Lung cancer symptoms and conditions

My mother took lisinopril and she developed the persistent cough many experience. It was so severe that she went to the ER. While she was there, they told her she had fluid retention in both lungs and didn't link this drug to the fluid retention. Instead, they told her to get a biopsy for the possibility of lung cancer. More money in their pockets for tests and biopsies? Definitely!
I definitely see the link between the drug and the cough and the fluids in her lungs. Now,she's not on that medication but she is still dealing with side effects and I feel that all these medications they tell her to take are just making her worse. Has anyone just stopped all the conventional medications of high blood pressure and perused alternative treatments with success? I'm hopeful to find out what options i have that can cure her situation instead of leaving her at the same hopeless stage of dealing with terrible side effects.

Murdered by Levaquin.
This may be hard so bear with me. I need to give you a little background to show what an injustice (criminal you be the judge) happened to my soulmate. Her lifelong dream was a humble little spot in the wilderness and at 58 and on a disability we were able to make that happen; and she was happier than I'd seen her in years. Existing conditions included depression, anxiety, fibromyalga and chronic fatigue, and a thyroid condition that she got from over radiation for Graves disease many yrs. ago. Oct. 07 she came down with pnemonia and made a trip to ER. the Dr. saw something he didn't like so prescribed Levaquin. She left there sure she had lung cancer. Three days into a 10 day course her lower extremities became extremely painful and swollen, a call to her GP was never returned. We thought she was experiencing some effects of pneumonia or cancer. 2-3 wks. later a dr. appt. where she was in such bad shape she had to wear my shoes and be carried from car to wheelchair she could barely walk. An alternate dr. saw her. got xrays prescribed more levaquin and prescribed water pills for her swollen lower extremities. 2-3 weeks later side effects much worse has now traveled up to her midsection (peripheral neuropathy) she is now wheelchair bond going to dr. office and guess what lung hasn't cleared up yet so more levaquin with no solution or idea what is happening to her body ( she was terrified and in horrific pain. So she was prescribed 3 courses of levaquin and ignored the blatant side effects. The next several months at home were hell, the neuropathy continued up her body, she could no longer feed herself or hold anything in her hands. Every day the pain and frustration were unbearable and she cried for hours at a time. I couldn't get her to go to hospital as by now we knew what we were dealing with PN and it is irreversible and she knew she was dying and if she left she'd never see her dream home again. We finally got her to the hospital, they wouldn't accept my Achumes Razor and suggested numerous things conducted numerous tests including a Gallum scan and still no answers. She deteriated fast. She was within a week about 63 pounds and suffering severe sycosis with hallucinations. She experienced depersonalization. She had severe pain to the touch. I now know she is going to die and I'd promised her I'd never let her die in an institution but we could get no home care. They now wanted to kick her out of hospital after 3 months and suggested a hospice and although terminal she was undiagnosed so did not qualify. I have seen both parents a brother and numerous people die from a variety of ailments but this was truly a horror show esp. the psycosis and pain she was in. It scarred my heart and soul forever. No insurance so I am fighting to keep our dream home and keep her memory alive, made it a year but the future is uncertain. She died July 5 07, 2 days after she died the FDA put out a black box warning label so how come every time i insisted it was that poison they would not take me seriously. I now know what drives people over the edge to retaliate in some way. In Canada I don't think there is any class action happening, but in everybody that knew about it it would appear like gross negligence at least giving it to her 3 times after showing adverse reactions after first course. She was stolen away form me and her daughter just as she had reached peace and serenity. It breaks my heart continually and I don't know what to do with this rage I feel. It is now 13 months and no autopsy, apparently a hold up at pathology. Feel free to comment I really can't believe she's gone I haven't disposed of anything or even changed the house in any way.
M.

