Healthwise symptoms and conditions

My 7 year old female Siberian Husky, Niceah is suffering with her second serious flare-up of IBD. She was taking 20 mgs. of prednisone every 12 hours for several days. We are now down to 12 mgs. daily and working towards 12mgs. every other day. She is lethargic and her body and belly have swollen frightfully to the point where it is difficult for her to lie down without grunting and sighing. She pants heavily. She drinks and eats constantly. Her nose is dry. Her tummy grumbles all day and night. I have been boiling chicken breast and mixing it with sweet potato and Enzymes & Probiotics. I am currently working with a holistic advisor concerning Niceah's diet once she has weened off the prednisone. The side effects of this drug are frightening and I am so worried that something more permanent and damaging will occur. Has anybody experienced this?? If so, I would appreciate any advise. Robin. copher370@aol.com

I have been on Lisinopril for approx 5 years, during a routine year end blood work-up, I have developed a problems with my creatine levels 1.48 and Glom Filt Rate, Est 37. My physician had me do a 24 hr urine for further testing but insisted that I no longer take the Lisinopril. Several of the tests have come in and he advised me that I have only 50% blood flow to my kidneys. It appears to me that the Lisinopril has caused some kidney damage. I also have a great deal of muscle pain, but do to my age (55 years) I thought it was jus a part of the aging process. What do you think?

Wow, I am totally floored by the comments, and I have yet to see the Suicide article. My son is 6 and has been on Singular for about 1.5 yrs. I was very concerned about his "negative" talking. He is an "excellent" student in school (behavior and grades). However, I just recently requested for him to take a "self-esteem" class offered at the school because he kept saying that he hates himself and displayed what I call "evil" behavior which is very different than his normal personality. He has a twin brother so I just thought it was result of one boy getting more attention than the other...his brother is a more needy child (healthwise and educationally). After taking the class, my son does not do as much negative talking, however, still does not act quite mean. Anyway, I am going to take him off the medicine and look for the change in his personality. I, too, was also told that there were NO side effects. This is a lesson to me to check with "real" parents instead of just relying on the Rx company's informative brochures on "their" medicines. I guess I will have to rely on Albuterol when he has uncontrollable coughing spells at night until we see the doctor. Thanks! DJ

I had what a nurse called as a hypertension crisis with a 220/130 bp. I went to the ER in an ambulance. After trying me on several meds over a short period of a few days, I am now on Toprol XL 50 mg. and cardizem LA 180 mg. I have only been on Toprol for 1 day and I already have leg muscle weakness and feel a sense of depression that I never have. I am also dizzy and have some shortness of breath. The doctor says that my heart is strong and that all my blood work was great. I am just worried that it won't stay that way. I have an alternative medicine physician that I will be talking to and looking for safer alternatives. Does anyone know if only 5 days on bp medicine and then weaning myself off will hurt me?