Horror symptoms and conditions

I am in complete horror at reading all these posts yet somewhat comforted that I'm not alone. I'm 22 started Loestrin 3 weeks ago and I have gained at least 5 lbs, I feel completely horrible my cheeks are huge and my butt and stomach have also gotten quite larger. I am moody and depressed and I have been spotting nonstop since I started this pill (going on my 3rd week now). I also get these from my university so I'm assuming this is all they have but I do not recommend it. I'm not even that sexually active I just thought it was better to be safe than sorry but now I just want it to stop, should I finish the pack or just stop right away? I just want to quit right now but I don't know what to do. Suggestions please?

I have posted a couple of times previously about negative side effects, i.e. migraines, weight gain, acne, chin hair, eczema, lower back pain, no sex drive...and the list could go on. As a mature 36 year old woman I have educated myself over the past couple of years and can really only attribute all these issues to having the Mirena inserted 4 months after the birth of my daughter 3 years ago. Although at this time my doctors will not openly acknowledge these side effects, I am confident that one day they will. I encourage women to report adverse side effects to the FDA. It onlt takes a minute or two. Who knows, it may be the hormones or it may be the silicone plastic? It has to be something. It should also be acknowledged that some women, my very best friend for one, have had wonderful experiences with the Mirena. I really think it may just depend on the woman and her own body. I am having mine removed tomorrow after researching all of this for about 8 months. All I can say is, thank goodness. I am also scheduled for the Essure(permanent birth control). Food for thought for the older women in the group. Whatever each of you decide, realize you are not alone and you do not have to continue to feel the way you do if you believe that the Mirena could be making you feel so bad. Take care.

Wow, what a relief!
I am 24 years old and am almost finished my 4th month with the NUVARING. I WILL NOT be putting another one back in! I have had such horrible depression that I find myself crying ALL of the time. I am a full time mom of two beautiful children (6 and 2) and I find that they are bearing the brunt of my depression. I also have a very LOW sex drive which is making my husband feel slightly inadequate since we usually have a very good sex life.
Also, I used to have a very regular menstrual cycle and having a plastic ring determine my cycle is wreaking havoc on my body. I know one week in advance that my cycle is going to start because I am in such pain for the week before, and the week of that I can barely get out of bed. I am completely exhausted and have also gained 15 lbs in the 4 months alone. Which makes the depression and sex drive worse. It keeps a very vicious cycle going and I can't take it anymore. I would not recommend this to anyone... it is painful during sex, when I can actually force myself to engage in it. It is a little ring of HORROR!

I'm 27 years old and have been married for 2 years. In May I decided to get on female birth control for the first time in my life to regulate my 7 day period. The first month I felt like a mental patient, lol. I'm already an emotional person so when I started the pill I swore I would stop it. My nipples looked deformed because they were so swollen, I was depressed and nausea. I decided to stick it out because I wasn't taking it at the same time everyday. So I regulated myself with an alarm clock and the next month everything was wonderful. My period only last 4 days, and all of my symptoms were GONE!!! I'm now at the end of my fourth month and my period has come early which is freaking me out because I have never had an early period in my life. I've read about spotting on this product, but I haven't spotted EVER not even in the four months that I've been taking the pill. Other than my first month of horror and my recent early period everything else on loestrin has been wonderful.

My suggestion to women who are on their first pack is try to tough it out, you will feel horrible the first month but just apologize to whomever feels your rath and remember your body needs some time to adjust. I'm a victim of horrible menstruation, and so is my mom. Since I was 9 years old I used to get 14 days of cramps and 7 days of bleeding. I would pass out all the time on my period and my husband and family was very upset since he or others would find me blacked out at home, work, the salon, at the zoo, in the shower, and once my neighbor found me. Loestrin has DEFINITELY changed my life for the better, so stick out that first month ladies its worth it. I hope my experience helps other women who are scared and feel like the symptoms won't end.=)

