August 25th
2009
4:54 PM
This is nothing new but goes right along with what others are saying about Lisinopril, AKA drug from Hell. I asked to be switched from Benicar due to its high cost compared to Lisinopril. My Dr. picked Lisinopril from a list my mail order pharmacy (Medco) sent as potentially less expensive than Benicar. I had zero problems with Benicar. I'm 59, male, generally in good shape. After 30 days on Lisinopril HZTC I was tired all the time, couldn't sleep very well, leg cramps, sweating like crazy. The worst part for me is joint pain that lingers on after going back to Benicar 10 days ago. The pain in one of my hip joints makes it very hard to even walk. I know it was the drug from Hell that did it. After 10 days I'm now OK except for the joint pain, which at least is not constant like it was when I was taking Lisinopril. Good luck to everyone.
-- By wildman1 | Reply | Private Message me
July 15th
2009
4:37 PM
I was diagnosed with ILC August 2007. I had bilateral mastectomy w/ reconstruction, chemo and started Tamoxifen. Then I had a hysterectomy and I started Aromasin about six months ago. Prior to starting Aromasin I had some muscle and joint pain from Tamoxifen but I could tolerate most days. Three months into Aromasin, I couldn't get out of my car. It literally took me 15 minutes one day and I had to trade cars with my daughter. Naproxen gave me upset stomach, ibuprofen wasn't enough, Tylenol wasn't enough, Hydrocodone kinda helped but makes you feel weird. My doctor decided to take me off of it and i haven't taken anything since. My side effects were: extreme stiffness, better with motion but joint pain was so bad i didn't want to move. I have been documented as having overall generalized weakness as a result. My doctor said Aromasin shouldn't make me feel this way but why is it doing this to everyone else (mostly) too? I am now being evaluated by a rheumatologist for arthritis. My joints still hurt so bad. I gained weight, cant concentrate, can't sleep, can't wear my shoes. my ankles hurt the worst after being on my feet. My ankles, knee joints, hip joints, neck, elbows, wrists, fingers, toes and jaw are all very painful now.
If i would have known all of this, i never would have had my hysterectomy and stayed on Tamoxifen. I can only hope at some point this will get better. I just pray the cancer doesn't come back in the meantime.
October 27th
2008
2:08 PM
I was “poisoned” by Levaquin -- resulting in acute tendinitis in both Achilles tendons.
Background:
I am a healthy, athletic male in his mid-50s who has never had an Achilles tendon problem. In early July 2008, my doctor (general practitioner) prescribed Levaquin for an infection. I took the medication for 14 days, as prescribed.
Sudden onset of acute tendinitis in my Achilles tendons occurred near the end of the medication period. The tendinitis occurred in both Achilles tendons simultaneously. Nothing related to my lifestyle would have caused the tendinitis.
Symptoms:
Symptoms included the following at one time or another:
1. aching
2. sharp pain
3. feeling of heat/burning
4. tightness
5. pins and needles in small areas (micro tears?)
6. weakness at rear/base of each heal.
7. When I woke-up each morning my tendons and the back of my heal pads felt sore, weak and tight.
At the height of the problems, I had extreme difficultly walking and negotiating stairs, and I thought there was a risk that my tendons would detach from my heal bone.
Doctors’ Advice:
My general practitioner’s and my podiatrist’s advice was to: (a) not run, cycle, hike or otherwise exercise my legs in any manner other than easy walking and swimming, (b) gently stretch, (c) take ibuprofen, (d) ice regularly, and (e) use heal lift shoe inserts made by my podiatrist. Their advice was based on the view that the damage that was done is more like damage cause by an injury than damage caused by an insidious drug. My readings on the subject indicate that little is known about the mechanisms behind this fluoroquinolone-specific toxicity. It is believed that the tendon’s collagen fibers become disorganized and infiltrated with small blood vessels -- resulting in weakness. And there are no specific treatment plans for this problem.
After 2 months of living with these symptoms, I decided to change course.
My Approach to Healing:
Because I never believed my pain was the result of inflammation, I stopped icing and taking ibuprofen. Because stretching seemed to further weaken the tendon and set me back, I stopped stretching. Because I believe that the body heals itself best when used, I started cycling at an easy pace. I then worked-my-way-up to cycling more aggressively, and to walking in the neighborhood. That’s where I am today. Two days ago I had my first day without discomfort in 3 months. Yet, I have a long way to go. I am not yet hiking or running. It’s a slow healing process with occasional setbacks when I push my tendons a bit harder than I should, Given the progress I have made, I am hopeful for a full or nearly-full recovery in another few months.
