Imperative symptoms and conditions

I find some of these posts interesting because it seems as if some folks either do not completely read the dosing instructions that come with all medications when they are picked up from a pharmacy or given by a doctor, or they just choose to ignore them. I have been on Doxy for six months for the treatment of Lyme and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. It's been no picnic at times but I feel 100 times better than before I started it. When I started taking Doxy, I too didn't pay much attention to the dosing instructions and I learned the hard way with some uncomfortable side-effects. Here are a few recommendations from someone who has been taking this drug long-term. 1. You must eat! Eat a small snack (banana, crackers, fruit) before you take the drug. Do not take it with something that you know upsets your stomach, also do not take it with dairy or any supplements containing magnesium or iron. 2. After taking the drug, eat another small snack, same as in #1. Avoid any of the supplements or dairy listed above for at least two hours. 3. Imperative!!! Take a good probiotic regularly (30-50 billion cfu). Antibiotics are designed to kill stuff in your body. They do not distinguish between bad and good however. You need the probiotic to replace the good bacteria in your digestive tract, otherwise your body will not digest properly. I was constipated for quite some time before I figured this one out. 4. I saw a few other folks mention this one. Do not lay down immediately following taking the drug. Again, I learned the hard way, I had severe GERD for a time as well. 5. Avoid long-term sun exposure. This was the latest. My skin has always had some natural pigmentation in it for a white guy and I have not burned too easily. On the Doxy though, I found out that I burn extremely fast. I guess I will be under an umbrella at the beach in a few weeks. 6. Don't panic! This drug was made to fight infections/disease. Be prepared for some side-effects, but also don't be afraid to see your doctor if they are just unbearable. All people do not respond to medications in the same manner. What works for you or me might not work for someone else. I hope this information helps someone out there. I know it is incredibly frustrating when you are taking something to cure an illness and more things go wrong.

This will be my fourth month using the Nuva Ring. Thus far I have experienced some vertigo, fatigue, increased irritability, slight depression and extreme decrease in sexual desire. I have tried several forms of contreception including various oral bills, the patch and now the ring. I have seen better results with the patch and the ring. Except the decreased libido, which happens to be imperative. I think I may complete this months perscription and consult my OB for yet another option :(

I have been on lipitor for close to 10 years - in the beginning I did not know of any serious side effect but over the past 2-3 years, I have had all the symptoms that have been mentioned in this website. I visited my endocrinologist yesterday and told her that I was going off lipitor. I had my gGt levels checked about a month ago and they were high. She said it had nothing to do with lipitor, but I am not convinced. My gastroenterologist has suggested I have a liver biopsy but did not stress that it was absolutely imperative. He left that up to me - well, who in the world is going to have an invasive procedure unless the doctor says you have to. I chose not to but I will have the gGt levels checked every 3 months to be sure they have not elevated. I have muscle weakness, muscle pain, changes in my skin, pain, sleepless and restless nights; and memory loss. I had no idea that so many others experienced the same thing. I am pretty sure I will stay off lipitor, but I keep thinking of Bill Clinton when he went off lipitor and wound up having bypass surgery. I am not a fan of pills of any kind and I wish I had never gone on lipitor. I have 4 sisters, 3 of whom have high cholesterol. Of the 4 of us who have high cholesterol, 2 of us have been on lipitor or some other statin drug and have the same problems - we can't even keep up with the 2 that have never taken lipitor and I am the youngest.

I take many medications for different ailments. I started to have severe edema of feet, ankles, legs, thighs, and also face. I was precribed, depakote, lipitor, i cannot remember the name of the next one, but it was in addition to pepcid, and then methadone, all within 3 months of each other. The vicodin was discontinued at the same time the methadone was prescribed for chronic pain. In addition to this massive water retention, I also am having a difficult time voiding. I have Interstitial Cystitis and need to void every 10 minutes, so it is imperative that I can void easily. So two possible side affects, generalized edema and difficulty voiding. I take the methadone for severe chronic pain. And it or something elso has become a pain.