Gum problems symptoms and conditions

I am a 61 year old male and I have COPD with 40% loss in lung function. My allergist started me on Advair 250/50 a couple of years ago. As I was still having trouble with shortness of breath, my internist put me on Spiriva, also. Breathing got easier, but I was experiencing a number of symptoms.

The one that clued me into knowing something in the medicine was bothering me was bright red eyes. Also focus problems and blurry vision. My ophthalmologist found no reason for the eye condition. So I also looked at some other symptoms I had: Severe muscle cramping if any muscle was contracted; severe lower back pain after walking only 5 minutes; hoarseness; loss of voice; Extreme weight gain (55 pound in 1-1/2 years), all in my middle; bloating and tooth/gum problems that were nonexistent 2 years ago; BPH symptoms (poor urine stream, difficulty emptying and many nighttime bathroom visits with normal prostate & PSA tests). E.D.

Whoa! What’s going on here? So I began stopping all my drugs one at a time for one week. Just got to the Advair yesterday and my eyes have already almost returned to white. My hoarseness is almost gone. Was it the power of autosuggestion? Somehow, I don’t think so. This drug works, but one has to balance the side effects with the help it provides. I’m going to try just using my albuterol inhaler and stay off these steroids.

Good luck to you all!

I was on Lamictal for 4 years and after the first year I suddenly started having all kinds of teeth and gum problems for no discernible reason. But since Lamictal has the possible side effect of "sores or blisters on the inside of the mouth" I wondered if it could be related.

I did a Google search and am coming up with no experts yet, but lots and lots of posts connecting anticonvulsant meds, particularly Lamictal, Topamax, Neurontin, and Depakote, with dental problems. Dilantin is well known for causing gum disease and breaking down tooth enamel, loosening of teeth, and even breaking down of jawbone tissue.

I don't think the experts have connected the dots yet, but is anyone else having this problem?

I have been on Topamax for 4 months and so far the migraines I have suffered for 40 years are gone. Great Some side effects like can't stand carbonated drinks. Reaction time is a little slower. I stress out a little more then I used to. I get really tired at the end of the day. I used to be a night owl but now love my sleep. Question to you all. Any one had problems with their teeth? Such as pain, fillings falling out? Let me know.

regarding the question about gum disease, some guy recently wrote that their dentist asked if he had stopped taking lipitor--that his gums were so much better and the dentist had observed gum problems for his patients taking lipitor.. purely anecdotal, and i do not remember the board on which the post was written--just remember the information.

Have been on predisone for a year now. Tapering off. Diagnosed with dermatomyositis in 1998. Weight gain (30 lbs.!), some depression and had to have 2 places on my gums grafted because my gums were coming away from my teeth! Read about tooth loss from some of the emails on this site. Anyone else have gum problems? Doctor told me this is NOT a side effect of predisone. I wonder........
Anyone diagnosed with dermatomyositis, I would love to hear from you. Very rare disease......one-four per million. ***

I thought this would be interesting for everyone to read. I went to my dentist the other day for my checkup and he commented "I see you're no longer taking the Lipitor". I was quite surprised and wondered how he knew since I did stop taking it 4 months ago because it left me in crippling muscle pain in my back and legs. He said he could tell by looking at my gums - that they look much more healthier now. I never had any gum problems my entire life even while taking lipitor so I was surprised at this observation. It just goes to show you how dangerous this drug is, that if it can be seen in the gums this drug must affect the entire body whether you have symptoms there or not and who knows what it's silently doing to you. The dentist commented that everyone that takes this drug seems to get muscle pains and many are left crippled long after they discontinue the drug and he wonders why doctors so blindly keep prescribing this drug and why they keep advertising it on TV like it's candy.

Due to a head injury,I am succeptable to seizures.I have been taking Lamictal for over a year. Initially I started with 300 mgs daily.It did not work effectively,so my doctor raised the dosage to 400 milligrams per day.I asked the doctor what are the side effects?He replied that tere are none. He said in fact "it stimulates the brain."I replied "how could any medication that deters seizures not have any side effects"??
At this point I am frequently constipatedI get rashes.I also am extremely forgetful terrible memory & cannot get my words out that I had no problem with while taking dilantin.I stopped dilantin, although it worked effectively, due it's terrible side effects& constantly having gum problems