesium?
Eating a variety of whole grains, legumes, and vegetables (especially dark-green, leafy vegetables) every day will help provide recommended intakes of magnesium and maintain normal storage levels of this mineral. Increasing dietary intake of magnesium can often restore mildly depleted magnesium levels. However, increasing dietary intake of magnesium may not be enough to restore very low magnesium levels to normal.

When blood levels of magnesium are very low, intravenous (i.e. by IV) magnesium replacement is usually recommended. Magnesium tablets also may be prescribed, although some forms can cause diarrhea . It is important to have the cause, severity, and consequences of low blood levels of magnesium evaluated by a physician, who can recommend the best way to restore magnesium levels to normal. Because people with kidney disease may not be able to excrete excess amounts of magnesium, they should not consume magnesium supplements unless prescribed by a physician.

Oral magnesium supplements combine magnesium with another substance such as a salt. Examples of magnesium supplements include magnesium oxide, magnesium sulfate, and magnesium carbonate. Elemental magnesium refers to the amount of magnesium in each compound. Figure 1 compares the amount of elemental magnesium in different types of magnesium supplements . The amount of elemental magnesium in a compound and its bioavailability influence the effectiveness of the magnesium supplement. Bioavailability refers to the amount of magnesium in food, medications, and supplements that is absorbed in the intestines and ultimately available for biological activity in your cells and tissues. Enteric coating of a magnesium compound can decrease bioavailability . In a study that compared four forms of magnesium preparations, results suggested lower bioavailability of magnesium oxide, with significantly higher and equal absorption and bioavailability of magnesium chloride and magnesium lactate . This supports the belief that both the magnesium content of a dietary supplement and its bioavailability contribute to its ability to replete deficient levels of magnesium.

What are some current issues and controversies about magnesium?
Magnesium and blood pressure
"Epidemiologic evidence suggests that magnesium may play an important role in regulating blood pressure ." Diets that provide plenty of fruits and vegetables, which are good sources of potassium and magnesium, are consistently associated with lower blood pressure . The DASH study (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension), a human clinical trial, suggested that high blood pressure could be significantly lowered by a diet that emphasizes fruits, vegetables, and low fat dairy foods. Such a diet will be high in magnesium, potassium, and calcium, and low in sodium and fat .

An observational study examined the effect of various nutritional factors on incidence of high blood pressure in over 30,000 US male health professionals. After four years of follow-up, it was found that a lower risk of hypertension was associated with dietary patterns that provided more magnesium, potassium, and dietary fiber . For 6 years, the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study followed approximately 8,000 men and women who were initially free of hypertension. In this study, the risk of developing hypertension decreased as dietary magnesium intake increased in women, but not in men .

Foods high in magnesium are frequently high in potassium and dietary fiber. This makes it difficult to evaluate the independent effect of magnesium on blood pressure. However, newer scientific evidence from DASH clinical trials is strong enough that the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure states that diets that provide plenty of magnesium are positive lifestyle modifications for individuals with hypertension. This group recommends the DASH diet as a beneficial eating plan for people with hypertension and for those with "prehypertension" who desire to prevent high blood pressure .

Magnesium and diabetes
Diabetes is a disease resulting in insufficient production and/or inefficient use of insulin. Insulin is a hormone made by the pancreas. Insulin helps convert sugar and starches in food into energy to sustain life. There are two types of diabetes: type 1 and type 2. Type 1 diabetes is most often diagnosed in children and adolescents, and results from the body's inability to make insulin. Type 2 diabetes, which is sometimes referred to as adult-onset diabetes, is the most common form of diabetes. It is usually seen in adults and is most often associated with an inability to use the insulin made by the pancreas. Obesity is a risk factor for developing type 2 diabetes. In recent years, rates of type 2 diabetes have increased along with the rising rates of obesity.

Magnesium plays an important role in carbohydrate metabolism. It may influence the release and activity of insulin, the hormone that helps control blood glucose (sugar) levels . Low blood levels of magnesium (hypomagnesemia) are frequently seen in individuals with type 2 diabetes. Hypomagnesemia may worsen insulin resistance, a condition that often precedes diabetes, or may be a consequence of insulin resistance. Individuals with insulin resistance do not use insulin efficiently and require greater amounts of insulin to maintain blood sugar within normal levels. The kidneys possibly lose their ability to retain magnesium during periods of severe hyperglycemia (significantly elevated blood glucose). The increased loss of magnesium in urine may then result in lower blood levels of magnesium . In older adults, correcting magnesium depletion may improve insulin response and action .

