Lifesaver symptoms and conditions

I suffer from severe endometriosis, and occasionally, if something goes awry, I have terrible cramping. The pain is extremely intense and has caused me to pass out. I have tried several medications, some narcotic, some non, and some naturopathic. I would say that Dilaudid is the best I've tried. Not only does it do a wonderful job of getting rid of pain, it also seems to be easier on the stomach than other opiates in its class, and causes less side effects. Of course, highly addictive such as other narcotics, but if taken only when needed it is a lifesaver.

I've been on the NuvaRing for 2 years now. I think it reacts differently to everyone. It has made my life much better. My periods are shorter, lighter and less painful. I used to get sore muscles and sore breasts a few days before I started now I have none of that. I'm not moody and for the first time in my life I don't have to spend the first day of my period in bed. My body adjusted to it quickly and I didn't have any spotting. I still have my sex drive and there is no pain during sex. I have a lot of stomach problems (bad gallbladder) and if I were on an oral contraceptive I would likely be pregnant because my body wouldn't absorb the pill properly. This has been a lifesaver for me.

I am taking prednisone and probably will for the rest of my life due to a rare lung disorder. I am down to 5 mg every day. When I first was put on it, I was taking 20 mg which wasn't too bad. The Dr. increased it to 80 mg. That was a living nightmare. My eyes hurt so bad from the pressure. My pressure in my eyes were very high. The Doctors did cut it down to 5 mg which isn't a good idea as you should taper off of it slowly. I still have some hip pain but it's not to bad. I do try to keep busy and that does help. It does make one's period irregular if you are a woman. I feel for those high school students taking this stuff. Also, it can make your sugar high so get tested for diabetes. This drug does suck but it also can be a lifesaver.

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.

I have been on prednisone since I was two years old (I am now sixteen) because I have Autoimmune Hepatitis IIa. I would like to point out that there is still a life worth living being on prednisone, maybe I say this because I do not know life without it, but at least we're alive! Last year I had a flare up of the AIH and had to 6x my dose of prednisone. It sent me into a spiraling depression of constant sleep, crying, hopelessness etc....but I made it through. Just PLEASE keep hope that things would get better, because I know what it's like being on the dreaded drug better than most.

Hello,

I was on Yasmin for 2 years and the only problem I had was bloatedness, heartburn and nausea to the WORST extent. when i went off Yasmin for a few months I felt perfect! after I started taking it a again the Nausea started to kill me, it was so bad I just could not take it anymore, so now I have switched to Triphasil (recommended by a friend) who also had nausea and stomach problems so bad, caused by Yasmin that she ended up in Hospital. Another friend of mine also suffered from mood swings caused by Yasmin. has anyone else had severe Nausea from this product? its awful.

I have been taking zoloft for 14 years for panic disorder with mild depression. various doses, but now im at 200 mg, and have been at that dose for a long time. it was like a lifesaver from my previous med, imipramine. i did have really vivid dreams, weird ones, for a long time, but not so much anymore. i think that the long term effect of taking it has taken a toll on my mental clarity/concentration, though. I feel like i can't concentrate on anything or complete a thought anymore. even typing this i feel like i'm getting lost. like i'm constantly in a fog. or it could be that i have 5 month old twins, lol, i guess. but really, its never been this bad.
i too feel like i have had some loss of emotion, not feeling sad when its completely appropriate to. and i've also had way too much emotion at the wrong times, flying off the handle at people and such. the worst thing is my dr. would ask me "what makes you happy, what do you do for fun?" and i would just stare at him with a blank look cause i had no idea what that felt like anymore. or maybe i couldn't think enough to answer him. physically i think zoloft makes me twitch - eye twitches, nose twitches, throat clearing. and i can't have an orgasm to save my life :(
recently i've been having some breakthrough anxiety and my dr. wants to add wellbutrin to the zoloft. if anyone has experience with this please send me a message. i'm kind of scared to do it.

I have been on Yasmin now since November. I have not experienced any of the scary side effects that most of the women here have suffered. In fact Yasmin was a lifesaver for me. I suffered from terrible cramps before and was not on any type of birth control. After trying Yasmin my first period was cramp free. My breasts have grown in size and my sex drive has actually increased, not decreased. I guess different people have different reactions to any type of medication but I am enjoying Yasmin. It's the perfect type of birth control for me definitely.

