Facial numbness symptoms and conditions

Ladies:

I needed to post this warning right away:

I visited my gyno today (was able to get in for an ASAP visit), and she told me to get off of Yasmin IMMEDIATELY when I told her that I have had facial numbness etc.. She was very concerned, and here is why:

I have been experiencing migraine headaches with what are called "auras". I know it sounds weird, but you can look up "migraine auras" and you will find plenty of information.

I know that many of us have had these symptoms and not known what they were- numbness and tingling, visual disturbances, strange smells etc. This is what those symptoms are- migraine auras.

****According to my gyno, if you have auras you need to stop taking Yasmin or any other birth control right away.****

Getting these symptoms and continuing to take the pill, according to my gyno is (and I quote) "ASKING FOR A STROKE". They are warning signs that our bodies send out and it is extremely dangerous to keep taking ANY hormonal birth control, ESPECIALLY the combination pill.

If you had any further doubts, stop now. Please. I am not trying to scare anyone, I am just concerned and wanted to warn those who are experiencing these side effects.

Best of luck to all of you and hugs.

M.

After reading these posts I am more confused than before, because my experience is so far very different. I was diagnosed with DVT about two weeks ago and now take Coumadin daily; the Lovenox injections have been discontinued. The reason I'm so confused is I now feel the best I have in 5 (five) years.

Before being placed on the anti-coagulants I had memory and concentration issues that were progressively getting worse and greatly affecting my job, and had daily headaches. I had joint pain that made it difficult to get up after sitting for awhile; they felt constantly inflamed. I felt fatigued all the time and my muscles hurt like I had really pushed them; I just didn't have any strength, and had muscle cramps. I was constantly yawning and found my jaws hurt from clinching my teeth, subconsciously trying not to yawn. I was extremely sensitive to physical touch, even hugs hurt. I also felt extremely depressed and cried almost daily. My lips and left cheek tingled, as well as other parts of my body. Plus I would get the feeling of sudden pressure in my head (different from a headache) like it was going to pop off, and I my eyes didn't seem to track what I looking at and had difficulty in remembering or comprehending what I just read.

About 6 (six) days after starting treatment it completely changed and these symptoms are essentially gone. I have talked with my doctor and pharmacist and they are baffled. I am concerned this change, while welcomed, may indicate an underlying condition that is not yet diagnosed. Has anyone ever heard of such an impact from starting Coumadin treatment?

First I want to say, after reading several posts, that it seems a lot of you are taking Topamax without food, which may be causing your "spaciness." My doctor suggested always taking it with food, even though it says with or without food, and I only experienced spaciness the few times I took it at bedtime without food. Once I started taking it with breakfast and dinner, that never happened again.

I am a 48 year old woman, prescribed Topamax in September of 08 for migraine associated vertigo without headaches, with facial numbness. The first thing I noticed was I immediately had headaches, which to me indicated it was dehydrating me as that is the only time I get a "normal" headache. So I knew I had to drink a lot of water. Soon after starting Topamax I developed a dry cough that lasted the entire time I was on the med. I did not relate it to the drug at the time, however. It never even occurred to me. After about two months on the drug I started having trouble breathing with extreme dryness in my airways. I was prescribed an albuterol inhaler which did not help. I was then prescribed a corticosteroid inhaler which also did not help. I thought the trouble breathing was from taking Nadolol which I was prescribed for occasional heart fluttering - the neurologist said this was a normal side effect of Topamax. I stopped taking the Nadolol but the trouble breathing continued. I also had more migraines with vertigo and facial numbness than before I started taking the drug. I hoped it would eventually stop and the drug would kick in to help the vertigo, so I stayed on the drug. I had very minor tingling in my feet, but it was tolerable. I became very stressed out, had trouble sleeping, depression, my face started breaking out in November (and still is), I lost interest in everything that I normally enjoy - reading, photography, following politics in the news (sort of an obsession of mine). In December I was so depressed that for the first time in my 11 year career I started canceling appointments and eventually took three weeks off from work to "re-group." In January the neurologist decided that we would increase the dose from 100 mg to 150 mg for one more month, and if it did not get rid of my migraines with vertigo, we would discontinue the drug. The first day on the increased dose I had a killer headache, and I drank 150 ounces of water before it went away. That night I did not have to go to the bathroom during the night, unheard of for me. That's a lot of water to drink and not have to pee. Within two days of increasing the dose, my cough became much worse, and within three days, the breathing became more difficult. Within five days, I was having trouble speaking because my airways felt so dry. I called the doctor the next morning and he said it was not the drug, but if I wanted to, stop taking it. So I went off it cold turkey, per his instructions. I had rebound migraines every day for a week or two and my heart was pounding, sometimes for three or four hours at a time. Eventually the cough and trouble breathing went away, however, I had to continue drinking lots of water or I would notice that I didn't have to urinate, sometimes not at all. Again, unheard of for me. I saw a cardiologist at the neurologist's urging and they said the heart pounding was just anxiety. I disagree, as did another doctor of mine. We both believe it was withdrawal. I have now found out (by getting copies of my medical records) that the neurologist is now attributing all of my side effects from the Topamax to "somatization." In other words, psychosomatic - not a side effect, but just a way of getting medical attention. I am seeing a few people on this board who have also experienced a dry cough and trouble breathing. Can I have the same side effects as other people and have them still be psychosomatic, even though I had no idea those side effects could occur? I don't think so.

