Great deal symptoms and conditions

I am sorry to hear of the trouble and pain that you all are having!

The common thread is the the DOCTOR didn't tell of the dangers and side effects. This is not at all unusual. I am employed as a Certified Pharmacy Technician for one of the largest HMO's in the country and have also worked for retail pharmacies. If I have learned anything at all it is this; ALL QUESTIONS REGARDING MEDICATIONS SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO A LICENSED PHARMACIST!! Day in an day out I see doctors, PA's and RN's who are all but clueless as to drug interactions, proper uses, side effects, even proper & safe dosing! Countless times the Pharmacist will catch and error and not only save the patient from a potentially fatal mistake but also save the doctor's license, yet they are not given the respect they deserve. These people go to college for 7 to 8 years and study every possible aspect of pharmacology. Our society puts such God-like faith in doctors and fails to realize, they have only studied pharmacology, if we are lucky, for a couple of classes for one semester. Graduates now, at least in my home state are earning the degree PharmD (Doctorate of Pharmacy).

Please, please, PLEASE, don't say "Oh, I have no questions, my doctor told me" or "If I have questions, I'll ask my doctor." ASK A PHARMACIST!!! Granted, even the best trained pharmacist can't predict ALL potential problems but their knowledge is far superior to the vast majority of doctors!

Another point to consider; doctors are greatly influence by "drug reps", salespeople from the pharmaceutical companies that tout a new "drug du jour" every week, bombarding the docs with free samples, promotional gimmicks while wining and dining them so they will push (prescribe) THEIR product over the competitors' or any older but just as effective medication that most likely costs less too!

Again I wish only the best to all of you and my heart goes out to you who are suffering.

Susan

I was taking Danazol for 20years in alow dose for pressitant breast pain. I gradually began to suffer from muscle pains for no apparent reason. My doctor immediately stopped the Danazol, although wouldn't admit they were causing the problem. I ''fell apart at the seams''. None of my muscles worked properly, I had extremely high blood pressure, could barely walk, I was in constant pain and had to have massage for 2 hours per day. My eyes ached, I couldn't control my bladder and bowels very well. I thought I was going to die. My doctor sent me for numerous blood tests, endoscopes etc. But said I was depressed. I was depressed, because I felt so ill !
Its now 4 years since I stopped Danazol and I feel it has caused long term damage to my muscles. I have tried everything from massage to supplements. Things have improved a great deal, but I find it difficult to exercise as I tire very easily and particularly my back muscles seize up even after sitting for any length of time.

Has anyone else been on a low dose of Danazol for this length time. Have you suffered?

Shortly after starting the lipitor I developed hand pain mostly my fingers and especially my thumbs. I stopped the Lipitor and the pain in my hands and finger went away except for my thumbs. I have a trigger thumb which I can bend with a great deal of pain on my right hand and my left hand has now developed a trigger thumb as well. I am wondering if anyone else has experienced this type of side effect as my doctor feels it is just coincidence and that I have developed arthritis. I have not had any arthritic pain in my hands until now.

I've been on Advair for years. I'm a healthy 32 y.o female, active, with severe asthma. Trying to get myself off of it and have been successful at taking the medication once every 3 days or so. I am working out more and need it less often - the more I build up lung capacity. Within the last year, I've noticed that I've been losing eyebrow hair. So much of it, in fact, that I went to the Derm. for a diagnosis. They think it's "alopecia" - and I say ... it's ADVAIR. Anyone else experiencing hair loss or eyebrow loss, who happens to be on an inhaled steroid? In my case, it's only ONE eyebrow - very annoying! Hair on head is fine. Can't help but link it to the drugs, since Alopecia seems just way too far removed.

i am a new yasmin user and had stopped on my 2nd week. i was prescribed this pill after i told my doctor that the pill i was using for the past 2years had increased my nausea. anyway, first few days on yasmin was ok but towards my 2nd week i experienced severe headache and nausea, depression and my family has suffered a great deal with my mood swings.

Basically I have nothing new to add, but to confirm the many reports here. I under went some Upper and Lower GI testing back in May, and to clear up some infections the doctor found, he put me on a 10 day course of Levaquin and 14 days of Metronidazole. After the 2nd day, I was very sore in every muscle and tendon in my body. I had been doing work in the garden and just thought it was from that, but a couple more days, the muscles in my calves and the tendons around my knees felt like they were being pulled out of my body and it didn't matter if I was at rest or up moving about. Getting up in the morning was excrutiating. It was all I could do to put weight on my legs, and my arms and back muscles felt like they were on fire. I also had headaches, but the muscle and tendon pain overshadowed anything else. Doctors need to know this very debilitating side effect of this drug, and prescribe it only in the most dire of cases, and not to anyone already suffering from joint, muscle or nerve disease. The flyer I received from the pharmacy had a brief warning about tendonitis..but listed it under additional side effects. This should be listed as a critical warning. It has been 2 months since I finished the prescription, and I am still having problems walking and a great deal of pain in my legs. The calf pain has mostly subsided, but the muscles in my calves still feel very tight and the tendons around my knees feel sore all the time. This is a very dangerous drug!

