Good job symptoms and conditions

Folks, Lipitor is the most widely prescribed drug. People are blaming their various problems on lipitor. They should see the appropriate specialist to address their specific symptoms vs self-diagnosing and blaming it on lipitor.

My baby is 3. She had strep throat from Jan to April. I'm talking off the antibotic for max 4 days and the fever would return along with swollen glands, difficulty swallowing and just plain miserable. Took me 2 ENT referrals for someone to finally agree with me that this is not normal and something needs to be done. We scheduled a T & A for April 18th. The surgeon told me that she had a severe sinus infection as well (surgery day). He recommended that we start Singulair 4mg at night along with Nasonex to possibly help with her constant sinus congestion. I gave it to her and noticed nearly an immediate a change in her disposition.(looking back now) At the time I simply chalked it up to having her tonsils out. She was on the medication until Friday May 9th. Her babysitter said that she was seeing what I was at home...only I hadn't shared my dgtrs behavior at home with her...call it guilt for being a single mom who works...I just thought she was having trouble adjusting from a week at home with mom from the surgery recovery to getting back into the "norm" routine. At home she would cry at the drop of a hat. Not just wimper or whine....but tears and screams for nearly an hour. I would ask her why she was crying and she'd simply reply "I don't know Mommy." One minute we'd be playing and she's be laughing and the next she was angry and anxious. She would complain of "tingles in her feet"...I thought she had just been sitting on her legs and her foot had fallen asleep. She would deliberately instigate her older sister...totally not her. She became fearful of her room at nighttime...and took for ever to get to sleep. A co worker had mentioned that a little boy she worked with had his medicine changed b/c the dr said one of his meds may contribute to his behavior issues. Being a nurse I asked what med...SINGULAIR. I immediately went to the web and googled singulair. I found this site...and began to read parents horror stories of their experiences. She has not had another singulair nor will any of my children - EVER. I feel guilty that I didn't take the time to research it before I put her on it. I feel blessed that I was in the right place at the right time to find out about this site. I thought that my kind and sweet little girl had turned into. I know it's only 5 days off the med but she's back to her sweet self about 75%. I am blessed that my experience was not even a month long...but losing your child to a medication that no one warns you about even for a day is WRONG. I think I would be more "forgiving" if anyone along the line of me picking up the med had said ANYTHING...but no one said a thing. My prayers are with those who were not as lucky as I was to stop this med so quickly. I hope your children return to their pre singluair selfs quickly and permanently.

I've been on Lyrica 75mg 2x/day for Fibromyalgia for 1 1/2 wks. I was on Neurontin for 4 years before trying this new med. The side effect that I'm hoping goes away soon, is around 3-4AM every night that I take Lyrica I wake up to pee and when I lay back down when I close my eyes the room spins like crazy. It's exactly like a night drinking in college but I haven't touch any alcohol in months. The 1st few days that sensation did not go away until the afternoon, but now it's usually gone by the time I wake up to go to work around 7AM. Hopefully it'll just keeping shorter in duration. Other than that side-effect it does quite a good job controlling FM pain.

Hi, I am a mother of 6. They are 11,9,7,4,and twins 2 1/2. So nothing surprises me as far as kids. I have been through it all. My 7 year old had been taking singulair for allergies and ear pain, for over a year. Did my doctor once ask me about any of the side effect, NO!! This is not ok. My son suffered, decrease appetite, weakness, fatigue, mood swings, irritability, fears of being alone, scary dreams, anger, bone and joint pains. Before he was a loving kid (who had his moments)!!! I had no idea the singulair was causing all these destructive side effects. I just thought this is a phase he is going through, he will soon get over it. Finally I took him to his ped. and we did blood work and x rays. I told her something was wrong with him, he has not been himself over the past 6-8 months. This is one reason why I never suspected his singulair, it did not show up immediately. All of his test came back fine. I just happened to look at the side effects of this medicine. I almost died!!! Every single thing that this poor child has suffered from was on this list. Then more, I found this page and other mothers have had the same experience. I was just amazed that this has happened to so many. I was relieved that my son was normal. He has been off singulair for 6 days now (he doesn't know why I took him off it) . But you would not believe the change. It is AMAZING!!! In only 3 days, I started to see change in his anger. You would not ever in a life time believe that a medication can do this. I have been poisoning my son for a year. I think that Merck should take some of that 4.3 BILLION dollars and do some better research!!!! Concerned citizen you are right on. I have read many pages of this forum and I think you are doing a good job researching this. Maybe Merck should hire you as one of there "experienced personal". It just makes me seriously sick to see that the medical field is not seeing this problem!!!

