Enjoying life symptoms and conditions

I have been taking lexapro, lamictal, and wellbutrin for about 2 1/2 years for a lifetime of depression and anxiety/panic disorder. I had tried medication at age 15 and experienced all side effects and no benefits. But then at about age 21, I was so desperate that I gave it another shot...figuring there might be a difference in the past 6 years.

I started off with lexapro...and the first week I was soaring! I was jogging at 1AM and going out and enjoying life! I remember going to the movies with friends and laughing FOR REAL and having REAL fun!

At some point of course you level out and that was fine...but then it wasn't enough anymore so the lamictal and wellbutrin got added on.

Recently, my psych raised my (generic) wellbutrin to 300 XL from 200 SR.

I definitely noticed the difference between the XL and SR.

The real function of wellbutrin for me was getting me up out of bed in the morning. It gives me nervous energy, but that has been better than none at all.

But now I've recently realized some other fun side effects!

Memory loss and motor function impairment.

It's kind of funny because I think it has been going on for a good while, but I just didn't REMEMBER enough of it to piece it together. AHA good one right?

I am a hairdresser. A damn good one I'd say. Or...used to be?
I trained for and alongside of the best educators in the industry. I wrote the haircutting curriculum for one of the top education academies.

Now I feel like a f***ing idiot.

I've cut my fingers more in the past week than in the past 6 years. I find myself getting completely lost while doing someone's hair...like I've never been in that situation before.

Sometimes I have tremors that keep me for being able to hold my comb straight and still. My fingers seem to move more slowly and with less grace or control.
I type sooo much slower now.

I've also gone from having excellent spelling, grammar, and range of vocabulary...to forgetting common words...not being able to finish my sentences...and I find myself trying to sound out a word to figure out how to spell it. This doesn't work out too well.

I feel just plain dumb in general. I can't do relatively simple math in my head without getting confused. I can't process or answer a question under pressure.

Now I'm telling my DR. to stuff it, and try to wean myself off of this madness.

I really hope that these side effects aren't permanent. Then I'm just screwed.

I stopped a few times during this post at a loss for words.

Yeah so it stinks that I have lost my substitute for motivation.

Thanks for sharing everyone...you've made me feel like less of a failure.

OH YEAH!

The original story I was going to post was that today I went to the deli to get lunch and I got everything I was going to get for my coworkers...and forgot to get my sandwich. The check out lady is mean to me so I didn't go back. :\

I have been reading all of your Simvastatin experiences with high interest and would like to share my adventures with all of you as well. My story began seven years ago when I was relatively healthy and enjoying life. My doctor prescribed Lipitor for my elevated cholesterol and two months later I found myself in the emergency room after having a severe bout with vertigo for the first time in my life. I have since spent the last seven years fighting this debilitating illness which continues to haunt me after having seen every top neurologist in my area and having taken every neurological test available. It would be as difficult to convince me that I was not somehow "poisoned" by Lipitor as it was for me to convince my doctor.

I was eventually prescribed Simvastatin 40MG and seemed to stabilize for a few years even though my dizziness problems persisted. Suddenly I began experiencing bouts of upset stomach and severe lower abdominal pain. I allowed my doctor to order basically every nasty test known to man in an effort to discover the cause of this new problem, but all have come up negative so far. Eventually I began to experience total exhaustion in the middle of my work day, not to mention the back, neck, and muscle pain that has been described so vividly in this forum. Basically, I have become a 53 year old man who feels much older, has absolutely no energy, and rarely has a day when I can honestly say I feel alive and well.

I am not a doctor and I can't honestly prove that Simvastatin is the cause of all of my problems. However, I do have common sense and after reading all of your thoughtful comments on the subject I would be foolish to at least not suspect that the drug may possibly be making me less healthy and not more healthy. Thank you all for opening my mind to this possibility and I certainly plan on discussing this with my doctor very soon, who may no longer by my doctor should he continue to insist that I take this nasty drug.

I have been having symptoms of early pregnancy, while on the mirena. I have been very concerned specially this last three days. My breast are very sore and i feel a tingling sensation that ends in sharp needle like pains. I also feel tired and sleepy all the time and i can nap for two hours right after work (4PM) and then be back in bed at 10:00. I have also had headaches and eye irritation and dryness, which i thought i was getting from allergies. I also shed hair like crazy. It's isane how much hair I collect after every bath and every time I comb my hair. I am always moody and I also feel anxiety all the time. I have night sweats and a feeling of detachment. I didn't think all this symptoms could be associated to the mirena until I found this website.

