Lethargy symptoms and conditions

stomach pains, hair loss, hand tremors, lethargy

I was fitted with the Mirena in January 2009 as I have PCOS and I had bled constantly throughout 2008. They thought that the Mirena would be the best course of action as BCP just never agree with me.

I was ok until around March, when the coil REALLY kicked in. I had mood swings, lethargy, a real 'whatever' attitude and worst of all - my extremely healthy sex drive just got up and left. It has affected my relationship with my fiance as we only got together in December 2008 so the Mirena has dogged our entire relationship.

I finally got it removed in August, and for the first two weeks things were great, then they just went back to how they were March-August. I am going to my GP tomorrow as I want advice - the medical profession put me here, they can help me out. I want my notes to be updated with how the Mirena has affected me.

I even had to sit in A&E for hours as it had moved and caused me to bleed heavily!

If you haven't had it fitted - don't!

The experience is not with me, but my daughter, who is a sufferer of PCOS and experienced acne problems She's been on Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo since January 2007, and received positive results for acne and regulating menstrual cycle, with minimal side effects. Since being switched to generic tri-lo sprintec (July 29), she's experiencing lethargy, some headaches, moodiness, acne, and slight depression, which is very unlike her. What I recommend to everyone on this website is to submit adverse event to the pharmaceutical company, Teva. They should have a website and or a call line for presenting your concerns. I will be doing this because this drug definitely needs to be reported and possibly pulled from the market.

Over the past few months, I have been experiencing a variety of very bothersome symptoms and after trying to think of what medications I have recently started, the only two that I could come up with were Omeprazole and Celebrex. My symptoms are these: I have difficulty getting a "deep" breath. When I Iay down to sleep at night, I feel like I can hardly breathe. My face and neck are very swollen. I wake up in the morning with bright red cheeks and hot to the touch. I am extremely tired and depressed lately but have just thought that it was because of my increasingly bad health (chronic lower back pain and burning pain in my legs that has not "let up" for nearly 12 years now. I have recently gone on disability and this has been a very depressing experience for me after having worked and enjoyed working my entire life since I graduated high school). However, the extreme lethargy and depression I have been feeling has just been for about the past 6 to 9 months, and I started taking Omeprazole approximately November 2008. Other symptoms are swollen legs and feet....when I am out on a very hot summer day, my fingers become so swollen that by the time I get home, I cannot remove my rings from my fingers! I have begun to wake up in the morning with the most debilitating leg cramps! I have to hop out of bed and walk around to make them stop. My hip bones hurt so bad sometimes that I can hardly stand it! I have pain all over my body...it feels like it's in my bones. My joints are swollen and painful....I can hardly lift my leg and bend my knees to even get into my shower. My feet feel numb sometimes. I just ache all over! By the way.....I am a female...53 years old. Please.....has anyone else out there experienced any of these symptoms and have attributed them either to Omeprazole or Celebrex?? I feel like I'm about to lose my mind (by the way...that's another side effect I just thought of...I have a terrible time concentrating or focusing on anything! My paperwork is so backed up that soon the creditors will be after me!). But I just feel like I could lay down and sleep away the entire day and not give it a second thought. It is taking all the energy I have just to commit to typing out this posting! PLEASE HELP!! HAS ANYONE ELSE OUT THERE EXPERIENCED THE SAME SIDE EFFECTS I HAVE AND ARE BLAMING IT ON OMEPRAZOLE (OR CELEBREX?). I am on a variety of medications because of 3 failed back surgeries, however, these are the only 2 medications that I have RECENTLY begun taking. THANKS FOR ANY HELP THAT ANYONE CAN GIVE ME!!

i am 24 and i was on loestrin 24 for 8 months. at first i didn't notice any side effects but gradually i became lethargic, moody, and i lost my sex drive almost completely. none of those things described me in the slightest before i started taking this pill, in fact i used to wonder if pms was a myth...now i KNOW its so real.anyway because of the lethargy i was having i went to the doctor to see if maybe i was having thyroid problems, i wasn't but he did tell me that studies he has seen link hormonal birth control to breast cancer and advised me to get off the pill. kinda scary i know. i did quit and ive been off for about a month now and i swear its like night and day, im not moody, i have energy and my intimate life is back to normal, im so happy i quit.

