Hc symptoms and conditions

About 2 hours after taking my 18th day of generic Wellbutrin XL 150mg. (Sun)the palms of my hands started itching like crazy! No bumps or anything, just intense itching. I immediately applied 1% Hydrocortisone cream to them and after about 10 minutes that pretty much made all the itching go away. I didn't want a replay of that, so I kept applying the HC about every 4 hours all day long, or after washing my hands. That evening everything was okay. Then the next morning, my hands started itching again...so again I applied the HC cream again, and headed off for work...they itched SO bad, and this time it took about half an hour for the HC cream to even begin to work. Then about 20 minutes into the hand itching, the soles of my feet started itching..too wierd! I was driving, so I couldn't apply it to my right foot b/c it was on the gas pedal, but I applied the HC cream to my left foot, ahhhh! Then as soon as I could, I applied it to my right foot. It took about 10 minutes, but it was soon itch free. When it came time to retake my med, I decided not to risk it. I called my prescribing doctor and she was off, and some other doc just said to take Benadryl. Duh, I was at work and #1 didn't have any and #2 it makes me so sleepy, I can't function. Then later on in the day, my wrists got welts on them, then my left elbow got a huge set of welts on it, and itched like crazy...then a few hours later, my left ankle got a huge welt on it and it looked like my ankle was swollen and both my feet and ankles had pin pricking sensations....a few hours after that, my right leg started itching behind my knee...I could feel a welt through my slacks...so again, I went into the ladies room and applied HC cream and it helped. By now I've used 1/2 the new tube of HC cream! When I finally got home, I pulled off my clothes and I had huge welts (hives) all over the back of my right leg. Plus, a big long skinny (horizontal) welt where my bra and wrapped around me. Since I was home, I could take Benadryl...so I took 4 tsp. and jumped into a warm (not hot) bath (they say to use cool water but I couldn't do it) with a cup of baking soda. Felt SOOOO good! By the time I got out they felt much better. I kept taking the Benadryl every 3-4 hours all evening but by the time I went to bed, I had welts on the back of my left leg also and on my buttocks and hips. My head kind of itched here and there in weird places, more like pin pricks but I have really thick hair, so I can't tell if I have any welts there or not. I stayed home from work today to continue on the Benadryl and making sure it doesn't get any worse. It hurts to sit here typing as my panty line is in the middle of a big 3" welt. The Wellbutrin XL seemed to be helping my depression and anger issues, but I assume the MD will put me on something else. I really liked it. It did suppress my appetite during the day but not much at night. Oh well! I'm glad I'm not the only one with these symptoms.

In follow-up to my posting 3-days ago, regarding an adverse reaction to Simvastatin 80mg, I would encourage patients/consumers to directly send their complaint to the web sites listed at the very bottom, if you are either a U.S. (FDA Form 3500) or Canadian resident.

Also, if your physician is unresponsive to your negative experience with generic Simvastatin, inform him/her that you refuse to continue with this drug, and that you have sent an adverse reaction complaint to the FDA/Canadian equivalent. Provide both your doctor and pharmacy with a copy of the FDA Form 3500 if your a U.S. resident, so they know you're serious.

Lastly, I'm back to feeling normal, after I "demanded" my physician switch me to generic Pravastatin 40mg (2 tabs a day - 80mg), manufactured by Teva Pharmaceutical - corporate HQ Israel with manufacturing facility in Pennsylvania. By the way, a 90-day supply of this quality controlled drug is available at Walmart Pharmacy for $10.

I hope this helps, especially seniors on a fixed income.
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U.S.A.
http://www.fda.gov/opacom/backgrounders/problem.html

CANADA
(http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/dhp-mps/alt_formats/hpfb-dgpsa/pdf/compli-conform/gui-44_consumer_complaint-plainte_consommateur-eng.pdf).

