Klonopin symptoms and conditions

I think that I finally figured out why I am so physically and mentally sick. I received the mirena almost 2 years ago and I was a true advocate of the product...I love it!! About 6 months ago I started to have panic attacks and anxiety (i have never experienced this before) it was so bad that I barely made it to work everyday and could no longer handle being out in public. My PCP placed me on different types of anti-depressants (which made me depressed). Currently I take Budeprion which has decreased my anxiety but I do not feel like myself. The past month and a half I wake up with the feeling of morning sickness (the numerous pregnancy test say that I am not), have headaches, low energy levels and little motivation. I was pretty sure that my hormones levels must be "off" but my PCP and OB insisted that there is no way that my symptoms have anything to do with my hormones because my child is almost 2 years old and I am 29 years old. I have gone through numerous tests on my gallbladder and other organs to find the cause of these symptoms that I have and Everything is Fine. After reading the stories on this website I now know that I do not need anti-depressants and I am not going crazy...I just need to get the Mirena removed.

I have posted before and have been on the mirena going on three years. My symptoms started about April of this year; severe anxiety with all the symptoms: chills, panic attacks, even in my sleep, insomnia, depression, numbness and tingling in my hands and feet, shortness of breath, chest pain, the works... My doctor put me on celexa and my psychiatrist put me on klonopin to sleep. Note: I had never needed these types of medication or any kind of mental specialist ever, in my life. I have one daughter she is 2 and a half, and a very happy home.
My anxiety has gotten so much better since I have been on the meds. but the paranoia kept me from taking them for at least a month.
I can't say the mirena caused it but my doctor says that it is possible. A hormonal imbalance can be caused by your bc, The longer you take it the greater the risk.(for some women)
I have horrible mood swings still... and my sex drive is ok, but not what is used to be, but she did warn me of this before-hand. The acne and weight are my biggest problems now. I cannot stop eating, and I am not depressed, just so very very hungry even an hour after a big meal. My doctor said this is because of the hormones. Your body thinks its pregnant and will react as such, so as we all know; all of our bodies react differently to a pregnancy, morning sickness, swelling, sex drive, these things are all different for different women. It has not been a picnic for me and for others I know that it may be an ideal bc. I will have mine removed this coming week and will update if I see a change.
Thanks for reading.
emg1223

I have had the Mirena for about 3 years now, I first started having noticeable symptoms about 6 months ago. I started having panic attacks out of left field. I am a very happy person, with a good life so I could not understand what was going on with me. I thought I was going crazy. My daughter had to go with my mother for about 2 weeks as I didn't want her to see me the way I was: having panic attacks, paranoia, depression, crying fits. I was put on celexa to help these problems. It worked for the panic attacks, but I'm still moody and can only sleep if I take a 2.0mg of klonopin. I have never had these problems before. I cannot say it was the mirena, but I doubt I have any other reason for it. I recently started getting really bad cystic acne on my face, chest, back, and even on my scalp. I have gained about 25 pounds and cannot get it off for the world. I only have one daughter and a lot of help from my husband and my mother, so I can't understand the feelings of fatigue that plague me. I have a horrible year. Just the anxiety and panic attacks alone have changed me completely. I thought I was abnormal and sometimes just wanted to die. I do feel better, but as I read, I wonder if taking it out will help with the weight, acne and fatigue as my other problems seem to have just vanished after only 2 weeks on celxa, which I thought strange but was thankful nonetheless. I spoke with my doctor today about removal and she gave me a rx for the acne and said we should think about it.... I think I'm all thought out.....

37 - Dx'd w/ Hyperthyroidism at 20 and have been on levoxyl since then. I started at .075 and was increased to .1 when I got pregnant w/ my 1st child at 29. I always thought I had anxiety so until I started reading the posts I didn't put it together. I was always shaky and nervous and super skinny before I was dx'd with hyper and after the treatment I was still anxious so I thought it was a different problem.

The anxiety has gotten much worse in the last few years w/ pressure, family, and career so I went to a psych last week and he gave me lexapro and klonopin. The klonopin had done nothing and I was treated 10 years ago with Zoloft which made things MUCH worse so I won't take the lexapro.