Had my IUD inserted Feb 11 2009 with no complications. The first 2 months I bleed non stop (had ultrasound to confirm placement and had my hemoglobin level checked). By July I had gained 24lbs and looked 4 months pregnant. My hair was oily, my skin was oily and breaking out, and I was no able to sleep at night. Only pro so far was the lack of my menses - only smearing for a couple of days every month. I had it removed since my husband had his vasectomy and felt great for 3 weeks... then the trouble started. I bloated up, and my GI system shut down. I was so constipated no matter what I tried it was unsuccessful. My back was killing me and I felt like my insides were falling out. My breasts swelled up, were warm, and nipples actually discharged a lot of what looked like milk!!!! (pregnancy tests -'ve). My headaches were monumental - nothing got rid of them! II also felt cold... it didn't matter how hot it was outside of if the humidex made it impossible to breath- I would be wrapped up in a blanket, and sweater and have the chills. had insane waves of nausea and vomiting and this lingering lethargy that would have me sleeping 10 hours a night (never heard my 1yr & 2 1/2yr old at night) and could nap at least 2x/day. My doctor repeated an abdominal and pelvic ultrasound and found nothing wrong. It is now 3 months post removal and I am just beginning to feel like myself. The back pain is still there but faint, unfortunately the weight has not come off and my abdomen is still distended but not as firm as before. I am praying as time goes by the weight disappears. I wish I knew all this before hand.

Since on 0.175mcg of synthyroid after thyroidectomy and neck dissection two years ago, I have started to feel great fatigue? I can go to sleep at anytime during the afternoon. I also have a lethargy and malaise of the mind! If you mention this to the G.P., nurse or consultant you get vague looks!! Can anyone help?

After reading all of the comments, I am embarrassed to say that I have taken omeprazole for the past 2 years. Originally, I began taking it for nausea from GERD. I began taking it soon after the death of my cousin (as I figured the anxiety from her death caused my stomach issues). I began to become depressed shortly after, which I also attributed to her death, financial issues, etc. However, when life got better I was still depressed and anxious. Two years passed and I still couldn't figure out why I felt so bad mentally. Not to mention I was mildly nauseous most of the time and NEVER had a normal appetite. I would only know it was time to eat when I felt faint. Light-headedness, stomach cramps and lethargy were also side-effects that I experienced almost daily. The worst part was that I didn't know if the nausea was caused by my stomach issues or by the omeprazole. It was obviously the omeprazole. About 2 months ago I switched to Prevacid which caused much less nausea but many of the other side effects were still there although a little less. I weened myself off completely (which I would recommend to anyone) and I actually feel like my old self again mentally and physically. I didn't realize how low my energy was until this last week that I've been off those meds. I'm actually HAPPY again, I WANT TO EAT something, I have ENERGY, and no light-headedness or stomach pain at all. It saddens me to think that I spent over the last 2 years feeling this way needlessly and thinking that I was crazy. There ARE other alternatives to acid reflux, GERD, etc out there that are much safer and more tolerable. If any of you are experiencing some of the symptoms that I or others have described, explore other options before you just "get used to" feeling like crap.

have been taking Yasmin for 2-3 weeks and was beginning to worry i was pregnant as i took a pill late, have had extreme headaches and lethargy, and i'm someone that never gets headaches. i've also had some spotting. i'm going to the doctor today after reading this....i can't believe doctors don't warn you of this. Yesterday i felt nauseous as well.

After being on Lotrel for several years and doctors adding a pill for every side effect I got (14 prescription pills a day), I had to retire from construction at 47 yrs old due to muscle damage and weakness. After witting lotrel and getting on a different blood pressure pill I've been able to quit 10 other pills including arrhythmia pills for my heart! I'm 53 now and can't sit upright, stand, or walk comfortably for more than 1/2 an hour. I wish I had figured it out sooner. I used to b e able to lift 300 lbs and now can't lift more than 20 :

My side effects: slow but severe muscle loss, lethargy, severe coughing particularly at night to the point of separating ribs, muscle cramps, difficulty swallowing/choking, severe tachyarrhythmia. It is a dangerous drug, fortunately I figured it out before it killed me! I was on it for eight years and and my health deteriorated. I had to quit working 4/2003. I had gotten so bad that I qualified for Social Security 6/2006. After testing with neurologists and against my doctors recommendation, I quit the Lotrel 9/2005. I appear to have permanent muscle damage, but my energy level has increased with some increased strength, coughing/choking stopped, arrythmia is almost completely gone (was able to quit two dosages per day of Rythmol for arrhythmia, muscle relaxants, pain killers), and the swallowing/choking problem is completely gone. The side effects came along over a period of 8 years and have devastated my health. Doctors kept prescribing pills for every side effect not realizing they were caused by Lotrel. I was at a point where I spent at least 20 hours a day laying down or asleep. Now, although I have lost 90% of muscle strength, I am fairly active most of the day.

OMG!

It's hard to admit this, but I thought the symptoms described here (forgetfulness, fog, inconsistency) were being HELPED by the drug. I gave up coffee and most caffeine as I got older, also.