Contact Name: Drug Compliance Verification and Investigation Unit
Tel: (613) 952-9906
Fax: (613) 954-0941
E-Mail: DCVIU_UVCEM@hc-sc.gc.ca

I'm a 34 year old petite 110 lb female and have been on Prednisone for 7 weeks now for a kidney disease (Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis). The treatment is supposed to be 3-4 months to see if I go into remission. If not, then I'm "steroid resistant" and they will have to move to a more aggressive treatment (a type of chemo). So I'm praying that this prednisone works!!

The first 2 weeks were a peice of case, then I developed many side effects, but the following being the most troublesome:

- 2 weeks - Edema. I got really bad fluid retention in my lower body and was put on a diuretic. A few days later my heart started pounding so hard I thought it would pop right out of my chest. Well turns out I was totally dehydrated from the diuretic so I'm off that now but the edema seems to be under control anyway (following a low-sodium/low carb diet). At the same time as the edema my skin dried right up too, and I need to put moisturizer on all the time. Even when I bend over I feel the skin on my back stretching.
- 2 weeks - Bloating. Really bad bloating. I'm bloated constantly now. Eating a low sodium diet helps, but not much. At night I weigh 5 lbs more than I do in the morning. I have terrible gas (burping mostly) all of the time. Sometimes it looks like I'm 6 months pregnant! And I'm sure people think I am because as I mentioned I'm normally thin and now I have to wear looser clothing to hide my belly, which doesn't really work and just looks obvious.
- 3 weeks - Sore knees. It feels like there's something growing in between my kneecaps that make it very difficult to climb stairs and it feels spongy when I walk. I can not put any pressure on my knees, I can't squat down, bend to pick something up, kneel, anything. And it gets worse at night.
- 4 week - Moonface. And my face has been blowing up like a balloon ever since. As I sit here and type I can actually feel it throbbing and growing still. I've got fat on my neck under my chin now that actually feels like it's choking me if I sit hunched over. I'm finding the moonface very difficult to cope with. I do not like to look in the mirror any more. I feel like a candy apple.
- 4 weeks - Cramps. Terrible terrible hand and feet cramps. Sometimes if I'm using my hands to chop vegetables or write or even use a fork, my hand cramps up like a lobster claw. I try to use the other hand then the same thing. And then almost every day, my feet. First one, then the other. Excruitiating cramps that seem to go in 15 minute intervals that make it impossible to walk, stand, sit, anything.
- 4 weeks - Very moody and aggitated. I am usually very easy going, now i have patience for nothing. I will be in a good mood one minute, the next I feel like I can kill someone. My boyfirend and our dogs are being very patient with me... I just hope they know it's the drugs not me! I just don't seem to have any control over my emotions.
- 5 weeks - Extreme fatigue. I used to have lots of energy, especially at the beginning of my Prednisone journey. But now I'm just wasted all of the time. I walk to and from work and the last couple weeks I want to just lay down on the side of the road and have a nap as I walk home. I used to do pilates (as much as possible with the sore knees) but it's too hard now. And forget about any elliptical training or cycling. It's enough just to get to and from work and I'm just exhausted.

There are more issues and I could go on forever, but those are the most troublesome. I just try so hard to stay positive but it's very hard sometimes. I pray that this is working, and that it is not all for not. I can't wait to be off these drugs, and my heart goes out to each and every one of you enduring the same thing and pray that it works for your too.

Good luck everyone.

:)J

I am active and healthy man in good shape. I run and bike to stay fit.
I developed a sinus infection and was prescribed Levaquin which cleared the problem(HA-HA) up immediately. Two days after my first dose on 5/6/06, I went for a run. My hip, groin and knee were sore, but I didn't think much of it until a day later when I could barely walk. I went to my primary for a consult, mentioned that his partner had given me Levaquin for my sinus infection and instantly he recognized Levaquin as the probable culprit. An MRI indicted a labral tear in my hip. I am just now feeling better, however, I havn't run as I don't want to re-injure my hip.

The orthpede who ordered and read my MRI was uncomfortable with the coonection between my ip and the drug. Timing is too perfect for there not to be a link.

I am thank ful that I started out in good shape. I wonder if there is a relationship between length of recovery and original state of health?????

HC