Other things I have done in the past month:
1. Taken L-Lysine (1000mg daily), which is believed to aid collagen formation.
2. Taken Magnesium (250mg daily), which some believe may help leech the fluoroquinolone molecules from the tissues because of the affinity of these antibiotics for minerals.
3. Taken Fish oil pills (3000mg daily), which improves circulation
4. Used a heating pad, which improves circulation
5. Started regular Acupuncture (first time for me), which improves circulation
What you can do:
1, Be easy on your tendons until you get a handle on the problem. Don’t over-use tendons when they are in a weakened state.
2. “Listen” to your body and take steps you think best to help the healing process.
3. Tell your friends to beware of potential side effects from fluoroquinolones.
4. File a MedWatch report with the FDA at fda.gov.
5. Share your findings/advice on this forum.
Good Luck
-- By gm01 | Reply | (1) replies | Private Message me
August 1th
2008
1:35 PM
I have been on Securon Verapamil for over 5 years,together with Digoxin and warfarin, prescribed for atrial fibrillation.
Have been having problems of pain in my biceps, and more latterly pain in my hip joints. Has anybody else had these symptoms
April 29th
2008
12:15 PM
I HAVE BEEN ON THE LAMICTAL FOR 5 MONTHS NOW( FOR MINOR BI POLAR EPISODE). AT FIRST I FELT A LITTLE "SPACEY" AS I HAVE INCREASED MY DOSAGE EACH TIME I NOTICED VERY PAINFUL MENSTRUAL CRAMPS, WORSE PMS, EXTRA LONG MENSTRUATION CYCLE, JOINT PAIN IN THE HIP, FORGETTING EVERYTHING( LOSS OF SHORT TERM MEMORY), AND EXTREME TIREDNESS IN THE DAY AND NOT SLEEPING AT NIGHT. I HAD BEEN ON 75MG A DAY ( 2 IN AM, 1 IN PM) AND THEN UPPED MY DOSE TO 100MG(2 IN AM, 2 IN PM). THE SIDE EFFECTS ARE WORSENING, ESPECIALLY THE JOINT PAIN. I HAVE ALSO NOTICED PANIC ATTACKS AND IRRITABLENESS THAT I HADN'T HAD BEFORE. WORST OF ALL, IS THAT I HAVE GAINED ABOUT 27 LBS WHILE TAKING THIS MED. HAS ANYONE ELSE HAD ANY OF THESE SYMPTOMS? PLEASE REPLY TO TELL ME THE BEST REMEDY.
-- By babybee2002 | Reply | (4) replies | Private Message me
January 20th
2008
5:57 PM
I have been on synthroid for about 6 months now. Some of the side effects I have been experiencing are numerous.I have hair loss, sometimes I get so ill that no one can stand to be around me, my weight has gone up about 30 pounds, my cholesterol levels went sky high so now I'm taking Crestor, I'm bloated most times, I have episodes where my face flushes and gets so red that it feels like its on fire, and now I've just started experiencing burning and aching of the legs, I'm tired a lot too! My doctor said I would lose the weight but every time I go for check ups and get on the scale it just keeps going up. I would like to know if anyone else out there is experiencing the burning and achy legs because I have been tested for everything and they can't find out what is going on. They of course say it's not the medication.It seems to never be. Does anyone feel me??
-- By sharone | Reply | (23) replies | Private Message me
January 16th
2008
1:32 PM
My MD put me on Pravachol in August due to my elevated cholesterol, and the sudden, premature death of my beloved brother from a heart attack caused by his high cholesterol. I'm a very active, busy, 54 year old full time paramedic. So I'm no dummy in the ways of meds and health care. After being on this stuff for a couple of months I noticed that I was having a lot of unexplained pain in my lower back and legs. At first I attributed it to my job, which involves a lot of heavy lifting. But it kept getting worse, to the point of having great difficulty walking because of severe pain in both hip joints.I felt like I was an 80 year old woman. I couldn't even stand to use an elliptical machine or swim at my fitness center. I was also extremely depressed, lethargic, and having heart palpitations. I had pain in my shoulders, neck, back, kidneys, hips, and thighs. I stopped taking it 3 days ago, and have already noticed improvement. I think I'll try to lower my cholesterol with diet, weight loss, and exercise instead.
-- By medic1144 | Reply | Private Message me
November 22th
2007
6:58 PM
I was treated with lamictal for bi-polar II . It did help even out my mood which swung to deep depressions and rare (unfortunately) hypomania. After an increase in dose I had so much pain in my back and hip joints that I needed help to sit down, stand up, tie shoes, lift anything. I am only 40!