Once upon a time I was extremely anxious- I took Ritalin for ADHD, it became too much, and tried some things before landing on WB about 10 years ago. I took it during my pregnancy (perfect child, BTW- so smart and beautiful, not just to his mama) after trying to go off. i just found out I have thyroid disease, and I suspect it's played a huge role in the lethargy and spaciness.

SO... I called my doc to go off. The key for me is getting enough rest and exercising, along with meditation to stay grounded. I will check back to let you know how it goes.

I do have to say- man-made drugs are the invention of Western medicine, and while they have no doubt saved lives, there are other cultures that use far more natural remedies that have been successful for centuries. Do your research- don't put your faith in one doctor or philosophy. Drive your own good health!

Please stay away from this drug if you are not already addicted to it. I have tried unsuccessfully to get off of it many times by "Weaning" into another drug, but the side effects are unbearable. I have memory loss too, but what really gets me is how physically sick I feel if I haven't taken it for 2-3 days. I get nauseous and VERY dizzy, to the point where it makes me sick to even turn my head too quickly. I've had to miss work/school until I had a prescription refill.

I didn't realize the memory loss I have been experiencing may be due to Paxil, but it makes sense. I have forgotten the year on numerous occasions, and cannot recall names of people I used to have no problem recalling. It seems to be getting worse. I am only 27 years old, and my friends don't seem to have these issues...

Been taking this for the past ten years and it is the only thing that allows my skin to quickly recover from eczema. Eczema started at age 22. After my first injection I felt more powerful than Darth Vader and noticed an increase in energy and stamina. A few weeks later, a crash begins and I feel the side effect of lethargy. Consistently, after each Kenalog shot, my skin will develop several pimples around my buttocks area and sometimes on my back after a month or two. I would prefer never to use Kenalog, but it has been the only thing that relieves the patches of skin that become red and flaky due to stress, lack of sleep, and a poor diet. Ultimately, I did develop 'hypercutia' which is a skin condition which allows my dermis to bleed more easily. After stopping the Kenalog injections for a few years, my entire dermis still remains thin and more vulnerable to bleeding. I make my living as an actor and it is part of the reason i still rely on Kenalog whenever an audition comes up and I need to show my body. The pimples eventually become little scars, which eventually become little darker spots on my body. I still believe that in spite of all the side effects, it is worth it if you make your living as an actor or model.

Wow! My husband and I have thought recently maybe I should stop using Zyrtec. Maybe it is causing my lethargy, weight gain, difficulty sleeping, inability to work for more than an hour doing anything, intense hunger. I have taken Zyrtec year round for several years since living in Santa Fe where I developed bad allergies. There I took it in conjunction with Nasonex. After leaving there I couldn't afford it so I switched to day hist but I started sneezing and had an itchy nose constantly. Sinus infections also. So I started Zyrtec full time a few years ago. I can't lose weight to save my life and have no energy. Depression-yes. I would never have thought I would experience that. My journals are full of it. But I thought it all was because of "the change" because I was under the impression there weren't any side effects. But I am all organic and still struggling with trying not to gain anymore weight. I have a terrible time just trying to clean one room without feeling wasted! I don't look forward to stopping but I have got to see if this is affecting me this way, Thanks to all. I want me back!

Great Drug! Not...
Two months on the drug. Light Headedness, Dizziness, Lethargy, and a General Fog. Slight loss of balance sometimes.
Doc, said go off for 2 weeks and see how you feel. If better, we will try another statin.
Went off 2 days now. Feeling much more myself!!

This drug is scary. Who would want to go thru life taking this drug with it's side effects. Not me!

i am 30 yrs old and started taking lisinopril 20 mg along with 25 mg of hydrochlorothiazide about 6 weeks ago and then lisinopril was raised to 40 mg and i dont know whats worse the high blood pressure or the side affects that im getting,tired all the time,that damn cough,shortness of breathe,diarrhea,and nausea and a racing pulse that when i was watching tv went up to 135 and my insides just started to shake.im starting to get a little scared with my high pulse .if anyone else has the high pulse due to lisinopril p;ease let me know,thank you

I had my Mirena put in back in January 2006. I have a fantastic specialist doctor D. N. in Melbourne. She put mine in under GA, which after reading other peoples experiences I am so grateful for.
Obviously I had no pain having it put in, just a very short light GA, then home as soon as I woke up.
I had, what I could best describe as bad period pain and bloating for 8 weeks and seriously regretted having it put in. I called the specialist and she gave me a script for some antibiotics as she believed I had an infection. As soon as I had the antibiotics my body settled down and I have never had a problem since.
I would highly recommend the Mirena, but I would also recommend getting it put in by a specialist and give your body time to get used to it.