I have been on Prednisone, off and on, for many years as I'm a severe asthmatic. Lately though, I've been dizzy - I mean the sometimes can't stand up, room spinning when your eyes are closed, dizzy - tomorrow will start the 5th week of being "off kilter." I have been anxious, don't sleep well, bruise like crazy, my stomach hurts all the time, and a dozen other symptoms. But, I have to say, I'm used to "not" breathing well, but being dizzy - that is starting to take its toll. This occurred, I believe, because of 60mg a day for over 3 weeks, and then I started tapering. Every time I have a terrible reaction to this drug, I think I will "never take it again." But, whenever I'm at death's door, I change my mind because with all its horror, Prednisone can be a lifesaver for people like me. I just don't remember ever feeling like this before. I feel as though I'm about to come out of my own skin, and fly off into space.

weight-gain/ alternatives have been availalable.."Amour-thyroid" about.com any alternative medicine sites! Thy-Aid..etc,Synthroid does nothing for thy,roid issue Everything starts there! Bio-denticals deals w/ harmonal...read and learn..FDA lies! Alternatives have "Cured" ask "Breakthrough" Susann Sommers book w/ doctors! Larry King! Truth re: real cures for thyroid,not HRT's..yet another that has killed and/or close to from...Side-effects..alt's do not have side-effects.soon,if enough people stop being lazy and so afraid to take what will keep them alive and happy only then will ALT'S push the bad FDA approved poisons away! Both MUST be explored,but the FDA make billions w/ doctors who get kick backs from each script they write for the infamous SIN-Throid,made my life a horror..hypothyroid issue does not need syn! There are better natural things! Headaches,never get the right dose! Right thyroid tests? Endocrinologists will use those bio-denticals bec- hormone & Thy go together,for all of the idiots out there who think their doctors are sooo good,slowly they are killing them in many ways!

I've been taking Loestrin 24 for seven months now, and it worked like a charm - my periods haven't exactly decreased in time, just in heaviness (my periods weren't really heavy to begin with). No side effects, no spotting, nothing.

But this might be something to watch out for:

This past Saturday I was too lazy to take my pill in the morning, and I stayed over at a friend's and didn't take my pill Sunday either. Saturday I ate a bunch of junk food (pizza, brownies, etc.) and I bloated... which made sense. So I just tried to drink water. The next day I began cramping... which was unusual. I would be just finishing the second row of pills and I can't say I've knowingly ovulated since I've been taking these pills. I come home and to my horror, I was spotting... which has NEVER happened before. And as the day went on the cramping hurt more (not overbearingly but there was a noticeable change) and I noticed the blood smelled HORRIBLE, like a mix between a rotting animal and vomit. And today I'm still spotting.

To make a long story short, I now have an appointment with my gyno. I don't know if it means anything, but don't be like me and purposely not take your pill... you're supposed to take a pill a day for a reason. ):

My poor Mother was prescribed this medicine 2 days ago and she's not slept for 2 days and has had horrible pains in her legs. I just found out today that she started taking this and I looked it up only to the horror of all the complaints on this medication. DON'T TAKE THIS MEDICATION, IT'S POISON! It's so sad what people have to go through in taking some medications. I never take a medication without looking up all the side effects. I wish my Mother would have called me before taking this, but she trusts in her Doctor. I don't think Doctor's check complaints on medications, at least some don't. I had her STOP taking this right away and contact her Doctor tomorrow.

I have been on Singulair longer than I can recall... at least 10 years, maybe longer. My 7 year old son has been on it since he was probably 12 months old. Neither one of us have had any problem reported here. No depression, no sleeplessness (until I weaned him from naps, he slept up to 13 hours a day), no leg cramps, nothing. We are two of the happiest, most well adjusted people you could know. And, best of all, we haven't had any asthma attacks. Bottom line, different drugs react differently in different people. Don't let the post here stop you from trying a medication that for some could mean the difference between life and death depending on how asthmatic they are. As with any drug recommended by your doctor, try it. If you experience adverse reactions, stop it ASAP. It's that simple.

I am astonished by the posts I am reading here. I just learned about the manufacturing problems with Metoprolol Succinate ER last night, and the recall. I called my pharmacist this morning, and she said she knew nothing about a recall, only that it was no longer available.

When I see what you all have been going through, coupled with what's been happening to me, I can't understand why my doctor has not changed my medication.

I just got out of the hospital two weeks ago from blood clots in my legs. Thank goodness they have not moved to my heart, brain or lungs! Now, I'm on Coumadin for six months.