Well, I'll share my story with you, and feel free to comment or ask any questions. I had been taking Yasmin for about 3 years. For the majority that time, I was in college (UCLA) while my long term boyfriend and family were back in the Bay Area. I was extremely depressed, which I presumed to be because I missed my boyfriend, and school was very difficult, etc. However, I had terrible anxiety, to where whenever I went to class, walked the campus, etc, I would have trouble looking up, for fear of making eye contact with others. To ask a question in class made my heart race. I would get terrible lumps in my throat that I could not get rid of. I used to be really outgoing, friends with everyone. But at UCLA for two years, I barely made new friends (maybe 3-5), blaming it on being too busy with my studies. Pretty extreme anxiety. As a child, I was a gymnast and suffered from OCD at one point, probably due to the anxieties of a very strict, mature schedule at such a young age. I guess I've been anxious in some way or another during my whole life, however I feel it was WAY worse during the course of being on Yasmin. I have also suffered from depression in my life, but the worst times were during high school, and during the past few years while on Yasmin. I am not saying I blame Yasmin for these things, but I definitely think it made them worse. I also have been having terrible mood swings, crying spells (to where I felt like I was going crazy), and not feeling like “myself”. I did take a break from the pill after I broke up with my boyfriend, and felt WONDERUL, woke up in a great mood, ready to take on the day, instead of forcing myself to try to start the day happy (which rarely worked). It has been a CHORE to be happy and grateful for my wonderful life (family, friends, good job, own apt., dog) for the past few years.

I stopped taking Yasmin 3 days ago (Sunday the 13th was my first day off of it) and already feel more normal, balanced and myself. Happy, hopeful, more relaxed. Of course this could be “placebo effects”, but I now myself really well, am very in tune with my emotions, etc., and I definitely feel different. I am not rhuminating either, which was another effect.

Does anyone have a similar story? Thanks! -Cassie

My 4 year old daughter has been on Singulair daily for approximately 2 months. We started noticing some minor changes in her behavior early on (shyness, separation anxiety, anger, moodiness) but chalked it up to starting a new pre-school and arguing with her older sister. Then about two weeks ago, she started having an obsessive-compulsive type behavior about wiping herself. My first inclination was that she had some type of infection (yeast, UTI, bladder, etc) but all of the tests came back negative. My doctor told us to stop the Singulair, so we have been off for about a week now, but the OCD symptoms haven't lessened. I would say that some of the other behaviors are improving somewhat, but I am not seeing a "whole new kid" effect after being off for one week. Has anyone had a similar experience with OCD type behaviors? I am beside myself with concern! Thanks for any help.

I just got a very condescending private message from a doctor on this site who said that while my articles from Europe are very helpful that I don't know what I am talking about and that I could mislead the public. Then I see how many parents and patients got a condescending attitude from their own doctors.

Well the public has been mislead but it is not my fault. I don't see any experts in this field stepping up to the plate to acknowledge that these side effects exist, have been reported by authorities in other countries, and that these experts are interested in learning why they are happening. This is an extremely widely prescribed medication that involves the lives of millions.