I have not taken Lupron. In fact, I refused to take it at my doctor's insistence. I am a healthy 45 year old woman - why would I give that up for a temporary fix (6 months at most) for my endometriosis when I may have other options?

I don't want to trade my low blood pressure, healthy body weight, healthy bones, ability to sleep, clear skin, normal bowel movements, lack of severe migraines and lack of irritability for lack of endo pain.

I do not discount the endo pain - it can be crippling - but so is this drug! Everyone must make their own decision regarding whether or not to take Lupron but please, please do your research. Most doctors don't let you know that you have options. Call the Endometriosis Organization and ask for a specialist in your area. Endo is a little-known and often misunderstood disease. Find yourself a surgeon with a great deal of experience with endo - NOT an OB with a great deal of experience delivering babies.

It really upsets me to see so many women feel that they have to pay this price to relieve the pain. I am going to an endo specialist for a second opinion in a couple of weeks. I don’t know what he’ll say about my case but I am pretty sure the answer won’t be Lupron.

I am not usually a person who senses a doctor or a drug company is unethical, but remember, there will be no greater advocate for your health than yourself! Educate yourself, and ask your doctor lots of questions. If your doctor gives you a hard time – find another one. It’s your body and you have to live with the consequences.

This is a horrific story but must be read for those who may want to EVER use this drug. I am a 26 year old female who has had some fatigue/headache problems for the past two years. In an attempt to alleviate some of the symptoms associated with the headaches (burning, tingling, hairloss). So, the doctor administered seven small injections of 3-1 dilluted Kenalog into the top of my scalp. After two weeks I started to notice small indentations at the injection sites. After a month I started to feel painful sore spots all over my head; they were actually raw and bright red. It felt as though someone had placed a hot curling iron on my scalp and left it there! I notified my Dr. who said there were no known side effects with dilluted measures and it couldn't be the cause of it?? So, I waited a few more weeks only to notice that the seven injection sites were now large bald spots where the hair completely stopped growing and then just fell out. There are now VERY deep crater-like formations in my scalp that are tender to the touch that are getting worse and may never go away. The injection actually ate away at the skull! This has been a horrific experience and all my doctor can say is, "Sorry." One thing I want to post is this...yes, this is hugely unfortunate and we are all dealing with some major symptoms here but we are not alone. You know what they say about "power in numbers" so there may be a class-action suit on the way...this is not acceptable so don't let your doctor tell you it is nothing!

Hi. I am in remission from Multiple Myloma and have had compression fractures so I am on a lot of other drugs also. It is hard to separate them all. But since taking Zocor and have been experiencing light headedness and just a general wooziness like I am off balance. It is worse when I have been sitting down a great deal of the day. Today has been awful. I am always hurting, and am frustrated I am not getting better faster. After reading this I am wondering if some of my pain isn't from the Zocor, not the after effects of my other problems. They have done tests and can't find pinched nerves or anything. Is anyone having problems like this? Thanks Linda

The only thing I can honestly say is that my blood pressure has dropped from 190/150 down to 120/70 with no other noticeable effects. Oh, I no longer get headaches either. It does cost a great deal of money though.

I have been on Topamax for approximately six weeks - 100 miligrams for migraine. I have to say that so far my side effects have been minimal and my results have been quite good. I am experiencing some parasthesia in my hands and feet - but it is transitory and mildly annoying at worst. I have found that a lot of foods don't taste very good - and I really only like highly flavorful things like fruits and vegetables. I don't enjoy anything fatty, starchy or sugary. I'd like to be able to complain about that - but let's get real - that's probably a good thing. I've lost about 20 pounds since I started on the Topamax, 20 pounds that I can easily afford to lose. I also find that I am quite thirsty. I was experiencing some tiredness, but by switching to dosing only at bedtime, I have minimized that side-effect. My appetite has diminshed a great deal. I am not noticing cognitive side effects. I have had two migraines since I started on the Topamax (I was having approxmitately 15-20 days a month of severe migraines before), but I was able to take 1/2 dose of Relpax, and the migraine was gone within a half an hour. Typically I woiuld have to take a whole dose, repeat the dose in 2 hours and still have a headache, and repeat for 3-5 days, so I am seeing a big difference in the incidence of my headaches. All-in-all I am feeling quite hopeful that the Topamax, for me, will be an excellent overall solution for something that has been quite debilitating.

i have been taking it for back pain for about a year, i notice i sleep really great when i take it,
now for the side effects, i noticed that my lower back really hurt if i tryed to walk, or clean, i was in a great deal of pain, also i had pitting edima in the legs, very bad, , and a rash on the neck, and no energy at all, its been a week now since i quit taking it, the back pain is gone, i can walk around the block now, the rash is going away, my blood pressure is going down, i am happier and not mad all the time now. also have more energy

I forgot to add : please read Dr. Duane Graveline's web site, www.spacedoc.net

He is an MD and former astronaut who suffered transient global amnesia episodes from Lipitor and has amassed a great deal of information about statin side effects

My daughter takes this for her headaches as well, but for the first time she took it without properly eating beforehand. She has been vomiting all day and has had very painful stomach cramps. When taked with food, she has no issues and is helped a great deal from this medication.

