Drug reps symptoms and conditions

I have been on Levoxyl for about 9 years and have felt awful. I have had weight loss, dry hair, thinning hair,dry skin, muscle aches, migraines and the list goes on. I just got out of the hospital Monday after 4 days of testing of my heart and lungs. I was admitted for racing heart. The doctor's conclusion was anxiety! They said that Levoxyl has nothing to do with my rapid heart rate. The endocrinologist prescribed taking levoxyl .050 on day and .075 the next also a beta blocker, Xanax and Zoloft. I can not take any of these meds b/c they make it almost worse. I KNOW it is not Anxiety and it from the Levoxyl but what do I do?? I am a mess right now can not be in this condition with four young kids and a husband. None of the doctors would say it was the Levoxyl and instead prescribed more and told me to check up with blood work in 6 weeks. I took the .050 yesterday around noon and by 7:30pm my heart rate picked up again and continued until 4:30 this morning. I can not sleep more then 2 hours at a time and wakeup feeling like I am crawling out of my skin. PLEASE let me know of any solutions.

Most of the "side effects" are die off responses (sometimes referred to as a herxheimer response similar to that which occurs when treating syphillis) from bartonella or borrelia. Levaquin is a potent intracellular antibiotic...where these and other organisms can hide. These can be subclinical infections where (at this time) you are not even aware you are infected. If your "side effects" start around the 3rd day into your prescription...rejoice...and suffer for a while, you are killing something really bad.

I can't believe some of the things you people are blaming on the Mirena! There is NO substantial evidence that supports ANY of your claims! I had the Mirena put in on the May 16 and, while it was painful to put in, I haven't had pain since! My only complaint is that I haven't stopped spotting. My sex drive is IMPROVED if anything but the bleeding has made it hard to "engage". As soon as the spotting lightens enough, I "engage" and then right after, I start bleeding again. But that is no big deal since I was told to expect this pattern. As for those of you little teeny boppers who are just dating and haven't had a child yet...What the hell are you even doing on the Mirena??? Did you not hear that you aren't a good candidate for it????

I have come to the conclusion that our pediatricians, allergists and various other doctors, have been brainwashed by the drug reps,possibly even bribed. My friend took her son off of Singulair almost a month ago when I told her about all of this. He already suffers from a learning disability, but she feels that his ability has improved along with his disposition and complaints of various aches and pains. She took him for his usual appointment at his allergist and told him what she had done and why and he literally YELLED at her, calling her a fool and demanded that she put him back on it. She stood her ground and refused and now is under the impression that her son will be dismissed as a patient from that practice. That won't be a problem. From what I read and what I hear, a lot of doctors are dismissing the whole deal. They can't be bothered with finding out for themselves, what the truth really is. No, they might miss out on the "perks" from the drug reps, like free samples of the deadly drug, or free pens, or a chance at a vacation in the Bahamas, and the list goes on. The drug reps are a hazard. They lack education on the drugs that they are "dealing", and if they HAVE been educated and are still promoting it,
they are no better than the crack dealers in the alley.

Just got prescribed Bactrim today for a URI. I have Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and am very sensitive to ANY medications anyway. THANK GOD I had the brains enough to be cautious and only take a 1/2 of a tablet (I am the butt of many jokes in my family because I am almost medication-phobic due to side effects) but I just took a 1/2 a tablet and 11 hours after taking it, I have a swollen face, eyelids, etc., a bloodshot eye, nasal passages are swollen completely shut, have heart palpitations, and my urine is BROWN. Yes, BROWN. OMG I am not taking another pill, it should be removed from the market. You all know that SOME day, we'll be seeing some attorney commercial on TV asking for people that have been injured/death from side effects of this drug......unbelievable doctors are still prescribing this as I believe they've got to be getting complaints about it all the time. I had a friend that worked for a doctor and she told me that SOME doctors push certain drugs to their patients based on the good "perks" the drug reps give their office (lunches for staff, vacations for doctors, etc) shouldn't be that way but is for compensation for prescribing their drugs more than a competitors. Sad. Pray for me no long-term damage has been done.

