May 15th
2008
4:21 PM
Wow what it is with all these doctors not knowing these side effects, don't they know that there butts are hanging in the wind,the law protects the drug companies ,but doctors you are not immune
-- By flindy | Reply | (2) replies | Send Private Mail
May 10th
2008
3:42 PM
A 5.4 billion dollar annual profit for the drug companies and our government makes it impossible for victims to file malpractice charges? What is going on here???
-- By 47140 | Reply | (2) replies | Send Private Mail
May 2th
2008
2:48 PM
Hmmm.
My advice to all is to go see your doctor and discuss this with your doctor.
A doctor can help you much more than a bunch of postings over the internet.
I took Yasmin for 4 years and had no issues. I gained a little more weight, but considering everything else it did to help me with the PCOS, that is okay.
I took myself off of the pill for nearly 3 years because I was mad at my OBGYN for never being in the office so I stopped going.
I recently started the Yasmin again and I am glad.
Yasmin is mostly designed for women with PCOS or who need estrogen supplements. Yasmin is not for everybody. You should discuss this with your doctor to determine if Yasmin is right for you.
-- By pommiemommie | Reply | (2) replies | Send Private Mail
March 31th
2008
5:18 PM
I am looking into filing a class action against Merck.
Please contact me if you are interested
jmc-lampwork at charter dot net.
Together we can make a difference to make sure no one else suffers silently without knowing the reason...
-- By ctmomof3 | Reply | (6) replies | Send Private Mail
March 30th
2008
3:41 PM
My son started on 5mg Singulair in 1999. Later that year and the next at the age of 10, my husband and I realized he seemed really depressed. I took him to his pediatrician, who talked to my son at length about anything that might be bothering him, if someone had try to touch him, etc.,etc. Nothing. He had been a really happy outgoing child. Now he was not. The next year in 4th grade he seemed to be worse. We kept an eye on him. There were no warnings whatsoever about Singulair causing emotional problems, depression etc. at that time. Shortly after he started 5th grade, we moved to another city with almost no air pollution in the area we picked to live, and he was still "down". But a few months after we moved, even though we left long time friends, etc., I took him off the Singulair, as he was not really having asthma. The kid got happy again--he was was my happy cheerful boy! I don't believe this is coincidence. Then when he started Middle School in 6th Grade, his school was old and dusty with no doubt mold problems and he started having breathing problems pretty bad again. We started him on Singulair again, for the next three years that he was at this school. He tanked emotionally. Hated himself. Was so depressed it was scary. I kept telling him it was adolescence and it would get better. Then he started a new high school, and was off the Singulair for 6 months, and he was happy again. Then he got flu and bronchitis and was back on it and emotionally tanked again, and never really came out of it. Though out these episodes a few times he told me he thought the medicine was making him feel weird. He last took the 10mg Singulair in 2006, the beginning of his sophomore year when he was sick. His depression exploded and he became suicidal. He was diagnosed with depression in April of 2007 and went on Zoloft. He was not on Singulair then. Then he became suicidal again in August of 2007. His depression medication was changed. He got worse. We found a psychiatrist who was able to help some, but could find no background reason for depression. There is some depression in the family, but none of these relatives became depressed until adulthood. He became suicidal again in November of 2007 and went through outpatient care at the local children's and psychiatric hospital. He came out somewhat better, with skills to help monitor himself. He had more med side effects and has changed meds again. Now he is on 40mg Prozac daily now and doing a lot better, and since we saw the news about Singulair a few days ago, he is extremely better. He is almost back. I would rather go the emergency room 5 times a year then go through this again. We were not given a choice. What are the long term effects of this drug for someone who has been on it through adolescence? No one knows. How can a drug with this sort of side effect for children be allowed on the market? I feel blindsided by the FDA and Merck. If his Dr. in 1999 knew about this side effect she would have never put him on this drug, nor would I have allowed it. I say sue the bastards.