I recently switched to Synthroid .1 because I thought maybe the generic meds didn't work as well. I developed a small rash on my elbow a week or 2 later, then a week after that I got 2 big patches on my back over my kidneys. A bout 2 weeks later I developed a HORRIBLE itchy rash over my whole body. I thought the itching would drive me insane. I saw a dr who gave me prednisone (made me feel awful), after I took the dose pack it came back like crazy. I went to the ED and the dr gave me scabies medication (I was mortified) but nobody else in the house had anything. I went to the derm and they biopsied two areas and a week later have not given me the result. Meanwhile, I'm back on levoxyl and the rash is slowly getting better. It must have been the cause. Anybody else get that??

Hi. Im a nurse who was put in Topamax for mood stabilization in January of this year. Tapered up from 25 mg a night and now am on 200 mg a night. I have lost ZERO pounds although I have no appetite and cant stand the taste of a soda. I just wanted to share my nightmare. I have not had any tingling or numbness, which is a main side effect.

I do have a terrible metallic taste in my mouth and my mouth never feels clean. YUCK. Sodas flat. My personality is flat.. I am exhausted. My friends say the person they knew is gone, my appetite is gone.

My back hurts all the time like it's very tight in the kidney region....I cant spell, I cant remember yesterday, I sleep all the time when Im not working...I drop things, I don't remember what I was doing 10 minutes ago, I feel like I am on the outside of my body looking in.

My vision is blurred somewhat at times.

I work for a neuro-psychiatrist. I have decided to taper myself down. I don't think it has done anything but made me so flat I am not here anymore. Who wants that? Looking back, I was not in need of mood stabilization but a vacation.

The only thing it has helped me with is it has stopped the desire for Klonopin which is normal for Topamax. It works on the receptors in your brain that make you crave benzo's. I took my Klonopin as prescribed.

Im thinking I want my old self back. I miss laughter. :(

I take a combo of Zoloft and Klonopin for anxiety. The medication helps control my anxiety problems, but now I suffer from severe headaches, upset stomach and weight gain. The biggest problem was my headaches. My Dr. suggested stretching exercises for my headaches and stiff neck. The stretching seemed to relieve my overall headaches, but would a trigger spot for an incredible flash of pain when I turned my head a certain way. I've found that resistant pressure seemed to help tremendously.

For example: If my headache was in a specific place just behind my left ear, I would place the heel of my left over the pain and push my head towards the heel of my hand and hold for ten seconds. If it was general tension in the back of my neck that is causing the pain, I would place the heel of my hand on my forehead and push my head toward my hand and hold for 10 seconds. Repeat as necessary. Hope this helps.

I see there are a lot people suffering from headaches so I thought I would share what kind of works for me. Does anyone else have any "works for me" stories?

Finally people are telling the truth about this drug.
I am 17 and have had trouble falling asleep since I was two years old. After a few not noticeable prescriptions was prescribed 15mg of Remeron. I have eaten healthy my whole life and never really cared for sweets before this drug. I literally was eating an entire pie every night. I couldn't even think about anything except for how hungry I was. Running out of sweets was honestly what I imagine heroin withdrawals are like. This went on for a few months and I gained about ten pounds. I recently I ruptured my spleen about a two months ago and have been in constant pain since then. Because of the pain I barely sleep at all. 2-3 hours of solid sleep max, so I was prescribed klonopin and went cold turkey on the remeron. I am now pretty much pain free and more social. Is it possible the remeron increased the pain?

I was prescribed budeprion150xr on April 6 after an ER visit having MDD and took over 6mg of klonopin..anyway during the day and a half stay I asked the nurses desk if I could get my bupropion SR 200mg and was working fine and they said they would call the hospital pharmacy and never got at 7am,12pm,nothing then I talked to the attending doctor at 5pm and told that I couldn't take it. I had severe headaches and ask also for Advil or Tylenol..nothing. Next day same excuse...horrible hospital. the prescribed me the newer budeprion. took it next day and felt sleepy and more depressed I slept three hours in the afternoon,feel irritable,robotic and an urge to leave and never come back to where I live. 7 days of hell..I am going back to bupropion 200mg sr...what a nightmare!!