Before the Mirena I tried all the different pills and my body reacted very badly to them, (weight gain, lethargy etc). I have had nothing like this with the Mirena, I have had light to non-existent periods and almost no period pain. Don't be scared ladies, just get a good specialist.

I was on Desogen for over a year and a half, during which time I had symptoms similar to IBS. Frequent diarrhea, severe intestinal cramps after almost every meal, bloating, weight gain, gas, and subsequent depression and lethargy. I even went to see a GI specialist, who asked if I had recently started taking a new birth control or had any other hormonal changes. At the time I had been taking Desogen for a year, so I didn't connect the two. Now 9 months later I finally got off of Desogen and have had no more IBS symptoms. The doctors I have spoken to since then have no explanation for it, aside from 'hormones can do strange things sometimes'. I don't know if I have been depressed since I have been on Desogen, aside from the anxiety and depression caused by IBS, but I am so glad not to be on it anymore. I hope the symptoms stay gone and I am able to lose the weight I gained while on it.

severe short term memory loss, notable irritability and aggression. I've been on 1-2mg a day for a year now and prior to that I was on .5mg a day with memory loss issues even then. If anything, I'd say the higher the dose, the higher the aggression, lethargy, confusion, and irritability are. Also I have blurred vision but since I am on adderall, that tends to go away shortly after I take it. For me the side affects outweigh the risks...Klonopin slows my racing thoughts and practically erases my overwhelming social anxiety and panic. I also have very, very few intense panic attacks anymore, maybe twice a year? This sure beats twice a day...With school it is hard, I am a senior in college and the memory thing is quite the frustration. But, like I said before, it outweighs the risks to take this drug. I also used to be a drug addicts and have had no issue with abusing this drug. I respect its limitations for it resects me by helping me, literally. Hope this helps.- H. in South Florida.

DOXY SUX BIGTIME. If you want to feel like you have an ax in your forehead and knives in your torso, chow it down. Not just the stomach either, SHARP PAINS in the whole organ area. Also, extreme LETHARGY, if I took on an empty stomach I'd THROW UP, numbness in extremities. Took it so I wouldn't get malaria. The drug company must have an overstock of this & they prescribe it for everything! In other countries you get other drugs for malaria. WTH? Intracranial hypertension?! How scary is that? Of course I read about that after I got the head splitting HEADACHES FROM HELL. I hope it isn't permanent because I still get the headaches & have stopped the devil's drug for 14 days now. You take it 28 days after exposure to mosquitoes has stopped - and every single day you of your trip. Someone is making a ton of ca$h off this poison & they will pay in the next life with the worst karma ever. I thought I was having an aneurysm. (seriously). It was obviously pulled off some countries shelves, renamed, & sold here. DO NOT USE. Going to research intra cranial hypertension now & see if it is permanent.

I have been on loestrin 24 for over 3 years now and haven’t had a period since I started taking it. No period at all, my doctor said this is normal. About a month ago my husband and I decided we should have kids soon since we are close to 30, so I stopped my BC. However, I still haven’t had a period I thought for sure I would see something in a month. I’m not pregnant; if I were, I wouldn’t be posting this message. Does anyone know how long it takes to get this out of my system. I read though all the post and I see a lot of women have the same issues as I do after being on this pill for so long, migraines, slow hair growth or hair loss, gum issues. All these side effects just started about a year ago and I didn’t relate it to the pill until I read the postings because they didn’t start right away. Any how if you experienced the same problem, not having a period and know when I could expect to see one it would be nice to know a month to me seems like an eternity.