The Nurses' Health Study (NHS) and the Health Professionals' Follow-up Study (HFS) follow more than 170,000 health professionals through biennial questionnaires. Diet was first evaluated in 1980 in the NHS and in 1986 in the HFS, and dietary assessments have been completed every 2 to 4 years since. Information on the use of dietary supplements, including multivitamins, is also collected. As part of these studies, over 127,000 research subjects (85,060 women and 42,872 men) with no history of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, or cancer at baseline were followed to examine risk factors for developing type 2 diabetes. Women were followed for 18 years; men were followed for 12 years. Over time, the risk for developing type 2 diabetes was greater in men and women with a lower magnesium intake. This study supports the dietary recommendation to increase consumption of major food sources of magnesium, such as whole grains, nuts, and green leafy vegetables .

The Iowa Women's Health Study has followed a group of older women since 1986. Researchers from this study examined the association between women's risk of developing type 2 diabetes and intake of carbohydrates, dietary fiber, and dietary magnesium. Dietary intake was estimated by a food frequency questionnaire, and incidence of diabetes throughout 6 years of follow-up was determined by asking participants if they had been diagnosed by a doctor as having diabetes. Based on baseline dietary intake assessment only, researchers' findings suggested that a greater intake of whole grains, dietary fiber, and magnesium decreased the risk of developing diabetes in older women .

The Women's Health Study was originally designed to evaluate the benefits versus risks of low-dose aspirin and vitamin E supplementation in the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease and cancer in women 45 years of age and older. In an examination of almost 40,000 women participating in this study, researchers also examined the association between magnesium intake and incidence of type 2 diabetes over an average of 6 years. Among women who were overweight, the risk of developing type 2 diabetes was significantly greater among those with lower magnesium intake . This study also supports the dietary recommendation to increase consumption of major food sources of magnesium, such as whole grains, nuts, and green leafy vegetables.

On the other hand, the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study did not find any association between dietary magnesium intake and the risk for type 2 diabetes. During 6 years of follow-up, ARIC researchers examined the risk for type 2 diabetes in over 12,000 middle-aged adults without diabetes at baseline examination. In this study, there was no statistical association between dietary magnesium intake and incidence of type 2 diabetes in either black or white research subjects . It can be confusing to read about studies that examine the same issue but have different results. Before reaching a conclusion on a health issue, scientists conduct and evaluate many studies. Over time, they determine when results are consistent enough to suggest a conclusion. They want to be sure they are providing correct recommendations to the public.

Several clinical studies have examined the potential benefit of supplemental magnesium on metabolic control of type 2 diabetes. In one such study, 63 subjects with below normal serum magnesium levels received either 2.5 grams of oral magnesium chloride daily "in liquid form" (providing 300 mg elemental magnesium per day) or a placebo. At the end of the 16-week study period, those who received the magnesium supplement had higher blood levels of magnesium and improved metabolic control of diabetes, as suggested by lower Hemoglobin A1C levels, than those who received a placebo . Hemoglobin A1C is a test that measures overall control of blood glucose over the previous 2 to 3 months, and is considered by many doctors to be the single most important blood test for diabetics.

In another study, 128 patients with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes were randomized to receive a placebo or a supplement with either 500 mg or 1000 mg of magnesium oxide (MgO) for 30 days. All patients were also treated with diet or diet plus oral medication to control blood glucose levels. Magnesium levels increased in the group receiving 1000 mg magnesium oxide per day (equal to 600 mg elemental magnesium per day) but did not significantly change in the placebo group or the group receiving 500 mg of magnesium oxide per day (equal to 300 mg elemental magnesium per day). However, neither level of magnesium supplementation significantly improved blood glucose control .

These studies provide intriguing results but also suggest that additional research is needed to better explain the association between blood magnesium levels, dietary magnesium intake, and type 2 diabetes. In 1999, the American Diabetes Association (ADA) issued nutrition recommendations for diabetics stating that "�routine evaluation of blood magnesium level is recommended only in patients at high risk for magnesium deficiency. Levels of magnesium should be repleted (replaced) only if hypomagnesemia can be demonstrated" .

Magnesium and cardiovascular disease
Magnesium metabolism is very important to insulin sensitivity and blood pressure regulation, and magnesium deficiency is common in individuals with diabetes. The observed associations between magnesium metabolism, diabetes, and high blood pressure increase the likelihood that magnesium metabolism may influence cardiovascular disease .

Some observational surveys have associated higher blood levels of magnesium with lower risk of coronary heart disease . In addition, some dietary surveys have suggested that a higher magnesium intake may reduce the risk of having a stroke . There is also evidence that low body stores of magnesium increase the risk of abnormal heart rhythms, which may increase the risk of complications after a heart attack . These studies suggest that consuming recommended amounts of magnesium may be beneficial to the cardiovascular system. They have also prompted interest in clinical trials to determine the effect of magnesium supplements on cardiovascular disease.