I stopped the med in June, but the pain is still there. Continually, not as bad as it was before, for sure, but I still have to prop myself up for simple lean over tasks, and my hip joints throb. I have to support myself to flip in bed or get out. I was doing yoga, and running as well before I started lamictal. I was extremely flexible!, and now can still barely touch my toes.
has anyone else had this lingering pain?
-- By skgsunshine | Reply | (2) replies | Private Message me
November 16th
2007
6:24 PM
I have been on Vytorin for several months. I had issues, but didn't think it was the drug, like tennis elbow. Now two days ago, I have had severe muscle pain from my lower back to the tops of my feet. I've had to take vicodin for the pain so I can sleep at night. I stopped taking Vytorin and only pray that the pain will go away. I have read many websites that say the pain may never go away due to damage to the muscles. I can't believe this. I am suppose to have surgery to have my ovaries removed due to pain in my pelvic region, now I am wondering if it's Vytorin causing the pain. I have also experienced headaches for days, blurred vision, severe sleepiness all day, painful hip joints, irritable to name a few.
-- By tab2424 | Reply | Private Message me
September 11th
2007
10:39 PM
I was born without a thyroid gland so I can't compare the way I feel now to the way I would've felt with a thyroid. I've been on Synthroid my entire life (22 years), and I'm up to 112 mcg now. I am very skinny (5'5", 104 lbs) and feel constantly fatigued no matter how many hours I sleep, what I eat, and how much exercise I get. I periodically get pain in my hip joints, heart palpitations, and intense mood swings. My thoughts race but I have very little physical energy. I feel restless and gloomy almost all the time for absolutely no good reason. My doctor tells me I'm depressed but I honestly have no reason to be depressed and I wish she would see it as a symptom instead of a diagnosis. I graduated from a good college, I've got a job I like, I have friends, I enjoy life and my hobbies, yet I feel overwhelmingly sad. This does not seem like depression to me.
I find that after I do aerobics I get a tightness in my chest, which makes me worry about my heart, but again my doctor doesn't seem to think this is cause for concern. I have been irritable/fatigued for YEARS and I suspect I'll feel this way for the rest of my life. The worst of it started when I hit 16 years old and started the 112 mcg. My tests are always normal and it frustrates me that my doctor disregards my symptoms. I've tried other doctors, but they always send me away with my 'normal' test results. Can anybody help?
-- By lexlurgee | Reply | (18) replies | Private Message me
February 14th
2007
9:19 AM
Wow - I just found this site and am relieved to know that I haven't been imagining all these symptoms. I started on Crestor because my doctor had samples, then when those ran out I started on generic Zocor. The day after starting the Crestor I felt like I'd been hit by a truck by attributed it to overdoing it at the gym. I have horrible pains in my hip joints and my knees and have recently been experiencing unexplained fatigue and sharp stomach pains. Does anyone know if drinking alcohol will increase these side effects? I've been on the Zocor now for a few weeks, and the Crestor I started mid-December.
-- By pugluvr1965 | Reply | Private Message me
November 18th
2006
9:23 PM
I have taken Lisinopril for a long time. Not sure when it came into the market, but seems like I been on them a few years. I been taking blood pressure meds for about 10 years. I am 53. Not sure when I was switched to Lisinopril. I have fought most the symptons that are on this website. I have never connected it with Lisino and neither have my doctors, even at Mayo Clinic. I always check out healthy as a horse, except, they write this off to having Fibromyalgia. I have had long periods of time when I did feel I could "catch my breath" It's like the feeling of holding your breath in, till you need to really breath badly. So you breath, and that feeling seems to stay to a large degree. Extreme Fatigue, walking 100 feet and back sometimes. Dry cough or clearing Phlem all the time. Dizzy for like, 3 years now, weakness in legs, pain in legs even in the morning. They carry a burning with them like if you were working out, but it burns like that if you just walk a short distance. Bad insomnia, so freaking tired, but the sleep button just doesnt kick in. Sometimes totally exacerbating as far as the fatigue is concerned. Do not know if its connected, but can tolerate the soap isle in the grocery store, I can just feel it suck any energy out of me. Hot flashes, ear aches..not infections, they just seemed to stay slightly inflammed. Lots of stiffness in neck and shoulders, and lots of just skin pain, across my back. So for years I have been fighting this fatigue and pain and we will see if it's connected to Lisino or not. Let me add also, when the fatigue is greater so is the brain fog and/or lethergy. Lots of headaches. I was feeling so weak not long ago, I thought it might be MS. But Dr. Said MS is not painful, and my legs, especially thighs, and hip joints hurt a lot. If this is caused by taking Lisino, I would have to say, I am about 10% of the man I used to me, Physically. Might as well throw a sexual activity report in here. All the plumbing works fine, it just the concern if that's where I want the energy to go for the rest of the day. Sometimes and physical excertion, the best way to describe it, it like an exahusting "flare", It will kick your butt and put in bed. Like, hmmm, think I will move the couch over there...bammm. Okay, I am done. I just wanted to be a bit detailed, it might help others out. If it is Lisino, I am sure it will take several weeks for me to get it off and out of my system, but I will write back. I hope this may help someone else out there.