I discovered this site last Wednesday morning - without taking the time to list all of the grief I felt reading through the pediatric postings, I will briefly note my 4 year old daughter has been on Singulair for 2 years now. What I now realize is all the behavior issues, night screaming, etc. are so easily dismissed as stages of a toddler. She has suffered (as well as our family) every symptom and behavior listed by parents on this site with the exception of leg cramps.

Our entire family can see the dramatic results since taking her last pill last Tuesday night. The melt downs and tantrums are all but over, she even commented "hey, I listened right away" on the second day without Singulair. She is still having night terrors - I call them that because they are in no way a dream or nightmare, but rather agonizing moments that break our hearts to hear. I hope those will soon go away as well so her sleep pattern results in a restful night.

Am I angry that we have all suffered for 2 years only to find we have been basically poisoning her? Am I angry that for the 2 years her dad and I have sunk pretty low, feeling inadequate as a parent to teach and discipline our child? Am I angry that after 20 years of marriage, raising a great 16 year old in the midst of all this, we were to the point of the ADD, bipolar, etc. theory that would have been misdiagnosed? Heck no, we are all so thankful to have come across this site and are so giddy and excited to be happy again.

What I am angry about is this - when I called our pediatrician last Wednesday and relayed what I had seen on the Merck website for side effects added in recent months she had not heard this information and asked where I saw it. At that point I had not seen this site. I asked her how is it the well dressed pharmaceutical reps come in with doughnuts, exotic trips, etc. to market a drug with "ABC" treatments and "XYZ" side effects, continue to market the drug and never update the doctors when original selling points are altered - ie; new side effects.

The FDA website is troubling for two reasons: Merck is in charge of their own investigation regarding recent complaints and the FDA expects this to take 9 months. Gee, who gets to investigate themself? Secondly, in February the site notes the FDA and Merck are trying to find the best way to communicate the concerns being investigated to prescribes and patients. HELLO - we live in a world of real time, instant communication methods, two examples being the United States Postal Service and an internet connection.

Today is April 30 - a full two months after "trying to decide how to pass this information on" and my doctor, nor my pharmacist have received any information. Apparantly since we missed the story and coverage on Dateline we are out of luck.

I plan to start from ground zero to get our voices heard to change the way, or the law if you will, to implement an immediate communication link between the FDA and prescribes when an investigation such as this has been initiated. I realize Singulair has most likely benefited more humans than it has destroyed while on the drug and the FDA would have to clearly not communicate "panic". However, when a drug is used for pediatric treatments we need information quickly to assess on behalf of our children. In my case, since my daughter had been on the drug since 2 years old, I do not know what her "normal behavior" should be as that is the age they start to develop and show personality. Additionally, when enclosed prescribing information is updated with a prescription -MARK IT IN RED, "UPDATED INFORMATION". I read every ounce of information that accompanies a new prescription for any family member. I would NOT, however read the information every 30 days for an ongoing, long term prescription over the course of 2 years.

I am looking for anyone that may have started contact with a congressional representative or otherwise to change the communication to our doctors. Please note - I am in no way interested in any legal action regarding Singulair and our nightmare. We are moving forward and do not wish to live the nightmare one moment more. I simply want to see our doctors and pharmacists have vital information as it happens.

Thank you to all for sharing your experiences - I truly believe it is changing lives and making a difference. I am personally telling everyone I know about what is happening with our child and all of yours. Andy by the way, by telling one of my long time friends our amazing discovery, she realized she had been suffering from depression for some time and chalked it up to various things going on in her life. She had her last Singulair last week and feels tremendous! So keep the word going!

