Electrolytes symptoms and conditions

I was started on prednisone for Dressler's Syndrome.. a heart inflammation. I have been taking 20mg daily, now 10.. I am having severe muscles cramps and rippling in my legs.. achy all over ,sweating, peeing all the time.. I am miserable. Why do doctor's dole out this stuff with out a thought???

Being a scientist, I am reluctant to say my symptoms are completely due to the statin (Crestor) that I've been on for 2.5 yrs. Started with a bulging/herniated disk in my lumbar region 4 months ago. Then increasing leg pain and major leg/foot cramping at night. Had my blood checked for electrolytes and CPK. Electrolytes were ok but elevated CPK (muscle breakdown enzyme). Doc took me off Crestor and now a month later, no cramping and much reduced leg pain. Am going in for a cholesterol check next week to see what the levels are. I wonder how much the Crestor played in my herniated disk. Certainly it has played a role in the leg pain and cramping as I no longer have it to the same degree. The FDA and surgeon general talk about putting everyone on statins. BIG MISTAKE!!!! Maybe CoQ helps, but I am done with statins.

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?

Last year i changed from working retail to an outside field tech job, it involves no or little physical labor, recently i had to do one day on a dirt site outside and the next day in the desert at 113 degrees. i drank 11 bottles of 16oz h2o but still ended up in the er. so far it seems after reading the other comments, that though the lisinopril does lower my bp, it also causes depletion of electrolytes in high heat areas if you are not acclimated to it. I also now know why i have constant throat problems, coughing and clearing of my throat after meals, and my muscle fatigue...

I had very similar problems to Avelox. I was given a 10 day cycle and around the fifty day I started to to feel very tired and weak, dry mouth, My legs feel like I ran 20 miles or more. I was happy to come across this site. Last night I decided to go to the ER and have my self checked out, they ran some blood tests and the found that my calcium, magnesium, potassium, and my electrolytes are a little high. The ER are doc told me that Avelox cold not have caused it because he had looked up the side effects and nothing was related to it. I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT. MY DOC ALSO TOLD ME TO TAKE ALEVE, ADVIL. THIS IS NOT RECOMMENDED IT COULD HAVE A SERIOUS AFFECT IF TAKEN TOGETHER. I GOING TO STOP TAKING IT NOW. GOOD LUCK EVERYONE

There has been at least two documented cases of women having extremely high acid levels due to taking Xeloda. These high levels ultimately caused their deaths. All drugs cause side effects but death is not one listed in any of the literature that Roche presents with this drug. If you are taking this drug please make sure that your acid levels are checked regularly and if you know of someone who had the same complications from Xeloda please contact us.

I am a 34 year old and have been taking Yaz for almost a year.

I had some minor side effects until this past month when everything came apart at the seams. I do not know if yaz is the culprit - but the number of women with the EXACT SAME SYMPTOMS as me listed here SCARES THE HELL OUT OF ME.

My "minor" sude effects were the following:

* No period for 5 months
* No sex drive (was not the case before taking Yaz)
* Panic attacks / anxiety (no history fo this. My doc has now put me on Zoloft.)
* Bloating / weight gain
* Brown blotches (like age spots) on one side of my face

This is NOTHING compared to the last month of my life. Basically my life has sucked for the last month. Roughly a month ago my symptoms started with a red rash on the left side of my face and pain in my left ear that led to a migraine that has not gone away at all. (The pain level goes between a 5 and 10, but never lower than a 5.) The rash went away in 2 days, but my ear still hurts today (a month later).

My vertigo began roughly 5 days after the onset of my rash and ear pain and has been non-stop since. I've taken phenergan, valium, etc. - but they are not working. I get spinning/dizzy every time my head moves (up, down, left, right) and with up and down eye movement. It seems like my migraine pain intensifies when my vertigo hits me. If I lie completely still - I have no vertigo - but my migraine is still there. To make matters worse, I have become very disoriented, like I am in a fog all of the time. I am only 34 years old and feel like I am losing my mind. I cannot remember simple words at times and have a tough time completing sentences.