This drug works great for like one year. Then, it wears off and you feel on auto-pilot. I was on this for 3 years and at the end it does not work, you just function with no passion at all, always tired no matter how much sleep. With a physician's help, you can taper it down safely and get off of it. I felt so alive and awake once I got off. bottom line, if you need it short term for something like post partum depression, it is good to fight off anxiety, but long term, you are not enjoying life to its fullest....it is a drugged life experience.

the pediatrician prescribed singular for my dd when she was 12yrs old for her asthma. she described it as being safe. that same year dd started having problems in school and seemed depressed. I talked to the doctor about it thinking maybe it had something to do with her adhd medication. the doctor thought maybe it was just normal teen behavior and dd trying to adjust. eventually we took dd to a therapist and things seemed to get a little better. then dd started complaining about stomach pains, she talked about strange dreams at night and would wake up in the middle of the night. Then the tantrums started, wild out of control tantrums. she would scream, throw things, destroy things, she talked about wanting to die, how she hated her life. again I went back to the doctor her adhd medication was adjusted and I also got her back into therapy. therapy was helpful but we continued to deal with the wild tantrums. we kept trying to seek help and answers but to no avail. we were beginning to think dd was suffering from a mental illness. the doctor told us to keep an eye on it and the next step would be maybe putting her on more medication. In the meantime dd became anxious, she had an anxiety attack at school, she would get in arguments with her friends and become very irrational, she continued to be angry at home, she destroyed things in her room and punched a hole in the wall. When I would look in her eye she had the look of a wild animal. my doctor began to think it was merely teen rebellion and we needed to get tougher with her. Never did it ever cross my mind that it could be something with singular till I heard about the study on the news then it all clicked. before singular my dd was an above average student who was liked by teachers and students alike. teachers talked about how well behaved she was and she was a leader. she was very active in various activities at school. Now she has become nervous and suffers from anxiety attacks, she has out of control tantrums and anger. her friends frequently avoid her or her calls because she has become so moody and angry. she frequently complains that her stomach hurts and feels like she's going to be sick. she screams and talks about wanting to die and that we don't love her. till today I had considered this drug to be safe and very useful in controlling her asthma but after doing more research i'm beginning to wonder if it's worth the risk.

I just recently got my third vac. i had no obvious symptoms with the first 2. Now, only a few days after the first dose. I am so nausea but never to the point of throwing up. not yet at least. Reading the other stories has made me realize that gardisal is the problem. I have blamed all my other symptoms(irregular periods, dizziness, extreme fatigue, severe mood swings) on stress but it was always on the back of my mind that something wasn't right. I feel like i am a constant whiner and i feel like everyone thinks im just doing it for attention. I don't like to made to feel like that. A seriously regret not researching this vaccine. But doctors and nurses are there to help you, i would have never thought not to trust something that they are pushing all young girls to get. I am 19 years old and i feel like I'm going on 60. I don't want to miss out on the what should be the best years of my life. I feel for so many of these young girls and women. To have been enjoying life so much and to becoming a wallflower, never being able to stay out late, drink, party, a family reunion, even to just go shopping. It has made everyday of my life a trial.

Well.... I wrote earlier about the 13th of October...since then I have had the Mirena REMOVED and I feel a VERY BIG DIFFERENCE! It was nothing to having it put in. Very fast to get out and was ok! Around day three I flooded, I guess it was my body's way of trying to get back to normal. I feel better. Not a 100% but better. The doctor said it would take a month till the hormones were out of my body WHICH made me mad because when I had it put in they were so confident with Mirena because the hormones stayed in one spot and didn't go throughout your body. NOW they tell me it will take time to get out of my blood stream!!!!!????? Glad I did what I did and hope to start enjoying life like I used too! WOULD NOT RECOMMEND TO ANYONE!!!!!!! May God bless you all!

WOW,, Had i only know all these articles I would have never done what i did..I've had Mirena for 4 years and have been so overwhelmed that this is where i ended up looking for my answers as to whats going on with me... WOW this answers every question and problem i have...
The worst is the mood and weight gain, depression , angry , forgetful, no sex drive and not understanding WHY.. especially when i ask the doctor what's going on and they say it's just my age changes... crap i'm only 34.. when i thought i should be enjoying life kids getting bigger i'm wanting more hubby time and wow none of that... THANKS SO MUCH for opening my eyes.. I'm making the appointment as i type!!

Alright. After observing my daughter for two full weeks after discontinuing Singulair, I have decided to share our story.

Our daughter started taking Singulair last August (2007) to relieve her allergy symptoms. I'd like to add she is an identical twin, whose sister did not need to take the medication, for she had mild allergy symptoms that were easily relieved by taking Allegra. So we clearly have a side-by-side case study where one twin took the Singulair and the other did not. About two weeks later we noticed changes in her behavior and thought it was due to the new school routine and changes, etc. Then she started not eating, and when she did eat, she ate very little. Both girls are in a select soccer league are physically active 4-5 times a week.

Long story short - she stopped eating, lost weight, stopped growing and is now 2.5 inches shorter and 15 lbs. lighter than her identical twin. They are fifth graders, I might add, so 15 lbs is ALOT of weight at their age. She was withdrawn, known to have deep depressive episodes, reacted adversely to everything and, in general, wasn't acting herself since last August. She was not enjoying life at all.