I'm 23 years old and I took Yasmin for about 4 or 5 years. I honestly loved it at the time, or so I thought. Basically, I got switched to Yaz because it was being pushed by my doctor's office and within 2 weeks I was the most miserable person on the face of the earth. Since I was going through a lot in my life I never even thought that my negative attitude was based on my birth control. I began to suffer from severe migraines, nausea, this strange rash on my face, and I gained a little over 20 pounds. I was on Yaz for 6 months when I finally realized that it was what was causing all my symptoms. The Sunday before my appointment, things got so bad that I was about 30 seconds away from killing myself or checking myself into an institution. I have since switched to Loestrin24Fe, and I can't say I'm in love with it, but I DO feel SO much better! Seems to have a few side effects of it's own, but as long as "killing myself" isn't one of them, sounds good to me! Despite thinking that Yasmin was great back then, I started to think back to when I felt my life had started to spiral out of control, and it's when I started the Yasmin. My migraines and over all aches, pains, and anxiety problems started then too! The 2 best years I had were 2 years I wasn't really actively using birth control. My last two relationships have ended in a fiery ball of flames due to the control Yasmin and Yaz have had over me. THIS PILL NEEDS TO BE OFF THE MARKET. It has ruined my life for the past 3 years especially and I can't believe that despite all of us screaming at the top of our lungs, no one is doing anything. All the drug reps keep saying "there's no "bad" pill everyone reacts differently" but HOW can you say that when so many women are this miserable on it? Do countless numbers of us need to die in order for this to be over?

Concerned Citizen; I just went to Singulair.com and the website is quite good. Any practitioner would know to look at the product PI which is right there and the pharmacokinetics section tells you how it works. Put your glasses on.

I talked to my childs Dr today and she had no idea about all the problems with Singular but she did recommend that I take him off of it for a couple of months just to see if it helps with some of his symtoms or all of them.. But I also find it very discomforting that drug reps that promote these drugs to dr offices usually have no pharmacutical background at all that all they do is go tell the drs what they were told about the drug.. I think there needs to be guidelines in place for drug reps to have some sort of pharmacutical knowledge and background before taking these drugs to drs to get them to give it to us as adults and more for our childern something needs to be done. How many people have to be hurt before they take notice...
My thoughts a prayers go out to everyone who is dealing with this nightmare if you all are having as much problems with your children as I am we and mostly our children need all the prayers they can get.....

Well what more can be said really ? most all of us have suffered a great deal for a long time with going to a bunch of quack dr.'s listening to drug reps (Pushers) sell their dope and we all want to believe there is hope but there is none .these problems we have know one knows the actual cause so therefore there won't be a cure . sure there are a few success stories but for the majority these side effects are only the beginning I really don't want to bear children anymore due to i am afraid of what I put in my body and are my plumbing problems hereditary? I couldn't live with myself knowing that I passed on all theese problems to my child. I have been off lupron now for well I can't remember what year it was I think it was 2005or 2006 and I am still having issues.....................
Bone/Joint pain , MEMORY , G I problems , Weight gain , Depression , Tired all the time , Dizzyness , I can't walk straight , heart palpatations , upset stomach , impatient , the hair thinning has got better , but the dandreff hasn't , i'm irritable , moody , and my fave acne the night sweats went away after they gave me the northindrone it really helped and the prozac really helped with the sever mood swings . But I am not myself I haven't been in a long time . the worst side effect is a broken spirit. the con's FAR outweigh the pro's

pain killers and muscle relaxers with a laporoscopy with a briliant surgeon like a endocrinoligist not a plain GYN Along with a great diet and exercise and maybe throw some metformin in for kicks and that my friends is a great start . we do have alternitives . we just have to search for them sometimes .

A British study suggests that Singulair should be studied for possible psychiatric adverse drugs reactions in children. I don't have this access to this journal so I have to try to find it. I will get back to you on what it says specifically.

BMC Clin Pharmacol. 2008 Mar 17;8(1):1 Links
Individual case safety reports in children in commonly used drug groups - signal detection.Brunlof G, Tukukino C, Wallerstedt SM.
ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Due to few paediatric drug safety studies, knowledge on risks of drug treatment in children is limited. The knowledge needs to be increased to make proper risk-benefit analyses possible when treating paediatric patients with drugs. The aim of the present study was to investigate drug groups commonly used in children concerning type and frequency of individual case safety reports in children. METHODS: Number and type of individual case safety reports in the 30 groups of drugs (5th level ATC-code) most sold (number of defined daily doses) in outpatient treatment to children (<5 years old and experiencing psychiatric adverse drug reactions. CONCLUSION: The number of individual case safety reports per million defined daily doses varies in different groups of drugs. A possible signal for montelukast and psychiatric adverse drug reactions was found, which should be further explored.