All of these symptoms coincide exactly to the day I began a new packet of the birth control pill called YAZ (Yasmin). I had taken this brand of pill for a year, and though it has worked (not pregnant) I have had some minor side effects up until the last month. The biggest side effect is that I have not had any period at all for the last 5 months. I have also had anxiety (no past history) and have no sex drive (not my normal self.) I stopped taking the pill about a week ago - after reading literally thousands of people with the same side effects I am experiencing on a website called medications.com (My neurologist also told me to stop taking it.)

I am NOT having ringing in my ears or loss of hearing. I mention this because I know other ailments have these as symptoms.

I have already been seen by my dentist, physical therapist, ENT, 2 neurologists and a gyn. So far - they are not helping. I have even been hospitalized for 5 days and all they really did was try and dope me up to sleep and had me take a very potent anti-migraine drug called DHE that must be administered over a 36 hour period via IV. Guess what? It did not work.

The most scary thing is that even though I get severe vertigo any time I move my head (even to the point of waking me up while I sleep) - NOT A SINGLE DOCTOR EVEN MENTIONED I MIGHT HAVE BPPV ( BENIGN PAROXYSMAL POSITIONAL VERTIGO) and they did not test for it at all. They were all interested in treating my month-long migraine with anti-migraine drugs. They all swore up and down that my vertigo was related to my migraine. They also said my fogginess was because I was "tired and sick" and many migraine sufferers are that way.

After my husband and I searched the internet and found dozens of websites, we are pretty much convinced that I have BPPV. We are going to get in front of a vestibular specialist ASAP.

So you know, I have been through a CT scan, two different MRIs, basic blood work on my white cell counts, thyroid levels, potassium, etc.

They have ruled out a sinus infection, brain tumor, pituitary tumor, stroke, blood clots, etc. They have simply treated me with anti-migraine medication - and it has been worthless. I have taken Topomax, Frova and DHE (the drug mentioned above) and my migraine is still there. These drugs have not helped one bit. My neurologist swore that the DHE would do the trick. Guess what? He was wrong.

I discharged myself from the hospital yesterday and am now at home.

I just want my normal life back. I cannot drive, work, take care of my family, etc.

My two biggest questions are:

DOES ANYONE KNOW IF BPPV CAN CAUSE MY MIGRAINE? The reason I ask is that the doctors all think that the migraine is causing my vertigo. All along they have been treating my migraine (with zero success) and have been giving me valium and antivert to simply mask my vertigo (no success there either.) No one has tried to really diagnose and treat my vertigo. Is it possible if I get my vertigo fixed my migraines will disappear?

DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY INFORMATION ABOUT BIRTH CONTROL PILLLS CAUSING BPPV? I saw woman after woman on medications.com have the same symptoms of vertigo, migraines and brain fog while taking the birth control pill Yasmin. I also know that my avalanche of symptoms eerily coincided with my first pill from a new pack. If they are related, I am most interested in what to do to get my hormones back on track in an effort to stop my vertigo.

This is all driving me crazy. A month ago I was absolutely normal. Now I am 100% disabled. I just want my life back.

Please help!

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

Guest 36835-

Yasmin's diuretic is a potassium sparing diuretic. That's the difference. What that means is that while it flushes out fluids, it spares potassium-thus the risk of high potassium-and hyperkalemia a potentially fatal state!

To your question on research, as electrolytes get out of balance, so does muscle control. IE the number of women here who have suffered muscle twitchs from toe/feet to heart. In particular when the balance of magnesium and calcium is off-set, one experiences murmurs and muscle flacidity!

So have your magnesium, potassium and calcium levels checked pronto!

Guest, #36427-

Based on all the troubles you are experiencing, I would strongly urge you to read through as much of this website as you can as well as the site Flowerbabies set up. Her link is below. There isn't one woman who has taken this pill who hasn't experienced very serious debiliating side effects.

Long short of it, many of us are struggling to heal multiple symptoms that have occurred while being on it to include extreme fatigue, exhaustion, low levels of magnesium and inabalances of electrolytes and potassium due to the diuretic in this pill.