Several small studies suggest that magnesium supplementation may improve clinical outcomes in individuals with coronary disease. In one of these studies, the effect of magnesium supplementation on exercise tolerance, exercise-induced chest pain, and quality of life was examined in 187 patients. Patients received either a placebo or a supplement providing 365 milligrams of magnesium citrate twice daily for 6 months. At the end of the study period researchers found that magnesium therapy significantly increased magnesium levels. Patients receiving magnesium had a 14 percent improvement in exercise duration as compared to no change in the placebo group. Those receiving magnesium were also less likely to experience exercise-induced chest pain .

In another study, 50 men and women with stable coronary disease were randomized to receive either a placebo or a magnesium supplement that provided 342 mg magnesium oxide twice daily. After 6 months, those who received the oral magnesium supplement were found to have improved exercise tolerance .

In a third study, researchers examined whether magnesium supplementation would add to the anti-thrombotic (anti-clotting) effects of aspirin in 42 coronary patients . For three months, each patient received either a placebo or a supplement with 400 mg of magnesium oxide two to three times daily. After a four-week break without any treatment, treatment groups were reversed so that each person in the study then received the alternate treatment for three months. Researchers found that supplemental magnesium did provide an additional anti-thrombotic effect.

These studies are encouraging, but involved small numbers. Additional studies are needed to better understand the complex relationships between magnesium intake, indicators of magnesium status, and heart disease. Doctors can evaluate magnesium status when above-mentioned medical problems occur, and determine the need for magnesium supplementation.

Magnesium and osteoporosis
Bone health is supported by many factors, most notably calcium and vitamin D. However, some evidence suggests that magnesium deficiency may be an additional risk factor for postmenopausal osteoporosis . This may be due to the fact that magnesium deficiency alters calcium metabolism and the hormones that regulate calcium (20). Several human studies have suggested that magnesium supplementation may improve bone mineral density . In a study of older adults, a greater magnesium intake maintained bone mineral density to a greater degree than a lower magnesium intake . Diets that provide recommended levels of magnesium are beneficial for bone health, but further investigation on the role of magnesium in bone metabolism and osteoporosis is needed.

What is the health risk of too much magnesium?
Dietary magnesium does not pose a health risk, however pharmacologic doses of magnesium in supplements can promote adverse effects such as diarrhea and abdominal cramping. Risk of magnesium toxicity increases with kidney failure, when the kidney loses the ability to remove excess magnesium. Very large doses of magnesium-containing laxatives and antacids also have been associated with magnesium toxicity . For example, a case of hypermagnesemia after unsupervised intake of aluminum magnesia oral suspension occurred after a 16 year old girl decided to take the antacid every two hours rather than four times per day, as prescribed. Three days later, she became unresponsive and demonstrated loss of deep tendon reflex . Doctors were unable to determine her exact magnesium intake, but the young lady presented with blood levels of magnesium five times higher than normal . Therefore, it is important for medical professionals to be aware of the use of any magnesium-containing laxatives or antacids. Signs of excess magnesium can be similar to magnesium deficiency and include changes in mental status, nausea, diarrhea, appetite loss, muscle weakness, difficulty breathing, extremely low blood pressure, and irregular heartbeat .

Common Conditions That May Result from a Magnesium Deficiency

Magnesium is a must. The diets of all Americans are likely to be deficient........Even a mild deficiency causes sensitiveness to noise, nervousness, irritability, mental depression, confusion, twitching, trembling, apprehension, insomnia, muscle weakness and cramps in the toes, feet, legs, or fingers.

Adelle Davis, writing in Let's Have Healthy Children

Read my disclaimer and terms of use.

Magnesium (Mg) is a trace mineral that is known to be required for several hundred different functions in the body. A significant portion of the symptoms of many chronic disorders are identical to symptoms of magnesium deficiency. Studies show many people in the U.S. today do not consume the daily recommended amounts of Mg. A lack of this important nutrient may be a major factor in many common health problems in industrialized countries. Common conditions such as mitral valve prolapse, migraines, attention deficit disorder, fibromyalgia, asthma and allergies have all been linked to a Mg deficiency. Perhaps not coincidentally, these conditions also tend to occur in clusters together within the same individual. A magnesium deficiency as a root cause would provide a logical explanation of why some people suffer from a constellation of these types of problems.