PMID: 18366638

The key sentence is:

A POSSIBLE SIGNAL FOR MONTELUKAST (SINGULAIR) AND PSYCHIATRIC ADVERSE DRUG REACTIONS WAS FOUND, WHICH SHOULD BE FURTHER EXPLORED.

I have already posted on Friday about my granddaughter. But I want to say that with all of the stories about Singulair being so similar and so heartbreaking that organization is the key. Merck and the FDA are so closely allied that the truth may never come out in scientific terms.I an only hope that with the deaths that have occurred and forced this out into the open that parents and children who have been so scammed and victimized will have a voice. Nothing is worse than harming a child and these companies knew about these side effects(by their own admission) but marketed them to the doctors and the public anyway. How is it that a few doctors knew the dangers and others didn't? That's bizarre, unless most doctors get rewards from the drug reps for prescribing this drug. Did the reps tell them , "Oh it works great on allergies but turns your 9 year-old into a sad, depressed, suicidal and bipolar child?" Even if they didn't there's enough knowledge out there given to doctors at conferences, journals, etc to inform them. That's their job. I am writing to the governor, my congressman, my Senator every day until they hold hearings on what us parents and our poor children have been through with this drug. Please do the same.It may fall on deaf ears but it's a small price to pay for the damage this drug has done.

As a pediatrician I write for singulair every day.
The medication is for allergies.
Allergies cause adenoidal swelling, which cause sleep disturbances which makes the child tired the next day with makes him over weight, less attentive, hyper and eventually act out.
This in turn makes the child experience parental, peers and teachers criticism/ abuse, with leads to the child feel inadequate, embarrassed, frustrated and eventually depressed and suicidal.

Yes, singulair does cause behavioral change but they appear within the first couple of peels, the rest is due to allergies, lack of medical care, i.e. sleep, singulair, and zyrtec deficiency.
Allergy shots cause 4 times the incidence of suicidally than singulair, and Ritalin 10 times more.
They say in hebrew "once a stone is thrown into a well, thousands of smart people won't find it".
Check it, it's true.

Wow, i just happened to see on the news that singuilar has these side effects. As i write this i can't stop from crying. My 8 year old son has been on sigular for a year and a half now. He has had fits if rage, feelings of wanting to die, leg pain, stomacher pain, almost every symptom others have had. I would stay up crying at night trying to figure out what was wrong with him or me as a parent. Shame on the doctors who should of known better. I went to his doctors and told them about his behavior and outburst and physical complaints. I was told it;s a phase he going through. My son would tell me his legs hurt when he walked, well i thought it was gowning pains like the doctors said. I am so glad i found this web page. I now know for sure it is the medication. I will now search for a better way to treat his asthma and allergy's. I hope and pray that others will find this web page and know there isn't anything wrong with us or our children, however there is certainly something wrong with our doctors who should of seen the symptoms and told us what it could of been.

Well, I am not posting a side effect. I actually stumbled upon this website while trying to look up whether hypoglycemia is a side effect of Levaquin. I am a physician assistant and routinely prescribe this medication. Unfortunately ALL medications have the potential for causing many many many different side effects. Obviously one has to weigh the benefits of using the medication with the risk of side effects. And certain side effects are obviously more common than others. While I appreciate the point of a website like this, it is very frustrating for me, as a clinician, to read someone posting things that are absolutely untrue which can potentially cause undue distress or worry for everyone who may read it. I am referring to the person who wanted "to let everyone know of the relationship between levaquin and vancomycin." Her only source for this WRONG information is a nurse who told her daughter. Did she ever think that the nurse could be wrong and that maybe before posting something like that she should ask a pharmacist or a physician. Vancomycin and floroquinolones are not related pharmacologically!!!!