I am 20 years old and have been on Yasmin for PCOS/mood swings/irregular periods since I was about 16 or 17. This past December, I was out with friends when I suddenly had this awful, all-over terrible shaky feeling, thinking I was going to pass out, die, or vomit. I had pressure all over and my tongue felt thick in my mouth, lump in throat and had to go home immediately. I thought I was getting some kind of flu. Weird feelings kept continually happening to me every day since then and the symptoms change over time and last for different lengths. I've mostly experienced tightness/strain/pressure in my throat, lump of pressure caught there, almost numb pressure sensation under my tongue, jaw, and up into my ears, an ache/pressure in chest and sternum. I stopped taking Yasmin, switched to Aviane which made me nauseous constantly and have been off BC over a month now. I have been told it's anxiety constantly by two different doctors, gone to ER, had blood work, thyroid checked, ENT stuck scope down my throat, everything. I was given Klonopin which never seemed to do anything to me, was given meds for acid reflux which did nothing. Even after getting off BC my emotions have also gone haywire and I feel at an all-time low and this is ruining my life and my relationship with my boyfriend. I finally gave in and tried Xanax. The first two times I've taken it, I felt great for the rest of the evening and slept well. Today was the third day and I felt fine for about two or three hours and the pressure in my throat and under my jaw is back again. Does anyone think this could be anxiety or something else, or does it truly seem to be Yasmin?? I'm at my wits end and would like to go back on the pill for my emotions/periods if possible but I'm so afraid in case that caused my problems. I feel helpless and always in pain and discomfort.

I went to the Doctor January 23, 2009 for sinus drainage and congestion. I received the Kenalog 40 shot not knowing what it was they were giving me I just thought it was just like any other shot that I had received. They didn't explain any side effects or anything to me. I knew when I got it that it burned more than usual. I always get a shot in my hip and it never hurt like this shot. I went to bed that night and I woke up out of a dead sleep around 2:00 a.m. and my heart was beating out of my chest. I didn't know what was going on. I then had to calm myself and then I looked up the shot on google and found all these horrible things about it. The past 2 weeks my symptoms have gotten worse. I have felt dizzy, tired, loss of appetite. I just haven't felt myself at all. I haven't been able to drive because of the dizziness. I haven't been able to work, Thank God my boss is very understanding. It just sucks and to read all of your stories it has me really thinking. I really think this shot shouldn't be given to people and it SHOULD be taken off the market.

My serious hell started at age 43 and I am 49 now. Diagnosis was hormonal changes. My doctor put me on Zoloft, klonopin, xanax, flexril, pain killers, and prescribed many other meds to control my very frightening panic attacks, depression, fibromyalgia, migraine, arthritis type pains, knee pains, insomnia, restless legs, tingling, numbness, hot flashes, and many other indescribable symptoms.
Nothing helped. I stopped going to work and stayed in bed most of the year and a year later stopped taking all of the prescription meds because of the serious side effects etc. I continued the Zoloft though. Zoloft helped with my panic attacks but all other symptoms are intact and some new symptoms have joined the list.
New development is that about 6 months ago I started feeling very tired, drained, exhausted, thinking became slow; weight won’t come off (put on 40 lbs last couple of years). My depression and other symptoms listed above worsened.
Now in Dec. of 2008 I got my annual physical done and the blood test showed that my thyroid hormone was low (hypothyroidism) so my doctor put me on Levoxyl which drove me even more crazy (manic depressive type symptom, restlessness, blurry vision, and vomiting. Ear infections, sore throat, cough that won’t go away for weeks. But there were moments here and there when I found myself feeling good and happy but the moments didn't last longer than half hour. There was one week when I didn't get any migraines and my appetite reduced but then there were times when I felt very very hungry and ended up eating a lot.
Fed up with my indescribable hell and the doctors I decided to check into some alternative medicines, home remedies, and herbs. A friend who is a nurse and has been going through worse hell recommended that I start taking Thyroidinum 30cc, a homeopathic tincture, and slowly stop the Levoxyl. So I ordered it online. Then I researched on Black kohosh and bought it in liquid form from whole foods. I also bought chamomile liquid form and progesterone cream. I looked for bioidentical hormonal creams but didn't find any so decided that I will try progesterone cream.
OnDec. 26, 2009 I started taking Thyroidinum 30cc 10 drops in 1 ounce of water three times a day and at night before going to bed I started taking black kohosh only 10 drops in water. Recommended dose of black kohosh is 30 drops in water three times a day (total 90 drops a day). I was little afraid to take that much because I read some reports which said that it can cause liver damage. I tried it couple of times during the day but it made me feel funny so I stopped taking it during the day time.
Now I don’t know what’s making me feel good whether it’s Levoxyl adjusting to my body or Thyroidinum 30cc or black kohosh. Believe it or not I have never slept like this in my whole life before as I have in the past one week. I go to bed at 10 PM and wake up at 9 AM. I have no idea what happens in between. I am happy. Energy is great. I go out to do things I had lost interest in in the past 6 years. No migraines. No joint pains. No body pains. It almost feels like I am woken up from a very long sleep. I don't know what’s making me feel good. It’s too early to tell but I will keep you all posted if anything changes. Please give me feedback regarding my condition and the meds I am on. I will also be posting this message for the greatest and the best homeopathic doctor Pankaj Varma /Max Varma and see if I can get some help in that forum. I started Thyroidinum without consulting a homeopathic doctor and I want to quit Levoxyl and Zoloft in the next week or two. I am afraid to do so but I am really fed up with the doctors heavily medicating me for the past 6 years and all I have felt is minute help in couple of symptoms and gotten twenty additional side effects from the prescriptions. I have not had a normal life since I turned 43 and I will be turning 49 in Feb this year.