Many of the following conditions commonly occur in conjunction with each other and all have been linked to a Mg deficiency.
Contents:

*
Allergies, Chemical Sensitivities
*
Anxiety and Psychiatric Disorders
*
Aorta Strength
*
Asthma
*
Attention Deficit Disorder
*
Calcification of Soft Tissue Including Heart Valve
*
Diabetes
*

Also see:

Magnesium - Part Two - Covers the links between magnesium deficiency and diverse conditions such as fibromyalgia, hearing loss, migraines, menstrual cramps (dysmenorrhea), mitral valve prolapse, muscle cramps, nystagmus, osteoporosis, pectus excavatum, TMJ and more.

Allergies and Chemical Sensitivities

In the book Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine, the authors note that food allergies are usually associated with low hydrochloric acid levels and poor digestion. The authors' rationale for this is that low stomach acid leaves food undigested and fermenting in the intestinal tract. This fermentation causes gas, bloating and stomach upset, the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome. Undigested and fermented food causes the body to raise histamine levels, which produce allergic reactions. This is why people take antihistamines for allergies, to lower histamine levels. Interestingly, Mg is needed to reduce histamine levels.

Low stomach acid levels reduce levels of beneficial intestinal bacteria which is needed for absorption of magnesium. When lab rats are deprived of magnesium, a wide variety of studies have noted that they develop allergy like symptoms. Their ears turn red and they develop skin problems. Rats with magnesium deficiencies have increases in histamine levels. They also have raised levels of white blood cell counts. Mg deficiency has been implicated in allergies and allergic skin reaction in many studies on humans, too. Variations of allergies, skin allergies, and raised white blood cells have all been noted as features of many chronic disorders.

People with chemical sensitivities also commonly have other conditions linked to Mg deficits such as allergies, fibromyalgia, mitral valve prolapse and anxiety disorders. They also tend to have TMJ, which has been linked to abnormalities of hyaluronic acid. Perhaps not coincidentally, hyaluronic acid is dependent upon magnesium for its synthesis.

Asthma is has been linked to Mg deficiencies in a wide variety of studies. Asthma and allergies not only frequently occur together, but they frequently occur together along with gastrointestinal upset in many chronic disorders including Mitral Valve Prolapse syndrome and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. Gastrointestinal upset is often a sign of malabsorption problems, which can be a cause of nutritional deficiencies.

See my related section on multiple chemical sensitivity.

Anxiety and Psychiatric Disorders

Magnesium deficiency causes increased levels of adrenaline, which can lead to a feeling of anxiety. Rats who become magnesium deficient have an increased level of urinary catecholamine excretion (a by-product of adrenaline).

People who have mitral valve prolapse have also been found to have an increased state of anxiety and have an increased level of urinary catecholamine excretion, the exact same condition found in rats who are Mg deficient.

It is not surprising then, to find that people with mitral valve prolapse are usually low in magnesium, and that magnesium supplementation alleviates the symptoms of mitral valve prolapse and reduces the level of urinary catecholamine excretion, i.e. it also reduces the anxiety symptoms.

Researchers in Spain found a correlation between anxiety disorders and hypermobility. In fact, they found that patients with anxiety disorder were over 16 times more likely than control subjects to have joint laxity. If you put the study results together, then there's a link between anxiety and hypermobility, a link between anxiety and mitral valve prolapse, and a link between mitral valve prolapse and hypermobility.

These studies tell us that anxiety disorders occur in many people who simply have mitral valve prolapse and/or joint hypermobility, meaning anxiety disorders are not specific to EDS or any particular connective tissue disorder. Marfans also have mitral valve prolapse and joint hypermobility which would lead one to conjecture that they, too, have anxiety related disorders. As it turns out, a connection between Marfans and anxiety related disorders has been noted.

A study in Bulgaria also found magnesium abnormalities in patients with schizophrenia and depression. The authors thought the schizophrenia and depression caused the magnesium deficiencies, but I disagree that that was necessarily the case. When you look at this study within the context of all the other studies mentioned in this section, it is more likely that the magnesium abnormalities caused the mental illness. (There are quite a few studies on magnesium and mental illness on Medline. I just included a few to highlight my points.)

In a study from England, there was a strong association for more disturbed and excitable patients to have abnormal (either high or low) magnesium levels. The authors thought that the patients who seemed most disturbed may have some abnormality of magnesium metabolism.

To read up on the link between cholesterol levels and anxiety and depression, see my web page on low cholesterol levels.

For more on this topic, see my section on Anxiety and Depression - overlooked nutritional causes.

Aorta Strength

In an experiment on lab rats, the animals had their thoracic aortas injured with balloons. They were then fed diets with low, normal or high magnesium concentrations. The rat aortas with the high magnesium diets healed better than the normal and low Mg diets.