I have had blood clots, cramping in both my legs and feet, eye problems, loss of balance and vertigo (dizziness) so bad I fell to the ground. Fortunately, I was in my garden and the ground was soft.

I've been complaining to my doctor for quite some time now about the dizziness, and am now afraid to go out and work in the yard unless someone is with me.

Thank you for posting your information. It has been an eye-opener.

I have experienced so many of the side effects mentioned in all these posts. I have another one to add.....3 or 4 days after starting a new pack, my urine develops the worst odor possible! It smells like the nastiest public toilet imaginable! At first I thought the toilet needed serious disinfecting, imagine my horror when I realized it was me! A day or 2 after starting the sugar pills, no more odor! What the heck??? Has anyone else had this awful side effect?

My 3 year old is on 5mg of singular daily for her constant allergy issues and has had NO trouble at all with it. Her personality has not changed.. she's happy, outgoing, friendly and MUCH better than she was before she started the medication. Prior to starting she was constantly dripping from her nose, she had both ears filled with fluid, had bags under her eyes and was tired and grumpy all the time, due to allergies we could not get under control with other over the counter or prescription meds. Since being on Singulair she's been 100% better than she was. I'm sad to hear that others are having so much trouble with it, but I can say that I am happy my little girl is feeling better.

Unfortunately I just went thru a termination of pregnancy 3 weeks ago and the doctor has put me on Loestrin Fe24. I have only been on it 10 days and since day 2 have been "constipated" and bloated. I have lower back pain and feel awful. I went to the hospital because the pain in my abdomen was so bad I thought I had a blockage. The ER doctor asked if I were on the pill but I gave him the wrong information about when I started taking it by accident. But since I have been on the pill is when my "regularity" stopped. I am 33 years old and very active and never had this problem before. Doctor said there was no blockage blood and urine came back fine..No kidney infection nothing....It just occurred to me this morning that everything starting changing when I started this pill. Has anyone else had "bowel issues" since taking this pill?

No side effects yet - coz I haven't taken it!!! I recently had my blood work done, it had been 2 years slightly elevated cholesterol so, in those 2 years leading up to latest bloodwork, I've eaten oatmeal every morning, taken Flax/Omega 3, B-complex, olive oil for all cooking, I have a glider, 20mins. 5 days wk. but had to watch myself, lost too much weight, I'm only 105lbs now, etc. etc....so, shock and horror my latest results: 232 Total Chol. 157LDL 57HDL-good number really, and best thing, 91 triglycerides, glucose 87 - so I guess some of the above improved some numbers. Dr. suggested a doppler/carotid.....a note received yesterday "some build up" and enclosed prescript. for 40mg. of this poison which seems kind of a high dose to me? So, is he not telling me the extent of "some build up?" what's "some"....I need to find that out first - but I really don't think I'm gonna be taking this stuff - there is so much info out there debunking this cholesterol thing....I'm 58, would there be natural build up in arteries, I mean your plumbing pipes don't stay pristine forever - there's bound to be build up, surely? Or am I kidding myself. Any suggestions out there, people!????

I just received my Patient Medical Alert card from the Charcot-Marie-Tooth Association. It is a wallet size card for me to carry with me that list drugs that have or possibly have severe side affects for people with CMT. Seeing MACROBID on it reminded me of my experience with it about 10 years ago.
I am very prone to UTIs. My GYN prescribed MACROBID. After only 1 pill, my right thumb went numb. It spread to my index finger and then my middle finger. I was scared and called my GYN who told me there was no way that the Macrobid was the cause. I didn't stop with that answer. I then called the drug store, where I purchased it from and spoke to the pharmacist. I explained what was happening. He also told me that the Macrobid couldn't be the problem. I didn't take his answer and asked him to please get the contra -indications list and read it. There, in fine print, was possible peripheral numbness that can lead to death. I had 4 small children at the time, so you can imagine my horror. He contacted the pharmaceutical company that makes MACROBID. They called me to record my side effect and told me to NEVER take it again, that I could die if I did. It took several weeks for the feeling to come back in my fingers and hand. They had told me it could have been permanent. I didn't know I had CMT then. And this little card didn't exist then. I am writing this to warn others. If you don't know what CMT is, go to ******. It is a neurological degenerative disease. I am affected worse in my hands. I have a postural tremor in both hands now.
I hope my story helps someone.

