Heart tests symptoms and conditions

I am 41 year old medical professional. I have been using NuvaRing for 3 years, since my youngest son was born. I have recently developed severe heart palpitations and bigeminy (an irregular heart rhythm which occurs 20 or more times a day). My heart tests are normal. I stopped all allergy and other meds except NR when my heart problems started. I also have constant anxiety and feeling down, moodiness, insomnia with frequent waking during the night, fatigue and constant feeling sleepy, very low libido and vaginal dryness, frequent yeast infections, and skin itching and rash. I am trying to get an IUD but my GYN can't get a good pap smear because my cervix is so friable (bleeds easily) and the blood obscures the cervical cells. I took my ring out today because my friend saw an ad from a lawyer talking about the side effects of Nuvaring and thinks my heart problems are from the ring. I am done. Either my husband can get a vasectomy or it is back to condoms! It's not worth it! Good luck to all of you.

TWO PIECES OF ADVICE:
DO NOT DRINK alcohol within 6 hrs and EAT right before taking Toprol. This should help with all mentioned side effects!
I have noticed that if I drink ANY alcohol within six hours of taking Toprol (before or after), my HR skyrockets to 190+BPM. I thought this might help others. Also, I MUST eat at least 2 slices of bread each time I take it. Otherwise, I will feel very dizzy, faint and have bad dreams.
If I eat, I have no side effects.
Also, there have been a couple times where I missed a dose or took it late and each time, I feel my heart starting to race and the PVC's coming back.

I have been on 25 mg of Toprol for 6months due to PVC's and rapid/ racing HR (160+)/ palps and BP spikes. My 24hr Holter (six months ago) showed 370 PVC's in one day, so I was put on Toprol. All other heart tests were normal. Anyway, it has worked wonders for me. I had another Holter done last week and there were NO PVC's and steady HR and BP. Since being on Toprol HR is 65, BP is 105/60 or so.

I've been taking Prilosec since late 2003 and it hasn't been until now that I've linked all the strange symptoms I've been having to taking Prilosec. I've been having anxiety, heart pulps, strange, stabbing headaches that come and go in a flash, occasional sensitivity to light, pain behind the eye, dizziness, fogginess, and fatigue. I've been to the doctor several times over the past few years hoping to find a cause. After many blood tests, x-rays, heart tests, etc, he couldn't find anything and just said anxiety and that I should try yoga. It surprises me that he wouldn't even suggest that I try coming off the Prilosec to see if that could do it since it appears that many people experience these strange symptoms.

I've stopped taking Prilosec today and I'm hopeful that all of this will clear up and I can get back to normal.

50 yr old female ( gasps @ 5-0 still)

I've been on ToprolXL for some time now. I started with Tenormin and felt FINE! The doctor then decided it was not the 'right medicine' for me and changed me to a 'new and better medication' names TOPROL XL, He started me on 50mg a day. I had experienced rapid heart beat of at least 150 bpm up to 200! My heart had to be stopped in the ER to get it back to being a normal rhythm. At the time I was 39 yrs old :( SCARY! I had every test imagined. Heart tests, lung and leg scans. You name it, I had it done to me ( thankfully, to make sure it was nothing serious). Although I do consider a heart beating that high to be serious! I already have a anxiety disorder, I noticed that my panic attacks are worse now more than ever! I am very very lethargic. Just thinking about doing ANYTHING makes me tired. I even getting tired when I talk too much! My mouth is always excessively dry. I put on weight and even paid for a diet that consisted of 2 'shakes' and one meal per day. Followed it to the "T"! and nothing ?! I've recently read that ToprolXL can lead to all kinds of diseases. One of them being Lou Gehrig's (ASL) :( I am SO very upset that medication is prescribed supposedly to make a person feel better AND I don't think I've physically felt this depleted and depressed in years! I want medical answers and I need support and words of encouragement from everyone that has been on this drug , most especially those weaned off ot it and are on a better drug. Most of the people I notice taking TOPROL XL are taking it fro HBP or symptoms other then the one's I have. I am SO confused now :(

After 9 months on Norvasc the symptoms intensified. Very dizzy, weak, nausea from spinning head, insomnia. Num feeling in left hand. Within 24 hours after stopping Norvasc the symptoms started to subside. The heaviness in the chest was there but I thought it was a bad heart. Tests show I have a health heart. I'm diabetic, no meds, and have high blood pressure, I also take Accupril for my blood pressure.

