Explanations symptoms and conditions

I've been on NR for almost 2 years. I was fine, I thought, at first. But for the last 3 months I have such severe lower back pain, I can hardly move (and it worsens after sitting for long periods of time)...and it magically lessens after I take out the NR.

Also, I have gained weight that I can't manage to shed, no matter how much I starve myself or workout. I'm heavier than I've ever been at 188 lbs, and my OBGYN when I told her how upset I was about the weight gain told me it was as easy as cutting 100 calories per day - you know one spoon of mayo or piece of cheese...like I'm sitting around spooning mayo out of a jar!

My mood swings are scary - and getting worse every month. I get mad over absolutely nothing and cry and shake with rage...to the point where I've felt like I was going insane, right now I have one "major explosion" per week. I don't want to know what my blood pressure it, I'm sure it's higher than normal, if from nothing else my mood swings. In fact reading your posts out loud to my boyfriend, I've managed to bit his head off and start crying.

I have read & re-read the side effects of NR, with no explanations of this...until I read everyone's posts here.

Hi,

To the first poster: bbk I had the same problem. I've been on Adderall-the regular kind, not XR-since my ADD diagnosis in June.

Whenever I start an SSRI: Prozac, Zoloft, Effexor, Lexapro, my Adderall stops working. I get exhausted, brain fog, and I also get an insane appetite.

I've done some research and the explanations I've found are that SSRIs tend to increase your insulin and lower dopamine. Adderall is supposed to increase dopamine. Basically, the SSRI interferes with the Adderall.

In one appointment with my doctor (while I was on Prozac) he actually admitted that most SSRIs raise insulin, Prozac being worse than others. Guess that explains why my blood sugar was always in the 60s and I felt horrible no matter what I ate or did.

If you're already overweight and insulin resistant it will screw you up more than other people.

I'm currently trying to find an anti-depressant that works well with Adderall.

I'am 45 year old female and I have been on simvastatin 40mg for at least 6 months. Here in the past 3 weeks I have had very weak legs and arms,they felt like they were wet noodles. I also was getting these week spells where it felt like I couldn't lift my arms or legs cause they was so weak.I had pain in my ear and big bad headaches that wouldn't leave. My heart feels like it skips a beat and I get very bad anxiety attacks. I have been to the ER several times and they can not find anything wrong. I even got very dizzy. The ER doctor told me that the dizziness and headaches was from a inter ear disturbance,well I think the inter ear disturbance might have come from the simvastatin after running across this web site. I'm going off the simvastatin tomorrow! Oh yeah and forgot to mention the weight gain and the tiredness and how I feel like a couch zombie. I think I'll stick to my salmon oil.

Hi, I did remove my Mirena last friday..I am pleased to do it, although of course not effects on it had happened yet. However, as many of you, I've lost a lot of hair, had facial acne and worse, I 've had serious depressions since I put mirena on me. I also got a infection on my bum, with no explanations from doctors, but one mention it could be your mirena...looking in this website, I am convinced that could be the reason for all my current troubles. I hope everything chance for good, better a heavy painful period rather than a mad life as many of you described...without mention loss of libido a marriage troubles!!! thanks.

My 2.5 year old son has been taking oral Singulair granules for 5 days. He has developed a vasculitic rash on his arms and legs. Is this a known side effect of the medication?

I am starting a new post in the hopes that others will see what I am trying to say about the delayed reaction in those that took Singulair for allergies.

If it is consistent that Singulair does not stop allergy symptoms immediately, then the pathways that eventually stop allergy symptoms involve a change in the mast cell function, development and migration (or some combination).

I asked this question for a reason. Are allergy symptoms stopped immediatedly. My question below:

I have a question that will help me continuing looking for information. I can understand that in the case of asthma that Singulair would provide immediate relief. If it is used for seasonal allergies or other allergies without asthma, does it work right away or does it take a period of days or weeks to be effective? If it takes time, could you tell me how long it took in your situation?