It feels like someone has taken a blow dryer to my windpipe. Feels like small grains of sand are in my airway and I start coughing suddenly and VIOLENTLY.. Yes, people in public look at you and start stepping back like they think you have something like TB and are contagious. Sleeping is out of the question. Laying down starts the barking cough. I am glad to hear someone else has the issue with excess saliva. I thought I was imaging this - it's as if I am drinking saliva and I vomit up clear mucous - to the point that I was considering going to the ER to ask them to check me for lung cancer or something. I cough so fast and hard that I have started vomiting and because it occurs so fast, I have had to throw up in the trashcan by my desk (attractive!) and the doctors I work for have come running into my office to see if I was "coughing a lung up". My chest is sore sore from all the coughing. My bronchial tubes burn like someone has been scrubbing them with brillo pads. This drug is nasty. Steer clear. Ask for something else till you get it right and then lose weight/get in shape so you can stop taking all this crap. Like the saying goes: "If I'd known I was gonna live this long - I'd taken better care of myself."

Ran into friend at grocery store with mystery illness. Docs attribute it to Agent Orange exposure. Been at death's doorstep for a year. Hands were extremely cold and has little energy. Showed up one day at golf course with oxygen bottle! Asked him if he had taken Levaquin. Unfortunately had. Docs again fail to link antibiotic exposure to his ailments.
I wonder how many illnesses and deaths this poison has caused? Why does the FDA allow this crap? Do you people realize that the average person is clueless about the side effects of drugs like this. Put total confidence and their well being in the hands of ignorant docs and profit crazed drug companies.
Ignorant oncologist failed to link my dad's symptoms to Levaquin, instead attributed them to b-cell lymphoma which just happened to suddenly appear. Rituxan and numerous other drugs (Heparin, Lasix, Gamma globulin, Tylenol, antibiotics, Insulin, steroids, Flowmax, etc.) was too much. A fiasco, people think he died of lymphoma. Was walking three miles a day before taking Levaquin, for an undiagnosed lung infection.

Someone, please tell me how long this coughing will last! I took Lisinopril for 4 weeks. During that time I had many of the same symptoms that I'm reading now, but didn't realize what was causing them. But after 3 weeks of a constant dry cough that led to gagging more often than not and cough attacks every hour on the hour even at night, I turned to the Internet to research tickling coughs. I too was sure I had throat cancer after experiencing lung cancer just a year ago. After reading all of these experiences from all of the people on this site, I was relieved yet furious. I called to inform my doctor of the side effect of the coughing that was keeping me from going anywhere but work (I'm a teacher so you can imagine how difficult that is). I was consuming 10 - 15 cough drops a day and night which was not helping my weight issue. She prescribed Toprol which I researched and read that it should not be taken if you have had a history of lung issues. Needless to say, I'm not going to take that either. My blood pressure is pre-hypertension so I believe I can control that myself with exercise and diet. It's been 5 days since I stopped taking the Lisinopril and the coughing has not subsided at all. I was up every hour on the hour last night and that was with taking a sleep aid.

I have been on Advair since Feb. of this year, I have had a lot of these side effects but didn't really realize it was from this med. At first I was told to take it 2x a day, reading the directions it says it has to be 12 hours exactly apart. My work schedule didn't allow that so I just took it 1x....Working 2 jobs I just thought when I couldn't sleep and was always tired, it was from working a lot. When I told the Dr. about not being able to sleep more than 4 hours, I was told since I was taking the meds 1x a day that wasn't it. After a bad cold and bronchitis I was told I had to take the Advair 2x a day, now i'm more tired than ever, still can't sleep and have a headache that won't go away even with migraine medicine. I'm even jittery and forgetful--kinda ditsy now and itchy off and on all day...After reading this blog site I see its not in my mind and i'm going to stop taking this med. I think i'm going to the health food store and find something natural.

