Kickback symptoms and conditions

I was prescribed levaquin for sinus infection after 2 days of taking it extreme nervousness feeling like walls were closing in on me and suicidal thoughts stopped taking it after 2 days it was about 244.00 dollars for the medicine seeing as how I have no insurance what a waste of money maybe doctors give it because it is so expensive and they get a kickback on it

In 2003 I started having panic attacks that lasted for 10-12 hours. My family doctor put me on Zoloft. I don't remember the dose, but think it may have been 10 mg. I became horribly depressed and had a severe aversion to eating. This is the exact opposite of my usual self. I fell into deep depression, to the point where I just laid on the couch. I lost 30 pounds in a month. My husband called my parents over, and they all said I had to go see a psychiatrist or they would put me in the hospital. I chose the first, and he put me on Xanax (alprazolam). Within 48 hours I was my old self. Unfortunately he prescribed the Xanax extended release ( just new on the market, so he got a kickback) and I suffered needlessly for months with delayed release of the medication and horrid expense. I finally asked my family doctor if there was a generic, and she said it had been around for years. For pennies a day, I have great relief. I have managed to wean myself down to 1 1/2 mg. a day, and can add more if going through a stressful time. We all have different reactions to meds. For me, Zoloft was a nightmare.

I was prescribed 750 mg Levaquin for 7 days for a bacterial skin infection that I got under my breasts from inverse psoriasis. I took one pill and it hit me like a ton of bricks. I was up all night long with feelings of dread and like I was on a bad acid trip. The next day, I was so exhausted, I could barely even lift my head off the pillow and literally slept all day. The day after that I was going through withdrawal-like symptoms and my husband finally took me to the ER. The nurse practitioner there told me she NEVER prescribes Levaquin because she sees so many patients coming into the ER who are experiencing horrible side effects. I quit taking it obviously but am still feeling shaky and weak. Also, today, both of my feet started feeling like they were asleep with the pins and needles feeling. Also, I have TMJ and my jaw is aching as well. All of this for a little skin infection that the doctor didn't even examine. He just got the results of the cultures back but didn't actually see the infection to determine if it actually needed something so strong. I am taking Keflex now which isn't near as bad and is helping just fine. The difference is the cost. I'm sure the doc got a huge kickback for prescribing the higher-cost Levaquin. I will not be seeing him again. All doctors are interested in is prescribing drugs. They don't ever try a natural means of healing which I do not understand. I am so frustrated...I hope this crap gets out of my system soon!!!

I am going on my third month of using the NuvaRing. I have experience almost all of the symptoms that everyone is listing. I was wondering if there is anyone that has used NuvaRing and the side effects eventually went away. My doctor told me they should only last for about 3 months but according to a lot of people they don't go away. I am really not sure what to do because I am not ready for a child yet but at the same time I can not take much more of these side effects.

Acne on jawline/shoulders/back, major sun sensitivity, anxiety!, weight gain, absolutely NO sex drive, bleeding in between periods, bloating, sometimes a metallic taste in mouth for a week at a time whether chew it or not, migraines, breast aching, cramps at weird times in the cycle... My Dr. switched me to this after I asked for one with a generic because I was tired of paying the $20 copay. After a couple months of samples I went to fill the prescription. There is NO generic and I had to pay $40 because my insurance didn't cover it. Thanks Doc! Then they refused to switch me because I was only on it a couple months. I don't know why I have put up with it for so long - partly because they gave me a bunch more free samples and I'm just a busy person - I've been taking it for maybe a year and a half now. After breaking out in nasty rash yesterday in the sun I have HAD IT! The doctors must get some kind of kickback for prescribing this garbage. I DO NOT recommend Femcon FE!!

I started to take Atenolol after my kidney disease caused my bp to be extremely high. I'm on Avapro 150 mgs a day but at my last doctor's visit my doctor decided to put me on Atenolol for a rapid heartbeat. After about a week I began to feel extreme fatigue consulted doctor and he said it's not the Atenolol so I continued taking until my I started to feel pins and needles in my hands and feet. One morning I got out of bed and my left foot was swollen and curled up into a ball, the pain was excruciating. I was rushed to the emergency room where they said I pulled a muscle, I didn't. I asked the emergency room doctor could this be the Atenolol since I only started taking the drug for a few weeks when these symptoms began. He stated no that's not one of the side affects. After looking online I found that it is one of the side affects. So I stopped the Atenolol and after a few days was able to regain feeling back into my toes and slowly my foot. I still have pain and have trouble walking but hopefully I will recover. DO NOT TAKE THIS AWFUL DRUG. Either the Doctors know the side affects and are allowing us to be used as quinny pigs or their receiving some type of kickback from the pharmaceutical companies for prescribing this drug. If you know anyone taking this drug who is experiencing the above side affects stop the drug immediately before it's too late. If I had continued the drug I would have become paralyzed or worse stopped breathing. Another thing they are telling people that they have MS Multiple Sclerosis so they can treat you for yet another disease you don't have.