I was prescribed LEVAQUIN for a sinus infection. This was my first time to hear about or take this. I have had reactions to Keflex in the past. So, within about three hours of taking Levaquin, I had red spots and was manic mad. I felt like some maniac. A few hours later, I had two deep and bright red circles on my stomach. The burning was like a fire and it was actually hot to the touch. My roommate touched it and it felt like fire to them. I stopped the medication and went to see my doctor that Monday. The pain was continuing. The Levaquin Rep just happened to be in the office when I was there. He said, "Yep, happens to about 1 in 10 people" The burning later turned into a black spot, about three inches in diameter. I felt and WAS burned. Also, my bicep muscle hurt and the pain in my shoulder was unbelievable. I've read about all of the other posts about muscle pains. My ortho doctor said I have a torn bicep muscle. Now, I work out but am not a muscle guy by any means. I have two female friend and one went numb from head to toe on exactly one side. The other friend had SEVERE burns all over her body, her skin fell off and hair fell out. She has been fighting side effects inside and out from Levaquin. We both feel that we were burned from the drug. Her case was MUCH more serious than mine. My heart goes out to all of you for your pain and loss. This drug needs exposure.

I noticed I didn't put my side effects. They are "Charlie horses" or leg cramps, I don't eat like I use to, back pain, tingling shoulders, neck pain, bloating out of this world, chest pains, and heart palpations. The bad thing is I called my local health unit and they told me to continue taking the pill. What should I do?

I am sorry to hear of the trouble and pain that you all are having!

The common thread is the the DOCTOR didn't tell of the dangers and side effects. This is not at all unusual. I am employed as a Certified Pharmacy Technician for one of the largest HMO's in the country and have also worked for retail pharmacies. If I have learned anything at all it is this; ALL QUESTIONS REGARDING MEDICATIONS SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO A LICENSED PHARMACIST!! Day in an day out I see doctors, PA's and RN's who are all but clueless as to drug interactions, proper uses, side effects, even proper & safe dosing! Countless times the Pharmacist will catch and error and not only save the patient from a potentially fatal mistake but also save the doctor's license, yet they are not given the respect they deserve. These people go to college for 7 to 8 years and study every possible aspect of pharmacology. Our society puts such God-like faith in doctors and fails to realize, they have only studied pharmacology, if we are lucky, for a couple of classes for one semester. Graduates now, at least in my home state are earning the degree PharmD (Doctorate of Pharmacy).

Please, please, PLEASE, don't say "Oh, I have no questions, my doctor told me" or "If I have questions, I'll ask my doctor." ASK A PHARMACIST!!! Granted, even the best trained pharmacist can't predict ALL potential problems but their knowledge is far superior to the vast majority of doctors!

Another point to consider; doctors are greatly influence by "drug reps", salespeople from the pharmaceutical companies that tout a new "drug du jour" every week, bombarding the docs with free samples, promotional gimmicks while wining and dining them so they will push (prescribe) THEIR product over the competitors' or any older but just as effective medication that most likely costs less too!

Again I wish only the best to all of you and my heart goes out to you who are suffering.

Susan

I am a physician and have prescribed levaquin to many people. I have had some of them complain of what they thought were serious and variable side effects but mostly I attributed their problems to anxiety and hypochondiasis. I now know differently. I took levaquin, and for over a year I have had serious CNS anxiety, insomnia, joint and tendon pain, and widespread peripheral neuropathy. It has been an awful time and since realizing that the effects are often long term I have been able to identify many other patients who have developed serious long term problems with anxiety, depression, arthropathy and tendonopathy, neuropathy and possibly endocrine effects like gonadal failure and worsening of diabetes. There are no long term studies done post marketing to identify these effects and to unify all of these problems into one syndrom of fluoroquinolone toxicity. This is a big problem and I believe thousands of patients have been adversely affected by the use and misuse of levaquin and probably the other fluoroquinolone antibiotics. I have other colleagues who are beginning to recognize the long term consequences of levaquin and the fluoroquinolones. More research and study needs to be done. In the mean time I am sure that Johnson and Johnson, Ortho- Mcneil, will continue to refute that the incidence of serious adverse reactions is much higher than they report.

