Epi pen symptoms and conditions

Hi there... I came off of Yasmin just 2 weeks ago and thought I should share with you my story since yours is a skin issue. I took Yasmin for 3 years. This past year I would wake up some bumps on my lip.. then on my hands.. then (this is over a period of months) I would wake up and have a slightly swollen lip... this was over the last year or so. I would also get a feeling in my throat, like something was in it and swallowing felt funny.
WELL, 2 weeks ago, I took my bc like I always do, right before I go to bed and my lip starts to tingle and itch.. and in the morning my face was swollen 3x the normal size on on side, mostly at the lips... I couldn't really talk.. it was like those awful photos on google. It was angioedema and can kill you by swelling of the throat. I had also for about a year- an ear issue.. it would sound like I was talking under water and felt like swimmer's ear- related to the swelling I found out later. Turns out I'm allergic. I developed this allergy over the period of time I was exposed.

I just want to say to anyone out there that has FACIAL/LIP SWELLING, or swelling of the hands... GO TO THE ER. It can kill you. I got lucky.. my swelling started slow and after about a year if was full blown. It is not something to mess around with!I was prescribed an epi pen. I developed an allergy to a preservative in it and I'm not an allergen sensitive person. That was just the parms/doctor guess I might add.

The first year I took Yasmin I had numb and tingling toes. and the whole tie I've had on and off leg pain.. no sex drive, that's the truth..definite bloating issues about 6 lbs weight gain, sometimes more without change in diet. I haven't noticed any hair loss thankfully. Migraines. Lots of nausea in the morning, every morning like morning sickness. Car sick even when driving.. not normal! I used to work on an airplane and I never got motion sickness.

I'm now on day 4 of Mirena IUD and I'm having having severe diarrhea and trouble sleeping.. I really, really don't want to get pregnant. Our next step is a vasectomy for the hubby. I'm 25 and I weigh 140 5'10 if that helps. I wasn't an 'at risk' like the pamphlet said.

I'm so glad to find this forum. I've been on Yasmin for 7 months since March 2009. My gyne recommended me to take it because of my acne problem, heavy period and cramps. Ever since I started taking it, I was happy about it. My face is cleared of acne and my period only lasts for 3 days and very light without pain. I was a happy camper until the 4th month into taking Yasmin. I started to have patches of rash on my right temple, then a week later on the left temple and upper lip too. At first I thought it was due to my new face toner. So I stopped using it. I didn't think it would be the pill as any allergic reaction usually would should up 1-2 months after taking it. The rash got worst after 2 weeks, it started around my waist, more like hives this time. I can't stop itching my skin even in my sleep. It was unbearable. The hives comes and goes. And it spreads bigger and bigger to behind my neck and back. I drives my NUTS and my skin is very dry. I saw my family doc, and he thought it was eczema/fungus. He gave me some steroid cream to apply. It helped but didn't make the hives go away. I kept looking for the cause of the hives, but have no clues. After I read many people who posted in this forum also suffered the same problem, I can conclude that Yasmin is the reason. I'm stopping the pill today!!!! Hopefully, the hives will go away soon.

I have an 8 yr old son that has allergies and asthma. The allergist recently prescribed Singulair which my son had taken when he was 5. We took him off of it back then due to anger outbursts. By the way, the Dr. said that was not a side effect, but nonetheless the issues subsided. When it was recently added back to his medication list, within 3 days he had anaphylactic type episodes 2 days in a row. The attack started with stomach pains, chest pains and then he couldn't breath AT ALL and turned blue! There was no time to call 911 so I gave him an Epi Pen. The attacks are still occurring yet milder and all his Dr.'s swear by Singulair and think I am crazy. I took him off Singulair immediately and we are still waiting for it to leave his system. I think that is why the recent episodes have been milder. He has been tested for all sorts of allergens which he did not come in to contact with prior to the anaphylactic events. We still have no answers and if I hear one more Dr. talk about how great Singulair is, I am going to freak out!! To heck with these drug companies and doctor's who get perks for prescribing medications without informing us of side effects.

