Medical history symptoms and conditions

In 2007 I was diagnosed with HBP and enlarged prostate at the same time. I was working and had medical coverage with my PCP at Nova Southeastern University. The doctors there are very good. They put me on Terazosin for both. I quickly developed severe rash, hives, swollen face, neck, throat, etc and had to go to emergency. They took me off Terazosin and gave me Flomax for the prostate and Lisinopril for the BP. The Flomax works fine-noside effects that I can tell except decreased semen production. I am a 58 year old male. But I quickly developed a cough and the took me off Losinopril right away and put me on Diovan, which worked great with no discernible side effects. Then I lost my job and had to go to the VA for my medical in January of 2009. Because my medical history included my emergency visit for a severe anaphylactic reaction to Terazosin, they allowed me to stay on Flomax. But I had no such record for the cough caused by Lisinopril. So they insisted that Diovan was too expensive and I had to try Lisinopril. Despite my complaining about the previous experience they insisted. I was given a little pink pill which did cause me to develop a minor cough. But being a good soldier, I decided to live with it. Then in August I noticed that my refill no longer had a pink pill but a larger yellow pill. And that was when the problems started. I first felt like food particles were stuck in my throat and nothing could get them out. That feeling would eventually disappear on its own only to later return. I visited the emergency room several times with severe flu like symptoms, including a severe cough. I also discovered a yellow film covering the back of my throat. And my tongue had a thick yellow coating on it that went all the way to the back. In some places this had strands that extended above the back of my tongue for about a half inch. In addition there were bumps on the top of the back of my tongue. This stuff could not be scraped off. The emergency doctors would examine my mouth and throat, tell me nothing was wrong and refuse to take a throat culture. They scheduled an appointment with ear, nose and throat and then canceled it. Eventually they scheduled a CT scan, which showed nothing abnormal. Finally my PCP examined me and said I had a severe allergic reaction to Lisinopril. So a week ago she took me off Lisinopril and put me on Amlodipine. I'm actively researching the side effects of that and will get off if I see anything I don't like. But my goal now is to find natural substances to treat both the enlarged prostate and the HBP. The yellow coating on my throat is beginning to disappear. Still no difference with the yellow coating on my throat. I believe I have seen slight improvement in the cough, but not nearly enough for my liking. I worry whether I will ever be able to get rid of it. I do have more energy now. Any idea how long it will take to get rid of this cough?

Well it has been exactly 1 month since I started taking Flexeril and tramadol and my doctor prescribed it for long term usage today. It's made a huge positive difference in my life. Like I described earlier, I only had one bout of crabbiness with this and some forgetfulness, but this no longer makes me drowsy during the day and my sleep is awesome like never before and my pain is very much reduced and relieved!! How ever I am worried about long term usage, I have never liked taking pills and there is medical history in my family of mental illness. So I will keep coming back tpo read everyone elses posts..good luck every one!!

I had Mirena inserted 6 weeks ago and just had it removed. My medical history includes TIAs (mini-strokes) and migraines. I had a migraine EVERY DAY while I had Mirena. I also experienced ZERO LIBIDO (so what was the point of birth control!?), weight gain and mood swings. I had Paragard inserted a few days ago and I am already slowly returning to normal. My point - if you have had problems with hormones in the past, not only estrogen, but also progesterone, you may want to stay away from Mirena. My OB/GYN argued with me the entire time that there is no way Mirena could cause these symptoms since progesterone is not released in the bloodstream - BULL!!! Women, listen to your body and trust your gut.

I would also just like to add that I have developed a ganglion cyst in my right wrist, and do experience frequent joint pain. I don't know if this can be attributed to the use of Yasmin.