This reply is for ckk, i think you are correct, last month I wast have mine removed and my gyn talked me out of it. Today while in my gyn's office for removal, she tried to talk me out of it again...how odd I though they must be getting a kickback from the number of Mirenas they insert....This time I did follow through and had it removed...ladies they will say anything to have you keep Mirena...do not back down listen to your bodies...Surely the doctors and pharmaceutical companies are in this together.

So I finally had the Mirena taken out. Feel a little better, but am having the "Mirena crash". Lost a couple of pounds already (two weeks), but started bleeding two days after removal and haven't stopped since. Heavy at first with huge clots and now still clotting just not as bad. Seems to be dying down finally. Mirena is the absolute worst thing I have ever done to my body. Oh and when I went in to get Mirena removed I felt like I had a pinched nerve in my back that miraculously went away the minute it was taken out! My doctor denies any symptoms were from Mirena. I almost think the drug company that produces this is paying all doctors a kickback for using it. Don't listen when they tell you it's great. I have read pages and pages of women with the same complaints I have about Mirena. If your reading this and thinking of getting it I say: DON'T DO IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

*Did anyone have to sign a waiver, or something, on a Mirena packet, before they had it inserted?*

I didn't even read it, yeah.......I know.... :(

It looked like the doctor version of the pamphlet that I was handed the week before I got this evil thing.

I may print some pages of this blog out, and give it to my GYN when I have it removed. I'm wondering if there's some sorta "kickback" they get for having their patients inserted with it? Free lunches from the drug reps??

I wonder if what I signed made me give up my rights to sue them????? Any thoughts?

Am on my second 3-week course of doxycycline for Lyme disease since the first go round didn't eradicate the infection. Have all the classic side effects mentioned, however the stomach ailments are GREATLY alleviated by taking a strong (70 billion parts per capsule) probiotic. Take it half way between the 2 doxycycline doses and although it isn't magic it does make a difference.
Although I have no appetite, I try to graze lightly on foods that appeal to me throughout the day and that seems to help with many of the horrific side effects.
Also, my MD suggested I take Aleve and NOT Ibuprofen for headaches since the Ibuprofen can cause a "headache" kickback (and causes stomach pain). Don't know if that's true, but the Aleve seems to help a little.
Worst side effects for me are utter exhaustion, dizziness, stomach pain, sore throat, and a head that hurts feels like it is filled with wet cotton. Also heart palpitations which may be part of the Lyme disease.
Hope some of this helps.

I've had mirena in me for almost 3 months.and am now realizing where my constant back and knee pain is coming from. When I went in, I asked my doctor for the copper IUD w. no hormones, my sister has it and has had no problems, and he immediately recommended the Mirena. He said he had concerns with the copper IUD w heavy bleeding and that Mirena was safe. It felt forceful, I wonder what kind of kickback these doctors are getting for inserting it. I also had very heavy bleeding for the first 10 dys and nothing since. I feel bloated occasionally and definitely can relate to the watery discharge, I though i peed my pants:) I also feel confused often.
I am currently breastfeeding and feel bad for not doing my research before having this inserted. I'm going to supplement until this thing is out. Good luck everyone. I'm glad there's a way we can educate each other on these things, since it seems our doctors aren't. thanks.

IA huge thanks to you guys for putting this info out there, because I'm sure the Singulair website wouldn't go into detail about this, and tell about side effects it has: FYI -->

This was what I found on the Singulair website, no more, no less (see post below this one please)

'm really sad to hear that these things happened to you guys and your children.

My 8yr old (55 lbs) son got a cough that ended up lasting about 4 weeks, so i finally took him to his pediatrician. He gave him a breathing treatment and hinted at him having asthma- but he wasn't sure. We have no family history of asthma and in my mind i thought it was pretty far fetched, but we continued the breathing treatment for about 2 weeks and my son cleared right up.

We came back in the Friday after Thanksgiving for a check up and his doctor said that my son sounded much better. The doctor said that looking over my son's medical history (not much of anything) he said he could have asthma-but he wanted to put him on Singulair for the next 3 months until the winter is over.