For more information on aortae, also see my section on Marfan Syndrome - The Similarities to Copper Deficiency..

Asthma

Magnesium sulfate is used as a treatment for asthma.

Mg is known to be important for proper lung functioning.

Mg is being increasingly looked at as a treatment for asthma.

A study from Brown University showed "remarkable" improvement in children with asthma who were treated with intravenous magnesium.

Low polymorphonuclear magnesium content has been observed in patients with bronchial asthma. The study authors believe that polymorphonuclear magnesium content may have an important role in causing asthma.

A study reported on in the Lancet, notes that people who have diets lower in Mg have more asthmatic symptoms. People with diets higher in magnesium have less asthmatic symptoms.

Mg prevents pre-asthmatic lung changes in animal studies.

Asthma is a common finding in connective tissue disorders, as are keratoconus, mitral valve prolapse, rachitic skeletal defects and many other conditions associated with magnesium deficiency. Asthma occurs frequently along with allergies, seizures and many other disorders that can all be linked to a Mg deficiency.

Multivitamin tablets and pills often do not contain magnesium because it is a bulky mineral that makes the pill or tablets very large, so manufacturers often just leave it out! Yet multivitamin they contain many Mg antagonists, i.e. vitamins and minerals that lower magnesium levels in your body. Perhaps this is why recent studies show that multivitamins usage is associated with asthma and allergies.

Click here to go to my diet page for foods that have helped my breathing problems.

Also see my cool links section for more information on asthma.

Attention Deficit Disorder

A medication containing magnesium has been used successfully to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

In a study from Poland, children with ADHD were been found to more deficient than controls in a selected number of bioelements. Magnesium deficiencies were the most pronounced difference. Magnesium supplementation in the ADHD children decreased their hyperactivity.

In a study from Germany, boys with reactive behavior problems were treated with a medication containing magnesium with positive results.

I don't know if this relates directly to ADD or ADHD or not, but I found the following study interesting. In a study on guinea pigs, a group of the animals that had Mg deficiencies induced showed changes in their brain waves.

In a study from England, there was a strong association for more disturbed and excitable patients to have abnormal (either high or low) Mg levels. The authors thought that the patients who seemed most disturbed may have some abnormality of Mg metabolism.

Also see my cool links section for more information on ADD.

Calcification Of Soft Tissue Including Heart Valves

Magnesium is a known treatment for a variety of types of calcification of soft tissues.

Mg levels have been found to be greatly reduced in calcified mitral valves.

In a study of rats, Mg deficiency has been shown to cause aortic calcification.

Vitamin K deficiency has also been linked to calcification of soft tissues.

Also see my section on Calcium Deposits.

Diabetes

A 2005 landmark study by researchers from the Harvard School of Public found an inverse association between type 2 diabetes and magnesium intake. The major recommendation from this study was for people to consume more magnesium rich foods.

For more on this topic see my sections on fibromyalgia and diabetes and diabetic frozen shoulder.

Continued at Magnesium - Part Two

Visit my connective tissue disorder home page and use my search feature for more information on magnesium and related topics.

Related sections of interest:

Magnesium Deficiency - More common in women?

The Magnesium Migraine Connection

Menstrual Migraines

Frequently Asked Questions About Magnesium Supplements and Epsom Salts

Fibromyalgia Diet

Calcium Deficiency

High Fiber Diets and Mineral Deficiencies - why high fiber, low fat diets may not be the best choice for everyone.

Nystagmus

TMJ

Mitral Valve Prolapse

Scoliosis

Tics in Children - Facial and Eye Tics from Magnesium Deficiency

Some good links for magnesium information:

Maryland Medical Center Programs Complementary Medicine Program's page on magnesium has a good list of food sources, drug interactions and conditions that cause Mg loss.

What are the causes of hypomagnesemia? from The Journal of Family Practice � February 2005 � Vol. 54, No. 2

"Magnesium is not limited to improving bone health. There are some three hundred bodily enzymes that require magnesium, which suggests that magnesium is vital for most cells and tissues of the body." - from an article on the American Chiropratic online site.

The Importance of Magnesium to Human Nutrition

The Magnesium Website - an amazing amount of information related to Mg.

Disclaimer: Statements and information regarding any products mentioned within this site have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease or health condition. Any information on this site should be considered as general information only and should not be used to diagnose or treat any health condition.

See your health care provider for a diagnosis and treatment of any medical concerns you may have, and before implementing any diet, supplement, exercise or other lifestyle changes. Read the rest of my disclaimer and terms of use.

