Have learned that symptoms and conditions

I am a 57 yr old female who has been taking lisinopril for about 4 years, after the Zestril became too expensive. I have had the cough and intermittent shortness of breath for several years, but really did not attribute the shortness of breath to the drug until it became quite severe recently. I stopped taking it three days ago, and of course, am concerned that my BP will be out of control. I exercise, eat pretty well, and am about 20 lbs overweight. I also experience abdominal bloat that by evening I look six months pregnant, but no ankle swelling. I hate that. It doesn't seem to matter what I eat, still the bloat. Anyone else bloating? My question, have any of you who stopped taking the drug finally experienced an end to the shortness of breath? I notice I can still exercise moderately, and have the shortness regardless of sitting or exercising. Anyone out there truly get relief for symptoms and how soon after stopping

Whenever I am given Biaxin for infections I expereince crushing depression within a day of taking the first pill. Life becomes miserable in a day. The Doctors never believe me, but I have learned that to stay away from the misery called Biaxin.

3/30/06 update

I was referred to a rheumatologist by the ER Dr. and had my appointment on 3/29/06. To make a long story short, I do not have gout. I have a condition called 'reactive arthritis' that the doc could/would not openly say was caused by the Levaquin but that he had seen before in patients who were taking/had taken Levaquin. I am taking celebrex and it seems to have helped slightly (stress on the slightly). I am experiencing more and more problems sleeping. The last two nights have been the worst so far with basically no sleep. I generally come into work at 9:00AM and have been showing up at 6:00-7:00AM as of late because I either do not sleep or wake up around 3:00-4:00AM.

I am as used to the foot pain and numb/tingling/burning sensations as i'm ever going to get and am able to work, although at a severly hampered pace. I am actually having some real fear for my job at this point, having taken three sick days in two weeks because of this. I am beginning to believe that I need to consult a mental health professional. I have learned that drinking lots of water can temporarily alleviate some of the symptoms, which I started doing for gout treatment, but doesn't make you feel normal again in any way. I guess this is going to become normal for me. :-(

Having now read many of the postings here I feel very luck. I have had asthma for a lifetime. I have used every medicine known to man and for the most part have been able to maintain a relatively normal lifestyle. Although sometimes I still struggle to breath those times that I feel overwhelmed are somewhat rare.
I came to this website to learn what others might be dealing with as far as side effects and found a bucnh of things listed by others that I had never thought of before.
Advair to me has been somewhat a wonder drug. Till I started taking it my breathing was much worse and I never wanted to be far from my emergency inhaler. I have been on Advair now for maybe 5 to 6 years. I don't even own an emergency inhaler. Although sometimes I wish I did as I still have an occasional flair up.
The things that I have suffered with are a constant and very annoying need to clear my throat. And a loss of voice that just seems to get worse with time.
And yet, If you told me to get up and walk 3 to 5 miles I wouldn't hestitate doing it. And in fact would feel better when I was finished than when I started.
I feel like many others ---- the side effects are a real drag. However ---- breathing is job one. Without a good breath of air what difference does the rest make.
One last thing. I am 58 years old. I had a sister that died of asthma at 28. One thing that I have learned that I would like to share. Part of effective asthma control is controling your emotions. Thinking about it too much ----- always makes it worse.

The only side effect that doctors officially recognize is the cough. Some doctors will try to convince you that you can live with the cough, which is such bad advice.

The cough is a sign that your body is not happy with the med. It took me about 2 weeks to get the cough. It is the first symtom I had. I wish I'd stopped right away when I got it, but it was so mild at first and the doctors convinced me I could live with it. Once I had the cough, it very slowly kept getting worse over a period of the next 2 weeks, though I would have still considered it liveable. But then other side effects that the doctors don't acknowledge started happening. Eventually it was these other side effects that made me stop taking the drug. But the cough was the first symptom that my body didn't like this med.

Since it's the only one the doctors know about, it's the one to complain about. So if you get the cough: start complaining about the cough right away - immediately, the first day you get it. Tell them that you associate the cough with taking the drug. If they don't switch you off right away and it gets any worse at all, complain that the cough is getting worse and worse and tell them you can't live with the lisinopril, and tell them before it harms your lungs and energy levels, or you develop other symptoms.