I would like to say something about advair that is POSITIVE. I have taken this drug, with NO SIDE EFFECTS for 5 years now and it has made a huge difference in my life.
I have had no isues with thrush (i rinse and spit) or weight gain or hair loss or coughs-

please don't condem a drug just based on your experience. reading through these comments I see a lot of times this has been prescribed fr folks who were not ashthmatic or with COPD. This drug is not for folks who don't have hyper reactive airways-but for those of us who do, it has been a lifesaver.

BTW I changed careers 2 years ago and entered the health field as a Respiratory therapist and adair has helped many many people. But its not a miracle drug-it has a specific purpose and if hat is not your problem, its not likely to be a good solution.

Cymbalta has been a lifesaver for me. There is one annoying thing though... constipation. It's probably due to my other meds. as well but it is well worth the "effort" to stay on it. I have tried virtually every anti-depressant out there. I've had allergic reactions to many medications that have left me with proximal muscle damage (muscles closest to your body) and during the 10 years I was on Lithium (the first and major cause),. then cholesterol meds. such as statins, I had to have several surgeries to fix what muscles were breaking down (total rotator tear from simple exercise). Anyway, all this to say I had severe depression, was officially un-diagnosed bipolar, got off the statins, Lithium and got somewhat better. Then three other meds. did this to me so my body really reacts strangely to meds. Cymbalta has really helped me to function and not want to just die. Stay on it if you can. There aren't many better choices out there.(I asked to be put on the highest dose 300 mg 1 per day to see if I'd get the muscle pains that start at the top of the thigh and shoulders)

My 12 year old son started on Singulair 10 days ago. Yesterday, he threw up blood twice, so I took him to urgent care. He said it felt like someone was shoving knives into his stomach. He had blood tests and a CAT scan -- the connective tissue in his abdomen was inflamed and his lymph nodes are slightly enlarged. His white blood cell count is up slightly -- just above normal -- and his liver enzymes are elevated, which the doctor said is common with a viral infection. He has also had migraine-type headaches twice in the last week. HOWEVER: my 16 year old son has been on Singulair for four years, and it has been a lifesaver. He has had some hand tremors, which could also be aggravated by the decongestant he also takes, but no other side effects.

Wow, I got on the internet this morning looking got side effects of advair b/c I mail ordered my script so i've been without for a few days. i have been experiencing severe neck pain, thought I slept on my neck wrong, but it's still here after 3 days. I have been on Advair 100/50 for 6 years, and have now worn glasses for 3 years, on nerve blocker medication for neck and shoulder pain, horrible heart palpitations, but I've never thought these things related to the Advair until recently. I've been asthmatic all my life and thought Advair was a lifesaver, but always had some concerns. I knew any medication could not be safe for life, and after 6 years. I'm really starting to pay a price.

I've been on 300 mg's of Lamcital since last December. Great drug, really helps my mania get under control. Lithium wasn't cutting it for me with my depression, in fact the side effects were making me even more depressed. My pdoc decided to try out Geodon (at 100 mg's). In the most part, it has been great. I feel alive and like myself again for the first time in years. But...
I wonder if making me so stable has also given my mind way to much time to over- analyze what I see and do. I see things out of the corner of my eye all of the time. I had something appear right in front of me the other day. I can no longer sleep past seven in the morning. And I have three facial twitches: my lower lip, the arc in my left eyebrow and the very top of my forehead where the first of my hair follicles start on my widow's peak. Those drive me nuts.
I am also on 40 mg's of Propranolol (Anderall) and Cytomel for my thyroid. For having such a severe case of BP, it's nice to be on so few medications. Geodon has been a lifesaver and has given me back my creativity and my marriage. I'll take seeing things and facial twitches any day for those.