:)
November 8th
2006
9:35 PM
Get over yourselves. Those 'other' problems could be caused by a variety of things and not necessarily have anything to do with kenalog. I LOVE the stuff! I've received it several times for trochanter bursitis in both hips, for inflammation/pain relief in my right shoulder due to shoulder/rotator cuff reconstruction, my foot for affects of severe gout, carpal tunnel in both wrists, and several other times for inflammation/pain that cannot be treated with oral anti-inflammatories due to diabetic gastroparesis. Mind you, I do suffer from bad stomach cramps for a few hours post injection, but other than that mild side effect, the medication is FANTASTIC and successful in treating my numerous problems. I think you're all just looking for excuses to whine about your problems rather than being glad that you at least have someone trying to help you.
I will recommend kenalog to anyone looking for relief of symptoms I've mentioned. My success rate is 95% +. Sometimes it takes more than one shot or being the individuals we are, we suffer some effects that aren't usual, ut this is no reason to crap on an excellent product that has helped so many, so often.
So get over yourselves and quit your pouting.
May 2th
2006
8:42 PM
I have taken almost two complete 7-day rounds of Leviquin and just today realized that my aches and pains are probably due to it instead of chronic fatigue or fibromyalgia. I will not take those last two 500 mg tablets! I have extreme joint pain and swelling of the wrists. I have been blaming lower back pain on the 16-hours of sleep I had on Sunday! My hip joints hurt so that I can't raise my foot to step into pants when dressing. I'm sure I read the Rx paperwork when I filled this prescription, but don't remember seeing extreme pain as a side effect. Why didn't my doctor warn me?
-- By juli | Reply | Private Message me
July 18th
2005
11:21 PM
Took Singulair for approx. two weeks due to ears "popping" and feeling full of fluid, even though ENT could detect nothing. First week seemed like miracle drug, ears cleared up and allergies greatly abated. Second week, developed constant pain in hip joints and lower back, and tingling in feet, and terrible acid reflux. Since it was the only new med I'd been taking, I took myself off to see if that was the cause. Within 24 hours, all hip joint pain, tingling in feet and reflux was gone. My son is 3 and has been on Singulair for a year for allergies/asthma and it has helped him tremendously, esp. since he uses a nebulizer in winter months. This past winter the nebulizer use was way down. He is a sweet layed back kid but has started becoming hyper and agressive and a lot of disobedience, which could be just his age. In any case, I've taken him off as well to see if Singulair has caused any adverse effects on his health or behavior.
-- By jameswife99 | Reply | Private Message me
July 6th
2005
4:44 PM
After taking statins (Provacol, Lovastatin, Lipitor, and Zocor) for over 4 years and having strong muscle pains throught out my body, I stopped taking statins.
During this time the doctor tested me for everything else. I started taking Celebrex to stop the pain. It greatly reduced it.
However, i stopped Celebrex after how it might affect heart patients was made known.
Now 2 months after I stopped Lipitor, 95% plus of my pains are gone. I did not realize how severe they were until i stopped. one can get used to pain, but it does negatively affect you without you being consciously aware of it.
I now aggressively use diet and exercise to control my cholesterol. a better solution in all aspects.
when I started statins, i had no apparent side affects like muscle pain for about 10-12 months. however over time the pain started kept building and spreading. Eventually my legs muscles, back muscles, chest muscles, hip joints, elbow joints, and knee joints all ached.
A friend of mine who had been taking Lipitor (20mg) for a little over a year, recently started having muscle pains.
What I do not understand is why this side affect is not better know and published.
-- By jmahr | Reply | Private Message me
February 14th
2005
4:27 PM
It's Valentine's Day 2005 and I took 750mg Levaquin
for 3 days. My side effects include nausea and my
tongue burning on the tip.
The doc gave me moxifloxacin, another flouoroquinolone
last November before Thanksgiving. I'm worried that
my symptoms: achey hip joints, pain in a neck gland
and now a rash that persists are related to fluoroquinolones.
>I have an appointment with a dermatologist for the rash.