My daughter who just turned 6 has been on Singulair for about 3 years now. Her behavior has not always been the best, but with her past medical history ( a preemie) and all the things we have gone through some times its just easier to give in than to fight over it!!! So last week she was suffering with her allergies and asthma and the doctor added a Claritin to be taken once daily. I didn't really think to much about it and thought well if it is going to help her the OKay. That was on Wednesday and by the week end she was literally coming "unglued". She was lying on the floor when she should have been in her seat at the dinner table. When she was in her seat she was doing "back bends" over the chair. We finally come to the conclusion that it had to be the Claritin, I looked up the active ingredient loratadine and knew I had to get her off it immediately. So now I started to investigate the Singulair as well, which I should have done long ago. Today will be the last day she takes Singulair as well. She has complained of her stomach hurting for a long time and I always blamed it on constipation, but it could be the Singulair. I can only pray that she will not have any lasting side affects.

On May 8th 2009 I had my gallbladder removed. I have lupus, sjogrens disease, pulmonary hypertension, diabetes type II and coeliac disease. I was prescribed doxycycline as an antibiotic for post op infection. Within 2 days I was very ill - thought I was going to have a heart attack. The pain over my heart was alarming. Also, I found it very difficult to breath. I did some reading and found out that Lupus patients should not be given doxycycline. (The hospital and specialists knew my medical history and it should have been an easy thing to check for contraindications of medications - I had never had doxycycline before)A day after I stopped the antibiotic things improved dramatically. At the post op visit to the specialist, I was told that this was 'all in my head' and it was a lot of nonsense. However, I stuck to my story and finally the specialist conceded that even the best doctors do not know everything!!!!???
One really has to be VERY careful to look after one's own health.

Hi Everyone,

I need Some help!!!!!!!!

I been on Yasmin for two months now because of extreme period pain. Im 20 years old. And for the past week, Im bleeding a little and also clotting, however its still a week from time for the sugar tablet. On top of this my skin hasn't cleared up yet. Is this due to the time scale? Also I am bloated so much and i have stacked on the weight, its the fattest I've ever been, Im only meant to be small. It pretty much came on in a couple of months, I just feel like shit. fatigued also.

Its nice to know that there are a few of you that are going through the same thing.

Is this the wrong pill for me???

It so annoying!!!!

16 yr old daughter was given 1st injection in June 2008, her arm ached for several days thereafter. We never took her for her second injection since the various side effects were mentioned on the news shortly after the first injection. Daughters medical history was unremarkable prior to the Gardasil injection. Within a few weeks of the injection my daughter was at a concert with friends when she became dizzy, lightheaded, nauseated, having chest pains with a squeezing sensation, heart racing so fast she said she thought it was going to jump out of her chest. In November 2008 the same symptoms appeared again and my daughter passed out at the local Mall. Now, last week April 16, 2009 my daughter was at home when these same symptoms presented and wife rushed her to hospital. She was having SVT's (Supra Ventricular Tachycardia) with a heart rate of 283!. The ER staff quickly went into action and attempted to Cardiovert her (Shock Her Heart) into a normal sinus rhythm. After three unsuccessful attempts they finally was able to bring her heart rate down to a manageable level (150 beats per minute) by the use of the drug Lopressor. She is now home and doing fine but is on the cardiac drug, Toprol XL to keep her heart rate down to the high 80's and low 90's. We are to see a Pediatric Cardiologist on April 29, 2009.

Okay, I don't have any side effects, but I do want to know something important!
I'm 16 years old and i REAALLLY want someone (who knows about the Yasmin pill!) to help me out with this one. Tomorrow i am going to the doctor with my mom. I have irregular menstruation. Like 2 or one week before it's supposed to come. I also get cramps, which are just enough to hold out...But the thing is, i just want to get the Yasmin pill. I heard that it clears your skin (although i don't have acne or anything) and it can make your breast bigger.. I have like a A-cup and bigger breast are nicer.
But now I read these bad experiences and I'm just scared to start it.. But still i wanna try it, 'cause I can stop right after it starts to become bad, right??
Please give me a good and useful answer!