In July 2007, I was put on Levaquin for pneumonia. I was 53 years old, working full-time, active. The pneumonia was caused by aspiration when vomiting. I had never had these problems - pneumonia or aspiration - before. I had gradually worsening generalized joint and muscle pain and stiffness, which I reported to my doctor after about 5 days on the Levaquin. The pain I was experiencing was worse than the pneumonia symptoms (mostly high fever). The course of levaquin was supposed to be 14 days. After 9 days, I could not tolerate it any longer. My doctor put me on a Z-pack (azithromycin) for the remainder of my treatment. It is a year later, and I am still plagued with muscle pain in my back, shoulders, arm, abdomen - and, at its worst, my legs. The only way I'm able to function is on prescription painkillers, which I detest having to take - but they're a lifesaver. I've been seeing a rheumatologist since December '07. He dosen't seem to believe the levaquin - pain connection. He thinks I may have Polymyalgia Rheumatica. I have consistently elevated blood levels of creatine phosphokinase, a muscle enzyme which indicates muscle damage. I was on prednisone 10 mg. from early March '08 which I have just weaned off of after suffering a depressive episode with a suicide attempt at the begining of this month. I can't work now. I'm terrified of becoming permanently disabled. Finding answers has been very difficult but I firmly believe that the Levaquin started all this.

What side effects? I have taken Lamictal for 6 weeks. I am on a steady dose of 100mgs. I started out with severe depression (unipolar), and have also been diagnosed as bi-polar and borderline personality disorder. So who knows what I have other than to say that I have felt like a train wreck for 3 yrs. All the other meds I have taken did not help my constant cycles of severe depression. I felt like I was in a fish bowl and the world was going on around me, I could see it but was not a part of it. It was hell on earth. Other meds would help somewhat on certain symptoms, but nothing ever brought my life back to a level where I could say I felt joy and was truly happy until I started Lamictal. 2 weeks into the start of Lamictal (50 mgs), I woke up to a miracle. I realized I felt joy, I was laughing without trying to. I felt refreshed and prepared to go out in the world and face the day with a positive outlook on everything. My side effects so far have been nil. Not one thing...no pain, no headaches, no weight gain, no memory loss, no dizziness, no hairloss. Am I the only one? I know these meds effect people differently but wow, I am in heaven. I hope all of you eventually find something that works for you because I really felt ( before Lamictal) that I would never feel good again! Hallelujah! I do! bless you all!

I am writing in response to the last posting and to all others out there who worry about long lasting effects. My son was on Singulair for about 3 years (ages 3-6). He was diagnosed with an anxiety disorder in Kindergarten and we took him to a psychologist and psychiatrist and read a lot on anxiety to try and help him. But despite some success with his behavior using exposure therapy, his mood kept getting worse - he seemed more depressed, and started talking about death. That's when I got desperate and went to the web and googled anxiety and Singulair and found this site in January 2007. After reading post after post describing children suffering in the same way as our son, I immediately stopped the medication, though the doctors were reluctant and assured me the medicine was safe.
Within a day or so I saw a noticeable difference in my son - like a cloud had lifted. The most troubling of his symptoms - such as the talk of death - went away quickly. But his anxiety did not immediately go away. Anxiety - especially over time -can lead to patterns of thinking and habits that can outlast the original problem. Whenever he felt anxious and overwhelmed, he would act out, become easily upset, and was unable to work things out rationally. We continued working on behavior management. One technique that I found very useful is the Collaborative Problem Solving (CPS) method outlined in "The Explosive Child," by Dr. Ross Greene. I also enrolled him in social therapy groups. He also got support at his school. After stopping the medication, he really began to respond to all these interventions. He steadily got better, and by the beginning of 2008 we all noticed a significant shift - not just our family, but his teachers and group counselors. Now he just seems like any other kid. Every once in a while a new situation will raise his hackles a bit, but then we just take it slow, and help him overcome the fear.
Today, when I see him humming a song to himself, skipping down the sidewalk, or shouting out a hello to a friend, I remember that there was a time when I had stopped expecting him to ever do these simple things, and I am so thankful for the parents who posted here in 2006 and 2007 and gave me the courage to follow my instincts.
I have faith that your children will keep improving. But if they are still anxious, there is a lot you can learn about anxiety - either in books or on the web - that can help you understand and enable you to give your child the support he or she may need to navigate their lives as they recover and begin to form new habits and thought patterns.
Good luck!

P.S. One note about leg pain - both my older sons suffered from this, and the oldest didn't take Singulair. I have always assumed they were growing pains, but who knows? I will say that ibuprofen is very effective, along with rubbing their legs.