Two weeks after taking Levaquin for a urinary tract infection, I developed a rash/hives that covered my entire body. I had frequent violent itching attacks and wanted to scratch my skin off. After two days of the hives, I went to Urgent Care and was given a steroid shot and Prednisone. The next day I had severe chest pains and shortness of breath. I went to the emergency room and and EKG came back abnormal. My white cell count had shot off the charts to 35.0 I was admitted to the cardiac unit and was put through a battery of heart tests. All came back unremarkable. After three days of blood tests, CT scans and nitro tablets, I was released with no conclusion as to what I was experiencing. The rash continued, just not as bad and I've experienced joint pain. One week after the intial symptoms, I began experiencing dizziness and loss of vision. It has now been two weeks. I've had a MRI on my head to determine the cause of the dizziness and the vision loss and results from the MRI are pending. I was a healthy 46 year old before taking Levaquin. Currently, I cannot work a full day without vision loss or dizziness. I've been so perplexed as have the five doctors I've seen as to what the cause of my symptoms could be. After reading many comments from Levaquin patients, I now believe that I've found the cause.

There is a strong warning regarding heartbeat irregularities and Topamax. It is in the PDR and professional literature but is usually not told to patients.

I am an RN, wanted to lose around 30 pounds and my doctor prescribed this medication. He did not tell me about any side effects other than possible dizziness when first starting the medication. I wondered why my thick and healthy hair was falling out by the handfulls and why my Diet Coke was undrinkable.. figured out the soft drink part but had to ask him about hair loss before he offered up that it is a very common side effect. But those are the simple, more common things which most people now know about. The cardiac effects are NOT well known until a person really looks for that particular effect in professional literature. People NEED to know. I have been in the hospital for several days and am still having a very rapid heartbeat with a serious irregularity which I have never had before taking Topamax and which is documented in SOME literature for physician prescribing only.

Today I will be having heart tests and possibly even a heart cath. to determine if the Topamax which I stopped taking 2 weeks ago is the cause of my own irregular heartbeat ( Ventricular Ectopy) and chest pain.

IF you don't need this medication very badly for seizures, please do not take if " off label".
The risks are sometimes much more severe than the condition being treated.

I wish you all health and happiness. God bless.

Texas RN

Mu husband was hospitalized with a severe urinary tract infection - Dec.18, 2006 and was treated with levaquin intravenously. Upon release, Dec.22nd, he was given levaquin - 500mg - to take orally for seven days. While taking the medication he had no side effects, but the day after he took the last dose he started getting pains in the jaw and shoulder, which then spread to the chest. He has a history of heart problems ( 4 angioplasties) so I gave him nitro, although he insisted this was not a "heart" pain. The nitro didn't work and the pain worsened - he was sweating and obviously distressed. I called 911 and he was admitted to the hospital where they ran all the heart tests - EKG's, echogram, chest x-ray, cat scan, etc. The pain became excruciating and they finally administered morphine which was the only thing that helped. The doctors admitted they just didn't know what ws causing the intense pain, as all his heart tests were good. I decided to check the side effects of levaquin and lo and behold, right on the printout from the drug store they list "crushing chest pain" as one of the possible side effects. I pointed this out to the doctors, but they were very sceptical. However by the time he left tht hospital, five days later, they admitted that it could possibly be the levaquin. The chest pain never entirely went away, although it was much milder. He was fine for a few days, then the pain returned again - it was severe and this time he experienced rapid heartbeat (143) which he had never had before. I took him to the emergency room and he was admitted once again and of course, they did all the heart tests again. He explained that he had been through this before and it wasn't his heart, but they have to be sure, especially at his age - 81. I once again brought up the possibility of levaquin side effects but they were sure that as he had finished taking it 10 days ago, it couldn't be that. Once again they gave him morphine and he was abl to relax and his heart rate returned to normal. When he was discharged two days later, they put on his record and notified the drug store that he was allergic to levaquin. He was given a prescription for hydrocodone to take if the pain returns. The chest pain never really goes away - he says it hurts deep inside, somewhat like pleurisy, but all lung tests are negative. He is constantly fatigued and I realize that at 81 you don't have the energy of a 20-year-old, but prior to this he was very healthy - excercise class three times a week, walks regularly and plays golf. I wish I knew how long these side effects will last, especially as in view of the rapid heart beat, they now have him on Coumadin. Before this, he took only three prescription meds now he takes nine! I know they have to use powerful antibiotics to kill bacterial infections, but they should know of an "antidote" for these serious side effects. It's all very well tosay "it hardly ever happens" but reading the dozens of reports on this and other websites, I would say that it happens all too often. If anyone has found a remedy or anything that helps - please let us know.