I have learned that it is up to the patient to complain about drug side effects. The doctors will never diagnose it on their own. They must be trained to consider new conditions as new conditions, and never as side effects. It is important to them to never put it in the patient's head that a symptom is or could be a drug side effect. They don't want to mess with patients who are actually taking a drug and getting some benefit from it. Compliance (getting the patient to take a drug every time, on time) is a big problem. And, of course, experimenting by taking a patient off a drug might make them question the drug. So they would rather experiment by adding more drugs than to put the idea in your head that it might be a side effect of one you're alread taking.

Therefore you, the patient, must make the association yourself, and complain about the drug's side effects. And you have to complain about a side effect they already know of, or they will flatly reject the idea that the drug is doing any harm. Even when you do they will try to get you to live with it. Once they have you living with it, they not follow up with you to see if it gets any worse, and, you'll probably also be less likely to complain about it again if it does. This is a bad situation. And maybe you can live with it at first, but the first side effect appearing is a bad sign and if, after complaining, you agreed to live with it, if it gets any worse at all you need to bring it back to their attention, quickly, and let them know things have changed and it's time to stop living with the side effect.

Hello: I also am SO glad that I found this site. Where else would I have learned that my digestion problems are probably linked to my birth control pill!! My doctor sure never thought of it. I've tried just about everything to battle the CONSTIPATION, BLOATING, PRESSURE AND GAS in my stomach. Yasmin has been great for the PMS symptoms, but I haven't been able to eat a normal meal in months! I'm off the pill as of today and hope things clear up soon. Thanks for the forum.

I am so glad i found this site. I was convinced i was developing severe arthritis at age 39. I was put on a 3 weeks course of levaquin in November to combat a sinus polyps and sinus infections. Shortly after, i started complaining to my husband that i was afraid i was getting arthritis. Had the aches and pains through December and then got another sinus infection in january. Was given another course of levaquin and the 2nd day into it, i awoke with terrible pains in my wrists, knees, ankles and shoulders. I called my doctor and got prescribed another antibiotic. It is now February 7 and the side effects linger including sleeplessness (benadryl can get me to sleep) and dry mouth. My symptons kind of come and go - my joints will feel fine for a couple of days and then randomly the pain returns in my ankle, or hands and feet (sometimes all 3). I wanted to encourage many of you that although this is irritating and uncomfortable, you will get better in time - it is a slow process to get this drug out of your system. I have done lots of research and have found that taking 2 tablespoons of milk of magnesium a day can help clear the poison from your system plus taking acidophilus to restore your healthy bacteria and echenasia goldenseal to restore your immune system. Plus and most importantly drink LOTS of water. I have learned that depending on the severity of your reaction - that getting back to normal can take anywhere from a few months to 2 years (for the most severe reactions) But more than likely, it will be a several months. I am feeling better and the aches are tolerable. I am thankful i figured out it was the levaquin or i might be in really bad shape right now. I have two small kids, work part time and don't have time for this!!! I have also learned that you can take this medication one time and suffer mildy and then the second dose can knock you out - so even if you didn't react severely the first time, i urge you not to take it again. Anyway, i would love to hear from others how long it took to get better. I am 2 weeks into my recovery and feeling hopeful and lots more educated. I will never take meds for granted again. Hope this helps. Blessings........

I have been taking Yasmin for almost 4 months now. The side effects within the first two months were very much like those described on this site: fatigue, naseau, morning sickness, spotting, etc. Those symptoms have since subsided, but new ones and potentially ones of greater concern have emerged. In addition to the fatigue, I have recently been experiencing terrible leg cramps and heart palpitations (this runs in my family). It is possible that it is unrelated to the Yasmin, however, after reading through the pamphlet and consulting with my GYN, I have learned that Yasmin is a diuretic, which can in some cases create potassium imbalances. I am in the process now of testing my electrolyte levels and consulting with my physician about stopping use of Yasmin. It certainly has not been easy or comfortable being on this pill.