After reading all the side effects from Advair. I am glad I decided to wean myself off this horrible drug. My pulmonologist gave me a sample after I was diagnosed with asthma in March. Before I was diagnosed with asthma I had a severe bout of bronchitis followed by pneumonia. At first I felt much better using Advair, but then the horror kicked in. I experienced hoarseness and felt like I had an obstruction in my throat. I am not going into all of the side effects I experienced with this drug because it is a repeat of what people are saying on this website.

I stopped taking it two weeks ago. I am already noticing how much better I feel. The withdrawal has been difficult. I have no intention of taking this drug again. I plan on using alternative medicine in the future.

This drug must be taken off the market!!!!

Everyone please see my reply to areneectc, #33244 Posted at 5:22 PM on Aug 09, 2008 for some ideas on where to turn for help
My deepest sympathies to you all for the horror you have endured.

This past winter we found out that my son had developed asthma. His allergist /asthma doctor put him on Singulair as his preventative. Not two days later a report came across the news that Singulair has depression as a side effect. I immediately called my son's allergist / asthma doctors and was told that these symptoms have been found ONLY in children in their teens. That they are linking something in the med with hormones and it spawns depression.
Even though this is terrible for the parents of teenagers, my son is 6 years old... the chance of this happening to us was slim. Or so I thought.
One morning, to my horror, two weeks later my 6 year old son whom never really watched anything on television without his parents (with the exception of Noggin programs) is talking about how he wished he was never born. That no one would care if he was to die or disappear. That maybe he should just go to sleep one night an just die..... he was getting so angry for no apparent reason, throwing things and yelling all the time... telling me, his mother (we have always been so close) that he wished I were dead and that he hated me...
Needless to say I immediately called his doctors and they told me to stop the Singulair right away. The doctors were shocked that this has happened to a 6 year old and had filled out reports for the FDA that I had to give detailed descriptions of what happened to my son so they could start warning other parents.
Now, four months later and we have our happy go luck son back. No preventative, but the inhaler is doing the job.
Good luck out there if you agree to put your child on this medication. I understand it does not happen to everyone, I just cannot tell or describe to you how horrifying and traumatizing it was to go through seeing my happy go lucky son become this extremely depressed angry aggressive child within two weeks. We are still battling the aggressive behavior, but hey, he is 6 and that could be normal... right?

I am a 39 year old white male that had aortic valve replacement surgery five years ago. About three months after the surgery (which went off without a hitch) I had a tremendous spike in my BP that went on for a few days (200/100 - enough so I could see my heartbeat in my eyes!). My Dr started me on Toprol XL 75 and while it brought my BP down some, it didn't bring it down a lot. He moved me to 200 mg a day and now my BP is around 105/55 with a resting pulse around 50.

While I experienced many of the side effects listed here (feeling groggy, confused, etc) they only lasted a few months. I must admit that I did pack on about 20 lbs over six months. However, unlike so many who choose to blame drugs (or lack thereof) for their problems, I took it upon myself to start exercising and guess what?!? The weight comes off! I now weigh less than when I graduated high school, I am in better shape than any time in my life and I believe that exercise helps me sleep better at night. All of this even though I still take 200mg a day. Given that some of you say that you're practically dead at taking 25, I should be 6 feet under or weigh 400 lbs.

I guess what I want to say is that perhaps instead of jumping on the bandwagon here that Toprol causes all of your problems, perhaps you want to take your own health into your hands and begin to eat a little better and exercise (and don't give me "but my ankles are swollen!" excuse - there is something called water aerobics). I don't deny that it can cause some side effects, but it can work wonders with your BP. You just have to DO SOMETHING to help keep the weight off (which then help with the sleep problems, mental clarity, etc).