-- By kerril21 | Reply | (4) replies | Send Private Mail
March 28th
2008
6:23 PM
when my son (now five) first started treatment for allergies at almost 3, he went on zyrtec and singulair. he was moody, grumy, and needy. i just assumed he was 3. after about 10 months the allergist switched him to pcm chewables with his singulair and he turned evil. for example, he wasn't quite 4 and attacked me one night because he didn't want a bath. it took several minutes to pry his hands of of my neck. it scared me to death. since he was already on singulair i assumed it was the pcm and finally found a pharmacist who said that it "might" can have those side effects. the allergist wouldn't accept that it could do that and wouldn't change his prescription. finally went to new allergist who changed him back to zyrtec but wanted to stay on singulair due to new asthma diagnosis. his behavior got better, but still very moody - many ppl said "spoil" because of huge meltdowns over nothing. he is now 5 and has been on allergy shots for a year. about 6 months ago the doctor said could take him off zyrtec but keep on singulair. i thought yay! mood will get better. it didn't. he was still getting notes from kindergarten teacher for talking too much, fighting, moodiness, meltdowns, etc. we took him off singulair to see how asthma would do since allergies doing better. he started getting greenlights! we still have some meltdowns and moodiness. but, it is slowly getting better. i wonder how long it takes to clear out of their system?
in the last six months we have periodilly put him back on zyrtec and singulair when allergies acting up. his teacher tends to send home notes that week asking if he is on medicine. it never occurred to me that it could be the singulair! what scares me is that 3 weeks ago he said he wanted to get a knife and cut his head off so he could "go to Jesus". i talked to him and finally decided he was just talking, don't think he truly meant it. but now, i look back and realize he was on singulair at the time!
the scary thing is that my one-year old is also on it for asthma. i got put on it recently for chronic sinus problems and my husband has been on it for years! i think I will not be giving it to any one until we talk to the doctor!
as a side note i have a friend with a 22 mo old that drs have tried to put on singulair off and on since she was 12 mo or so. every time it makes her unable to sleep. mother agreed to try it again recently because child's asthma was so bad and they ended up at the ER because the baby couldn't quit crying!
-- By spidermansmommy | Reply | (3) replies | Send Private Mail
February 29th
2008
12:34 AM
Are there people that have not experienced any side effects of Singulair I saw a question, and the answer is that they are the ones that are not going to post here. Millions of people and especially kids are fine with this medication and have no reason to look for this site. Will some people get side effects from Singulair, yes, but unfortunately there is not a drug out there that will cause no side effects.
People saying this could cause all kids to suicide is a bit disturbing. If you want to take a look the most popular allergy medication, Zyrtec has had suicide listed in their information for awhile. The reason these allergy medications have to have them listed is because they are heavily prescribed because of the great amount of allergy sufferers and any time some one passes in a car crash, accidental death, or unfortunately even suicide they have to list all medicines they are on. Obviously with popular medications more people from these cases will exist than the less popular ones. Drug companies are protecting themselves because of the litigious society we live in and have to place all kinds of occurrences there and not to say in this case, but a lot of people are always looking to blame others for something instead of taking responsibility for themselves.
I don't think doctors are prescribing these medicines because they do not want what is best for each of their patients. There is no conspiracy, and I would trust their view and years of studying and practice to someone's inexperienced diagnosis on this forum when I have no idea what their background and job is on here. I do not look to consult my son's teacher to fix a leak in my roof, so I go to my doctor for advice on medicine and not consult someone not in the field.
Sorry about this harshness, but someone showed me this board and as a parent who has their son on Singulair with great results and even trusted my doctor when they suggested to try it in my one year old son I will continue to listen to their advice. I have heard numerous people in the medical community tell me Singulair is one of the cleanest drugs out there, but again there isn't a drug with no side effects. I am sorry that not all parents have achieved the great effects my kids have had with this drug, but I think most have and thus not had the need to find this board.