My thinking was going in the right direction if the answer below is consistent of everyone or most.

about 2 hours ago on Apr 11, 2008 by catherineevans, #7045
My granddaughter was put on Singulair for allergy symptoms without asthma. Itching, red eyes, terrible congestion, etc. dark circles under her eyes all the time. When we first put her on this, we didn't see any consistent results for 2-3 weeks, then it seemed to 'kick in.' I don't know if this helps. By the way, she was 9, now she's almost 12 and was immediately taken off when this story came out 2 weeks ago.

Then after seeing one response, I gave my reason for asking.

I asked this question because I have a theory of how montelukast really works for allergies as compared to how it works for asthma.

Asthma is a hyper-sensitive state that gets going because the mast cell has a receptor (the leukotriene receptor that Singulair blocks) that sends a signal along a pathway that causes lung tissue to have that extreme response - the wheezing, the airway constriction.

On the mast cell is another receptor the histamine receptor that causes the secretions that make our noses runs and and stuff up. This is not the same immune response as the asthma response. When I saw a post that somebody's doctor said that Singulair is an anti-histamine, NO it is NOT.

So if Singulair does not block histamine immediately and your child's allergies did not go away immediately, then maybe Singulair is working through some other means such as changing normal mast cell homeostasis.
I know that this seems like "what does this mean?" I am really writing this hoping to God that there are people reading this site that know what I am talking about.

Thank you so much for responding. Your answer actually told me what I wanted to know and confirmed my hypothesis. More answers will help. I hope others respond.

PLEASE respond about the length of time that allergies disappeared if you took Singulair for allergies.

Wow ladies!! First off, thank you, all of you, for taking the time to share your stories.

I had my Mirena inserted mid March 2008. It is April 3rd today, and so far I'm not a fan.

Insertion was easy. I barely felt anything. Minor cramping afterwards, some spotting. The worst part was the black gritty sand like discharge. (previous poster compared it to coffee grounds) Every time I sat down or stood up I could feel the grit rubbing inside me. It was the most AWFUL feeling in the world.

I have been spotting every single day since insertion. I did have a full period (started a few days before Easter) and it lasted about a week and a half. It was moderate to heavy. I did have more than usual cramping for me. And with every cramp I felt a sharp stab in my uterus. I imagined it was my uterus pressing down on the IUD. It was very uncomfortable. Now my "period" is over and I am still spotting! Its strange though. My discharge is clear, but with streaks of purpleish/brown blood. Its not typical spotting. But i've ruined one too many pairs of good underwear so its starting to get on my nerves!!!! I thought this was supposed to STOP bleeding. I've bleed every day in some shape or form.

My one month checkup is on the 10th. I am going to express my concerns with my doctor, but I know she'll blow me off like everyone else. I am getting a lot of pressure from my husband to keep it, despite the side effects. We already have 4 children, and dont want any more for a few more years.

Other side effects I am experiencing that I can only assume are from the Mirena (they might not be, but I cant explain them any other way):

- I feel stupid! Im spacey, i cant think straight. Very forgetful. Simple jokes go over my head.
- my vision is wacky. I feel like im staring through a haze. I have a hard time focusing on objects or fine print. I have never had a vision problem before!
- i feel weak and woozy occasionally.
- extra crampy. and often feel pings and pangs in my uterus.
- increased thirst
- slight paranoia. I actually feel like all my friends are mad at me, when i know they arent.
- I sweat at night.
- moody.
- my nails are all dry and splitting. I normally have very healthy nails
- a general feeling of laziness. It takes a ton of motivation to get up sometimes. I have 4 kids and I work full time...I'm not a lazy person! I cant be! So this feeling is very frustrating!
- I'd rather sleep than have sex. which for me is abnormal. I am more of a hornball than my husband usually. hahaha

wow this list is longer than I thought!!