I am 21 years old and I was on Yasmin for three in a half months (i stopped the last pack half way through). The first month i was on it, i had a lot of leg pains especially at night and sometimes to the point where i couldn't sleep. I went to the doctors and told her about this and she said it had nothing to do with the pill. My leg pain stopped after the first month i was on it and for two months i was fine. At the end of the third pack i began to get leg cramps again, but this time it was different i had little sharp pains here and there and tingling and my legs became extremely itchy. In the matter of two months i got spider veins and cellulite on my upper legs. Before the pill i had NOTHING on my legs. I searched the internet and found that birth control can cause spider veins because of the hormonal change so I thought my legs were itchy because of the spider veins so i stopped using the pill and made a doctors appointment. Three days after stopping i got my period for the second time that month. I also broke out with lumps that are red and extremely itchy. The doctor told me that the bumps are eczema and i also have a lymph node, which she said is from the eczema (which i find very strange). Two days after i broke out and got a lymph node, i got sick with a fever, extremely soar throat and a swollen neck. Today is my 7th day off the pill and im still sick. Hopefully i get better. But from being a 21 year old whos 95 pounds and having nothing wrong and starting this pill and getting spider veins, cellulite and then eczema all around the same time, i feel like im aging before my time. If anyone else has had any similar effects please let me know. Thank you.

I had posted my case on May 17th on this blog--as I noted, I URGE others to report their adverse event to the FDA--just click on this link and complete the form: http://www.fda.gov/medwatch/. The FDA is responsible for assuring safety of medications. Therefore, it is imperative that the FDA recognize the adverse effects to provide any credibility to a class action suit. Please consider forwarding your case to the FDA to force them into action and begin addressing these atrocities. Such documented cases and recognition by the FDA will provide leverage for attorneys in pursuit of a class action suit. Also wanted to see if anyone has contacted a lawyer on this issue?

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I started to use toprol the generic type 3 weeks ago, I have the worst panic attacks, anxiety and depression ever, I never had depression in my life before, this medication took my pleasure of life away from me. I am getting off this horrible medication, started with 50, now I am on 25 (symptoms better), in two days I will be down to 12.5, then seven and is bye, bye. I read is not good to go cold turkey on this medication.

Get the heck off this pill when you can! Do NOT let anyone, your doctor or anyone else, tell you to take it. 3 weeks were horrible enough coming off of Yaz which was bad as well. Here is the list of awful and unbearable side effects that they you get from this chewable pill that has iron pills as the last week:
Headache, fatigue, moodiness, depression, anxiety, feeling jumpy and scared easily, nausea, constipation, night sweats, facial and body acne, stomach pains, anger, irritability, oversensitivity, etc. I am a happy and laughable girl and have been brought down by this pill. I feel like I can't breathe and have a constant lump in my throat! I have cried at the drop of a hat and my finance has said that I am different. This is supposed to be best time of my life planning my wedding and I am miserable! HORRIBLE PILL- this should be taken off the market ASAP!

Hi all! I have recently started to have a very strange feeling and thought I would post here to see if anyone else can elaborate on it.

I switched from private healthcare to the VA system in March 2008 and the MD at the VA immediately switched me from Toprol XL 100mg per day to Norvasc ( Amlodipine Besylate) 5mg, a generic version and from Zetia 10mg to Zocor. This is mainly due to the fact that the VA does not have the Toprol XL or the Zetia in their pharmacy.

I am a very active person, work out 3 times per week, play tournament level racquetball and generally stay very active. I was feeling fine on this medication for almost 3 years with the only side effect being a little light-headed feeling with hard physical activity. Approximately 2-3 weeks after changing meds I started to get this lumpy feeling in my chest and then it started to progress into an air hunger feeling which felt like my breath was being taken away for a split second. I called the MD at the VA and requested to go back on metoprolol tartrate, which is what the VA has in place of the metoprolol succinate (Toprol XL). The air gasp feeling has only gotten worse and with any excertion I become tired now and start to get the gaspy feeling. Very scary. When it started to get real bad one evening I called 911 and went to the emergency room. Tests came back "ridiculously normal" the ER MD stated. Went back to the VA and the same MD, who doesn't listen, says I am under stress and prescribed me Paxil. I am completely lost as to what to do. I am going in to have another EKG and a holter monitor put on as well as a stress test.

Does anyone have any advice for me? I am desperate to get this resolved as fast as I can. Feel terrible lately and the MD doesn't seem to be listening to me.

Help!

Concerned Citizen; I just went to Singulair.com and the website is quite good. Any practitioner would know to look at the product PI which is right there and the pharmacokinetics section tells you how it works. Put your glasses on.