Family hx symptoms and conditions

Back in July I was experiencing rapid heart beats and shortness of breath. I'm a 43 white female with a high stress job. I went to the doctor expecting him to prescribe a sedative. He hooked me up to an EKG which showed I had a left bundle branch block. He then ordered blood work, chest x-rays, an ultra sound, and a nuclear stress test. All test came back fine, but my stress test showed a heart attack, which apparently is common with the left bundle block. I then wore a 24 hour Holter moniter which indicated tachycardia. That's when the doctor prescribed 50 mg Metoprolol. My BP and heart rate are now almost normal and the shortness of breath has gone away. I still experience a mild heaviness in my chest, but that is only when I allow my self to be stressed. I have gained over 5 pounds in less than 2 months and my dreams are more vivid than usual. One side effect that was listed on my drug info sheet that I haven't read about on this site described a cough, which I have had for over a month. I mentioned the cough to my doctor and he said it was prob post nasal drip so he prescribed 180 mg Fexofenadine and told me to cut the Metoprolol in half so I would be taking 25 mg. The Fexofenadine has helped with sneezing that I have always experienced, but the cough is still there. The cough is not always severe, but it has interrupted my sleep twice and my job once. The last bad coughing episode lasted 90 mins during the night. Has anyone else experienced the coughing side effect of Metoprolol?

Our son started taking Singulair when he was 2 for severe allergic rhinitis and cough variant asthma (in addition to Zyrtec, which didn’t control all of his symptoms). He is 5 now. For the last three years, he has been an increasingly violent, difficult, defiant, argumentative, volatile child who has intense mood swings--one minute he’s laughing uncontrollably, the next he’s weeping over nothing. His doctor and therapist recommended that we see a psychiatrist to have him evaluated for bipolar disorder, which used to be unknown in children. Because he has such chronic sleep problems, the doctor also suggested we take him off Singulair (and increase his Zyrtec dose) to see if it improved his sleep issues. Within a week, he was sleeping much better and was a calmer, happier, gentler boy. He suddenly could take “no” for an answer without flipping out and trying to hurt me. We thought that we were just in an unusual, calm window that would shift either to mania or intense sadness or both, any minute. We also thought that his behavior change might be due to sleeping better. We were enjoying the rare reprieve. Over the last weekend, his springtime allergies really flared up. We gave him Singulair on Monday and by noon, he was completely out of control. I had to strap him into his car seat at one point to keep him from hurting either me or himself. It finally occurred to me that Singulair might be causing his “bipolar” disorder. Of course, we stopped the Singulair. After two days he was a new boy. Yesterday, I Googled “Singulair bipolar children” and got a few hits. I am stunned to read how similar other families’ experiences have been to ours and I feel sick that we gave this drug to our child for three years.

I am currently 44. I have been on Lipitor since December 2005. I was going through breast cancer at the time. I have a family hx of heart disease and high cholesterol. I have been experience many annoying joint aches, muscle pains, and so many other others described. I had to have a bone scan done to make sure I didn't have bone cancer. I am now convinced that after reading all your entries (and my in-laws telling me of these things), that Lipitor has been my problem. My family Dr. had me stop it for 3 weeks and then go back to see what difference it made. Some muscle pain subsided. Came back when I started it again. I am now going to stop taking this and see what other alternatives I have. Your stories have been incredible and helpful. I'm sorry so many have had to endure so many problems but am grateful you have shared your experience. God Bless you all.

Hello, I was put on Prednisone for 12 days and made it through 11. It's been about 11 days since I've taken it and I'm still having symptoms. I have such bad anxiety and depression, mostly after dinner. My heart rate and blood pressure shoot up, and I have to pee every 15 mins. I had gone to the ER on the last day I was on it because I was having evil thoughts and crying uncontrollably. They told me it was probably steroidal psychosis and sent me to a shrink who now has me on Ativan until the Paxil she also prescribed me kicks in. Does ANYONE know how long this drug will be in my system? I took a tappered 12-day dose starting at 60mg. This drug may save lives, but it's really put hard times in mine. Any response is*****

Hi all
I was dx with hbp when I was approx 15. I was then rx a Beta Blocker and had lost weight and it seemed that my bp was great no need for meds any longer and was fine till I was approx 32 years old when my bp went to 157/120 my gp asked if thier was a family hx of hbp and of course thier is and then asked what family members were taking to lower thiers and the only thing I could find out was that everyone took hctz and the gp rx this for me and it has worrked till recently when readings were 157/110, 160/100, 147/127 ect very bad I felt horrible..fast pulse headache and chest pain also a feeling as if my heart was going to pound out of my chest!!! the dr rx a med called toprol and sent me to a internal medicine specialist who kept me on the hctz and the toprol and added lisinopril to the mix...OMG what a mistake after ONE dose I felt like I was a HUGE muscle Cramp Aching all over and upset stomache a HUGE headache my legs ached SO bad that I was in tears!!! The only thing different is the Lisinopril!!!

after 6 days of 50mg prednisone, have developed severe muscle aches, horrible constant headache, bad depression, extreme fatigue . Am still feeling this way a week after stopping the prednisone. While on prednisone for 6 days, felt euphoric and no pains, wonderful mood. Then crashed second day off the prednisone. When will these symptoms I am left with go away?

I was on Mevacor for a number of years due to high levels and family hx. I changed doctors (insurance change) and started on Lipitor 20 mg. for a couple years. Muscle pain started but was attributed to 'getting older'. I've tried to exercise rigoriously and diet to lower levels w/o success. Now I'm on 40 mg. and the physical attributes of muscle ache, memory and hearing issues persist. I can see that there are nmany others out there with similar symptoms.....what can we do?

My side effect: NONE
I having been taking 200mg once a day and found it to be the best thing I have tried for back pain since a fall at work & tennis elbow. I would not be able to function without it.
Depending on what dose you are on & what your other medical hx is will depend on how it affects you. IF you have a hx of heart disease or even family hx I have learned can predispose you no matter what antiinflamatory u take.
BE PROACTIVE IN YOUR CARE-ASK QUESTIONS BEFORE U TAKE A NEW MEDICATION. BE HONEST & TELL YOUR DR EXACTLY WHAT YOU TAKE--EVEN OTC- "Over the counter meds" count.