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hi ladies foggy head here i just did a ton of research on diuretics which is whats in yasmin the stuff i read was unreal and confusing but if our electrolytes are imbalanced it causes all of our symtoms from vitamin deficiancy to heart palpatations to anxiety to muscle cramps and spasms please ladies read up on all of this because it made alot of sense but also confused me is anyone else familiar with the diuretic effect i did read certain diuretics can cause permanent neurological damage im hoping this is an elderly or extreme cases but the diuretic effect seems to be whats creating our nasty symptoms it also makes me wonder if it could be that becuz alot of women get their hormones tested and they come back pretty normal so has anyone had their electrolytes tested and be sure to remind your doctors this pill has diuretic in it i think they forget.

Have soaring blood sugar, cholesterol, triglycerides suddenly. Read on another site that this can be a side effect of maxide and like diuretics..........Anybody have that side effect?

I had been taking 50MG of Toprol for approx 1 yr with no apparent side effects. A few months ago, I went through a Cox-Maze open heart procedure when my dosage was doubled to 100MG to help reduce my elevated heart rate of 120-140 BPM. My heart rate continued to remain high and I had a very pronounced shortness of breath, went to the ER where I was found to have fluid around my heart/lungs. After being treated with diuretics and a couple additional medications, the heart rate continued to remain high so my dose of Toprol was doubled to 200 MG....since that time, I have noticed increased muscle weakness, fatigue, and have almost passed out several times. It is a very scary and insecure feeling not being able to go anywhere or do anything in fear of passing out.

Hello Silke and everyone
Former guest 18063 here, maybe I should call myself bitterRN? :) Anyway I hope you are all doing well. Sorry its been so long since I have written. I saw there were some questions about spironolactone what it is and if it could cause problems. Birth control pills are a combo of synthetic estrogen and progesterone. From what I have read on Yasmin the progesterone they use contains a hormone that acts like the diuretic spironolactone. Spironolactone is a potassium sparing diuretic, and Im not talking about an over the counter water pill to fight bloating, Im talking about a DRUG commonly used on patients with severe health problems like congestive heart failure and other diseases where they need a drug on a constant basis to combat swelling and water retention, which complicates the diseases they are having. (Quick example, I dont want to get too technical.) People with congestive heart failure have a weak heart that doesnt force blood through the body like a strong normal heart does. Therefore the blood does not circulate as it should causes all kinds of bad things including a lot of swelling especially in the ankles and even causes fluid in the lungs, which can quickly fill up with fluid causing respiratory distress (almost like drowning from the inside.) Drs put these patients on diuretics to keep the body constantly flushing fluids out to keep the lungs "dry" and so forth. Spironolactone is one such diuretic they use. Lasix is another. The difference between Lasix and Spiro is that Spiro holds on to the potassium in your body, while Lasix excretes it all out. So patients on Lasix frequently have to take a potassium supplement so that their potassium levels do not fall too low. My point here is not to scare you. They say the spiro level in Yasmin is very low compared to someone who is on the full drug. But I was shocked to see that they would put such a drug (I dont care how small amount it is.) In a birth control pill?!?!? Just to combat bloating? It is just my OPINION, but I dont see how this can be healthy to a normal healthy woman. I have noticed a lot of the side effects people mention in this website seem to be kinda related to dehydration. The muscle cramps you had, Silke, In my OPINION, I would think would be related to dehydration, being as that is a sign of severe dehydration, though I cannot say for sure if the spiro caused it. Probably even the drug company cant. All I know is that I was on ortho 777 for years without problems. Then all of a sudden I start taking yasmin and my whole life fell apart and I felt like I was dying...some days I wished I was dead. I looked at other birth control sites online, there is one where you can rate birth control meds on how well you liked it. I looked at yasmin and other birth control pills Yasmin had about a lot fewer people who liked it compared to the people who hated it. And while it is true, as my doctor said when someone does not like a drug or have a bad experience with it, they will write about it or post it on the site, but when someone likes the drug they do not write about it. This may be true, but I tried to find complaints about other birth control pills like ortho novum, etc. The only thing I found that people didnt like were things like, my period wasnt lighter, it didnt clear up my skin, it made me bloated, or gain weight. NOT serious things like chest pains, palpitations, severe headaches, severe depression, etc. Nor did any of the others have SO MANY symptoms!! Has anyone else found severe complaints about other bcp's? I would be curious to see them. So yes in my opinion I feel it is the spiro, because that is what is so different about this bcp compared to others, and NONE of the other bcp have this (spironolactone) component in them. I could be wrong though. As far as feeling better, I felt like I was going forward until this past week, feels two steps back again, my period is due next week too. It baffles my mind how a drug can hang in your system for soooo long, but I wonder if this bcp or just bcp pills in general have a cell binding action, so not only does it just circulate in your system and then metabolize out of the liver/kidneys as most drugs do, but binds to the cells in your body so that it takes longer (months) for your body to get rid of it? Maybe that is why my OB said it would take a few more CYLCLES to feel better. Maybe the drug is resurfacing during ovulation and we are shedding it with our cycle? I dont know Im just guessing. I will try to do more research on it, or ask my OB when I see her again. Gosh I'm so sorry I wrote too much again! I hope I kind of gave you a little more insight to spiro and why I was so PO'd when I found out it was in my bcp after 3 months of taking it and the OB didnt even bother to tell me it was in there when she put me on it. I'm so bitter! I wouldn't recommend Yasmin to my worst enemy!!!! To those of you who are on it and like it, just please be careful, if you notice a lot of the people on this website who were on it for years seemed to have symptoms come on either right away or years later and they tried to explain them away with stressful times in my life, or just tired, or some other reason other than the pill. I did it myself because I just didnt even realize it could be the birth control. My symptoms surely were not in the pamphlet. Oh and to the girl who is bulimic GUEST 18998 Yes vomiting can lessen or negate the effects of the pill. When you induce vomiting you dont know how much of the pill you have absorbed and how much you are throwing up. Chances are VERY good you are NOT getting the full dose of the birth control pill, being as that the pill takes a while to absorbed by the body, thats why they even like you to take it at the same time every day. Be careful to use another form of birth control on top of the pills (such as condoms) if you are mid pack now, and then I would explore other options for birth control (patch, IUD) something that is not ingested until and this is most important, you need to get help for your bulimia problem. This disease is not only a serious problem for your health, but I fear that if you are on Yasmin, which has the diruetic effect I have been talking about, and you are vomiting a lot, you are not only losing fluids and electrolytes from your bulimia, but also from the Yasmin, which can cause severe severe dehydration and electrolyte imbalance in your body and serious health consequences, so please seek help, and I really feel if you are on yasmin please consult your doctor and be honest with him or her about the bulemia, because I really feel its a VERY dangerous combination. Please also consider if you decide to quit a pack of yasmin before you have finished the active pills, that you must again use another form of birth control such as condoms to keep from getting pregnant. A "withdrawal" period is normal after stopping a pack of bcp suddenly, even if you recently had a period. If you need help finding a treatment center please let me know, but please get help. The lasting effects of an eating disorder are so not worth it in the end. I feel for you and hope to hear fromyou and everyone else soon! Thanks for listening. BitterRN