somebody help! the first year on yaz was great but then started the HORRIBLE panic attacks. they never ended. i was in bed for 3 months straight literally only went to the bathroom and lost like 25 pounds. im 5 10 and weigh 107. i had severe depression, my hair was falling out, diagnosed with panic disorder, and POTS. my blood pressure would drop to 50/20 every time i stood up. all this NEVER happened before. my eyes are so dry i cant wear contacts. i have derealization/depersonalization. it soo scary. im only 20 and feel like a 60 year old. i am always tired. i can sleep at any given time. i have trouble staying awake on the road. i have been on 4 anti depressants and klonopin. i never had anxiety in my life before. i think i am going crazy everyday. i don't know what to do anymore. i finally stopped taking yaz 3 weeks ago and slightly better but still not even close to what i was a couple years ago. how could they put this pill on the market? this is absolutely horrible.

ive been on levothyroxine for about 6 years...... for an underactive thyroid gland and i am stunned reading all these side effects as for about 4 years ive suffered from severe joint paint, fatigue ,very low moods , foggy brain, mood swings hair loss, all i want to do is sleep and even then im still tired.
I am 35 and feel about 80 as my back hips legs calfs and feet all hurt so bad.
I have been to the doctors so many times and got no where.
ive been told your in pain because your depressed( who would not be depressed ) but i said i am depressed cause im in such pain.
i remember asking once if it was due to the thyroid or the drug and the doctor said your levels are fine and the drug gives no side effects.
I feel like stopping it right now to be honest.
I only got it after my third pregnancy and i remember reading once it can correct itself as it could be caused by pregnancy ????? any ideas.
ive copied and pasted a lot of these comments and i will be making a trip to doctors to be fobbed off again im sure ....but its worth a try

Hello, told my doctor today of leg cramps, facial rashes and numbness in feet....and specifically asked if they were related to Synthroid? He said no, I have been on it for 2months...and just upped script to .50mcg....and cramps are worse....I am going off the meds. I am in excellent health @ 64 and only went to this Doctor because of back pain.....was tested for a myriad of things...I had none of the symptoms for hypothyroidism.....what natural remedies are there for this . E.

As a fairly healthy 34 year old male, I went to my doctor for help getting over poison ivy mid-July 2008. I received the Kenalog 40 injection without being advised on any potential side effects. Within 36 hours I started having severe anxiety attacks with spikes in my blood pressure and vision problems (spotty, increased sensitivity to light). These attacks continued for 4-8 weeks during which time I underwent an MRI (head), stress test, and blood work to make sure nothing else was causing my symptoms.....conclusion: everything normal. My doctor prescribed me Xanax to help with the out of control anxiety. Started feeling more normal 60-90 days later. I started trying to run on my treadmill to get back in shape at the 90 day mark, and once again....symptoms returned. It's been a couple of weeks and I'm getting closer to being back to "normal", but I have no idea how long it will be before the Kenalog has completely metabolized out of my system, and I can get on with life. This has been a horrible experience and I would caution anyone from receiving this drug!