Approximately 1 1/2 years ago I was given Avelox for Bronchitis. I had taken the drug several times without any Side Effects. Within 15 minutes of taking that dose I got a flush that started at my toes and went up to my head in seconds. Then I started to itch and broke out in hives. At this point my mouth started to swell and I knew this was bad. At this point I called my doctor's office and told them I had an EPI Pen at home should I use it. The nurse told me to take a Benadryl and that she would check with the DR and call me back. She said if the reaction got worse to just call the squad and go to the ED. The nurse called me back and told me to use the EpiPen and if this didn't help to call 911. It was pretty scary.

Allergy, not side effect.
62 yr. old male. diagnosed with lung infection associated with smoking and was prescribed 5 x 500 mg Levaquin. I took one with water in the parking lot of the pharmacy. With-in 20 minutes I started getting burning, tingling feelings in my throat and mouth. I drove home , by that time I had huge hives on my back and buttocks. I went back to the doctor immediately.
Other than a rapid heartbeat, the only symptom seems to be the hives which were huge and covered my whole body.The Dr. stated that the episode occurred too soon after I took the pill to be an allergic reaction to the pill, however, I had not eaten or drank any thing that morning other than coffee. I also did not eat anything exotic the day before. I was given a steroid injection at the Dr. office and was prescribed a steroid med pak and an antihistamine. With-in 3 hrs. all the hives were gone. It is now 11 hrs later and I am ok except I am drowsy. If I do not recover well, I will post again to advise.

Oh my God, where to start. The past few months I have gone through some crazy things from prostitis to having 2 cystoscopy's performed. This past weekend the scab came off the biopsy location in my bladder and blad pretty badly. It caused a large clot to block off my bladder and I could not urinate. In the ER they found a lot of bacteria in my urine and prescribed Bactrim.

Let me just say the past few months have been NOTHING last the past few days on Bactrim. First it was the crazy dreaming. Dreams that were so outlandish, yet so real it was quite frightening.

On day 2 of taking Bactrim I started to itch. It has been quite cold here in Jersey so I chalked it up to the usual dry winter skin. On day 3 I woke up (after minimal sleep) with a sore throat and chest congestion. I then found that the itching grew immensely in intensity and now was adorned with red bumps.

This rash was mainly on my upper arms and lower legs. I scratched at it so badly I drew blood, I have never felt itchy like this. This is ITCHY....EVIL ITCHY!

I woke up on day 4 the same, took another dose of Bactrim (dose #8). As I swallowed the pill something told me "Hey, I bet this pill is causing all your problems." After some research, viola! I found information online that pretty much assured me I was correct.

I went to the doc today and he advised me to take 1 Zyrtec a day and prescribed me Prednisone. I just hope this itching stops soon because I am making a mess of myself with all this scratching.

How could a pill like this be on the market and be utilized as much as it is. The testaments on this site are amazing and stunningly all similar.

Bactrim is undoubtedly the worst prescription I have ever taken or have read up on. To whoever reads this, if you are prescribed Bactrim use one of the rubber test gloves in your doctors office and slap him/her across the face with it. Dealing with the pending lawsuit would be better on you than dealing with the side effects of this drug.

Add me to the club!

I dropped my son off at college upstate NY and decided to stay over at a motel due to traffic and bad weather. I was laying down on top of the bedspread when I noticed a lump on my right hip. Then I found two more smaller ones on my left hip. I immed. thought the motel had fleas or bedbugs or something. I was looking around for bugs/fleas but everything was very clean. I then went down to use the elliptical in the motel gym, came back, took a shower, watched TV and then fell asleep. I woke up about an hour later with severe pressure in the center of my chest and itching "down there". I scratched and then noticed these hives all over between my thighs. I still had the three on my hips too. I again searched for bugs and found nothing. I had already switched beds and was sleeping without the bedspread on. The next morning I felt a numbness in the left side of my mouth/chin. I called my wife, who is a nurse. She told me to get some Benadryl. I checked with the local pharmacy and they recommended Benadryl too. I took three doses total that day (6) pills and drove home.