IF YOUR TAKING THIS GET OFF NOW!!! I have tried lots of pills and this by far was the worst! I have had 6 kids and even post pardom depression was nothing compared to the effects this had on me! I noticed just after 2 weeks of taking YAZ I stared having mood swings not just little ones just crying all the time..I would be fine one second then just blow up on everyone around me! While working out my toes would go to sleep and it was so painful! I contemplated suicide! This is how bad it was. I called my doctor the nurse switched me to Yasmin..*which of course she said was different but it wasn't* After taking Yasmin for 2 more weeks I was wanting to die everyday! I called my doctor at 6am he actually answered! He said that both pills were the same. I am now on the old school Ortho and I'm doing awesome! This pill should be taken off the shelves! I actually got this pill free from my doctor! The drug reps must get paid alot to tell doctors that this is good for you! It's BS ladies! Please I'm begging you don't try this pill nor give them to your children! I Beg you! email me if you have any questions I've been doing alot of research and talking to doctors in my area to stop giving these out!
Good Luck

My doc put me on Singulair a few years ago and I quit taking it after realizing it was causing horrible pain in the muscles of my back and down my legs. Nothing seemed to make it go away either. Then she put me on Advair which made me feel like I was loosing my mind plus other bad side effects so I quit that drug too. So recently she asked me to try Singulair again. I said no but she talked me into trying it again because she had never heard of those side effects. I am now two weeks into it and have been experiencing different side effects this time. And worse. Migraine for 3 days now, disturbing dreams, abnormal uterine bleeding, abdominal cramps, sleepyness, and irritability.
I thank you all for sharing - it has helped me make up my mind and I will direct my doc to this site so she will know the truth - not what she hears from the drug reps!

In January I was diagnosed with polymyalgia rheumatica and temporal arteritis (giant cell arteritis). I was put on 60 mg prednisone and an array of other meds to help with pain, inflammation, water retention, and stomach problems from everything. I've lost some vision from the TA. I've experienced the weight gain, the moon face, stomach problems, depression, fatigue, muscle weakness, lack of memory and concentration, and generally feel miserable. The brain fog is awful! I don't trust myself doing much of anything these days!

When I was first put on the prednisone it completely took away all my TA and PMR symptoms. I could walk and get up and down again, didn't have the headaches, and didn't hurt all over.
My doctor tried to taper my dosage about 6 weeks ago and all my symptoms returned and increased as I went down on the prednisone. He upped me back to 60. That time the symptoms didn't go away. They lessened but were still there.

He's trying to taper again, and I'm down to 30 mg now and feel worse and worse. My sed rate has been normal, so the doctor thinks it's from the prednisone. Does it mimic all the TA and PMR symptoms? I also am having a lot of hand and feet cramping.

Does anyone else have these two illnesses? I would be interested in your experience. I want off these meds! Anyone found an alternative approach that's helped?

God bless!

I am twenty years old and was doing great with birth control pills until I formed 2 cysts that ruptured. He tried five different pills and none of them worked. I still formed cysts and they all ruptured. My mom had adynemosis which is the worst kind of endo. So he did a lapro. surgery and found adhesions on my appendix and bowel and endo everywhere. He almost removed my appendix and part of my bowel. He recommended me to try Lupron and just like many of you I was scared because I read all these posts. However I have had my fourth shot. I do have side effects but it is better than what I was dealing with. Hearing your doctor say it is either this, Depo or Hysterocretomy is scary being on twenty. My doctor is going to Washington University since I live in St. Louis and I am going to be a part of a study to help other women. I think people should investigate the side effects from trusted research sites. You do lose bose lose but most of it is avoided if you only take it for six months. If you do lose some most of the deposits will come back. THe side effects are hell sometimes but your doctor can help give you a different add back therapy. I am just happy they are saving my ovaries for now but I just don't know what to do when my six months are up. If your scared about Lupron you should be but you should also see the benefits coming from someone that has seen them. However, it is like if you have a good experience somewhere you are less likely to scream about it but if you have had a bad experience the more people you will tell and make it seem worse then it is. If you are reading this to see if you should take Lupron, stop. Go talk to your doctor because he is the one that meets with the drug reps and see the studies. The people that post are getting heresay. If you don't try something then you can't talk bad about it. Hope this helps because I know I was so scared and then my doctor showed me clinical studies and did warn me alot about the side effects but he also told me if I experience them we can give you something for it. In other words, talk to your doctor and stop reading all these posting because they make it worse.