I have a theory that Topamax interferes with hormones which causes a lot of the side effects like lack of concentration, memory loss, anxiety, depression, insomnia, acne, and hair loss - all symptoms of peri-menopause and menopause. Ask any woman in her 40's or 50's if she has these symptoms and most of them will say yes. My face has not been this broken out since high school! My hair is falling out at a rapid rate. I won't even bother mentioning these to the neurologist. He'll just say it's not the drug.

I'm very frustrated and not sure what to do at this point. The neurologist has me taking a supplement called Migrelief now, but I think it takes three months to kick in, so I have no relief at this point.

Has anyone else experienced the trouble breathing with dry cough? I don't believe for a moment that it was psychosomatic.

I'm experiencing some VERY concerning symptoms and have a feeling it might be from the Mirena. And my doctors think it's just stress! SOMEBODY HELP!

I had a baby 4 months ago and at my postpardom appointment I was talked into getting the Mirena. After I had it inserted it all started with severe cramping and light bleeding that still has not subsided. I have been suffering with chronic headaches, dizziness, and facial numbness. I've also had bouts of anxiety and leg cramping and recently starting to have pain in my neck and one of my lymph nodes on my left side has become present and tender to the touch.

I mentioned all the these symptoms to my OB/GYN and he said "it's NOT related to the Mirena, go to your Primary Care Dr. and get some tests done" Well, I did that, got a full CBC and had my thyroid checked and all of my blood work came back normal. My Dr. said I am stressed after having the baby and to get some rest. I really wanted to have a CT done but after reading this I am beginning to think it's the Mirena as I had not had any of these symptoms prior to the IUD. I think i'll make an appointment to have it removed.

Anyone ot there have any of my exact same symptoms???

I am a 32 year old sane woman with a degree in Psychology. I was prescribed levaquin for walking pneumonia. This is day 7, and I am in tears because I truly thought I was having a psychotic break for the past 5 days. My roller-coaster of symptoms include emotional instability, paranoia, violent thoughts, thoughts of hopelessness and suicide, overwhelming gloom, facial numbness, insomnia, and the feeling of tingling in my mouth and throat. I am going to stop taking this medicine right now, and I've already called my doctor. I just wish I would have linked this to the only medicine I'm taking much sooner.

my symptoms were with Prevacid, I believe that these drugs all have the same dangerous side effect. It started with extreme weakness, numbness and pins and needles in my legs and arm. Now after 9 weeks of stopping the Prevacid I feel shaky and tremors. I take b-12 injections because it seemed to have depleted me of my normal b-12 levels. I am hoping this is the problem and will improve . until than my doctor has me going to a neurologist to assure it is nothing else . mri of brain is normal and thyroid is normal. HOW LONG UNTIL THESE SYMPTOMS SUBSIDE , PLEASE TELL ME THEY WILL GO AWAY.

I was on Prilosec for 3 days, then switched to Aciphex for one day. Within hours after starting the medication, I was extremely drowsy, dizzy, and just "out of it." I also have dry mouth and facial numbness. The side effects are pretty incapacitating, and the most distressing thing is that I stopped the meds 5 days ago, yet the symptoms persist. My doctor has run a series of tests to rule out other problems, and agrees this may be a bad reaction to Prilosec. Has anyone ever experienced anything like this, and if so, how long until the side effects went away?

facial numbness, numbness of mouth and nose and head, slight numbness of tongue and tongue got crooked. tingling sensation all over body.