-- By itdoeswork | Reply | (3) replies | Send Private Mail
January 7th
2008
9:43 AM
I was prescribed 750 mg of Levaquin for a skin infection after a minor burn. On the third day I noticed flashing lights in my right eye and the next day I felt as though I was looking through a black lace curtain. It has now settled into a large thread like floater that is in my central vision. My eye doctor said it is a large vitreous tear which is permanent. I also had tinnitus and burning on my lips and tongue which stopped after I stopped the medication. Two weeks after stopping the meds, I was biking and lost my balance. I turned my ankle, not violently, but it resulted in ruptured tendons all around the ankle. Three days after that, my right shoulder began popping in and out of its socket. Each evening, I had a low grade fever and chills. I'd wake up in the middle of the night drenched in sweat. I also had a rough eczema-like rash on my elbow and neck, however that has gone away. I'm sleeping better now and last night I did not have a fever or night sweats. My ankle is improving and I can now get through the day without having to take Advil. The shoulder is still popping when I extend my arm, but I'm hoping that will improve with time. So far, the only permanent damage seems to be the eye floater. It's annoying, but I'm adjusting. I'm planning to go back to the gym today, but honestly, I'm feeling like a ticking time bomb and I worry that new symptoms will continue to pop up. Has anyone out there been completely symptom free for any period of time? Has anyone discussed their case with an attorney?
-- By patty8865 | Reply | (3) replies | Send Private Mail
December 6th
2007
12:43 AM
I am so so FURIOUS with Merck and Singulair! No child especially the innocence of a 4year should be ripped from them from the damn drug companies. Do you know Singulair is one of the biggest money makers for them. Not fair!! I wonder how they would like to pay for my sons mental health bills now!! at $175 a pop because I am not sending him to any old psychiatrist. His pediatrician said it can take up to 6months for Singulair to clear your system. However the Serotonin imbalance that it may create may not. You may need to be put on depression meds, as I am afraid my 4 year old, yes my 4 year old may be put on. And for those of you who wonder. He comes from a very happily married loving home, and no problems at his catholic school. He had no reason for his ugly symptoms of wanting to die at 4 years old. He has been medically evaluated for everything, including a CT and MRI and was cleared!!! It was the Singulair!!!!! Thank god we have all found this website. I wish you all luck and please inform as many as you can. I do not want to see anyone suffer anymore from this. Innocence has been lost. God be with the poor family who lost their 17year from suicide due to this med!!!
-- By emtjenny | Reply | (1) replies | Send Private Mail
November 3th
2007
4:11 PM
I wish I had seen this page BEFORE I finished 5 days of Levaquin 500. The meds were prescribed for a post-upper-respiratory infection hacking dry cough that had been going on for nearly 3 weeks. I finished the meds 4 days ago and still feel super crummy. Levaquin did nothing for the cough (acunpuncturist stopped it with with several well-placed needles in my outer ear) and - before I saw this page - thought of asking the doctor for another round since I was still sick and seem to be getting worse. I have intermittent headaches, a racing heart, blurred vision, am so tired I never want to get out of bed. I'm also having a recurrence of sciatica in one hip and thigh and - new symptom! - the foot on that side is so sore it's hard to put my weight on it. I was told to report any joint or tendon pains but, according to the doctor, "they are very rare." I'm sure he told me about the symptom to protect himself "just in case" but it was clear he really didn't believe there would be problems. I took the medicine for three days, then stopped for a day because I didn't feel well. Then I thought, "Suck it in - there's only 2 pills to go and then you won't infect anyone. You don't want to be Typhoid Mary for the next antibiotic-resistant killer strain of some bug or another, do you?" I am devastated to think these symptoms will persist as long as people on this site say they will. I keep thinking I can sleep this off, or that I'm really sick with something that requires a different antibiotic. ( And how stupid is THAT?) But, from what I've read here, that's not likely to be the case. I'm 67 years old and already have compromised immune system plus sleep apnea, high blood pressure, narcolepsy, and asthma. Is there anyone out there who has been able to resolve these symptoms in less than three months? I refuse to believe I have to feel this way for the foreseeable future. And boy, am I mad! At myself as well as at the doctor. I usually research everything before I take it, but this one just slipped under the wire.