Hi Angela,

Honestly, I do NOT think you should take diuretics while taking Prednisone. If it was okay, my Dr. would have mentioned it but she didn't until I came off of Prednisone. Diuretics may make you dehydrated so you may have to drink even more water to hydrate and Prednisone will make you even more bloated thinking you are depriving your body from liquids so your cells will hold more water! Now that your going to the city to get your MRI is a good opportunity to ask your Doctor or any Doctor around.

to gigi:

Yes, there are many women here on this site, who have experienced weight gain after stopping Yasmin!! I've posted several times about this here. Perhaps you should read more posts on this site, it really might help!!

But I'm not sure, if it's really good to take another diuretic against the water retention now. You should know, that Yasmin's hormone "drospirenone" is very similar to a diuretic named spironolacton. So all of us were taking a water pill with our bcp without knowing for a long time.

And everywhere I searched in the internet and even asking my doctor brought out, that a withdrawal effect of diuretics is more water retention then before taking such pills!!! Thats the explanation for the massive and in most cases immediate weight (or the better "water-") gain many of us were experiencing after stopping Yasmin!! My weight gain doesn't seem to look "normal", too, it looks just like every cell of my body was filled with water, a really unnormal look (and I swear before Yasmin I was a very fit, thin and good figured person!!). Everybody who knows me and especially has known me before this Yasmin desaster tells the same!!

So I and even my doctor think, that it might be better to let your body recover first before taking another chemical against the weight gain and especially going on diswatering your body with a diuretic. You might not get out of this vicious circle if you don't stop every medication that is diswatering your body!!

I know (and I mean I REALLY know!!) what it means to go through this massive weight gain (I had gained about 30 pounds after getting off Yasmin without eating more or doing anything else different than before and I went up 2 sizes in clothes, which was and still is really shocking for me!!! I SWEAR!!) without being able to do anything against it unless my body hasn't fully recovered from this Yasmin poison, yet.