Today i was proscribed with 50 mh prednisone ,5 tablets .4 times a day so that is 1000mg of prednisone a day has anyone had same thing .i was dyagnosed with optic nuritiritis.i am really scared to take this medicine and so many mg a day. please help!

I too have been taking Aciphex for acid reflux for about three weeks and although it seems to have helped with the burning and nausea, I have just recently (four days ago) been experiencing a slew of symptoms. They include headache, blurred vision in my left eye, facial numbness, both forearms numbness, leg (knee down) numbness, and tingling sensation in head. I went to the ER yesterday due to the left arm and left side facial numbness. They ruled out heart attack, blod clot, stroke, bleeding in brain, and brain tumor via a CT scan and a host of other neurological examinations. Doctors have suggested an MRI to rule out something else neurological (MS, neurofibromatosis, etc.) that a CT scan might not pick up. Also, will do a neck MRI to rule out a bulging disc or pinched nerve. I am hoping that it is just the Aciphex.

Been taking this for about 18 months. I have experienced dizziness, facial numbness, elevated liver enzymes, chest pain, and chronic cough. Been to the docotor several times and have had multiple tests run. Finally fed up, I switched doctors. This was the first time Lisinopril was even mentioned as a possible cause even though she is doubtful. I came home and immediately searched the internet to find this forum. So glad I did!

I was on Lipitor last year for about three months . After reporting to my physician that I was experiencing left facial numbness, left neck pain, numerous joint pain,locking of my
middle fingers, severe muscle pain in both calf areas, The lipitor, was discontinued and I was started on Vytorin. Needless to say My condition got worse. I could barely lift my arms, I had extreme pain in my left hip and it was painful and difficult to walk. I stopped taking the Vytorin. I had a MRI of
My cerviaal neck, with no gross finding, My lab tests were essentially normal except cholesterol level. My condition has improved except the lingering muscle pain in both upper arms and left hip pain. I will never take statin medication again. I also, stopped my Diovan two days ago, I am
feeling so much better. Plan to go natural remedy from now on.

hi all,just a quick update. i have been off yasmin for 5 weeks now and just had my 1st normal period..... woo hooo! i am feeling sooo much better now i am off that stuff. my anxiety levels have dropped to virtually nil,panic attacks are getting better,i haven't had a headache for about 3 weeks,my facial numbness is getting better and less frequent, my bowels are getting back to normal and i just feel happier in myself and more able to cope with whatever may come along. i jst wanted to post this to give hope to all of you that are suffering...it just keeps getting better and better,it may take a week or it may take a year but just knowing that it will get better will keep you going.

abs528,
how are you doing,you have not posted for a while? you must be nearly a month free of yasmin now,is the anxiety easing? i really hope that you are doing better.

Lisa Here,

i have been expereincing facial numbness this month is that normal??/ I did have it on the yasmin but 4 month post thought it was gone and its returned during the week leading up to my period.

any help would be great
Lisa

RE: Spitting up blood

This is a BAD side-effect (although it's the first I've heard about it as connected to Neurontin) and you need to see your doctor immediately! Blood coming-out where it's not supposed to be is a sign of a broken blood vessel somewhere( you need to be ready to tell your doctor -- or call 911 -- about quantity of blood, frequency and timing of blood flow.) If it's from the head-area it could be from a small stroke. Facial numbness is also a symptom of a small stroke, serious as a heart-attack. Are you having trouble talking, walking, or paralysis in any limbs? CALL YOUR DOCTOR -- preferably the one who prescribed the Neurontin...tell him/her it's an emergency.

The facial numbness could very well be connected to nerve-damage in the herniated disc, but it's more frequently a sign of stroke, nerve damage from clots, etc...

Sometimes pain is a survival characteristic...it tells us something is wrong in the body. Good luck. JanK, Neurontin userid, certified Master's level counselor and First Aid practitioner

To Spider 256: Numb face sounds like a side-effect of the
herniated disks...is there some other drug besides Neurontin
that can be used for the bi-polar problem? My handy book (which I heartily reccommend) "Change Your Brain Change Your Life" by D. G. Amen, says that Neurontin has the smallest number of side-effects, and seems to be used most often for emotion management and pain reduction.
"Stenosis" means pinching-off, right? If a nerve is pinched in the cervical area, this would say to me it's probably involved in the facial numbness you experienced.
Have you talked to your doctor about this? Whatever, the Neurontin probably doesn't cause it, but you do have a serious problem, and the prescribing doctor neds to know. JanK