started 10 mg in 1998. was controlling everything ok. In 2004 developed weakness in both legs, started slurring words and eye trouble, went to several doctors then in April 2005 had to quit work as I was just to weak. That was at age 54. Finally a neurologist diagnosed me with Myasthenia gravis, and lambert eatons myasthenic syndrome. Had my thymus gland removed, which is supposed to put disease in remission, also had small cell lung cancer surgery at same time. improvement did not come and the drugs for myasthenia only made me sick. started having chest pains and doctors ,.found several blockages in my heart ,still do as to weak for surgery, cardiologist took me off of lipitor and I seem to have stabilized, still have trouble with short term memory, and vision, and really weak

Started with a Pred pak for a sinus infection. Made my heart race and had tach and early heartbeat, which kept me from sleeping. Went to Cardiologist. Several doctors denied that the Pred would cause the rapid heartbeat. Then the Cardiologist did an echo and found a pericardial effusion and some weird spots on my lungs. They suspected lung cancer which may cause the effusion, so I had surgery to do a pericardial window and a lung biopsy. Then a pulmonologist decided to put me on Pred again...steady dosage...because she didn't know what else to do. (Didn't have lung cancer) I didn't have any more funny heartbeats, so maybe the pred didn't cause it after all. But I've gained 40 pounds. My hair has grown faster, and I've gotten some facial hair (not supposed to have that, being a female)...which I call fur. Moon face with cheeks that are hard, muscle cramps, can't sleep, but once I do go to sleep, I can't wake up. Tired all the time, headaches, joint pain-sometimes severe, dry skin, generally bad attitude, with very little patience, low potassium levels which add to my muscle cramping problems, difficulty swallowing, indigestion which I've never had, with painful and burning reflux. And occasionally when I eat, I have the rapid heartbeat again. I go in search of food like I'm going to store it in my thighs for winter. Anything you eat will turn to fat, including protein. Can't wait to get off this stuff which will take until June of next year. Then my doctor says it will be 3 months before all these effects wear off. No one told me I would get fur.

extremely depressed after a week of taking levoxyl. Also face is swollen, eye swollen and red and face and eyes burn. These were the same symptoms after taking synthroid after a week. What's next? I am close to being suicidal after having survived lung cancer, surgery, chemo and radiation. To get another primary cancer and have things slide downhill after such a remarkable recovery, I can do nothing but cry after making the decision to have a cancerous thyroid removed that could have served me for years and years since it was such a slow growing cancer. I should have followed my instincts and just left it alone. Now all I want to do is lie on the couch and cry.

Have taken 500mg Levaquin for 10 days on numerous ocassions to fight lung infections in between Cat Scan follow-ups for Lung Cancer since 2006.

Worked fine for my lungs, and I've been LC free for some time. Two months ago rt elbow swelled up, first like a mushy sack, now more firm, size of an egg, no pain then or now. Few weeks later Lt elbow began to swell but not as large and no pain. Dr. said wait few weeks and he'll refer me to surgeon. Now this FDA report on Levaquin has me wondering. I have full motion and no pain. Could this be a pre-cursor to possible tendon damage from Levaquin. Your input would be appreciated. Bill B

I am a 49 year old woman in good health. My blood pressure has always been low, but in January it was up a bit, yet still within the normal range. I was seeing a new doctor, who suggested I start Lisinopril just as a precaution to keep it from going higher. I started having side effects right away. Inability to sleep well, bad dreams, achy joints, fatigue, and paranoia, but the worst was the persistent cough, which worsened the longer I was on the medicine. I sincerely thought I was being poisoned, either intentionally or accidentally. Little did I know at the time I was poisoning myself with a medication I did not really need. I called my doctor several times to report the cough, which was keeping me up at nights and was generally bringing my quality of life down to a intolerable level. We changed my allergy medicine several times and he even ordered a chest x-ray to eliminate any really ugly problems like lung cancer, etc. After 5 1/2 months, the doctor says, almost as an afterthought, that perhaps I should quit taking the Lisinopril. I asked why that would have any effect on my coughing and he said it was rare, but it had been known to cause some coughing in a small number of patients. After doing research on this drug, I do not believe these side effects are rare at all, and I can not understand why I had to suffer for so long before my doctor considered the fact it could be medication related. The drug companies responsible for manufacturing this medication, and all similar ones, both formulary and generics, should educate the physicians prescribing them of these detrimental side effects. I have only been off Lisinopril for six days, and the cough has gotten worse, even to the point where my family members sincerely thought they should call an ambulance to take me to the hospital. I realize it can take a number of days to get the drug out of my system, so I am pushing fluids and have myself on a cleansing diet to speed up the process. I am so miserable. I hope I only have a couple more days of this. I really need some sleep to function during the day, and I am just not getting it yet. Any suggestions?