Hi tashbash7 18027
I saw three differnent OB's and 2 of them said no way the pill could cause this finally the last one said of course it could cause all your symptoms, what works for one person is hell for another. I know that not all doctors know everything there is to know about every medication. They get these fancy drug reps in their office bringing fancy gifts and telling them to use their new miracle drugs because they can do this and that. Some doctors only know what the reps tell them about the drug unless they do their own research(not likely) and even if they did do research on it, they are not going to find the symptoms we are all describing, because most of them are not in the packet insert info. which is about all the info. i found on the web about yasmin. Except that it is on the worst drug list because they say there is no reason to be taking it because the other bcp do what they are supposed to. I agree, if I had known that Yasmin had spirinolactone in it (its the ONLY bcp that does) I would not have taken it. If i had seen this website, i would not have taken it. Imagine how stupid i feel being a nurse and having this happen to me. I could just kick myself for not researching it first. I should know better, but I thought all bcp were basically the same. Our OB's dropped the ball too when they didnt explain the "difference" and possible additional side effects. But I feel they dont know about the side effects we are feeling because the drug is still too new. We are the experts girls, not the doctors, because we are the ones who have/are taking it. You cannot tell the guinea pigs what they are feeling is not real because the money hungry drug company who never ingested so much as one little white pill SAYS thats not a side effect! What you are feeling IS real. I experienced for the first time in my life what real depression feels like. The doctors?! The cold hard truth is that most of them either dont research, or more important LISTEN TO THEIR PATIENTS. WE are the experts, not them. Dont let them make you feel like you are crazy, because you are not. And the last OB I saw (a female) even told me that as well, that I am not crazy or imagining my symptoms, that the pill can cause all these symptoms, and that it will take a couple of cycles for everything to get back to normal, but that none of the changes should be permanent. I believe what makes one doctor evaluate different from another is experience with a particular drug, personality and the ability to think further than whats just in front of them (ie, it doesnt say it can do that so it cant), and just LISTENING which believe me, A LOT of doctors just do not have this skill. If the ones who told you no your crazy logged onto this site and read all of these similar complaints would they rethink their answer, would they even take the time, would they even care? FEW would and some would not thats the cold hard truth. I know my body just as you all know yours and you can feel when there is something wrong with it thats why I kept refusing the antidepressants they were trying to put me on. I noticed around about Jan. 14th that heavy black cloud sitting in my head lifted and I started to feel better emotionally, though I still have spells of depression but not nearly as heavy or lasting as long. Dont get me wrong if anti depressants are helping you that is great, I personally just didnt want to chance extra side effects on top of the million side effects i was already experiencing. The headaches have really disappeared for the most part as well but they were terrible. My skin is still changing every day its starting to get oily and pulmp again and my hair is falling out less and less. Its been 3 months off the Yasmin, things are getting better slowly. Sometimes it feels like one step forward two steps back, but just hang in there, it does get better. Write me. This website is good therapy.

To redaurora:
I am completely angered by your story!! I can't believe that an OBGYN would be so ignorant to think Yasmin didn't play a role in your mild stroke when it's one of the risks listed RIGHT ON THE PACKAGE. Honestly, it seems like we all have to do our own research on these things... it's the only way we can get trusted information (which I have thankfully gained from all the women on this site).
I did some research and found that doctors claim their number one source for information on side effects are the pharmaceutical companies themselves (like they are going to admit there's a problem). Also, I have a friend involved in marketing pharmaceuticals and you wouldn't believe what kind of perks docs get from drug reps! (conflict of interest??)
It really makes you wonder....good luck with your recovery from yasmin. I am 4 months off Yasmin as well and still suffering...