Merck's research director was quoted as saying that they know of no mechanisms by which these side effects could be related to psychiatric adverse drug reactions. That was a flat out LIE. So what if I quoted you a research article from China that was very complicated and yes, could possibly be misinterpreted by somebody? I just needed to give you an example. The only expert so far that had the guts to give you a truthful statement was Dr. J. Douglas Bremner. Thankfully, he corrected a misunderstanding about saying that it was "unclear."

I hope that we will all hang in there and something will be said by somebody, anybody on this site that will make the FDA listen and investigate Singulair (montelukast) all the way back to the very original studies done in test tubes not on people. And, then take a new look at it from the standpoint of what we now know about human genetics. I guess I will keep repeating myself about one size does not fit all.

I would also PRAY that all clinical studies on Singulair (montelukast) would be suspended until the FDA decides why these side effects occur. And that they would issue a statement to doctors to make conservative decisions regarding treatment with Singulair until the results of the investigation have been reported.

I hope that nobody thinks that I am trying to mislead anyone. The answers are either unknown or being hidden by Merck. How would I know the answers? I don't work for Merck. How many other people are out there trying to translate articles in foreign languages to see what's going on? American doctors are calling Merck and being assured that there is nothing to these claims.

I wonder how many experts there are that just don't want to be another Jeffrey Wigand or don't know what is wrong?

I know that I am ranting but somebody should do it.

For those who need some "scientific" documentation to take to their doctors regarding the adverse side effects of Singular - montelukast. This reports from the Netherlands in 2002 does a good job of explaining side effects found in the clinical studies versus those found in post marketing reports. I am disturbed to hear reports that patients are either afraid to talk to their doctors for fear of being ridiculed or their doctors are dismissive of their complaints.

So here is one worth printing for your files.

http://www.lareb.nl/documents/kwb_2002_3_monte.pdf.

Everytime I read these side effects, I am still amazed about how the stories are so similar. My youngest son and I went to the doctor today. I think my son's doctor does a very good job. However, he is still suggesting the Singulair. He checked for updates on Singulair. Since the "FDA" has not sent any information with some of these serious side effects, it is still the green light. That is fine. But, I will not be administering this medication to him or my other child. These stories and my sons' side effects are substantiated enough for me. I think it is a matter of time, and we will all blessed after its findings. I am reading all these side effects again because my youngest son is again sick with diarrhea and puking. This has been happening a lot this year, and he is suppose to be taking the MAP testing. This stresses me since he has missed so much school. Last year, for quite some time he suffered with separation anxiety, and it took my husband and I forever to get him to school. Sometimes when we got him to school, he would not get out of the car. Sometimes we had to go inside with him and negotiate to get him inside the classroom and try to tell him we would be fine. One morning it was two hours, and another morning I finally left the school with him and took him to his father. I was exhausted!!!!!!! The school counselor would try to help too. I just do not think this is my child's disposition......................

Maybe I'm not crazy after all. I'm a 55-year-old female who has been taking Advair for close to 5 years. I have adult onset asthma and was using Albuterol to control it until my allergist placed me on Advair. It does a great job on my asthma, but at what price? During that time I've gained weight regardless of my diet and exercise regimen. I feel like I haven't slept in years and I'm convinced that it will eventually kill me because that makes everything else so much more difficult to deal with. I'm having major hair loss, hoarseness (I really miss singing), heart palpitations, extreme fluctuating blood pressure, heartburn, lethargy, blurred vision, twitching muscles. I finally decided that I had to change something and I found this website last week. I quit Advair cold-turkey. Probably not the right thing to do, but I was really on the brink. It's been nearly a week and I'm having extreme dizziness, terrible vision problems and awful headaches, but I am persevering.