Thanx!
A confused girl

I have been taking Lamictal since October of 2007. I experienced some of the symptoms (muscle pain in the head and neck) before I started the medication. I have experienced panic attacks since July of 2005. I have had mild heart palpations since I was in my mid 20's (I'm 36 now). I have had what I would consider a below normal energy level since my mid 20's also. Ok so like everyone else I am thinking I'm a hypochondriac! However, I was diagnosed August 28th 2007 with having Lyme’s Disease and also Hyper-Thyroid (same time, same lab-work). Two weeks later I was diagnosed with Bi-Polar Disorder (this is one thing I knew I was battling but didn't know how to handle it). My physiatrist started me on Lamictal and I did the standard ramp up to 200mg. I also was started on a 90 day treatment of Dyoxicycline for the Lyme’s and Methimazole for the Hyper-Thyroid. I was very very weak and was only able to stay awake for short periods of time (4 to 5 hours max). Just an fyi, I am not overweight, lazy or unmotivated. I have the physical appearance of perfect health. This, I think works against me as the Dr's seem to think I'm just whining. Mater of fact; my Primary Care Physician never tested me for Lyme’s. I went to an Urgent Care Center which tested me for Lyme’s disease and I came back positive (they also tested my Thyroid levels and found the problem with my THS levels) I told my Dr the results and he insisted I have same test done again. Guess what, new tests, same results.
My symptoms today are very similar to what I have seen posted many times. Muscle pain (entire body, some areas worse than others), heart arrhythmia, racing heartbeat, intense palpitations, nausea, foggy “un-plugged” mind, fatigue, weak muscles, muscle cramping (especially after repetitive motion, such as strumming a guitar), panic attacks (much more severe) and the latest addition to the group, Insomnia. Muscles pain in my head, fore-head, jaw, temple, neck (front and back), shoulders, is terrible to say the least. The pressure in my fore-head (right under my brow) makes me feel like I need to close my eyes or rest (resting does not relieve anything). The front of my neck is so tight at times it feels like my jaw is being pried down. I could go on and on.
On my quest to find out what else is going on with my body I have had 2 Echocardiogram’s on my heart and abdomen, 2Nuclear Stress Tests, blood work out the wa-zoo, MRI of my brain, 2 CT’s of my Head and Neck, Chest X-rays, Endoscopy, Colonoscopy, and all revealing nothing.
Most doctor’s I have encountered seem to want to treat the symptoms, not the problem/disease. I believe I know why; we (the ones who are there for solutions) tell them what the symptoms are (how we feel). We of course are thinking “this will help with a diagnosis of the problem/disease”, when in fact (I feel); the doctor’s thought process stops there. They don't know what’s wrong with you but they do know what your symptoms are so....bingo, let's treat the symptoms. Don’t misunderstand what I am saying. I’m not saying, “Most doctor’s don’t know what they are doing” or “don’t take your meds”. I am saying you and I are one of the 20 to 30 patients most doctor’s see daily (100+ weekly). They may be caring and good people but they are just as human and fallible as you and I. My advice is this; (and I am taking my own advice) don’t always “pop” into your body what the doctor suggests/prescribes, without doing your own research. Heck most of us won’t buy a car or more importantly, send our kids off to a college with out doing your own research (we just don’t trust those shinny brochures). Your body and your health are worth you doing your own research. Just keep in mind, Pharmaceutical Reps are always at your Dr.’s office (sit in the waiting room for 10 minutes and I’m sure you will see one). Reps are paid to do one thing; encourage (push) the Dr.’s to promote use of the Pharmaceutical Companies drugs.
My wife and I have been doing our own research on Lamictal (after a year of taking this stuff) and the side effects associated with this drug. We have searched through many (many,many) web sites for information and we have talked with pharmacists and Dr’s for opinions. Although I’m am not thoroughly convinced that Lamictal is the cause of all of my symptoms, my wife and I have decided to lower my Lamictal slowly from 200mg to 100mg. I am now taking 150mg daily (three days now) and plan on staying at this level for a total of two weeks before lowering to 100mg. I do fear dropping the dosage to quickly (potential side effects) or lapsing into a mania. To help avoid a manic episode my wife and my immediate family are all “up-to-date” with my course of action. They are on “Red Alert” and have promised to keep a close eye on my behavior patterns and moods. (I don't want to put them through another hyper-mania episode, its much too devastating). I do want so badly to feel healthy and alive again and at this point I am rather frustrated with the Dr.'s ability to help me achieve this goal. Remember it is called “Practicing” Medicine. So now I’m going to practice a little, very carefully and cautiously.
As a foot note; I have recently (past two weeks) been re-tested for Lyme's with a negative response. I am keeping in mind Lyme's test are very inaccurate (still hoping this one is accurate). My thyroid is under control and normal, so.... let's see if dropping below 150mg of Lamictal will eliminate some of these other symptoms. I will keep you posted.
Erik