More and more women are being pushed this pill. Doctors make money off it prescribing it.

You sound like you are already going through so much. I can tell you, after two and half years of being on it, it completely messed up my body and I have heart palpitations and pain I never had.

Potassium

Buy The Book

Print This Topic

Email This Topic

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.

Oh I was back to the ER 2 nights ago all my electrolytes iron all normal

All my levles are normal

My progesterone was low 2.0 I did take some of the cream prior to the Lexapro but it didnt help me any took for 3 weeks??

The Lexapro has helped Dejay but Iam still a mess going into my third week not sure what to do??

What is it all of you are taking Vioxin?? Or something like that???

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.

Dear kim and dejay,

your posts nearly bring me to tears, because you exactly tell my story from about 1,5 years ago!!

I know it's hard to believe while you're still in it, but: IT WILL GET BETTER!! You will be your old self someday, but you'll need lots of patience and endurance and the support of your family or husband or anyone around you!!

I know exactly EVERY symptom you both have mentioned!! And I remember me sitting in there and thinking "I never will be better again, this is how it will stay the rest of my life, I'm done!" and today I'm BACK!!

It can last a few weeks or months but I swear someday you'll think "oh, today I think I'm doing a bit better finally", that's how it happened to me!! It will be only little steps every day or week or month, but you'll get through this!!!

Remember that the pill is affecting your natural hormones completely and brings them out of whack. Now, after getting off that horrible pill, it will take some time for your body to learn how to produce hormones by itself again!! It's definitely not only a flu or a simple cold we're all going through, it's something more serious, but nothing letal and nothing, that will last forever!!

On top the Yasmin is lacking your body of very important electrolytes and vitamines and so on, because of the diuretic effect!! So, as flowerbabies already told you, please make sure to take some good supplements (most important seem to be magnesium, zinc and b-vitamines, because they are absolutely essential for nerves and muscles!!).

Another thing that might be possible (also because of the diuretic effect of Yasmin): Please ask your doctor for a blood work about your iron levels!! The monthly period (which, I guess, came really regular during Yasmin) AND the diswatering effect of Yasmin can also lack your body of that important substance.

For the very hard times another thing that might help to calm down a bit: VALERIAN. It's a natural medication which doesn't make you addictet and in my very hard times it was always a good thing to help me through!!

But DEJAY: Don't feel weak because you couldn't get through without antidepressants!! I swear there were times, where I thought "Please give me ANYTHING, I will take it, I can no longer stand this agony!" and today I still don't really know, how I got through without that stuff!! So please take something, if it might help you through the very hard times and someday you'll be able to get off it again!! I swear!

Ok, sorry, I'll try not to write a book again. But I really hope I could help somehow.

And please: If you feel bad and hopeless come around here and I swear you'll always find someone to support you (which I know sometimes is the only thing that helps not to give up completely!!).

But always remember: I's NOT YOU!! It's the Yasmin and someday you'll be better again.

Big hugs to you both and every other poor victim of that horrible drug and stay strong! You'll get through this!!

Best wishes and god's bless
Silke

to Murph70,

Are you serious that you were almost blind? Strange how the more I think about all of this and the things that occurred during those 2.5 years, the more realize how much was linked to taking Yasmin. This is crazy. I read through so many of these emails and I too was advised by both the prescribing doctor as well as an RN that Yasmin could not be responsible for the symptoms I was experiencing. Makes me absolutely nuts that this is happening to so many women, being advertised so heavily and that people in the medical field prescribing it are unaware and discounting.

Can anyone advise what treatment has been the most effective for coming off of Yasmin? Ive been off now for two month. I still have alot of pressure in both ears and interestingly noticed several people who advised they had colds coming off of it. I got really sick immediately following coming off it with someone that took me two months to get rid of. Then, after two weeks, I just got another cold. I've never been sick like this!

It occurred to me that it could well likely be due to how the increased potassium levels or changes to the electrolytes have effected the immune system? Anyone else had this experience?