-- By notoveryet | Reply | (2) replies | Send Private Mail
October 1th
2007
10:57 PM
oct 1 2007
wow.
thanks everyone for sharing your stories and for taking the time.
my son has been on singuair for a yr now and rite from the onset
he developed a twitch in his neck and face muscles.
sincee his dad had just left to go to iraq i figured it was nerves
or lack of attention or some emotional reaction.man oh man...
after reading all your expierience...and seeing that they are too
similar to deny we are off this drug... and zyerteck too.
i just hope his asthma can be managed with out him having to be
a guinia pig for drug companies anymore.
God bless all of you with children who suffer too.God bless all of you adults
who were smart enogh to quit . God bless those with whom this stuff still works.and God bless the people who are trying to find cures for asthma
September 26th
2007
2:41 AM
i was originally prescribed bendrofluazide for high bp but this caused gout. a locum doctor then changed the prescription to lisinopril. i have been taking it for a couple of years and since then i have had various problems. i had severe itching of my hands and then all over my body. a friend suggested this could have been caused by the pain killers i was taking - paracetamol and codeine - so i changed this to to a different one (paracetamol and dihydrocodeine). but although the itching lessened it still goes on. also i have discomfort in both my big toes (could this still be gout?) when i visit the doc my bp is high they tell me, but when i take it at home it is within the correct limits. i suffer from anxiety anyway so tend to put any symptoms down to this but having found this site i realise that maybe this is wrong and that other people have also had similar problems to those i have encountered.
i am not happy with the big drug companies as so many others of you also feel. i was put on strontium ranelate for osteoporosis but the aspartame in this made me so ill i had to stop taking it. the drug company says it is not going to take this ingredient out despite several people getting in touch with them.
i don't know what to do about the lisinopril as i am worried that if i just stop taking it there may be other problems. i have been on bp drugs for around seven years. i am coming up to my seventieth birthday. any ideas would be welcome please.
-- By patches | Reply | (1) replies | Send Private Mail
September 25th
2007
6:04 PM
I am a 54 year old male who has a chronic a-fib. My cholesterol was a wee bit high so my now retired MD put me on Zetia, which just about killed me- constant stomach pains and associated GI problems-we all can guess. So I went to see my cardiologist- he took me off Zetia and put me on Lipitor. It dropped my cholesterol levels significantly but the side effects are horrendous. My new MD was gooing to look into it because I was on 80 mg a day- but never did and never lowered the dose-229 is not all that high to warrant 80 mg a day.
I am now experiencing severe pain in my right rib-cage area, making sleep an event every night. Also have severe leg cramps the size of golf balls constanlty at night while sleeping. Pain in both elbows, and in the right foot, which when I can sleep wakes me up with a severe pounding pain. I am also experiencing severe neck and shoulder pain and am generally fatigued all the time- So I quit taking the stuff as of today on my own, I am seeing my MD in two week and I want to see what the difference is pain wise being off of the med for two weeks. I have always been a strong physical guy, played football all the way through college and am in pretty good shape for my age, but this stuff is killing me!! Hope this helps someone else also-Thanks for listening-John in Napa, CA.
September 16th
2007
7:18 AM
I am just about to burst in tears from reading all this information. Our daughter is 4 years old. She is been in Singulair (for her Allergies) since she was almost 10 months. It been quite a rollercoaster for us. We have been told she is ADHD (although can't be diagnose until 6), she has almost all the characteristics. hyperactive, mood swings vary between days, now leg pains, nightmares, etc. Two years ago our allergist took her off Singulair but our pediatrician didn't agree, so we went back.
It has been very painful because our daughter is such a bright girl; we don't want her to suffer, not to be accepted because she is acting like this. From reading all this information my husband and I decided to take her off Singualir. Hopefully we see some changes that can give us a sense of relief. Any words of wisdom?
