Gnat symptoms and conditions

I'm a woman, about to turn 50.....and have been experimenting with the statins for about two months(not by choice either). I tried Zocor and had a stop that after 10 days because of massive hair loss. Once stopped....the hair loss stopped immediately. Just a ill more than a month later I started on Lipitor. All seemed to be going ok. NO hair loss. BUT.......mannnnn I don't sleep hardly at all. I'm tired beyond all belief......and its that bone deep OMG I'm sooooo exhausted type tired. I often times don't eat an evening meal after work because I seriously don't think I cant stand long enough to make anything. My legs feel as though they cannot move another inch. I have horrible cramps in my fingers.....the calf of both legs and now in my rib area. Ive had horrible horrible blurred vision.....my attention span is about as long as a gnat!!!!! I seem to have an all over bone deep body ache. It gets to the point that if MOVING A MUSCLE would save my life........Id have to die sitting still....I cant do it. The every day you wake up in the morning headache is way beyond OLD. I also notice I'm nauseous and or have a gut ache almost all the time. Its effectively killing my appetite so maybe I'll lose weight, but damn..is this the way to do it?

WHY wont the doctors believe that this damn drug is responsible?

I have been on Topamax for a few months now. I can't remember exactly how long because, to be quite honest, I have the memory of a gnat since starting this medication. My neurologist prescribed this medication for me after I was finally put on medication for grand mals seizures. I had been having them sporadically since 1999. I also suffer from migraines and he said it would help with that, my weight and my depression. It sounded like a wonder drug until my dosage kept increasing up to the 300 mgs. he needed me to reach.

I became a lethargic, depressed and very detached, angry lump to describe myself best. I have had a difficult time doing housework and everyday activities like playing with my children. My depression was first improving but it took a turn for the worse and I have found myself feeling suicidal at times. I have suffered breast pain so severe I had to have a breast ultrasound done. Nobody ever told me that breast pain could be a side effect in women. My menstrual cycle has also been unpredictable as well since starting this medicine. I called my neurologist's office in inquire about this and they were unaware about this side effect.

My mental clarity is totally gone. My memory is so bad I have missed doctor's appointments for myself and my children. I have to write things down everywhere and have my kids remind me of things instead of the other way around. I find myself trying to form a sentence at times and it comes out like gibberish.

I stay on the medicine because my five kids were witnesses to my last seizure and it scared my oldest three so much they remember it as if it were yesterday. I made them a promise it would never happen again. The last medicine I tried left me with bruises all over my body and unable to get out of bed. If left with having to choose between the two medicines I have to pick Topamax. I can't be a guinea pig anymore. My kids need me to keep my promise and I have vowed to do so. If you could see what I deal with every night when I put my daughter to bed you would understand. She says she is afraid to leave me to go to asleep because she is afraid I will have another seizure. Being on this medicine is the reassurance I offer her to prove that everything will be okay.

I spent years on SSRI's trying to fight anxiety and depression and I suffered horrible side effects so I am at the point that I am willing to settle. Currently my dosage has been cut down to 250 mg. and my rage is pretty much gone. I am still depressed and somewhat lethargic. The good news is that I did lose 30 lbs. since starting Topamax. Unfortunately, Topamax doesn't do much for me in the way of migraine relief. Since my seizures are sporadic I honestly don't know if it is even controlling those either. I am keeping my fingers crossed.

My heart goes out to all of you taking this medication. I know how you feel right now. If you are lucky enough to get off of it and are able to find something else less stressful on your body then that is great. If you are in my situation and you feel as if this is as good as it gets, well, at least you know you are not alone. I know now that there are alot of us out there. I am not sure how much consolation that really is but it is something I suppose.