While I can't say I noticed a change in sexual drive (except I will likely notice that more as I am off of it for longer), did notice I was exhausted all the time. ALL THE TIME. I would shower in the morning and then want to go right to bed. It depleted me and all my energy. And like some other people, lost interest in everything I enjoyed.

I've never been able to find vitamins that I could take that didn't make me feel kinda sick. How much magnesium is recommended? Any particular type of vitamin recommended?

I have been taking this Welbutrin XL for 2 months. After 4 - 5 days of it, I get nauseus, dizzy and begin dehydration. After being off the medication a couple of days, I feel fine. This last episode, I was in the bed for 4 days napping several times a day and sleeping all night, no appetite, urine became thick and dark. All the while I was forcing fluids, drank Pedialyte to replace electrolytes, and stopped the Welbutrin XL. Didn't whether to go to the ER or try to get to the doctor. Finally gor enough strength to make it to the doctor. Blood tests showed I had come UP to being mildly dehydrated. I'm not taking any more Welbutrin XL.

@ Guest 20952:

Well, after only 1 1/2 years ON Yasmin I would surely have said the same things as you do now! I never expected to go through that hell I went through after 4 (!) YEARS on it. And after my first fainting spell and really severe panic attack it still took about 4 months for me to realize WHAT really was causing me such pain and torture (well, I never expected MY Yasmin to do such things to me!! I swear!!)!!

So please be careful and watch your body!!!! If I would have done that and would have found this site earlier I'd surely gone off that pill much earlier and perhaps wouldn't have gone through all this agony I did for the last 2 years!!!

It seems as if in some woman the side effects occur slightly over the years because Yasmin has this diuretic in it which slightly causes an imbalance of electrolytes and vitamines in your body. So it may help, to always drink enough water and perhaps take some supplements like magnesium and so on during times, you are sweating more than usual (a hot summer's day, during workouts, during illness with fever (like the flu or a cold, etc.)).

Everyone out there: Please be extremely careful with that drug, even if you seem to be ok at the moment!!!

Remember I was very well on that pill for over 3 years until everything hit me at once!!!

Greetings
Silke

Hey Rita!!

Thank you so much for your post!! That sounds very interesting and could be a solution for many of us. But I'm really afraid of perhaps again not finding the right doctor, who finally admits that our problems (I'm off Yasmin for over 1 year now, and still not 100% back to normal life......) are connected and brought on by Yasmin...

Exactly as you told, my gyn told me last year around july (had a blood test done there) that my hormone levels are "pretty" normal, though they were at the edge of what's normal (totally low)..... But I know, that this is already enough (hormones at the edge of being too low) to cause severe problems!!

I feel a little encouraged now to go and search again for an endocrinologist who could perhaps help me, too. I also have to mention, that I still didn't get my period. I had only one normal period around easter 2005 after getting off the pill!! So there definitely IS a connection between my still lasting symptoms (sometimes dizzyness, a little anxiety, a little weakness and so on, though everything much lighter as it was last year!!!) and my hormone levels, which are obviousely still messed up.

Did your doc tell anything further about that dehydration and the effects of that diuretic in Yasmin?? I would be so thankful to hear, if he thinks that this stuff could have caused my very heavy muscle weakness and muscle aching during the last year (has eased up but is STILL not completely gone!!).

Well I think that the dehydration brought on by that diuretic is on the other hand causing a heavy loss of vitamines and electrolytes. That could be an explanation for the fact, that in my case (I guess many other women would say the same) the symptoms slowly increased over the years and always got a little worse while I had some illness like a flu or such or while I was working out (because of the sweating)...

Over summer 2004 I got weaker and weaker and after a heavy cold with fever and sweating over 3 weeks in october 2004 i broke down completely with muscle aches, weakness and dizzyness and many more symptoms......

Sorry, if my posts always get that long, but I'm still searching for reasons of my severe illness I've been going through and which has lasted for over 8 months (that were only the hardest months... There were another 12 months where I didn't feel really fit and already had problems....) and is still just very slowly getting better...

God bless you all!!

Silke

Hey Lisa!