But the only chance seems to be to give your body and all the diswatered cells the time they need to get back to normal by themselves!!!

Please think about that and probably talk to your doctor!! Not every doctor knows that the drospirenone in Yasmin is working like spironolacton but it really is!!! If you have any doubt about that, you might search google or anything else about drospirenon and diuretic or spironolacton. And you'll find out, that all the effects we are now experiencing (even the muscle fatigue in my case or cellulite and so on) are the same as you get if you have taken any diuretic or especially spironolacton!!

All the best to you out there and everybody stay strong!! We'll be better and pretty again some day!!! ;-)

Here's my story. Been on Lisinopril (or dirivitives of it) for about 15 years. Original RX was to help stop or even reverse Left Ventricular Hypertrophy.
With the diurectic, the dose was 20/12.5 (called Zestorectic).
About 5 years ago, my PCP doubled this dose to try to bring my high bp down. So, I was taking 40 mg/day of the Lisinopril. After about 3 weeks, when I was on a business trip to Santa Rosa, I got real dizzy and dang near fainted. I immediately put two and two together and stopped the 2nd pill per day. Dizziness disappeared.
Recently I had an emergency where I thought I was having a heart attack and I couldn't breath at all. Rushed to ER and spent 5 days in CCU. Diagnosis was a condition called Aortic Insufficiency (leaky aortic valve) and mild pulmonary hypertension. This all supposedly resulted in fluid on the lungs for which they gave me heavy doses of diuretics. Put me on seperate pills of Lisinopril (20 mg) and Bumex (1 mg). I was still quite short of breath when leaving the hospital, but began walking in the evenings again and had gotten up to about 1.5 miles. However, my cardiologist doubled the dose of Lisinopril to 40 mg/ day to try to bring my bp back down. Stupid me had forgotten all about my dizziness of 5 years prior, so like a dummy I allowed him to do it. Well, ever since I've been going downhill. I developed a nagging cough - not terrible -- just nagging. I have mild nausea. I am extremely tired and extremely weak all the time. Insomnia big time. Anxiety, for which I am taking another med. Dizziness has returned. AND the big enchalada -- my shortness of breath gets worse each day to the point now where I can only walk about 10 yards before I have to literally stop, hold onto something, and rest for a couple of minutes. I stopped the Lisinopril almost 48 hours ago and the doc has put me on a new bp drug called Cozaar. Listed side effects are not as bad - I hope.

Anyway, I am hoping that the Lisinopril is the culprit behind my very bad shortness of breath, because my other diagnosed conditions of AI and PH are not severe enough to supposedly cause me these problems. When I posed this to my cardio - he sounded skeptical that Lisinopril would do this. I am also now hoping -- after reading so many of these posts - that I haven't somehow done some permanent, irreversible damage to my respiratory system.
Sloop

@guest 13099:

I completely agree with sherry!!

Perhaps it might help you a little bit to read my post Nr. 12857 (page 4 or 5 on this site) where I had written my and my family doctor's theory about this extreme weight gain after getting off this horrible pill.

A few days ago I got even water in my feet (they looked like they were completely pumped up with water and even poured out of my shoes, I was so shocked!!!) which I never had before in my life!!!

Yesterday I found a website where the effects of diuretics were reported (Yasmin, or better the drospirenone in it is very similar to a diuretic named "spirolacton"!!! and so this pill diswaters your body the whole time while taking it!!!). It was very interesting to read, that if you get off such water pills your body may retain the more water than before taking the water pills. So it's pretty normal how some of us are "bloating up" I fear... :-(

I just hope (and my family doctor also thinks so!), that if I give my body enough time to recover, all this water and bloatedness will go away by itself when everything in my body is working normal again.

So there is hope for all of us but we need much more time and patience!!

After reading the post by guest 12715, I did a search on symptoms of low potassium and this is what I found

Weakness, tiredness, or cramping in arm or leg muscles, sometimes severe enough to cause inability to move arms or legs due to weakness (much like a paralysis)
Tingling or numbness
Nausea or vomiting
Abdominal cramping, bloating
Constipation
Palpitations (feeling your heart beat irregularly)
Passing large amounts of urine or feeling very thirsty most of the time
Fainting due to low blood pressure
Abnormal psychological behavior (depression, psychosis, delirium), confusion, or seeing or hearing things (hallucinations)

Sounds like the list of symptoms some of us are experiencing.
Since Yasmin contains a diuretic and diuretics are a cause of low potassium this kind of makes sense. Might be worth getting it checked out. I have been off Yasmin for 6 weeks now and I'm still experiencing nausea, tiredness, abdominal bloating and thirst.