September 13th
2007
11:25 PM
Prednisone is a catabolic steroid, not anabolic which increases muscle, so people should know that continued use over time will literally break down and destroy muscle tissue. Without muscle, a person has no way of even standing more than a few seconds and could suffer many falls.....these falls are worse on the prednisone patient because prednisone also effects bone density and multiple disc fractures can result, leaving the person wheelchair bound.
How do I know? That's what happened to my mom. Also, if you are in a nursing home and contact scabies, forget about ever getting rid of them prednisone supresses the immune system so it can't kill them off, even with all the meds and treatments out there for scabies. Again, my mom.
-- By cookiecndy | Reply | (1) replies | Send Private Mail
September 12th
2007
7:59 PM
I am a 19-year-old female pre-med student who has been taking this nasty drug for exacly 1 year now.... The amount I am on continues to change, for my disease keeps returning and leaving remission. I finally get down to 10mg from 40mg, and have to go back up when symptoms return!!! This is SO discouraging. The worst part is, no one understands the physical and emotional agony this drug brings on. I'm 19 and feel like I'm 90. My body aches, my weight is constantly fluctuating, I bruise from simply being poked (being a clumsy person, I look like I am beat!!), my bones feel as if they are about to break, and I am SEVERELY despressed. Being in college and taking rigorous classes, this is just too much for me to handle anymore... My 5-year relationship with the love of my life/best friend is falling apart because of my horrible mood swings.. don't blame him for leaving. I feel as if this drug has ruined my life more than the disease itself...Does ANYONE know if one's body and mind returns to "normal" after FINALLY being off this drug??? I pray to God the answer is yes... I would appreciate someone's reply and/or insight, because my Dr. fails to tell me about ANY side effects until I mention something. PLEASE REPLY!!!
-- By marian0000 | Reply | (5) replies | Send Private Mail
August 20th
2007
11:18 PM
I just got home from the doctor's office. I was put on lisinopril 10 mg per day. After reading these posts,I don't think I will even start taking it!
-- By sparky2003 | Reply | (2) replies | Send Private Mail
August 12th
2007
7:24 PM
Are you for real? While I can understand what you are TRYING to say, this posting lacks any degree of understanding of the problem. Obviously you have not experienced what some of these people (myself included) have experienced.
Just out of curiosity, if someone starts taking a medication and it is determined they are going into anaphylactic shock, should they continue?
Also, your own posting references "last-line of defense..." and there lies the problem. The FDA is approving things based on political motivations rather than objective criteria, drug companies are legalized pushers looking to make a buck, and doctors are overzealous and overworked so they are handing it out like candy. Last-line?? Not quite.
Bottom line, this stuff is poison to some people and not only should they stop, they never should have started on it. Read "Bitter Pills", read the web, talk to "good" doctors, but get some information before running off at the mouth.
-- By antileviquin | Reply | Send Private Mail
August 12th
2007
6:39 PM
Uh, I have read a number of postings where people are PROUD they stopped taking this last-line of defense antibiotic. Read up and be prepared before you take it. Stopping short only breeds drug resistant bacteria. If people didn't do this, we wouldn't need these horrible medicines.
You, and all the others that do the same, are RESPONSIBLE for this medication's existence. Had you kept taking that Amoxicillin back, when you were a spry 18 year old, instead of stopping when you "felt better", there wouldn't be a constant bacterial arms race.
Stopping these medications mid-treatment is a disservice to HUMANITY.
Keep it up, and next time you get a staph infection, you might find there are no antibiotics that work anymore.
-- By med-private | Reply | (2) replies | Send Private Mail
July 26th
2007
8:38 PM
I have been taking lipitor for probably 6 years. About 3 years ago, I experienced sciatica in the left leg for at least 9 months. The pain only lasted about 2 minutes but recurred 15-20 times a day. Now for about 2 years, I have had weakness in the left leg. Within the last 5 months or so, it has gotten to the point that I am constantly off-balance and feel as if I am walking like someone who has had a stroke. Others comment on this. It is embarrassing because I stumble and lose my balance like a drunk. Within the last 2 months, I have recurring pain in the right arm and shoulder - it last only about 5 minutes but is extremely painful. The balance problem led me to worry that I had a small stroke but after seeing this website, I am wondering if it is the lipitor. I am going off of it for at least a month and see if the symptoms disappear.