My 5 1/2 year old son began taking 4mg Singulair in the p.m. and an inhaler (asmanex) in the a.m. We were still having trouble controlling the asthma and his Sing dose was raised to 5mg. & within 1 week of the increase he began having terrible facial tics and aggravated behavior (defiant, poor listening, easily frustrated and angered) The tics were in the form of opening and closing his mouth, as if you were trying to clear your clogged ears after a plane flight. This caused him much pain in his jaws and facial muscles, so he would tic and then cry as he was in pain. This ramped up his anxiety and it made the ticking worse. He has been off of all asthma medication (cold turkey) for 5 full days. He has episodes where the tics happen for 10 min -1/2 hr, other times during the day it is one here and one there. He does not want to leave the house to do anything, even his favorite activities. Thank god I found this site (and others like it), as I got some answers and some hope. We went to see my cousin this week who is a neurologist and he never heard of the correlation of Singulair and neurologic side effects like these. He said that (hopefully) the medication side effects will cycle through and resolve the ticking and behavioral changes. If not we are probably looking at a Tic Disorder which is in the Tourettes Family.He put my son on a very low dose of Klonopin to mellow out his anxiety and help reduce the tics, but has only been on it for 1 1/2 days and it usually takes a wk or 2 for full absorption and results.I have since sent him and my pediatrician and allergist links to this site and others. I think that I see some improvement in my son, yesterday I thought he did better and my husband thought it was a worse day, I think we have totally lost our perspective and objectivity on this. If anyone out there has a time frame on when they saw significant recovery and positive changes I would love to hear from you. This is a total nightmare and if it is this drug, someone is going to pay. My prayers go out to all who are going thru this.

I was on Luvox since it became available in the United States;Over 12 years. I was prescribed Luvox mainly for my OCD and as the years passed, I noticed obvious emotional blunting, lethargy;Mind was in a fog, retarded ejaculation, the works.

Have slowly reduced dosage from 300 Mg/Dy to 100 Mg/Dy with INCREDIBLE RESULTS such as greater energy, weight loss, feeling less "detached" and "cold," SOME anger (harmless & intermittent), lucid thinking-NO change in OCD symptoms whatsoever. Less impotence-All positives.

Will soon begin taking Choline and other B-Vitamin supplements to ease the final stages of withdrawal from this highly addictive drug that thankfully has the shortest half life of the SSRIs.

Turns out that Luvox leaves the brain BEFORE it leaves some of the internal organs it "lingers" in before total clearance from the body.

Plan to deal with my OCD and severe depression with a combination of therapy;A serious attitude change, nutrition, SENSIBLE supplementation and exercise.

Will STAY on my Klonopin (2 1/2 Mg/Dy) because I have a phobic mindset RE: My panic attacks which the Klonopin has kept at bay for the most part.

ALL psychotropics, neuroleptics and other "mind candy" is toxic and usually only MASKS the symptoms, giving the illusion of "treating the symptoms" of a particular disorder (set of).

And for what its worth, I USED to be super-pro medication. Just too many bad side-effects from various medications, including Luvox over most of my life.

Plan on going off of the last 100 Mg of Luvox VERY, VERY SLOWLY;Don't need any "Seretonin rebound syndrome."

Sometimes with the adderall, I get super anxious and I tend to eat A LOT from sheer nervousness. It's almost an OCD feeling. I do have ADD and it does help a lot, especially at work, but the eating thing is so weird. When I temper the Adderall with a Klonopin, I feel much better. It just seems weird to me to be mixing an upper with a downer, but my doc tells me they work in different ways in the brain. I also get really hot with the adderall. Anyone else experience that. I'm always freezing cold, but not anymore. And, ladies, beware, it will mess with your periods somewhat. It can delay them before you get a gusher. Sorry to be so graphic, but that's been my experience.

Started the z pack for bronchitis and sinus infection. First symptoms was stomach cramps, diarrhea. The next and most disturbing symptoms were extreme agitation, anxiety, depression. Have finished the last of the medicine 4 days ago and am still feeling the residual anxiety, agitation, general feeling of unease. Will never take this medicine again.

i was prescribed effexor xr by the mayo clinic in mn. while living there for a year. i had been on three other antidepressants before and this one has really given me a sense of peace. i have had to go off of a lot of medicines and quite smoking cold turkey so maybe i have a stronger tolerance. i haven't had one bad side effect. in fact, i have probably been healthier since it kicked in two years ago due to my mood and mind being in a better state. don't get me wrong, i still have low times but not any lower than the person who doesn't suffer depression. it also helps with anxiety but i do take another med for that called klonopin 2mg. i think it takes awhile for the person to find whats right for them. i suffered horribly through wellbutrin, thought my head was going to blow off when i didn't feel bugs crawling around. prozac put weight on me but helped, just made me a little to jittery and the other one i took was zoloft. i didn't have any side effects with that just didn't seem to keep me above a sadness level i needed so that is when they switched me to effexor. please just know there is help for all and bravo to those who can go without but i don't want to be sad and unhappy ever again to the degree of not wanting to get out of bed.