He said it would be a preventative measure to keep my son's symptoms from "flaring" up. The doctors said " This is not a steroid, and there are NO side effects. Its a once daily chew able for children." I thought-hmmm that's a first, a drug with no side effects. Then I was thinking" "What symptoms was the doctor referring to?" He had a really bad cough he got while visiting his dad's family (bug going around). But I held my tongue and just nodded. He wrote out the prescription, and I left. I heisted as I pulled out in front of the pharmacy and then kept driving.

I felt uneasy about the whole thing. Giving him a daily medication for a condition (asthma) I doubted my son had. Glad I did my homework, I decided to not fill the prescription. I don't feel the least bit guilty for not giving him the meds.

38y.o F taking toprol 100mg once a day for hypertension x 15mths History of Hypothyroidism which is controlled w/ synthroid and closley monitored w/ lab work.
Experience weight gain, unable to lose weight w/ diet and exercise including w/ a nutrionist and personal trainer. Hairloss, lack of libido, chronic joint pain, swelling in hands and ankles/feet, back pain and/or muscle aches, lack of interest in everything, no energy. Major swelling after high sodium intake. Ear drainage, tingling of extremities especially in feet and fingers, visual disturbances. Blood Pressure is okay.
Has anyone experienced an improvement since they've stopped using toprol?

I, too, was originally prescribed Toprol XL 50 mg last 1/5/06. I took it for about two weeks then stopped and switched to Benicar. Toprol was too potent for me. Although I like the relaxed feeling and being able to fall asleep right away, I dreaded falling too sound asleep. This drug caused me to have nightmares and vivid dreams. Every night, all my fears and phobias seem to play itself out in my dreams. I'd wake up thinking it all actually happened! Very creepy! I also felt that heavy and hollow feeling that someone else here described. I really felt sad and depressed, lack of energy, sleepiness, night sweats, lack of appetite--which would have been a plus :), but with all the other side effects, I just didn't think it was good for me to continue taking it. We are currently on the experimental stage on which meds work with the least horrible symptoms. I am also on HCT and Lisinopril. I stopped taking the latter due to incessant, hacking coughs.

I'm glad this website is here, as now I know my symptoms from all these meds are not at all uncommon. Most doctors will never tell patients what side effects these drugs can cause, so as not to scare or plant ideas in their heads. Their job is to prescribe what they think will control HBP...then they just wait how the patient will react. It's up to us the patients to listen to our bodies and complain if we must when the drug has adverse effects. They will switch you to a better alternative. If that is too costly and wasteful....make sure to ask your doctor to give you samples first before you fill that Rx, because even if you tell the pharmacist not to fill the 30-day prescription, the price per pill is more expensive. At least that's what my Costco pharmacist told me. I really think these doctors get a payback/kickback, what have you, for prescribing these drugs. So, ask a lot of questions before agreeing to take anything. Doctors are humans--not God. Their opinions a
re subjective and YES, they make mistakes too.

I, too, was originally prescribed Toprol XL 50 mg last 1/5/06. I took it for about two weeks then stopped and switched to Benicar. Toprol was too potent for me. Although I like the relaxed feeling and being able to fall asleep right away, I dreaded falling too sound asleep. This drug caused me to have nightmares and vivid dreams. Every night, all my fears and phobias seem to play itself out in my dreams. I'd wake up thinking it all actually happened! Very creepy! I also felt that heavy and hollow feeling that someone else here described. I really felt sad and depressed, lack of energy, sleepiness, night sweats, lack of appetite--which would have been a plus :), but with all the other side effects, I just didn't think it was good for me to continue taking it. We are currently on the experimental stage on which meds work with the least horrible symptoms. I am also on HCT and Lisinopril. I stopped taking the latter due to incessant coughing (more like barking).

I'm glad this website is here, as now I know my symptoms from all these meds are not at all uncommon. Most doctors will never tell patients what side effects these drugs can cause, so as not to scare or plant ideas in their heads. Their job is to prescribe what they think will control HBP...then they just wait how the patient will react. It's up to us the patients to listen to our bodies and complain if we must when the drug has adverse effects. They will switch to a better alternative. If that is too costly and wasteful....make sure to ask your doctor to give you samples first before you fill that Rx, because even if you tell the pharmacist not to fill the 30-day prescription, the price per pill is more expensive. At least that's what my Costco pharmacist told me. I really think these doctors get a payback/kickback, what have you, for prescribing these drugs. So, ask a lot of questions before agreeing to take anything. Doctors are humans--not God. Their opinions are subjective and YES, they make mistakes too.