I was prescribed AVELOX for an ear infection when another antibiotic didn't work. I have never had a problem with antibiotics until I took this CRAP. This is Chemo in pill form. Within 2 days I had severe fatigue, my legs felt like lead, my fingers hurt, I had stomach pain and I felt like my back was breaking in two pieces. My mouth was so dry there was no moisture in it and my tongue swelled making it hard to pronounce words. After the third dose I called my doctor and she told me to stop taking it immediately. This stuff gave me the same symptoms as my mom who is on Chemo for lung cancer. I am a 45 year old male and this stuff really jacked me up. Luckily, I have since returned to normal and my ear infection is going away on its own. After reading many of your posts I pray that all of you who are still having side effects return to feeling normal. My prayers are with you. I wouldn't give this stuff to my worst enemy. I don't know what Bayer was thinking. My only concern is that I don't have any issues that arise in the future from taking this Antibiotic(Chemo pill) for 3 days.

As a pediatrician I write for Singulair every day.
The medication is for allergies.
Allergies cause a cascade of event that I will describe:
adenoidal swelling, leads to snoring + sleep disturbances. Poor sleep makes the child tired the next day leading to less attentiveness, hyperactivity and eventually acting out.
Almost 4 out of five kids with allergies have those subsequent symptoms, and more.
Over the years the child poor behavior his parents, teachers and peers respond of criticism/ ridicule, and punishments, cause the child to feel inadequate, embarrassed, frustrated and eventually depressed and suicidal.

Yes, Singulair does cause behavioral change but they appear within the first couple of pills, the rest is due to allergies and lack of medical care, i.e. sleep, Singulair, and Zyrtec deficiency.
Allergy shots cause 4 times the incidence of suicidally than Singulair, and Ritalin 10 times more.
Check it, it's true.

My 8 yr old son has been on singulair for a year. He has complained with headaches and has missed several days of school this year with bar headaches. He recently started complain with pain in his right shoulder. My brother, who would be 33 today , died of lung cancer 2 years ago, so we are very cautious and nervous of any pain that cant be linked to an injury. Our family. Dr. scheduled us a MRI, but everything came back clear. We took him off the singulair about 3 weeks ago, because we suspected it was causing the headaches. Little did we know that it caused these other symptoms! He has not had a headache or any shoulder pain for about a week. I pray that there is no permanent side effects!

Relative with lung cancer was given Omeprazole 20 mg. once a day. On the second day, he started coughing up huge amounts of red blood which continued for hours and lessening throughout the day. That evening he questioned if the new prescription could have caused the bleeding and decided to discontinue its use. By the third day and since then (this is day six), no blood at all. None of my online searches suggested bleeding as a possible side effect.