(Glad the Levaquin made me sick, because I couldn't take
my teenager to the Hudson Valley Mall on the day the
Columbine copycat shooter open fired!)
January 12th
2005
12:17 PM
Took two doses of Levaquin (for sinus infection) last week, before stopping due to sudden onset of severe pain around knee and hip joints. It's now been 6 days since I stopped this medication, and yet my leg pain appears to actually be getting worse (not better). Will this pain eventually subside as the medication leaves my system? I can barely walk.
-- By hjvan417 | Reply | Private Message me
October 24th
2004
11:25 AM
I had the unfortunate experience of taking both avalox and Levaquin to treat a case of chronic sinusitis. I received Levaquin for 10 days at 500 mg / per day. After four days I began experiencing extreme pain in my knees, soles of my feet, and hip joints. The pain became so severe I could barely get out of bed in the morning. I contacted my doctor who advised me to stop taking the drug immediately and prescribed another drug in a different class. It has been almost a month since stopping Levaquin and I continue to experience pain in my knees and soles of my feet. This website was a Godsend. I suspected my cotinued pain was caused by this drug but couldn't be sure. Thanks to you all for sharing the side effects you've suffered as well. This is definitely a case in which the treatment can be much worse than the illness.
-- By eresmith09 | Reply | Private Message me
August 30th
2004
4:52 PM
I think I've taken my last Lipitor. It did help my cholesterol, but after reading this site, I'm scared. And off to the natural foods store for remedies.
Have been on 10mg. Lipitor for over 1 1/2 years. I've experienced some of the "usual" side effects- arthritic type pain in my hands and hip joints, pain in the bottom of my feet, weight gain, gas, but chalked it up to getting older (I'm 54) and not exercising as much as I should.
But it's the bruising that's really been a problem. If my arm touches the inside of the kitchen cabinet while reaching for a dish, I have a bruise on my arm. A slightly harder bump and my skin is torn and I'm bleeding. My clotting times and liver enzymes are normal and my Dr. has no clue what's causing this.
I never associated it with the Lipitor until I saw a neighbor with the same red bruises up and down her arms, and she said "Oh, it's from my statin drug." Then I realized that I never experienced this problem until about the time I started on Lipitor. Has anyone else experienced similar side effects from Lipitor or other statins
-- By marshalynn | Reply | Private Message me
August 11th
2003
7:42 PM
Terrible pain in pelvic as well as hip joints; knees, ankles, foot joints; so bad, I cannot walk. Depression, feeling like going mad, headache all over head and neck.
-- By rosemary | Reply | Private Message me
Levaquin (6) Lipitor (3) Synthroid (2) Lamictal (2) Lisinopril (2) Aromasin (1) Pravachol (1) Zocor (1) Singulair (1) Kenalog (1) PredniSONE (1) Vytorin (1) Verapamil Hydrochloride (1)
November 9th
2009
1:52 AM
I am 39 years old and work for an interventional cardiology medical device company in Tokyo, and so know the importance of controling one's cholesterol, keeping the LDL's low and the HDL's high. About two years ago, my doctor put me on 10 mg of Lipitor. Several months later I herniated a disc in my neck between C6&C7. From that point onward, I attributed all of my neck and back pain, and newly acquired total body muscle and joint pain, to the herniated disc, it made the most sense. Over the last seven months, I have really worked on my diet and began to exercise more (even though quite painful) and was able to lower my cholesterol. This resulted in my doctor lowering my Lipitor prescription from 10 mg to 5 mg. I noticed a slight alleviation of the pain I felt in my hip joints and calves. About two weeks ago I took myself off Lipitor completely and found further improvements in my total body muscle and joint pain. It's still there but greatly imporved. In retrospect, I now believe the Lipitor may have been the culprit (or at least a contributing factor) to my herniated disc due to muscle degeneration in the neck, and all of the subsequent muscle pain, especially in my hips and calves. I fully understand I am not going to die from calf-pain, but may from heart disease. However, I have found my quality of life has improved tremendously over the last few weeks. Less irritability, better sleep, less pain, clearer head. I feel like I have lost two years of my life on Lipitor via personal suffering and lack of ability to do much of anything with my wife and two young daughters. We all need to take charge of our own health and therefore I encourage anyone who feels completely different after taking Lipitor to engage your physician, and make sure its the right option for you. If damage has been done to my musculature I hope I can reverse it. It is evident to me that some serious clinical studies should be done to investigate Lipitor's effect on muscle degredation and hope others will consider carefully whether or not do go on this drug. If you do, monitor yourself closely.
-- By thinner | Reply | Private Message me