Hi all
I am a 24 year old, quite anxious person and have had problems with panic attacks and anxiety on and off for the last 5 years, although I generally stay on top of it, manage a good job and I have a successful long term with my boyfriend who I live with and love very much.
I was on Yasmin for three years and never thought I had any problems with it - although looking back maybe some of the anxiety that I experienced then was linked to it. The numerous GPs I spoke never made this connection so I would never have suspected it.
Anyway I came off Yasmin a year ago, as I decided I wanted a break from medication but any changes would have been disguised by another medication I was coming off at the time which gave me really bad withdrawal symptoms.
I went back on Yasmin ten days ago and today I feel terrible. I have been waking up at about 5am, wide awake and anxious and this morning had a very upset stomach due to the severe anxiety. I tried to go to work but on the bus I had the most awful depressing, dark anxious thoughts and could NOT get them out of my head. I felt terrible and came straight back home.

There is no way I am taking the pill tonight, but I am a bit worried about stopping it mid cycle - does anyone have any experience of doing this and what happened?
I also really want to know how long it will take for me to feel back to normal - can anyone give me an idea?

Thanks for your posts,
Really think they need to warn people more clearly on packaging...

Jem

I have been on the ring for 4 months now. After using it for about a month I became depressed and angry. Often being verbally abusinve with my boyfriend and my mom for things that werent their fault. I have spent so much time thinking about why...why am I so unhappy when I have a wonderful boyfriend, a great mom, and a daughter that I ADORE!!!! I have a good job, a decent car, friends, love...there was no reason I shouldnt be happy. Worse than that-- I have no sexual desire at all, and it irrates me so bad when my boyfriend touches me. Which is definietly hurting our relationship! I have been considering seeing a doctor about getting some type of prescription for my emotional instability (even though I am very against those types of drugs.) Two weeks ago it was time to take my ring out. I took it out and when I called my pharmacist I didn't have any refills. So I have been without it for 2 weeks and I feel SO MUCH BETTER!!! My sexual desire is returning and instead of fighting all day, me and my boyfriend are getting along much better. I don't feel 100% back to normal, but I am hoping to get there soon!! Relieve yourself...throw the ring away!!!

I started taking Toprol XL seven years ago to control palpitations. Side effects I have experienced include loss of hair, coldness in my hands and feet, probably due to the lower blood pressure, and, believe it or not, palpitations. I am somewhat, but not entirely, certain that the palpitations that I originally suffered from were from poor exercise, stress and a bad diet. The new palpitations I get are from squatting, reclining in certain positions, raising my legs up in a certain way which I attribute to side effects from this drug. I am trying to cut down on this drug, but it is hard. My heart has grown accustomed to it and it acts up whenever the dosage is reduced, no matter how slowly I do it. I want to get it down to 12.5 mg. I take about 18-19 mg now (I cut the 25mg in half and take one of the halves and cut it in half again). Some things about this drug: take it consistently, e.g., same time with same amount of food. It will give you some harmless, but scary, palps if you do not keep a regular pattern. Indeed, I can usually tell when a palp is Toprol-induced. Another thing is to be wary of doctors who have you double or quadruple a dosage at one time. Years ago my doctor told me to go from 12.5 to 50 mg after I complained of some palps that I now know were Toprol related. I thought he was nuts because my pulse was already way down due to this drug. I envisioned myself fainting. being a bad patient, I upped it to 25 instead. Later, after looking at a Holter monitor readout, the doctor calls me and says lower my dose to 25 because my overnight pulse was getting to a point that if I took anymore Toprol the pulse would be dangerously low. I never told him I did not listen to him. But I have to say I have not suffered all of the side effects listed on this site such as depression. The drug was and has been effective in controlling the palps that were driving me crazy. My palps were very bothersome and this drug gave me peace of mind. But, looking back, I think I could have brought about the same results with a healthier lifestyle. I am very cautious about taking myself completely off of it entirely and will do that with the guidance of a doctor, not the one mentioned above of course. But they are hard to find. Most of them will tell you beta blockers are the greatest and if you take dosages as low as mine there are no problems whatsoever.