That night, instead of being better, I was worse. I now had the thighs, hips and also the upper back by my armpits and around my waist, where the waistband of my pans/underwear sits. I went to the E.R. and told them I might be having an allergic reation and they saw me immed. I also had difficulty swallowing and right side of my chin/mouth was now slightly swollen and numb. I spent the night in the E.R. and was given IV Benadryl, 2 Zantac, as Zantac can stop the inflammation in a different way, and an epi pen shot. I left the E.R. about 630 in the morning feeling 50% better and with a Rx for oral steroids.

The steroids seem to be working very well. I am lucky to have a good primary doctor who returned my call immed. and told me to take the steroids and the Benadryl, discontinue the Lisinopril immed. and come to see him. The fools at my endocrinologists office dismissed my complaint and told me that it was probably from the Chinese food I had for dinner that night. The endocrinologist, Dr. Jeffrey Shiff of Massapequa, NY, didn't even return my call, someone from his office did. This woman told me that she reviewed my medications and didn't think any of these things caused my hives/allergic reaction. I told her that the internet was full of blogs and boards about Lisinopril and hives. She told me that since I had been on Lisinopril for two years, it was unlikely that this was a reaction to that drug. She said they see people all the time with this reation to Chinese food.

There is nothing on the internet describing this reaction to Chinese food. Chinese Restaurant Syndrome, from too much MSG, results in rapid heartbeat and a pounding headache, not hives and a sore esophagus.

The nurse in the E.R, told me they see 2-3 people per week with allergic reactions to ACE inhibitiors. Not just Lisinopril, but all ACE inhibitors.

In all fairness, it could have been the Chinese food, I had some sushi and some peanut butter chicken for dinner, but I have eaten these things before and never had a problem. I did have that feeling of fullness/blocked esophagus before I ate dinner and I chalked that up to eating a heavy lunch and then sitting in the car for a few hours.

In retrospect, I suspect that was from the Lisinopril, as I have had that feeling before after eating hamburgers and the like and then sitting, but only since being on Lisiopril. I have also had that full feeling after dinner, even when walking after dinner.

Like my G.P. says, it could be from anything, but it is very likely from the Lisinopril.

I will follow up with an allergist after this episode is over to see if I have developed an allergy to nuts or seafood or something, but when I think back to that "full" feeling in the esophagus, I think it is the Lisinopril.

I was prescribed Avelox for bronchitis on Thursday the 6th....not feeling better in 2-3 days fill the Rx. Talked to on call doc Sunday morning, was advised to begin to medicine, plenty of water and rest. As I have a known allergy to sulfa, I confirmed with the pharmacy the RX was okay then took my first dose Sunday evening. Within 30 minutes I had severe stomach cramps followed by sudden and explosive diarrhea. As I was trying to rationalize these symptoms I was hit (and I mean HIT) just as suddenly with racing heart, tingling lips, shortness of breath, tightness in my chest, light-headedness....at this point I yelled for my husband to call 911 before I passed out. As he came in the room, I was on the floor gasping for air...don't remember much in the following events. I know that he administered my epi-pen (I was to disoriented to even think of this**and I have had to carry it at all times for about 6 years due to other allergies) saved my life as my son says EMS/fire /police did not arrive for another 4-5 minutes. This experience scared us all! I have had meds case panic attacks in the past THAT IS NOT what I experienced at all!! This was a life threatening reaction...I agree with the CLASS ACTION SUIT as until reading your postings I could not figure out why 3 days later my stomach still hurts and although the coughing is better my chest still feels like someone is compressing it (I had a chest film to confirm the bronchitis had not progressed * confirmed clear yesterday) and my sleep is totally messed up. I would not wish this on anyone. Thanks for sharing as now I know what is going on.....ALL THIS FROM ONE DOSE......JUST ONE PILL......