Are you taking any supplements as magnesium or vitamin b? It seems as if your body needs more of them around ovaluation and right before your period starts or during that time! Numbness or tingling can be symptoms of a loos of electrolytes and vitamines (which are doubtless caused by bcp and especially by yasmin!!).

I suggest you should search over google or such for symptoms of a loss of a lack of vitamine b and magnesium. I'm pretty sure you'll find there many of the symptoms we are all going through!!

So if you don't take anything like that until now it maybe worth a try.... I'm taking Magnesium nearly every day and I feel that it helps with some of the symptoms, that are still there.

I would strongly suggest that anyone taking Maxide or the generic medication supplement it with potassium. I know that it is not supposed to deplete the potassium and other electrolytes, but it can. Since potassium is water soluble, the body flushes out what it doesnt need so it wont hurt you and will probably help eliviate a lot of the side effects, namely cramps, dizziness, light-headedness, anxiety, aggitation, fatigue, and so on. Start off with the recomended dosage and increase after a day or so if you dont see results. As soon as I feel any of these side effects, I take potassium until they go away. It takes about an hour for it to get into your system so give it time to work. Most people dont realize the importance of potassium and that most of us are at a deficient of it. Also, magnesium helps the body retain and absorb potassium, so you may need that too. I'm not a dr. I just want to share with others what has helped me. My husband is now a believer since he finally gave in and started taking potassium and hasnt had a migraine since. Until then, he had them almost daily for years and the drs couldnt find a cause and nothing else helped.

@ Guest, #12837 (water retention):

I've got the same problems with water retention after Yasmin and I'm feeling horrible. Looking into the mirror shows a completely other figure and person as I was before this horror trip!!

I had been thinking about a water pill, too, but at last I figured out, that perhaps it would be better to wait on and let my body recover by itself. And in my family doctor's opinion all the water will go away when my body is back in balance after this Yasmin horror. Surely it may take months to get there, but after I had been putting so much Yasmin poison into my body for over 5 years I don't want to go on taking chemicals and perhaps making it worse and worse...

Yasmin has got a diuretic in it. So during taking Yasmin your body got diswatered every day and every day. So I suppose that after getting off Yasmin all the cells of your body, which had gotten used to being diswatered all the time, are now absorbing the more water they ever did before just like a dried out sponge!! Perhaps that's the reason for this horrible bloating of our whole bodies.

Another way would be to get your potassium levels checked. Low potassium levels also can be causing water retention and many other symptoms most of the women here are suffering from after Yasmin. I read, that Yasmin interferes your electrolytes, minerals and vitamines and in some women in a very heavy way. So after getting off Yasmin there may be an imbalance in all that too!!

Other things that should be checked out (or by yourself taken as a supplement) is your blood levels of magnesium, zinc, b-vitamines and potassium (as already mentioned above), cause Yasmin can cause a total lack of all that and that can cause many of the withdrawal effects of Yasmin as anxiety, lack of energy, muscle fatigue, nervouseness, depression, and so on!!

If you're not sure, if the mentioned happens to you, too, you should search the internet for symptoms of that mineral- and vitamine lack. Perhaps you may find a solution for your problems there!!

For that reasons at the moment I am taking agnus castus to get my hormones back in balance (didn't have a period since easter this year!!), magnesium, zinc (which can help to get your normal cycle back, too!!), potassium and a complex of b-vitamines in hope to help the after Yasmin symptoms to go away (still got muscle fatigue sometimes, nervousness, anxiety and a little dizziness, but all in a very low way, not at all as heavy as during taking Yasmin!!).

I hope my little researches can help some of you getting better again soon!!

We'll get our lives back, believe it!!! It just takes very much patience from each of us and big support and understanding from our family and friends!!

All the best and a big hug to every Yasmin victim out there!!

I too suffered tremendous leg and toe cramps with advair 250/50. Two doctors both agreed it was the blood pressure medicine I was taking (a diuretic). They recommended that I take potassium pills (OTC) to replace the electrolytes lost. The cramps did subside, usually when I took 6-8 potassium pills....it looked like they were correct.....however, I ran out of Advair so I resumed taking Azmacort until I could get my Advair Rx refilled. Guess what, I stopped taking the potassium & I didn't have any cramps !...it had to be the Advair, not the blood pressure medicine! It's amazing how doctors can be so naive about this!