I'm going to give this thing more time. But so far I am not a fan. I know it works for some women....but these things were not in the little pamphlet they pass out! I guess if they were no one would get this thing!

Thanks for listening!

Hi
I started taking 10 mg. daily ofLipitor 8 yrs. ago and about a year later I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia. There's no test for Fibro, just blood tests to elimate everything else ex: Lupus, RA etc. I've been suffering so much from muscle pain, all the tender points as in Fibro and also diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome. Three doctors diagnosed me with Fibro. and chronic fatigue. I had most of the symptoms everyone else is complaining about also. The pain in my stomach muscles are just about gone too.

It reached a point three weeks ago when I was having sharp pains all over my body and muscle cramps and charlie horses at night and I could just about walk up the stairs my hips hurt so much that decided to stop Lipitor. I was so tired all the time and in constant pain.

My doctors said it couldn't be the Lipitor. The pain in most of the tender points are just about gone but I know it will take a while to get out of my system. I lost muscle strength over the years and hope to get that back. I'm 64 years old and know it will take awhile .

I went to my doctor Tuesday and told him I took myself off the Lipitor and that I now remember being diagnosed with Fibro shortly after going on Lipitor. He got so mad at me and said that Lipitor doesn't cause a disease. As I said there's no test for Fibro and it's not a disease it's a syndrome or condition where the brain sends pain signals to the tender point muscles but there's nothing actually wrong with the muscles. I told him that 6 years ago when I tried going off Lipitor for 3 months and joined a gym, Curves, I felt fine and thought I was in remission. Then when I started taking Lipitor again I couldn't do the exercise in Curves and had to stop going. It never dawned on me it was the Lipitor.

I now have a problem with my heart, one condition I might have been born with but the Arrthymia I don't know about. My heart beats too many beats and it beats 4 beats and the 5th beat is backwards. Now I'm on 25mg of Topricin (the generic) beta blocker to slow down the heart beats. I don't know if this is caused by the Lipitor or not. My cardiologist said that Lipitor can affect every muscle in your body and she suggested that I get a RX for a blood test to tell whether I have muscle damage. I went for the test Tuesday but haven't received the results yet.

I'm going to change doctors, I don't like my doctor's attitude with me over the Lipitor. These doctors think they're God. When I told him on Tuesday about the 3 months that I felt fine 6 years ago he said that there are other drugs besides statins to lower cholesterol. I don't want to go on any drugs and the non statin drugs can cause intestinal blockage, he got upset when I told him that too. I'm going to try to lower it with flaxseed and fiber and see if that works. I go to Weight Watchers and kept 17 lbs. off for 6 years now, I do try and eat healthy.

I can't believe it cost me almost 8 years of my life in pain. It's even hard for me to get down on the floor with my granchildren, I have to crawl to the couch or chair to lift myself up and I get tired so easily. I just hope I get back to normal.

I'm so glad I found this website and figured out what was wrong with me. I hope my writing helps someone else dignosed with Fibromyalgia and taking a statin.

Thanks for listening.
Marie

I am a 39 yr old male and have been on Lisinopril 20mg daily for approximately 6 months. I found this site looking for possibly explanations for my symptoms because I feel so lousy. I have always been extremely healthy, physically and mentally fit however HBP runs in my family. I am 6', 160lbs and on no other medications. After what I have read on this site tonight, I am extremely anxious to get off of this drug.

My symptoms include: Difficulty swallowing, shortness of breath, anxiety, irregular heart beat and occasional high BP with pounding in my heart. My legs become numb pretty frequently (mostly in the AM) and I have difficulty walking. I am extremely dizzy which has caused me to stop working out at the gym which I believe has in turn lead to mood swings and loss of patience. I become confused and find normal tasks difficult. I, like many others experience an odd sensation that I am going to die. I have never been depressed and have never had any of the above symptoms in my life. Lisinopril is extremely effective in lowering BP but I am barely functional at this point and after what I have read, will be making a change immediately. I want to try to get back to exercising and will try to control my BP with diet, exercise, herbs and will do that while constantly monitoring my BP.

