Dysfunctional symptoms and conditions

Have been on Simvastatin since May 2007. Have experienced debilitating headaches every day for the first three months, neck and shoulder pain, lower back pain, tiredness to the point of having to stop what I am doing and go to bed and am wondering now whether any other female taking Simvastatin has experienced a burning sensation when passing very hot water and extremely uncomfortable and painful sex.

I'm on the 37mg capsule - If I miss a dosage even one day, that day my symptoms are: severe nausea, emotional mess, foggy brained and completely dysfunctional. I've been taking it for 4 years now (along with Adderall 40mg & Yasmin) and I don't know if it's just this medication or the whole combination, but I've gained 30 pounds!!! I've liked being on Effexor XR because before it I was on Zoloft and there was a huge mood swing coming down from Zoloft at the end of the day. This did not happen with Effexor. Except for the weight gain, I've been pretty happy with it otherwise.

I am a healthy, active 31-yr-old with no medical problems other than acid reflux (I take Prilosec OTC) and 50 lbs overweight. (I may be slightly overweight, but I'm very strong, healthy, and I work out religiously 3-4x a week with a personal fitness trainer.) I've been an Ortho-Tricyclen user for years due to my dysfunctional menorrhea (extremely painful menstruation with flooding blood for days, unending cramps, bloating and water-weight gain). I absolutely adore the OT Rx as I only have to have my period 4x a year, and it's not so dysfunctional when it comes. However after doing much research, I decided to try out Nuvaring and drop taking the pill everyday. I started the ring this past Saturday night at 10 PM (as that's easier for me to remember than a Sunday) and today is only less than two days later. My ankles blew up with what seems like water after the first eight hours of use. I had sex later on Saturday night with the ring inside me, and I got to add a burning sensation to my symptoms, which as of yet still has not gone away. Today (Monday) when I woke up, my hands are swollen now too. Exactly 36 hours of wearing the ring, and already symptoms, least to mention symptoms that should have nothing to do with birth/menstruation control? I just threw the ring away a few minutes ago; I'm going back to OT this week.

Dear Friends:

I have been off and on prednisone for thirty years. I am a chronic asthmatic, and things flare up easily. This past six months have been difficult, as my symptoms have exacerbated about every month.

Prednisone has taken its toll. My weight has been a problem even though I am careful what I eat. My muscle mass seems to have decreased, and I find that I do not have the strength I used to have. I am 67 years of age and otherwise in good health. I do have peripheral neuropathy in both feet and legs, and polycythemia vera. The Polycythemia is been under control for 7 months, with no phlebotomies required.

The worst side-effect of all is on my libido. I have always been sexually active, but the prednisone has made me dysfunctional. When I ask my doctor(s), the inevitible reply is, "Well, as we age, things are never what they used to be." They avoid the subject like the plague.

I need some information. Is it the prednisone which has caused erectile dysfunction and loss of libido? If so, what can be done about it?

Dave

Just wanted to echo comments I see elsewhere here - I took Lisinopril (the choice of my HMO, 10 then 20MG) for about 1 year... I had the mild dry cough w/tickle in the back of my throat. The quantity and quality of erections started to decrease until I was quite dysfunctional. I thought it could be the meds, then read the comments here. The doctor offered Viagra, which had minimal effect. In the last two weeks my doctor switched me from lisinopril to cozaar. Erections began improving immediately. If you are experiencing this side effect be insistent about changing your medication.

Been on Lisinopril 20MG for about 6 months... mild dry cough w/tickle in the back of my throat. Noticed quantity and quality of erections started to decrease after a couple of months. Now pretty much dysfunctional. After seeing others with same symptoms, going to call the doctor on Monday. The dry cough I can live with....