I started taking Advair 250/50 when I couldn't get any air in the upper part of my lungs. I was diagnosed with asthma as a child, but hadn't experienced it since I was 11. I am 21 now, and I have panic attacks, pain in legs (pain in my thighs, and it feels like a rubber band wrapped around my knees) and arms, splitting headaches, hyper-sensitivity, mood swings, back pain, heart racing for no reason(especially at night, it wakes me up), insomnia, pain in my chest (mostly on the left side near my arm pit that feels like muscle tightness), I sometimes get sharp pain in my chest if I take a deep breath, I've gained 40 lbs. in the past 8 months, and I am a nervous, emotional wreck. A year and a half ago, I was a completely different person. I've been to the doctor, and they can't find anything wrong with me. Although I am overweight now, my cholesterol and blood pressure are perfect, there is nothing wrong with my lungs (barring asthma). I am in great health, and yet I feel awful. All the time. I have no idea what to do, because my doctor's have told me that the only known side effects of Advair is potential damage to the teeth. I am outraged, but I am afraid to stop taking it because my lungs actually hurt when I don't. I'm also on an Intal Inhaler, but I haven't heard any side effects of this. Here's the kicker, the doctor that prescribed me the Advair wasn't even a respiratory specialist, and refused to reccomend me to one! I'm so glad I found this site because everything everyone has listed seems to be what has gone wrong for me since I started taking it. If anyone has any information on how they're doing now that they've stopped taking it, or the "withdrawal" effects of Advair, please post them. I'm hoping to wean myself off. Good luck to all of you, and thank you. Now I can stop being so worried that I have blod clots, lung cancer, or an aneurism. ;)

Thanks so much,
Jade
NY,NY

My doctor has put me on four different statins - with reactions from all of them. The one I just went off of - Vytorin - had me suicidal. I had pains so bad through my upper back that it felt like two kitchens knives were stuck in my muscles. My feet and hands were swollen. I had battled a cold for over six weeks - even going through a Z-pack. I was exhausted - taking naps in the middle of the day - NOT LIKE ME - I was sure I had lung cancer or something. Then, I had an "AH HA" moment - What took me so long. I went to Vytorin side effects and instantly went off of it. I feel wonderful. East statin affected me differently but, all had severe stomach and muscle pain. Please don't wait for that Ah Ha moment - Always read the side effects first. I won't even go into what Plavix did to me...

I too was prescribed this horrible medication. I was to the point where I thought I had lung cancer or throat cancer. The coughing was horrible. I am a Supervisor and every time I talked to one of my workers I would break out in this horrible cough. I also had the night sweats, horrible dreams and weakness. Thank God for this website. I stopped taking this poison two weeks ago and the coughing is starting to subside, along with the weakness and fatigue. I will never take this medication again. Thanks for the website and the wonderful postings. I think if I had continued on this drug it would have killed me. Sherry in FL

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August 6th, 2007

Ok so I have been taking lisinopril since July 20th, against the advice of my husband who is an RN. He said the side effects were hell and had long term effects. I however was convinced that my physician new better. I have had the weird dreams, night sweats, nausea, horible abdominal cramps. This mornig I woke up with a swollen face, severely swollen tounge to the point I could not swollow and was drooling. My lymph nodes and neck swollen as well. Needless to say we went right to the hospital before I stopped breathing. When I told the doctor what I was taking he said to immediately stop it, as it was a rare side effect of the lisinopril. GREAT Something to cure me almost killed me. After a cortisone shot and a week of prednisone I should be back to normal. Im going to listen to my husband now, eat less salt and excercise more. Valerie from Roanoke VA

My main problem with Lisinopril is the coughing. Coughing, coughing. coughing. I will be fine for 2 to 3 hours and then start with this awful cough. People will actually turn away from me if I am out shopping and a cough begins. I presume they believe it is contagious. Sometimes I end up vomiting and I cannot catch my breath. Coughing at night is really a problem because of lack of sleep. Doctors believe my cough is due to allergies because I have post nasal drip. However, none of the medications they have given me stop the coughing. I never had this problem until I began taking Lisinopril. Lisinopril is my first Blood Pressure medication.

I am a 60 year old male with lung cancer but in other wise good shape. I was given Propoxy 100s for extream pain in my left sholder and muscles in lower right back. I took the pills every 4 hours as directed from 8am on the first day and by evening had some mild light headed feeling and very slight bluring of vision. On the second day I started at 8am with no problem and took another pill at 12 noon and apx. one half hour later went to mow the lawn. While mowing on a cool day I started to sweat profusely, very dry mouth and became mildly nausious with some light headedness. This cleared up slowly in about 5 hours. There was no sign of blood pressure or heart problem.