This past November I got the flu, as did my husband and daugther. The day after Thanksgiving I started to have some difficulty breathing. I went to the doctor and they prescribed an inhaler for me, which did nothing. I went back to the dr. again and she prescribed an anxiety medication and combivent and told me that it was just anxiety. Why would she prescribed combivent (which is strictly used for COPD) if I supposedly just had anxiety? I went to another doctor and he informed me that I had pneumonia and broken ribs. He prescribed prednisone and Advair. Since taking Advair the quality of my life has gone downhill tremendously. I have gained upwards of 30 pounds, have a swollen (and painful) stomach, have lost my voice (I cannot speak above a whisper), I'm having excruciating pain in my right hip joint, it hurts if I put any weight on the heels of my feel, and my back is killing me. Advair has not helped me in ANY way. It has not helped my breathing, in fact, it's made it worse.

When I informed my doctor of this he acted like I was crazy. He said it was completely safe and that I had nothing to worry about. So, I went to a pulmonologist...and he told me to stay on the Advair also! Even though they're aware of the fact that it hasn't helped me! I found it ironic that someone stated on here that they thought the dr.'s might be getting a kickback for prescribing it, because I thought the exact same thing!

I have been off of Advair for 4 days now and there has been no improvment. I called the company that makes Advair and the woman I spoke with said she was "in shock" that the dr.'s kept me on that medication with the side effects I'm having. According to her, 5% of people using Advair will experience "hoarsness," which is a grand understatement...it's more like loss of voice. She said she was filing a report with the FDA and we would receive a copy of it. When I asked her if this could have caused permanent damage, she was honest with me. According to her there is now a study for people who have been on Advair for 2 years, then off of it for a year, and they still have their symptoms. She also said that the study stated that there was no difference between long-term use and short-term use. Which basically means that it doesn't matter if you've been on it for 2 months or 2 years, if you're going to have a reaction...you'll have it.

I'm praying this isn't permanent. I'm only 37 and this is miserable to have to deal with while running my business and taking care of my family.

Hi,

I'm glad I found this board! My doctor was real adament about me not going off of Advair, which was a total change in the normal doctor she has been. I told her I didn't have a problem when I was on Flovent and Serevent, which another doctor had prescribed years earlier. I thought the stressful situation I was going through caused my high blood pressure, but after hearing Advair could cause this I began to question whether or not it was for me. My doctor's attitude has me wondering if they get some kind of kickback for putting patients on it.

Does anyone know if the side-effects can be reversed? I've had the raspy throat, bumps in my mouth that she said were stress related and to avoid acidy food to help get rid of it, my blood pressure is up and I've gained weight where my weight was stabalizing for awhile. Again, I attributed it to stress. Now...I'm wondering!

I tried Asthmacort years ago and it didn't work for me. I'm going to ask her to try Pulmacort next. Singulair helped until I went around a stray we'd taken in for a week and it has gotten my asthma out of control now. I took the Advair again, but want to go to the doctors with info to take her to back my reasoning for changing meds. If she continues to have an attitude...I may change doctors. I'm not going to stay on something not good for me. As is, I have to go to a sleep doctor next week. Now I'm wondering if some of those problems are Advair too and I do have the frequent urination.

Thanks to all of you for posting your problems! It helps others know they're not alone and we can tell our doctors just that!!!

Susette

I guess I am a 1% too. I went to the Doctor, who told me I had an infection. He prescribed me levaquin, gave two trial boxes and told me to take one then and go down the hall and fill a script. I took it and walked down the hall (there was no paper in the box describing it or the side effects. Within 15 minutes I was sneezing and itching, felt like my face was starting to swell up...serious metallic taste in my mouth. It happened fast. As I was getting the prescription filled, I asked the pharmacist if anyone reported being allergic to this stuff. He said, "Highly unlikely, this is the best antibiotic you can get in my opinion." I thought, OK..I'll take your word for it. How stupid is that? Fast forward to 36 hours later and I still had not gone to sleep. I was WIDE awake. I was so awake I could have run a marathon. I have some experience with psychedelics and for hours 2 through 24 I felt like I had taken LSD or mescaline. I was hallucinating, colors were very vivid, sounds sounded like I was in a tunnel, very rapid and circular thinking. There was definite pressure built up in my head...bad headache and my ears would pop if I would yawn, like I was on a plane. If I had no psychedelic experience I would have really lost it I think. I became alternatingly anxious and depressed. It has been 4 days and I can sleep if I take 50 mgs of Benadryl. I have no muscle pain from it that I can tell...just a highly affected nervous system..and it has affected it more and for a longer duration than any illegal drug I have ever taken. If you are researching this drug take it from me..tell you Doc to shove it, ask her if she is getting a kickback for it. I am scared for people out there...I am fairly experienced with drugs...don't mess with this levaquin stuff...please don't give to your kids!