I had mine removed less than a week ago after using it for almost 2.5 years. Like most, I did my research post insertion (I'm finishing up my PhD and have always been very 'body aware') and thought I knew what I was getting into. I've had 2 children (now 11 and 13) so I'm familiar with the pregnant feeling.
My life has been pretty turbulent for the last 3 years (grad school, divorce, cross-country move, intense new romance) and I blamed my symptoms on stress. The last 9 months, however, have been relatively calm. With that background, here's the low down:
Long term symptoms (since within a few months of insertion): Mood swings (very up to very down), Depression (with poor response to treatment), Bloating, Bleeding (sometimes almost all month...mellowed after 1 year), Cramping, Hair loss, Vision effects, Mental fog (pregnancy brain), Weight gain (20 lbs in 2.5 years), Hip pain
More recent symptoms that finally tipped me off: Acceleration of mood swings and brain fog, Lethargy, Acceleration of wt gain (despite consistent workouts and diet), Spike in blood pressure (feeling heart beat in finger tips...like when I was pregnant...verified by nurse at removal appointment. Mirena documentation says remove it if you get a spike in BP), Panic attacks (totally irrational with no external explanation, lasted for days), Suicidal thoughts (SO not like me).
In just in the few days since removal, my mental clarity has improved immensely. Nothing like being foggy when trying to write a dissertation! My energy level is way up. While I've been working out regularly for a few months with continued wt gain, I can feel it coming off now, already. My moods are much, much better. Little things have been throwing me way off track for a long time. I had a couple emotional knocks last night that just rolled right off (no gruesome details, just know that a week ago I'd have been in a puddle of tears). My blood pressure is down and food cravings are gone. Hips feel much better.
Doc at Planned Parenthood said that she has seen a few women in her clinic who have had problems and wanted the Mirena removed (cost me $94). She thinks it might be the beginning of the wave. I had no idea that the hormones in the device could be causing so much trouble. Over the last year, especially, I have adjusted my whole life and lifestyle to stabilize my moods (and maintain a relationship with my very patient partner), not linking them to all the other symptoms. Ugh. I am relieved and angry at the same time. The difference, pre and post, is night and day.
FYI, I had a few hot flashes the day after removal, along with a mild headache for a few days. I was on my (light) period when I had it taken out and it's still tapering off. Moods were pretty rough the first afternoon post-removal (another suicidal rant in my journal) but consistently good since then.
I'm going to circulate a cautionary message with my girlfriends and grad student peers. I sure would have liked to have known long ago what was causing me so much trouble.

First of all, a big thanks to all of you who have shared your experiences. I am a biochemist, with a background in pharmaceutical research...I chose the Mirena IUD after careful consideration of it's active ingredient, Levonorgestrel. The side effect profile seemed pretty acceptable...until I started to experience nearly ALL of them...I am 33 years old and had the Mirena IUD placed in October of 2008 after the birth of my second child in June of 2008. The initial reaction was to be expected...cramping, a little spotting etc...nothing to be alarmed about. I still have yet to have a period (which I really don't miss so no problem there) I never gave a second thought to this until now...for the past month or so (coinciding with the weening process, since I have been nursing the entire time, I believe the side effects were not as noticeable) I have been experiencing the following (that may or may not be related to Mirena as my OBGYN has so adamantly pointed out, but after reviewing your posts I'm willing to bet they're connected) and are in order of occurrence: Major, but temporary, hair loss after 2 months or so; Major respiratory infection lingering over a month with difficulty breathing, tightness and pain in the chest at around 6 mos; And in the past month, several instances of motion-like sickness/ nausea, dizziness, blurred vision, major impatience/ mood swings, loss of appetite (pregnancy-like symptoms...yep, I was thinking man I'd be pretty pissed if I was that 0.01% pregnant statistic), and as of this past weekend, my first aurora migraine with tunnel vision and serious nausea and vomiting, to the point where I went to Urgent Care...who referred me to the ER...who wants to perform a battery of tests including a head CT. I have an appointment with a trusted GP tomorrow to discuss possible root causes...but it is to coincidental that so many women are experiencing these same symptoms! I am certainly leaning towards having this removed. CAN THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE HAD THIS REMOVED PLEASE RESPOND IF YOUR SYMPTOMS SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVED OR WERE RESOLVED!!! THANK YOU!
These side effects seem to go well beyond a 5% rate of incidence according to all of you who have reported. I will investigate further and keep everyone posted. As someone who is highly experienced in the pharmaceutical industry, you bet your a$$ I'm going to get to the bottom of this! Good luck ladies!

Prescribed 40mg SIMVApoison
stomach doing somersaults....feels like a couple of pygmies inside me clubbing each other to death.
Tiredness/Lethargy chest pains Oh yes this is a wonderful drug!!
Take at your own risk
I certainly wont be taking anymore

I am on Topomac for the last 10 days. I have been suffering from stress migraine for the past 6 months and I took professional help only a month os so back. The doctor started off with Sibelium, but this managed to reduce the occurrence. So instead of 4 headaches I now had 2 headaches per week. After a month of Sibelium, he started me on a 25 mg course of Topomac. I did not realize that this drug would be one which I would end reading so much about. Starting on this drug I immediately started feeling lethargic, sleepy and general tingling in the arms. From the 8th day onwards the dosage was increased to 50 mg per day with a review to be done on the 30th day. However other than the general lethargy, sleepiness, and slight lack of coordination, I feel that the drug has helped me get rid of the pain of migraine. I hope I am not speaking too soon, but I will keep all posted of the progress of my treatment with this drug.