I thought I had sinuses for years..got test for allergies and was founded to be allergic to nothing! Despite having at least 3 infections a year and on my 3rd nose spray, zyrtec, nyquil at night..ect..because I was contantly congested and had drainage & headaches..3-4 infections a year.. She ordered a cat scan and was told that my sinuses had spurs but was clear; my septum was severely deviated and I needed a ENT to have surgery to correct it...The ENT wanted to do major surgery which included a plastic surgeon... so I went for a second opinion to another ENT that was well known who told me I had rebound headaches..and referred me to a neurologist..my goal was to get off all the meds (nose sprays, nettie pot, antihistamines..nyquil..ect..) ..he was a dinosaur and was convinced that although I had a severe deviated septum~he didnt want to do surgery but wanted me to stop all meds I was on and to go to his neurologist that he liked *(another dinosaur) who put me on Topamax..50mg in the morning and 50 mg at night..I had panic attacks right away so he added 20 mg of klonopin at night to help with that and flexeril to help me relax...he hinted at me going to a pysch doctor which pissed me off right as if I was psychosomatic or something... and stiffled me a few times when I tried to talk to him about my drainage and congestion~he wanted to hear none of that because he already made his mind up what I had and "sinuses" didn't jive with his impression that I had migraines.

All of the sudden within days I really did have migraines..they just hit me! HARD...I had to call him and tell him I was in excruciating pain on the right side...he called in Imitrex inj. and they worked within 5 min. and my Topamax went from 100 mg total > 250 mg/day! I had at least 6 shots since and the side effects of the Topamax have profoundly changed my personality...I have no word recall..like being stoned in the 70's but worse because I have a special needs child and I need to engage her and am like a zombie! I have ALL the same sx that are mentioned but notice one that isnt noted which is my tongue is raw as well as my throat...all the way down into my stomach...I am having to take zantac for acid indigestion~it is like my insides are raw!
I am also having extreme constipation...I lost weight in the first 2 mos. where I couldn't eat nothing..but now I am eating cause it's there but it is not leaving me even when I take multiply doses of my old standby... I am drinking tons of water..at least 64 oz a day but it is not helping. My eyes are burning at times...I need my reading glasses all the time now. Some days my heart is beating out of my chest for no reason..at rest..I just feel ill like something is not right at all! I don't go nowhere & have become a hermit. My headaches are gone but I feel I am just a shell of a person and want to get off...I am slowly weaning off by doing it 25mg at a time for one week at a time....then another 25mg another week......I know I will have migraines but I will just bite the bullet and suffer through it till I am off this poison....I have some injections left..MY main goal was to be off meds and these side effects are horrible! Once I am completely off I am going to a good ENT that can do the surgery to fix my sinuses so that I can hopefully be drug free as I intended. I too wasn't told of these side effects at all. So much time & $$$$ wasted! I think if I stay on this too much longer it will truly do long term harm!

I have been on Loestrin 24 for 2 years!! And I am finally getting off... and so happy to find this site! I have had to be put on Topamax because my migraines became so bad, which helped my weight gain (that I attributed to my own depression that I thought was my own fault!) I didn't even realize bc could cause depression but it all makes sense! I came on here to find out if Loestrin has been the cause of my SEVERE HAIR LOSS over the past year and a half! When I started taking it, I was also going through a stressful situation and thought that was the cause, but have now realized that my life is back to normal that something else must be causing it. I tried to get my Dr. to take me off of Loestrin about a year ago due to the EXTREME nausea, dizziness, headaches and fatigue that it was causing and he decided that I should just be put on Topamax because I was just a Migraine sufferer! What a nightmare. I can't wait to switch tomorrow!!

Hi, all. I'm 30 and have been taking Yasmin since Oct. 2006. Yesterday, I finally went to my OB/GYN and asked to take me off it. I can't believe it's taken me so long to realize it was the cause of my many health problems.

Like others have said, I've had many side effects but never connected any of them to Yasmin - until a friend was thinking about using it and told me she'd read it had bad side effects such as mood and GI problems. Once she said this, everything clicked.