-- By singh | Reply | (1) replies | Send Private Mail
June 19th
2007
9:02 AM
I am currently taking Levaquin 750 mg for bacterial pneumonia. I've been taking Levaquin for 4 days now and feel obligated to warn those taking this drug that it causes severe insomnia - WHICH IS JUST THE OPPOSITE OF WHAT IS REQUIRED WHEN YOUR BODY IS TRYING TO HEAL ITSELF!!
The drug also causes a rather severe intensification in your mental state and thinking - causing you to enter into a quasi zombie-like mental state. This is worsened when combined with the insomnia that the drug causes.
THESE DRUG COMPANIES ARE TO BLAME BECAUSE THEY DON'T TELL YOU ABOUT THE REAL DEAL CONSEQUENCES OF TAKING THEIR PRODUCTS.
Beware of the insomnia and zombie-like state that this drug induces!!
June 14th
2007
11:47 PM
I am a 57 yr old male taking 24 days of Rx Levaquin for prostatis, - seemed to clear it up but immediate side effect of lots of pain in my wrists, ankles, knees, and back. It is now 2 weeks off and very little pain subsiding. Tingling in fingertips and toes.
Reading all these comments, I suspect that this tendonitis might be more common than the drug companies have stated.
-- By rpauli | Reply | Send Private Mail
May 15th
2007
5:00 PM
My daughter is 5 years old and has been on singulair for 1 week. i have already noticed a dramatic change in her behavior. she has become irritable, mean, nasty, and emotional. she has had me in tears on a daily basis. she has turned into a monster. we will be calling the doctor in the morning!
-- By lessa621 | Reply | (34) replies | Send Private Mail
May 12th
2007
12:23 PM
My husband was given a sample of this for a month-long bout of bronchitis and we are now thinking it has done permanent damage to his vocal chords. He only used it 5 times, got thrush (yeast infection) in his throat and is still hoarse after a week of being off of it. Does anyone know the history of this drug and has the word "class action lawsuit" crossed anyone's mind besides mine? I am amazed at the way pharmaceutical companies run the healthcare business in this country!
I don't want to go off on a rant here, but are people aware that a large portion of the FDA's operating budget is provided by pharmaceutical manufacturers? This isn't our first experience with this type of thing and I'm about to launch a grassroots campaign to educate the public. Maybe they'll stop believing all the marketing hype.
I'm thinking that the pharmaceutical companies ought to heed the Hippocratic oath - FIRST, DO NO HARM. Wouldn't it be a remarkably different world if they would take all the money they're spending on marketing and use it to lower the price of orphan and AIDS drugs? They keep saying that research is expensive - and advertising on every possible television show, radio and magazines is cheap? Hello? Are we going to be sheep or are we going to be citizens and hold these companies responsible for what they're doing. Thanks for letting me vent. Please contact me if you want to do something about this. And no, I'm not an attorney, but I'm a writer and I think I just found out what my first book is going to be about...
-- By cleocatra | Reply | (9) replies | Send Private Mail
Singulair (16) Lipitor (13) Levaquin (10) Lisinopril (9) Yasmin (8) Advair HFA (7) Zocor (5) PredniSONE (4) Guaifen-C (1) Kenalog (1) Topamax (1) Mirena (1) Avelox (1) Effexor (1) Ibuprofen (1) NuvaRing (1) Levoxyl (1) Toprol-XL (1) Synthroid (1) Omnicef (1) Cipro (1)
August 15th
2008
1:13 AM
email me at ****** i would love to get in on a class action lawsuit cause these people need to be stopped they messed my body up and ladies don't need to have this as an option
-- By sirslyfancy | Reply | (6) replies | Send Private Mail