I've been on the NR for about 6 months now.
Now that I'm reading all the comments, I see that my migraines, lack of sex drive (NR kills your sex drive, therefore it is doing a good job of preventing pregnancy :-), bloated feeling, sharp abdominal pain - like someone stabbed me from inside, pain during sex (so we can only do certain positions) ... can all be attributed to NR. I also experienced that my natural D cup breast feel like DD because they are constantly swollen. I'm off the NR for about a month, strangely my migraines disappeared entirely and I do not have to take Excedrin migraine every other day. I'm going to my doc to check out my ovaries since I think that the sharp pain is related to perhaps some cyst.
I'm not sure what will I use in the future as BC... I'll probably try this new minipill called Cerazette, it is a pill without oestrogen.

I am on 40mg one a day. Went on lisinopril on 04-26. I strarted having pains in UT areas. Bladers control issues and now Colon pains. I am not sure what to do next since it does a good job on my BP. I have a cough, Fatigue, Swollen eyes lids feeling heavy. No my left side hurts where my kidney is. How musle pain and joint pain also. Does any one have any suggestions?

I am here b/c I've been having crying spells with very light (at first no) periods. I've been on Yaz for about 4-5 months and I don't know if it's causing it. I've reviewed my life and don't really have any particular reason to be crying... great family, good life, good job, etc. so... why the crying. I'm here trying to find out if this might be a side effect. The good side? I'm not as irritable as I was before YAZ, while taking Ortho-tricyclen.

My daughter is 5 years old and has been on singulair for 1 week. i have already noticed a dramatic change in her behavior. she has become irritable, mean, nasty, and emotional. she has had me in tears on a daily basis. she has turned into a monster. we will be calling the doctor in the morning!

Chronic sinus infctions. They started out occuring every so often, nothing to be alarmed about yet right before I stopped taking singulair I was in at the doctors at least every 4 weeks for sinus infections. I was on antibiotics for almost one month before I stopped taking it and it was a factor in my coming down with bronchitis. I have stopped taking the drug when I realized it was making me sick. It's been 8th months and I have been to the doctors for a regualr check up and one infection. It feels great to have figured out why I was so sick. I had undergone CAT scans and saw an ENT and I was about to undergo more tests and see another specialists. I have researched online about possible side effects and infamed sinuses and respiratory infections are listed as side effects. The ironic part was I was taking singulair to prevent the sinus infections which my doctor and I thought were caused by my severe allergies when in reality it was actually making me sick. I cannot describe how much I loath this drug and feel that Merck does not do a proper and good job in making all the possible side effects know. My life health wise was...I don't know how to describe it- I was constantly sick and missing school and work and feeling terrible- I guess the word would be terrible. I strongly reccomend a person who is new to taking this drug to research it and know all of the nasty side effects.

I was sent to psychologist after psychologist as a child because I couldn't pay attention in grade school. I was finally put on Ritalin. I'm 45 now and a parent myself and suffer from mild, but unexplainable bouts of anger as a result of Ritalin. Here's some of what I've learned through experience: First, 99% of the time, pharmaceuticals are not the answer. They do a good job of masking symptoms and depriving you of quality of life, but not treating the larger problem. Second, public school is no place for intelligent children. The pace is so slow and uninteresting (and I might add un-necessary) that it is easy to diagnose nearly any child as ADD. Home schooling is the best option. Private school is next but really expensive. Second and most important is diet. A diet high in sugar is awful for attention spans. If you send your children to school after a breakfast of sugared toast, or sugared cereal, as mine did, they won't perform well and will "crash" in a couple of hours. Manufactured foods and artificial sweeteners are also part of the problem. Our brains and bodies are not designed to be run on things that are artificial. Last, ALL network TV, and most cable TV is a hopeless, mind-numbing, reprogramming tool. Turn it off and open the books. Enjoy music or the silence of nature. Your kids will be better off for your efforts.
Hope that helps. Rick ******

I took the liquid Levall 5.0 at night because it made me tired and a little lightheaded. The Levall pills, however, did not make me tired. In fact, they did the opposite and kept me wide awake after only getting 5 hours of sleep. Both did a good job in keeping away the cough.