My mother is on this. She started receiving 1st treatment Sept. 2005. She is now sleeping 1 1/2 hours max at a time at night. Her legs and back hurt so bad she cries & shakes from pain. She has lung cancer & is on Oxycontin & Oxycodone for pain which does not seem to be helping.

It started as a cough... thought I had a cold but just cough continued until I lost my voice. I coughed so hard I thought it was something much more serious since my mother died of lung cancer. I have never smoked but got plenty of second-hand smoke. Doctor said it was allergy/asthma and prescribed Prednisone (7 day) and Advair. Prednisone is now gone but still have trouble with voice breaking up, some cough, and not leg cramps, stomach cramps and dizziness. I am on 250/50 and also prescribed and using Albuterol and Flonase. Thanks for this site and information. I will discontinue Advair and see the reaction. I am now not so worried. -Pamela-

I begun taking Lisinopril about 2 months ago. Was lightheaded at first for about 2 or 3 weeks but that side effect seemed to disappear. My blood pressure has never been better (from 170/105 to 98/65) but just as soon as my lightheadedness went away, I started developing a dry cough. I didn't think much of it at first as I have summer allergies and my husband had just gotten over a cold with a bad cough that lasted almost 4 weeks. I just figured I had caught his cold. But after 4 weeks passed and my cough just kept getting worse instead of better. Just like everyone else on this site, I have a horrible persistent cough that brings me to the point of tears and dry heaves many times during the day and night. I haven't had a good night sleep in I don't know how long and my poor husband suffers right along with me too.

I finally went to the doctor 2 weeks ago and was prescribed an antibotic for what she described as sinusitis. Well, after finishing my 2 weeks supply of antiboitic and Mucinex, my cough is worse than ever. Since my husband and ex-husband are both smokers, I started fearing the thought of lung cancer until I found this site. I was so relieved to find out that what I'm experiencing is like a carbon-copy of so many other unfortunate people on this drug. I called my doctor today and told her the antibiotics did nothing and that I was sure it was the Lisinopril. She advised me to stop taking it immediately and monitor my cough for 2 weeks and then go in to see her. I was relieved but also scared after reading other people who have been off this drug for up to a year and still have a horrible cough. I don't know what I'll do if this doesn't go away! It's having a terrible affect on my sleep and my job as I'm constantly having to put customers on hold while I hack my brains out.

I'll post any updates on my hopeful improvement after going off this horrible stuff!! Good luck and thanks very much to everyone out there who has shared their experiences! It really helps to know that it's not just you who is going through this misery!

I have sat here for almost 2 hours reading about all the horrible side effects from Lisinopril, much of the time with tears rolling down my cheeks. I am a 47-year old woman who was prescribed this drug about 5 months ago. My Dr. told me that the most common side effect was a dry cough. Shortly after, I did develop a cough, but was certain it was due to allergies (although my friends with allergies weren't coughing their lungs out). Like another person in this forum, I began obsessing about what could be causing the cough. I changed my sheets more often, began vacuuming more. I even considered purchasing a Sharper Image Ionic Breeze air purifier. I also tend to be a worrier, and over the past couple of weeks, I have thought of my dad, who died of lung cancer 2 years ago. Could I have it too, even though I never smoked? I have also noticed a feeling of significant sadness. I attributed that to grieving my youngest son getting ready to go off to college. Now I'm not so sure. I seem to cry at the drop of a hat.

I am so grateful I searched the web for "Lisinopril and coughing". Your comments have helped me to feel a little less anxious about the really scary thoughts I've been having, and have encouraged me to call my Dr. and have my meds changed. I have to admit that the drug did lower my blood pressure, but it's not worth it! I'm exhausted by lack of sleep! I also plan on buying my own bp monitor, because when I go to the Dr.'s, I always have "white coat" syndrome, and my bp reads high. After I sit for a minute, and my exam is done, they take it again, and it has lowered.

Good luck to all of you, and again, thanks for all your wisdom!