Since starting Zocor a few months ago I have begun to experiencing stiffness of my joints and a great deal of pain.

I've been on Lisinopril for a year. I was changed over to the generic brand just 3 months ago and am having more & more trouble. Sleeplessness is a growing problem.....just can't go to sleep and then can't stay asleep for more than 3 hrs. at a time. I've also experienced trouble with bounding heart rate. This will come on whenever it wants to. I have had a dull headache for at least 3 weeks and a great deal of pain & stiffness in the neck/shoulders area. The latest problem that I have started to experience is unstable vision. It is like looking through heat waves. This causes dizziness too. I have been listening to my heart beat rather loudly for some time now. I do have a diagnosis of fibromyalgia and have multiple joint pain. I thought I was falling apart, but because of this site I find it can all be due to taking 10 mg. po qd @ hs. I just stopped taking it last night. I need my vision. I need my health. Thanks!

my doctor gave me neurontin a couple days ago for nerve pain steming from my back. i am having aweful side effects. i'm drowsy but can't sleep, i have problems with concentrating, blurred vision, headache, nausea, stomach pain, i am halucinating both visually and audibly, rapid heartbeat, spaced out, uncoordinated, my teeth feel like they are ringing, twitching, and just feeling like i am drunk!!! the worst part of this medicine is that it doesn't even do anything for my pain!!! i called the pharmacist and he told me to stop taking it. i am in a great deal of pain everyday, but i'd rather be in pain and feel normal, than feel in pain and feel aweful!!! i just hope that this isn't a permanent feeling!!!

I've been taking Singulair for almost 7 months, during which I have been only singing its praises. My asthma symptoms completely vanished and my seasonal allergies have been very much under control. However, I'm beginning to notice a pretty constant state of lightheadedness and just in the past few days there have been times when I thought I would faint. In retrospect, I've had a great deal of trouble sleeping through the night. I've also started to get some skin itchiness that I never had before. I'm going off Singulair right away and see how that makes me feel.

I have taken this medicine on and off for a year now. I have severe ulcerated colon colitis. This medicine works wonders for me. When nothing else works. This product does not get rid of, or make it go all the way away, but it relieves my suffering a great deal. I go next week to see my GI for a new problem. Liver damage. I do not know if this medicine caused it. I do not drink. Never have. I do take lots of other medicines. Anyone ever heard of liver damage due to this drug?

I have been taking Yasmin for about 4 years now, but did not really notice symptons until the last year or so. During that time, I took a more stressful job, my eating habits suffered a great deal, and my exercise become non-exisitent, so I did not realize it could be the pill and thought it was my new job and stress. My symptons are heart palpitations, "funny" feeling in my calves, fatigue, anxiety, and some minor mood swings. I finally called my gyno, and she suggested I have a thyroid problem. Maybe that is the case, but I can't imagine that this pill is helping anything. Does anyone have experience like this?

I have been taking Yasmine for 1 1/2 months, and have noticed weight gain and my boobs are huge and tender!!! I have loss of libido, and I'm normally very lubricated down there...but have been very dry. My periods are less, but they last a great deal longer. I thought the pill would help with my acne, but it really hasn't. Considering getting off of it.

I to started to have problems with bad dreams that did not last. However i have started having urine leakage .
at times this has caused a great deal of problems. this has become such a mess that even a short cough causes a big problem. Does anyone have any answers other then stopping to meds.

Since increasing this med I have been having a great deal of intestine spasms. Is this a side effect of this drug also?

I was taking Diovan 80mg for about 4 months and was told prior to taking it by my physician that it had little to no side affects. I experiencined a great deal of weight gain, fatigue and bloting. I found it almost impossible to loose weight even with everyday running and dieting. In addition, often heart rate surges during sleep, and great swings in mood/depression. It assisted in bringing my blood pressure down significantly but ultimatley stopped working. I am now on Lotrel.

I have been on synthroid for about 4 months now, I am having a great deal of trouble sleeping and have pain in all my joints, so bad that I had to stop therapy, that was after back operation, I have nogules in my neck and have had them checked for cancer, because had part of thyroid removed in 1963 with cancer. Not feeling like myself since I went on these meds and wonder if it is a side affect from it.