She is usually a quick-witted child, one with a sunny disposition and who interacts with others very well. She is joy packaged in a colorful bottle, ready to share her thoughts with you.

We took her to her pediatrician, a nutritionist, a psychologist and all said she was clearly depressed and that is what led to her changes in eating. No kidding, I thought. But why? What has happened that could have changed her so drastically?

I had never felt so far away from my child as I had with her during this time period. We are a close family and we pride ourselves on being able to freely express how we feel.

My dear mother-in-law saw that the FDA was probing the side-effects of Singulair with children and she mentioned it to me, because she knew that is what my daughter was taking was taking. I never thought about the connection, because I take Singulair. I will add I also take an antidepressant and have made an appointment with my doctor to discuss all of this.

After talking with our pharmacist and getting an exact date as to when she started taking it, I called her pediatrician and discussed it with him. We had not been to him since October, because we took her to everyone else (psychologist, etc), so he had not known exactly what was going on with her mental health. He did, however write in his notes (and told me when I called), "Discontinue Singulair if symptoms persist." Hmmmm. Exactly why I wasn't told this from the beginning, I don't know and am very bothered knowing he wrote that on her chart.

Well, after taking her off it two weeks ago she is now back to her happy, connecting and eating self. People (her father, twin, and I included) noticed a change in three days from stopping use of Singulair.

She has changed IMMENSELY since getting off the Singulair that it has been easy to pinpoint her taking that medication as the reason she has been absolutely miserable for the past SEVEN MONTHS. I thank God it wasn't longer and that she didn't suffer any longer than she already did, but it was a true hell to watch her go through what she did and to watch her decline and to not know (professionals included) what to do. Words diminish how we felt and how we feel now after having her back.

So there you have a side-by-side comparison. One identical twin thrived while NOT taking Singulair and the twin who did take it suffered terribly, physically and mentally, while she was taking it.

The allergy relief she experienced was clearly not worth the internal suffering she endured while taking Singulair. I wish we could turn back time and give her those seven months back.

I have been on Lisinopril for several months and my blood pressure was 170/104 . It is now 104/77, but I do have side effects that my dr. says it isn't from this drug. 1 is asthma and a cough and headaIches. Lightheaded and fatigue. I am now on asthma medicine an inhaler. I was taking 10mg but it was increased to 20mg and with hydrchorothiazide 12.5mg. I was depressed on the first 10mg I don't feel that now. I am also now taking zocor. I don't sleep as well. I am 57 year old woman, I other wise had been active enjoying life.

hi kim 123,
i know you don't feel like yourself but just seeing your post you sound so much more together than you have when we have emailed each other,you seem stronger and the fact that you have been researching and are now able to pass your advice on is a sign that you are on the road to recovery,i am sooo pleased for you kim i really did feel for you when you were just of yasmin and in that terrible first stage of withdrawl,and also well done for getting off the lexapro,i'm sure you don't realise it but it was such a strong thing for you to do and you have coped brilliantly. how is dejay doing? have not heard from her in a while,i hope that means she is out there enjoying life to the full and had put this nightmare behind her!
great to hear from you on the new site,i hope you will find even more help and support on that site too.

sarah

My daughter has the same problem, deep pain in the vagina when inserting tampons and during sex, we dont know if it is related to yasmine or not. She has had all the other side effects; depression/anxiety, mood swings, frequent urination the list goes on.
She has been off the pill for four weeks yesterday and is feeling great, the last two weeks have been a complete turnaround, she is happy at work, where as before she was really struggling.
She hopes to slowly go off the antideppressants that were prescribed, we are just hoping that she is over the worse of it, she is only 17 and should be enjoying life.
As for the vaginal pain, i will ask her if there is an improvement since stopping the pill and let you know

Thank you all for your experiences about the side effects of Yasmin. I have been taking the pill for 5 months now and changed from a happy, chilled, enjoying life type of person to the bitch from hell, crying excessively at the drop of a hat for no real reason and constantly loosing the plot and taking everything out of proportion. I have been extremely negative when I have always been positive and now I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. I have previously tried over 10 different types of pill and never been happy with any them due to weight gain, eczema, acne etc but the doctor recommended Yasmin and said that this one had very limited side effects. How wrong was he?? I was totally stressed all the time, gave my boyfriend a hard time about everything/anything/nothing was short with my work colleagues and distanced myself from my friends. Reading all of your stories has really changed everything. I thought it was me and it isn't. My boyfriend read your experiences and understood why I cried so much with relief when I read them and he understood what has been happening the last few months. Today I have taken my last pill. I was considering trying another but I would like to be myself rather than pump hormones into my body and never quite know if it was really me or the pill. Now I shall investigate alternatives more seriously and look after No. 1.