I honestly thought I had cancer or MS but I identify with much of what everyone else has said on this site and I am now convinced it is all due to Lisinopril.

Thank God for this site!!!

My doctor said I might experience a little "flushing". You have got to be kidding. The first night I was not awakened by any side effects. The second night I awoke 6 hours later, on fire. The third night, after one hour hour I awoke, red, and on fire, from head to toe-followed by several episodes throughout the night. I am not even sure I will take it again tonight. I cannot believe there are not more thorough explanations of the side effects provided when this is prescribed.

Oh my goodness!!! I am SO glad I found this site. I got my Mirena April 2007. I had been on Depo for far too long and as my husband and I still don't want children for now, Mirena seemed the next best bet. I HAD done research and at the time didn't find anything that scared me off. I wish I had dug around more! I have been having various side effects, one of which is the HORRIBLE itchy and sore breasts I get every couple of weeks or so! I have had to hide just so I can rub the dang things to get some momentary relief! I also get the worst dang migraines once a month...about 2 weeks before I spot. The lightbulb recently went off that the weird acne I've been getting is likely related to this dang thing inside me too. I have NEVER had acne and am used to getting compliments on my "good skin". I am 29, have a good skin care regime and have the worst skin of my life! Add that to bloating and sore, itchy boobs, and oh boy, do I feel just great about myself! I didn't even mention the arthiritic-like pain I've been having in my hands and my carpal tunnel symptoms that started about July...I am going to make an appt with my doctor asap. Even if there are many possible explanations for everything, this is too weird. Getting this thing out of me would be a good place to start!

I thought I was crazy until I read some of your entries. I recently started taking Synthroid 50 mcg a day (about 5 weeks ago). My husband is a nurse, so thankfully he is understanding. I had a blood test after taking Synthroid for 4 weeks and contacted my doctor to complain about some changes I had noticed: I am losing more hair than before. I have abdominal pain and bloating. I am constantly hungry. I feel like I am over-caffienated (even when I don't drink coffee or soda). I have trouble staying asleep and often wake up several times a night (something I didn't do before). I feel anxious. Have lots of energy in the morning but start fading around 2 pm. I have to take my multivitamin at night so that it doesn't counteract with the Synthroid.

Even after reviewing the above my primary care doctor, he wants to keep me on the Synthroid at the same dose all because my blood test indicated that I was at a safe thyroid level. I wish that there were another drug to try or explanations for my new symptoms.

Kelly

With regard to the reported blood sugar elevation with Sarapin: I am a physician who has been performing injections with Sarapin for a few years. Many of my patients are diabetic yet I have never seen a blood sugar elevation from Sarapin. I can see two possible explanations: It is common to inject a corticosteroid along with Sarapin for a nerve block; the corticosteroid could easily have the effect mentioned and it is very unpredictable. None of my patients are on the old sulfonylurea blood sugar medicines. Metformin and the TZDs and newer meds keep blood sugar more uniform than sulfonylureas or insulin alone. Diabetics not on the newer classes of medicines might have blood sugar elevations from Sarapin.

KCK

I would finish out this pack/cycle and then get off. It is not good to stop in the middle of your cycle, it actually is one of he worst things you can do. Otherwise, many of the women on this site have experienced various side effects as a result of getting off, but I have only felt better and become much more myself. My husband is very happy to have me back!!

Show your boyfriend this site and how there are many women like you. It may help you salvage your relationship. No excuses, just explanations-but doing something about it is important.

You are not alone, and thankfully you have caught on in time. Like I said earlier, not everyone has negative side effects, but for those of us that do, it is devastating.