Immediately after starting Yasmin, I started gaining weight and had terrible depression. Crying ALL the time. I thought both were because I had started a new job that was very stressful, and I've had struggled with depression my whole life. But this was severe enough that I've had thoughts of suicide and my actions really worried my husband. I asked my doctor to increase my Prozac dosage.

In June 2007, I started having migraines. The first one was so bad that my husband took me to the ER and had me get a CAT scan. It was clear, but the migraines have continued about once a month since then. I've been prescribed Maxalt for when they occur.

Also in 2007, I started having GI problems, especially bloating, cramps, heartburn, gas, and quick-onset diarrhea. The diarrhea got so bad, I'd have to leave parties, work, etc. One day, I didn't make it to the bathroom in time (thankfully, I was at home), was in tears, and my hubby said to see a GI doctor. I got the full workup, including a colonoscopy, which was clear.

In 2008, I started having Restless Legs Syndrome and extreme fatigue. It'd get tingles/pain in my calves when watching TV, in movies, on airplanes, and when asleep. I would sleep 12 hours and still be exhausted. I'd go to bed at 7 or 8 p.m. Finally, I had a sleep study in March 2008 and was diagnosed with RLS and was prescribed Klonopin.

This spring, I've had terrible sinus problems and headaches. I've had allergies before, but never this bad. My Allegra isn't working anymore. I have incredible post-nasal drip and sneezing. Go through Kleenex like crazy. My doctor prescribed Nasonex.

And finally, since Oct. 2006, I've gained about 60 pounds while on Yasmin. I chalked it up to stress from a new job and planning a wedding. Yes, I gained weight WHILE I was engaged. In the time between buying my wedding dress and my wedding, I gained so much weight that my dress had to be let out. I thought it was because of stress, not exercising and a poor diet - but now I realize it shouldn't have caused me to gain THAT much weight. I've continued to gain weight since I've been married.

Now that I put this all together, I realize I am on THREE NEW MEDICATIONS, increased my Prozac, had a colonoscopy, a sleep study, and a CAT scan, and gained 60 pounds ALL since I started Yasmin.

And aside from the medical problems and prescriptions, my lifestyle has changed and I use many over-the-counter drugs. Of course, I'm overweight. I use antacids about 5X a week for heartburn, simethicone about 3X a week for gas, Advil about 2X a week for headaches, sleep all the time, have unusually strong depression, still have diarrhea, and have terrible sinus/runny nose constantly.

I feel so stupid that I never connected the dots. And I realize as I'm typing this that I sound like a hypochondriac because of all my drugs and doctor visits! Most of all, I'm outraged, and truthfully, very sad, that I got married at a very heavy weight because of Yasmin.

I'll post again in a couple of weeks to let you know how I'm feeling off Yasmin. I pray it's much better. Thanks for this forum to share our experiences.

-Katie

After having a semi-break down yesterday which included 3 separate occasions of rage, suicidal thoughts, and crying jags, I have decided that one of my medications is at fault. I thought at first that it was the Klonopin that I started taking April 1st. This confused me because, after initially taking the Klonopin, I had a follow up with doc after two weeks and it was working great. I then got on Yaz around April 20th. In the last month, I have had increasing mood swings, horrible depression, complete exhaustion, inability to focus on anything, stomach aches, heart palpitations, soar throat, coughing, and my back has been killing me. The worst is the depression and bouts of rage. I was all set to blame it on the Klonopin until I read this site. Well, I'm going to axe the Yaz first and see if things improve. It makes sense though, I been feeling like I did in the worst time of pregnancy.

I was prescribed prednisone for an allergic response to crab. I had been given it before for out of control asthmatic bronchitis and had experienced the usual, muscle pain, strange metallic taste in mouth, water retention, insomnia and elevated BP. But after the crab allergy I was given it IV all at once. The next morning my fingers were all tingly and that pins and needles thing began to travel up my arm, also I was anxious, really anxious and I felt like my eyes weren't focusing right. I took some benadryl and felt a bit better. For the next six weeks I was in hell. I felt absolutely insane. I had panic disorder and only felt OK at home, so I avoided going out at all costs. A visit to my doctor yielded a diagnosis of steroid reaction and prescriptions for zyrtec and klonopin. At 7 weeks out, one morning, I was just fine again, no panic BP normal.

Undaunted, I took 20 mgs one day a few months later, had to drive 12 hours on inflamed back and thought the anti-inflammatory action would be worth it. 7 more weeks of insanity resulted. Never again. I now know what crazy feels like.