Freedom of information act symptoms and conditions

I took Avelox April 2008 and my life changed after taking the first dose. I had read on the bottle it could cause dizziness, so when I began to feel intoxicated and feel like I was walking sideways, I wasn't too concerned. After I took the first dose, I had a preop appointment in the afternoon. The doctor asked me if I had ever been told I had a heart irregularity. He said it was an occasional skip and he wasn't that concerned. I have physicals every year at which time an EKG is done, I just had my physical mid February and my heart rate was perfect. The surgery was scheduled 1 week later. That morning I took the last dose of Avelox, as I was being wheeled in for surgery, the nurse watched me go into A Fib. Surgery was not going to happen and I was admitted to the hospital for 9 days. I was on a 24 hour monitor and my heart rate was changing so fast they couldn't even tell me what was going on. After many different drugs to control my rate I was discharged and scheduled for a cardioversion, hoping that would get my heart rate back in a sinus rhythm. It worked for about 20 minutes and I was again admitted to the hospital for four days and put on a new medication. I went from being completely healthy to A Fib, kidney and lung problems. As of today I am still dealing with all the above. I had a cardiac ablation in October, hoping that would fix the problem. I was doing OK for about 3 weeks and since then I am still in A Fib. Currently I am wearing a 24 hour monitor to record any events. I'm not sure what the next step is . . . I believe with all my heart that Avelox is responsible. My life went form being completely healthy and exercising everyday to being exhausted most of the time and even going to the grocery store is a tremendous effort.

I have been taking Digitek since May 2005. In October 2007 I began to feel lethargic, arms felt they weighed 5 pounds each. Then in February 2008 I began to see PLAID (red, green and yellow)! Opthalmalogic tests showed problem was probably in medication and not caused by a eye problem. Had brain and neck scans, x-rays, blood testing and all turned out fine. I am still seeing PLAID and am still off all my medications since February. I have a pacemaker and should be taking some heart medication but am not being given any replacement medication. The Digitek (250mcg) I was taking was listed as one of the recalled pills. You have to go through the FDA's Freedom of Information Act to get more info.

I am looking for any side effects from digitek. My dad is currently taking this medication and has developed a cough. I know this can be a side effect of some blood pressure meds. Could this also be a side effect of digitek?

I have read with interest (?) the 'downers' here about Lipitor (Atorvastatin). Most of the posts here are anti Lipitor.
One I read seemed to be ok with it. I have been taking Lipitor 20 mg for 18 months. Sure I have memory loss (I am 62 years of age) ... who doesn't have lapses of memory. Sure I have aching joints ... had that checked out by X-RAY's and it turns out I have arthritis, which I suspected. That's not funny. And sure I have occasional muscle fatigue - that could be due to many things particularly not getting enough exercise which I admit - and that's MY responsibility. And sure there are people who have allergic reactions to many drugs, and to many vitamin and mineral supplements as well - I feel for those people. I am allergic to Penecillin myself.

Many people here might be simply allergic to Lipitor ingredients. Others might have some underlying problem which has been exacerbated by Lipitor - still others may have had those underlying problems for a lot longer than they've been taking Lipitor but it has become easier to blame the Lipitor.

I was particularly concerned at the number of people who have taken themselves off the drug virtually overnight. I have been told and have read many times it can be dangerous to suddenly stop a medication - should be weaned off it. Sudden stopping of a medication can result in liver enzymes going out of kilter and other unwanted, sometimes quite nasty, effects.

As for the drug companies not giving warning - here in Australia anyone can go to their chemist (pharmacist) and have printed out for them, the side effects to any drug.
I think that comes under the Freedom of Information Act.

All I can say in conclusion is - Lipitor has worked wonders for me, and in working those wonders - reducing the bad AND increasing the good Cholesterol, they have taken one worry away from me - that of premature death or severe illness due to high cholesterol. My Doctor advised me (after I had dieted, exercised etc) that she was not surprised those regimens had not worked, and these were her words " a largish person can eat fat drenched food and have low cholesterol all their lives and a slender person who eats well - abstains from fats etc. can have very high cholesterol - No one factor determines it"

Hope you all obtain some form of relief - some way from life threatening high cholesterol. Anne.