I have been on seroquel since july 2006.I take 200 to sleep at night, although in times of stress I add 25mgs pills as needed, and I also take effexor xr 37.5 and 75.First, the good effects- the combo got rid of the crazy highs and deep dark despairs of the lows.It got rid of the compulsions,the anxiety, social phobias lessened,unbidden harming thoughts, and the ocd rituals, and delusions...So it has been a real lifesaver for me.Now, on to the side effects.
I have gone from size 12 to size 16. thats a lot! I know its the seroquel, cause and effect. I got a foot infection from trying on shoes at the outlet mall-(never again) although I have never ever had one before, and i am 55.Guess what- I am still getting flareups of infection 2 1/2 years later! And isnt that a diabetes sign? The rest of the side effects are somewhat helped by drinking water. The side pains,occasional digestive issues, dry mouth, snoring, nonexistant sex life, confusion, memory issues,and the need to consume, and consume, food, are all there.Ive been existing on samples of these meds, but samples are no longer available, and the cheapest price for my meds as above is just over $800 per month.I cant possibly pay for thisI would be happy to take something else that didnt have side effects, and cost less, but what?

i have taken Zyrtec for years during the fall during ragweed season - works great for me without any side effects. My husband can only take it every other day as it makes him feel flu -ish. 18 yr old takes as needed and it works great. 16- yr old has allergy asthma and has taken Zyrtec for years and now with Singulair. She now is experiencing all noted problems of sleeplessness, headache, anxiety, and grumpy. We are quitting the Singulair to monitor improvement and will do the same with Zyrtec if needed.

NOTE: Each person most be monitored with every drug for allergies and side effects. If you or your child cannot tolerate a drug, STOP taking it. You are your best daily diagnostician! Your DR. may not agree or understand, but pursue another course. REMEMBER though, that drug may be a lifesaver for millions of others that react favorably! Penicillin is a miracle drug unless you are allergic! Doctors should encourage close monitoring whenever your kids take a new drug - but when they don't - that's our job!

hum no problems here???????? :)

I came across this site purely by entering "swollen red foot and kidney pain" into my search engine, imagine my shock when up came a site listing kidney pain and lisinopril!! I have been taking lisinopril for about 7 months now and as I had no adverse side effects in the first week carried on popping my "little lifesaver" no questions asked. Over the last 3 months I have experienced kidney pain to the extent that I was beginning to think I would pass a kidney stone! dry persistent cough, sleeplessness which means I am up at all hours throughout the night and catnapping (when I can) during the day, nausea ,stomach pain and headache!! The swollen foot I don't think I can attribute to the lisinopril....but who knows? I appreciate that in medicine we use various "poisons" as cures and remedies for illness, but when I read of the side effects that so many people are experiencing and am able to see a definite link to the ones I am experiencing then I start to wonder ....the good thing is that this drug and I take 10mg daily has reduced my B.P to a rather good level.....but I have decided to stop taking it for a few days to see whether my symptoms stop and have made an appointment to discuss this treatment with my G.P as a matter of urgency!! Thanks...Jill xx Oh almost forgot to add the incessant itching as well!!

I am 34 years old, and I have been taking Topamax for the last 11 months for migraines. I used to get about 1 or 2 headaches a week, and my daily dose is 50mg. I do not have these same side effects that a lot of other people have been having. I have not been dopey, lost weight, lost hair....sometimes - rarely really - my toes do tingle (kind of the pins and needles feeling after they've fallen asleep if you've been sitting on them...) But it's nothing to make me reconsider taking this medication. I just wanted to post this in case there's someone wondering if there is *anyone* who has had a good experience....and I have. I'm so sorry that there are people who have not found the drug to be as helpful as I have. I've been able to accomplish a lot in the last 11 months that I never would have if I'd been plagued by the migraines that I used to have. It's been a lifesaver.

I've had hair loss, weight gain, mood swings and constant crying spells. This pill in my opinion is awful. I thought I was the only one. This site is a lifesaver!

Hi Guest 20121,

I too am looking into other BC options and after the Yasmin hell I went through, I am very weary of bcp. However, after hearing about all of my awful side effects from Yasmin, my gyn suggested I take Mircette (Kariva is generic version). Apparently it has less estrogen and, of course, does not contain a diuretic like Yasmin.

Has anyone heard anything (positive or negative) about Mircette/Kariva?

Thanks to everyone for your posts and encouragement. This website has truly been a lifesaver for me!

Gina

My son has taken it for years, and it has been a lifesaver. Sorry to all those who have had problems, but we love the medication.