Guest 33599 and 33598 and others.
I have been reading your postings.

In Dec. 2005 I was given a weeks worth of Levaquin. Withing first hour of first two pills I passed out on ride home from our local ER. This may or may not have been a reaction to the Levaquin, it may have been what the ER doc says was a "vagal" response.
But first night home after another dose of this Levaquin next day my shoulders and arms burned so bad and hands went numb and cold and insides went haywire with shooting pains and bladder feeling haywire and twitching all over, itching, complete insomnia with extreme anxiety and a few quick little nightmares. Scared out of my 54 year old male wits.

Next morning crawled to couch, ate half a piece of toast. Within minutes abdominal insides started to get sore and this intensified to point of holding stomach . Then body started getting weak from already weak feeling of flu before this. I felt like I was going into shock. I WAS going into shock.

Couldn't even hold hands up from laying down position. Started to see spots, freaking out, called ambulance agian. Went to local ER agin. Told them I felt like I was going to die. They did blood, urine, heart tests. Found nothing. Gave me atavan and when this calmed me down ssent me home.
Starting right then and there I was physically devastated. Went back to ER one or more times again that week.

Each time I would tell them I couldn't walk, eat, sleep, nerves fried...pains in shoulders arms. Soon they were calling in Psyche ward. How humiliating.
EACT TIME I TOLD THEM...the only medicine I was taking was this Levaquin. They NEVER ONCE said to stop taking this. Not knowing anything I kept taking it for next 4 days. 7 days total.

I didn't put the two together. I didn't know. Trusted them completely. Trusted them to know if I should stop taking this poison. And they were told each time I went there that thiswas the only drug I was taking.
Looking back, I think they were completely uneducated about this drug. Maybe the actual Docs in ER knew only about the "immediate" reactions to this drug and not the systemic ones that showed up in different ways within forst day or two such as burning shoulder and arm pain, nerve system problems etc. Gastrointestinal as well.

To this day every doctor I mention this too angrily denies Levaquin could have done this to me.

On top of so many tearful truths about the suffering I have been through...is this wall of denial with these doctors.

Here on the internet ( right there for these not wanting to know doctors to see ) are "thousands" of testimonials about the "same" symptoms by all of us soon after ingesting this poison.

The FDA would not have issued that warning in 2004 to pharmacies etc. if they didn't know something like what we are all screaming to the world we know. Tragically.

I could print up a 6 inch thick binder full of reports ( including the FDA one ) and studies and testimony from thousands like you..throw it on the desk of a denying doctor in any field and they will not even look at it.

It's like this information about Levaquin doesn't exist and they do not want to look at it when it's placed right in front of their face! What kind of a tragically sick injustice is that?

I wish we could prosecute every doctor who keeps saying Levaquin doesn't do the things you and I know it does. You and I have done more research on this drug than they have!