About 8 months ago I began to have a little high blood pressure 140/80 and some mild palpitations. I was put on Toprol XL and my nightmare began. I began to have anxiety attacks and my palpitations increased. I was given Xanax to help with the anxiety attacks. I was put on 50 mg. twice a day and I have weaned myself down to 12.5mg daily. I feel much better now but would like to get off of Toprol all together. I have gained weight, and I believe my vision and memory have been affected. Is there any other drug out there that is better to be on? I have never had a heart attack and my echo and stress tests were completely normal. I have read that people with asthma should not take Toprol. I do have allergy shots weekly and have an epi pen. Not sure what to do?? Any advice??

I'm having serious side effects currently. The onset of the side effects began after taking Lamictal for over 2 months. I started slowly on 25 mg and gradually increased to 200. I felt a great improvement in Bipolar disorder-mood swings- at 100mg but was told that is not the theraputic dose, so we increased to 200mg.

I had no side effects until the rash began to appear. At first only on legs, then arms, then neck, then face...and surprisingly in private areas. Unbearable itching. Rash continued to rage even after a pack of steroids. Swelling became apparrent in face and entire body. Slight difficulty breathing. Went to the ER and received another dose of steroids intravenously. The rash continues to improve but is still extremely itch. The swelling improved for a couple of days but is back. Had one day of severe headache. It has been 14 days and today I am experiencing blurred vision in the left eye, and new swelling in the tongue.
I sit at home with an Epi Pen next to me waiting to hear back from the doctor.

All of this is so unfortunate because I felt more stable than I have in years while on the medication. I'm feeling very concerned about my continuing side effects. Don't know what to expect.

I had been on lisinopril for 3 yrs until a couple of weeks ago. I was taking 10mg in addition to 25mg atenolol(which I have been on for 10yrs). Although I did not notice any serious side effects when I first started on it, it ended up seriously affecting my quality of life. My energy level, which has always been very high, was gradually reduced over the course of the last 3 yrs to a level so low that it was exhausting just to get through the day. I had undergone extensive lab workups to try to figure out what was wrong. I would also have episodes of severe muscle weakness and aches that kept me confined to bed. I was tested for every disease known to man. All came back negative. On top of this, for the first time in my life, I was becoming very depressed and unable to cope with the least little thing to the point where my family became concerned. I also suffered several serious anaphylactic allergic reactions involving serious stomach pains, plummeting blood pressure, pounding heart rate, faintness, swelling of my extremities and shock. I was referred to a specialist and after 4 wks of bloodwork and skin testing, I was incredibly allergic to NOTHING. But I have to carry an epi pen at all times since I don't know when or why a reaction will reoccur. All of this time, I never ever suspected lisinopril as a problem. It was not until one day I was particularly tired and lightheaded and found out that my BP and pulse were way too low (90/50), so I did not take my lisinopril that night (or since then) but only my atenolol. The next day I felt better and within a couple of days incredibly better. My doc has agreed that lisinopril is a problem for me and increased my dose of atenolol to 50mg, which takes care of my BP just fine. Now my energy is returning, my depression has lifted, and I can actually look forward to each day instead of just trying to get through it. I feel like my spark for life is coming back. Like others, I was in a downward spiral and wondered if this is what happens when you turn 50 and if I would ever feel good again. I knew nothing of this website during all of this and wish I had found it long ago. Maybe, just maybe, I would not feel like I missed the last 3yrs of my life.

Could someone please tell me their experiences with just quitting lisinopril. I take toprol as well but it seems like lisiniprol is making me crazy. I have the worst fears that I am dying at times. I feel like a hypochondriac but my I feel every palpitation my heart makes.

I read in the UK version of side effects that you do have to be under doctor's supervision to come off advair (which should tell us something) to watch for adrenal gland problems. (I don't think some doctors even know what they are prescribing and what the side effects are! I'm not that cynical, to think they might be getting some perk and don't care.) I go back to my doctor after 6 weeks after coming off advair. He gave me Proventil and I have an epi pen in case I need them. I haven't needed them. But, I know I have a long way to go.