I am a 25 year old woman with so many inhalent allergies that every allergist I've seen is surprised by it. I just got medical insurance that allowed me to start seeing an allergist and taking prescriptions again. I was put on Zyrtec, Astelin, and Singulair.
For the first time in my life, I am agry all of the time (rage-like), but then I swing back to being normal. I can't explain it. I also experience hypersensitive skin that sometimes feels like it's burning and even developed a terrible rash at first. I have the same troubles sleeping at night and feeling tired during the day no matter what time I take the medicine.
My doctor does not believe this could be caused by the medication, but there are no other explanations, and these reports of side effects are the only things that make me feel like I am not insane.

My 16 yr. old daughter is being treated for severe endometriosis with the Nuvaring. Started wearing it after first surgery, last May. She wears 3 rings over nine weeks, then has a period for a week. She started having lower back paing that interferred with her life in July or August. By her second surgery in Feb.'06, back pain was debilitating and she had to leave school and switch to home school because she is mostly bed ridden. Every movement causes her tremendous pain. She is currently taking five meds for pain, including morphine. She can bearly walk. Doc (GYN) says it's not related to anything in his department, yet MRI, bone scan, x-rays, blood test are all negative. While we are pursuing further testing, I believe that the ring may be responsible for this. So far there are no other explanations, and the research I have done so far is pointing in that direction. My once vibrant, active happy, college-bound teen is now 25lbs lighter, severely depressed and in constant pain. I hope it is something as simple as discontinuing the ring, and I hope that little ring hasn't been the source of her suffering all this time.

I was wondering if anyone knew what happens when you take vicodin when you are hypothyroid. I had done it previously, and then noticed there was a warning to not do so. I cant find any explanations it all. thanks for the help in advance

Hi! This is a reply to the last two guests. I logged in about a year ago as a guest and reported the same symptoms after taking this drug for one month. I developed anxiety and depression and was a mess. I was about to start taking an SSRI when I began to make the connection between the mood symptoms and changing from diovan to lisinopril. I switched back to diovan and felt better within just a few days. I am a mental health professional myself, but a psychiatrist also agreed with my conclusion that the mood changes were most likely a reaction to the lisinopril. We ruled out other possible explanations. It's now been a year, and I still have not needed an SSRI. Of course each person is different, but it appears that some people react strongly to this medication. Hope that helped. :)

I am so glad to have found this site....I have been justifying the effects of Lipitor with other explanations. I began taking Lipitor in December of 2003. The first symptom was ringing in my ears that my doctor said was old age. I should of realized that my ears would not both start failing at the "same time".....but, I didn't. Then, I began having leg cramps in the night...but usually after some type of different activity....again...I didn't think it was Lipitor...The next issue was tingling in my left hand and pain down that arm...I had massages and it would go away....I thought it was a result of my bad back. By yesterday, I had aching in all of my limbs and tingling and numbness in my feet and both hands. In addition, I had burning in my feet,my knees have ached, and my neck has begun to hurt...I read all of the postings and made a decision to stop Lipitor. I will review with my doctor and try to find something else. I would prefer it to be something natural. I eat properly and exercise and just now have come to the point of having to take something. I do not have any heart disease yet but, of course , do not want it. My hubby takes a large dosage of Lipitor and is fine with it...Guess I am not......................Nell

I gained over 50lbs since taking Advair for 2 years with no explanations. I have chronic sinus infections and now..a fungis infection in my sinus. I stopped it today after I looked up fungis infections and saw this for Advair. Now it all makes sense. I too have chronic pain in my shoulders and muscle pain. My memory for long term things is just about gone. I have to take Voltarin for chronic pain and I could not understand why and no one caught this, except me., just TODAY! We have to be our own doctors today, that is ashame. Maybe just ..maybe now my heart attack rate put me in the emergency room one day because of Advair. They called it SVT. Never a heart problem before, now it looks as if Advair did this all to my failing health FROM 48-50 years old. We all need a good lawyer! I'm in for a class action lawsuit. Let me know if there is one!