Of course a certain percentage of these reports may not be totally accurate...even the most stringent scientific studies have flaws. But the sheer number of these Levaquin reports and the basic similarities in them are staggering in their obvious implications.

You don't dismiss tens of thousands of complaints by sufferers. And I guarantee you that for every person that has a computer and has reported the same scary symptoms suffered after taking Levaquin, that there are 10 other people out there at least who don't ever go on a computer and don't know where to go to report this..and many like me for months...who didn't even know that Levaquin may have been the cause of all my medical maladies.

What you are seeing here on the computer is the tip of the iceberg!

This could turn into a national scandal if it were properly reported and the true numbers of victims could be traced.

Vioxx killed 50,000. They know this. And it should have been a crime that the makers of that drug and the professionals who kept prescribing and selling this drug even after they were hearing that thousands of patients were complaining about it...kept pushing and using this killer drug.

Exactly like all of you, I had the burning pain, my shoulders, arms, even hands...my muscles, knees, ankles all hurt and still hurt and are weak. I get colder than I ever have..then kind of weird sweats. fell like I am going to faint so muc even one YEAR later. So so so sick feeling all of the time. Can't even remember all the horrible feelings I have. Financially ruined. Doctors treat me like you know what. Most doctors do not have patience as they are so booked and always seemed rushed and tired at same time. They have ways of getting you out of their care. Scheduling your visits farther and farther apart. Chastizing you hoping you will leave them. Constantly recommending psych care and anti-depressants and being short during your visit. Their tone and body language and these other things are so clear.

But they are very clever ways get rid of you as a patient without officially doing this in a way that could be catagorized as unethical...so you can't sue them.

It's like a landlord wanting you out and doing everything within the law to make you feel so miserable you will leave on your own.

Cynical? Oh, absolutely. But its' the truth in my case.

I am still so sick that even as I write this I feel like I am going to faint. I have so many other symptoms now that you wouldn't believe it. Red, itchy rashes on my legs and back of elbows that come and go. A wheeze in my right lung that I have to see a pulmonary guy about. Feeling my pulse so strong it shakes my body on left side. Constant shaking. Nerves seem actually damaged in their heightened sensitivity.
I don't even sweat right. I feel so anxiety ridden I can't tell you. Sick to my stomach constantly ( lost 35 pounds in first 3 months ) couldn't eat. Metallic taste in mouth. Swollen throat feeling...doctors dismissed this as the didn't feel lymph swelling, but GI doc looked in my mouth the other day and said "your tonsils are inflammed."

I keep telling doctors I feel like I am being poisoned. They look at me as if I am completely crazy and paranoid. Especially when their tests don't show anything.

I feel like breaking down and crying so much which I have done. And I'm a 55 year old male that never ever ever acted like this in my first 54 years. Raised a family, worked, married to same first wife for 25 years.
Never saw a psychiatrist in my life. Never a drinking, drug or smoking problem.

I have been told to lie to hospitals ( by one doctors nurse and another med professional I don't want to mention here because I am still seeing her/him) ) and say I am homicidal or suicidal to get in to the hospital because based on my tests not showing anything and a pcp who will quit believing their is anything more wrong with me besides my sanity...I cannot get any more specialized/all at once, more technical studies.

The getting in through the psych back door does not work for me because it isn't true. I am not going to lie to get in a hospital. I would think that the truth that I feel like I am dying would be enough. Once I lie and I get caught at it I would never be taken seriously again.

But I would like toxixcology tests, especially for the chemical florine, which I have read is the culprit in the Flouroquinolones family of antibiotics poison.
I would like an endocrinologist to test me in every way they can.
I would like someone who specialises in nerve damge take a look at my entire central nervous system.

I know money is the biggest obstacle as I have none. But I pray constantly that somehow, somwhere, someday, someone will find something that explains why I feel like I am dying one year after I took a weeks worth of Levaquin.
And that I can finally prove that I am not just crazy. I will tell you a truth here. I fear I will be committed as my symptoms seem to be getting worse not better. And when they don't find anything in the basic medical exams...they really go after you in labeling you mentally ill.