After having severe Diareha for two days I was Taken to the ER by my roomate. I had a temp of 103.8 and was severly dehydrated. I was admitted, they gave me electrolytes,potassium and Levaquin IV. Within 30 minutes I became nausious(SP?). Over the next few hours I began to swell and my hands began to tingle. Even though I complained each time a nurse or Dr came to my room of pain and numbness in my hands they continued to give me the Levaquin. By the third day I had turned beet red and my feet were also numb. I refused to let them take my blood pressure for fear of my fingertips exploding when the cuff was tightened. A different Dr switched me to Rocphen. But the swelling and numbness persisted. That was the middle of May and to this day I have no feeling in my index,middle or ring fingers on both hands. I have had an EMG that showed "no response" of the nerve.... DO NOT TAKE THIS DRUG OR ALLOW ANYONE TO ADMINISTER IT TO YOU! Hell I could have come out of the severe dehydration with just electrolytes and no antibiotics. At least I would still have feelings in my hands.

Hi,

I wanted to give you an update on my mom.

I posted on July 17th, 2004 as I was so angry with my mom's Dr. and the drug Lisinopril.

He finally took her off the Lisinopril, and kept her on Hydrochlorothiazide. However after he did some more blood work (at my insistence, as I suspected that she was dehydrated) he ordered an electrolyte blood test. He told her he doubted that she was dehydrated due to the combination of the drugs, as she had been on the Hydrochlorothiazide for years without problems. However, he told us he was ordering the blood tests STAT. If the test revealed any of her electrolytes were low, then he would immediately take her off the hydro....... pill too.

Well, he called us that evening and told Mom to IMMEDIATELY stop taking the hydro........pill too! Mom WAS dehydrated as a result of the combination of the two drugs. The Lisinopril was the main cause of her problems and when he added it to her other BP pill, it caused her body to become totally off balance.

I just want to tell you that since she is now off BOTH pills (she still takes Cardizem for BP and Angina), she is finally back to her normal self. We just returned from a 2 week European Cruise which was wonderful but VERY busy and active, as we visited a new country practically every day. Mom was able to do every tour (with lots of walking) and was able return to the ship, get "dolled up" and was one of the first ones at our dinner table. :)

I know that every one is different and that Lisinopril may be just the right drug for some of you. However, if you are a tiny person (my mom is 4'9" and weighs only 90 lbs), then be very careful of the dosage.

Also be aware of any new symptoms once you take ANY new drug, and write the symptoms down. If they last more than one week then call your Dr. and ask him/her to change your meds.

My mom's cough has completely stopped, her eyes no longer water, her exhaustion is gone :) and she no longer feels like a "Mack Truck" hit her, making her body ache all over.

I thank God that I live right around the corner from Mom. She was convinced that it was just allergies as her Dr. had suggested, and thought it was "silly" that I insisted we go back to the Dr. for more blood tests. If I had not lived close by and had not seen her every day, I would not have known how serious her condition had become.

Even though we went to her Dr. several times with complaints of the cough, the watery eyes, the aches etc., the Dr. insisted it was allergies, and referred her to an ophthalmologist for some eye drops (which did absolutely nothing for her watery eyes).

So, a happy ending here - but only because she stopped taking the drug, which caused an enhancement of the hydro......water pill, causing the dehydration.

So just be aware of your body.

I started taking Yasmin in July 2002. After a month I started fainting, sever stomach problems, mood swings, confusion and forgetfullness, loss of sexual desire and vaginal dryness. I first contacted my OBGYN and asked if this would be a side effect and the reponse was "absolutely not". I have gone to several specialist and had some very intensive test. I was diagnosed with IBS, in my head, stress, and maybe liver cancer. Only thing that remains a constant is they all agree my electrolytes are extremely low.
I am so happy to see others have had these problems. I am going back to my old birth control pills immediately. Thank you for helping me realize I was right all along.