More and more, my complaints are met with silence...and then within minutes a person from the psych ward comes in.

Dear God. This is truly anightmare. If I was a screen wrioter it would be a great movie that would truly scare viewers.

Just imagine getting an illness and having your body go haywire and feel like you are going to die..yet no one can find anything to explain it...and so they all start the process of committing you. To feel this way physically and to also fear this shoving into the mentally ill realm happening at the same time is a real life nightmare. One that unfortunately I am living. And if you want to read about thousands of others feeling like this ... just type in Fibromyalgia and go to that big board sometime. That board is a living nightmare also. Thousands of people all looking for cures and sympathy to very similar hard or impossible to diagnose illness's that are ravaging their bodies like me.

Sorry for presenting such a bleak pictre here....but it's the truth. It is happening all over the country. Just look at how many Fibromyalgia boards and groups and meetings there are.

God help you and I.

Leg muscle pains.Shortness of breath after walking upstairs.

I have taken simvastatin 40mg for about a year over the past three months I have had very bad effects from this medication I was very very fit before taking this medication

I HAVE STOPPED THE TABLETS BUT I AM NOW HAVING TO HAVE HEART TESTS FOR SUSPECTED ANGINA

I started Advair over a year ago, first 500/50 then decreased to 250/50. During the past year I have steadily gain 50 lbs, severe muscle and joint aches, as well as depression, forgetfullnes, and confusion. There were also a few periods where I had brief blackouts. In April of this year, I bought a treadmill. I was not able to walk over 2.0 mph or for longer than 1/4 mile. I started having chest pains. I went to the doctor and they admitted me to the hospital for heart tests. The tests came back negative, but they found that I had extremely high thyroid levels. My TSH level was 80.76 (normal is 3-5) and I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism. All of the above symptoms are also symptoms of hypothyroidism. My symptoms started to improve after taking the thyroid medication. However, at the same time my asthma improved and I stopped taking Advair. Three weeks ago I had to begin the Advair again and now I am starting to gain weight with muscle tightening and weakness. After reading this site, I now believe my symptoms were more from the Advair than the hypothyroidism. I will no longer use Advair. I would rather be on prednisone than have to experience these side effects.

Oh boy. I took Yasmin for three weeks to try to shrink an endometrioma. The first day I took it I ended up in the ER with difficulty breathing - two days later I began to have tightness in my chest (I actually think it was that my already too big boobs got so big they strained my pectoral muscles) and was admitted with suspicion of a heart attack! While in the hospital they did every test imaginable on me and all the heart tests came out negative. I was without my Yasmin while in the hospital, but still felt awful and was peeing constantly even though I was clearly dehydrated (dark yellow urine). To make matters worse, they had me on the 'cardiac' diet - NO salt - which meant that my electrolytes were really getting screwed up.

From that time until /this/ week - two weeks after I stopped the Yasmin, I suffered severe dizziness, strange headaches, dilated veins in my breasts and chest, and severe anxiety. And we will not speak of the fact that the Yasmin made the spotting that was one reason I was taking the pill WORSE and, like many of the women on this list, it became dark brown and sticky. (and the fact that the Pill hadn't done its job led my gyno to send me for more invasive tests of my uterus - I don't mind ruling out things like endometrial cancer, but I had successful treatment with Provera some months ago and so I don't think I have anything /worse/ than endo, which is bad enough).

My research on this med showed that Yasmin is a potassium-sparing diuretic that flushes salt, magnesium and other important electrolytes from your system. Without adequate salt in your system, if you drink too much fluid (and many ladies here have been guzzling) you could actually get water intoxication and, if bad enough, /die/... if you drink Gatorade to help yourself, you may get too much potassium in your system (because Yasmin is potassium-sparing), which can cause palpitations and irregular heartbeat among other things. Be very very careful with this drug, ladies. I hear some of you saying you have been on it a year in spite of horrible effects - methinks maybe you should try a diaphragm? Good luck and peace!