I started using lipitor from my doctor, it lowered my cholesterol all around but I started to have lower back pains. At first I thought it might be prostate cancer, but after having to MRI's done they found no cancer, thank god. But I went to an orthopedic surgeon to see what the problem was. He looked at the mri's and saw lower dics hitting my nerve endings. He also thought that it might be muscle problems so he gave me 3 epidurals and that helped for a while took away about 50% of my pain, but I still have the pain, It is hard for me to get comfortable when I sit or even when I am sleeping. I don't want to think that it is the lipitor that is doing it to me but after talking with others I feel it is time to talk to my doctor about it. My doctor said that lipitor is the safest one that will do very little harm to my liver. I am not a doctor so I would not know.. My cholesterol level was 246 at one time now it is 175. I am now facing possible spine fusion to help correct my disc problem. But will also ask doctor to prescribe something else.

Alan

I am 20 years old and have been on Yaz for a year now. Before the Yaz I was on OrthoTriCylcen Lo for 3 years and tried a few others that didn't do well for me at other times. My Gyno prescribed me Yaz because I had heavy bleeding and intense pain every time my period comes, and I have been known to be very moody. I have a past medical history of heart problems and GI problems. My Gyno said Yaz could also help the anxiety from those issues. The first month into the Yaz I noticed horrible nausea, I couldn't eat anything, major stomach pain, headaches, very lethargic, back pain, leg pain, and increased anxiety. I went back to my Gyno about a week later because my pain was so bad and my bleeding was heavier and MORE painful. She said to give it a few months so my body can adapt and everything will be better. She then said that my other side effects (like nausea and back pain and anxiety) were unrelated and I needed to see my primary care physician. My mom told me to stop using the Yaz, but I decided I wanted to keep trying it. So no I see my primary physician once a month because I am so "sick." I am on like 10,000 meds to try and help everything. Even he doesn't think it could be the Yaz. There are days where my pain levels are so high that I cannot sleep or get out of bed. I have had blood work, MRIs, Sonograms, Colonoscopys, Ultrasounds, etc.. I am so tired of this. At this point I feel like the doctors think i'm a hypochondriac. I have an apt to see my gyno again (for the 5th time), i'm printing out this page and showing her i'm not crazy!

I am posting an email address for people that have stopped dispensing this drug and see the symptoms of the side effects disappear.Please tell all who have seen a change in their child or loved one to email this woman.I met with Dr.Sarah Sellers and other members from the FDA in Washington DC she is in charge of Safety Review in the office of Surveillance and Epidemiology.This is critical in the investigation into SINGULAIR .Everyone wants to help and this is how to begin.The email is sarah.sellers@fda.hhs.gov Our Congresswoman has requested the TV advertisement for SINGULAIR to be changed,they are stating mild side effects and that is not known to be true at this time.I am reaching out to all of you who have posted and that know anyone who has ,to please do this along with filing on ******.We have to work within the guidelines of the system,this will certainly help the investigation to be more accurate.My husband and I are in this to help all the families that have suffered so greatly,take this opportunity to help also.Thank You in advance Kate and David M.

I am on Lamictal 75mg (down from 150) Lexapro 10mg (down from 20) and Clonazapam (3mg daily) - Here are my side effects

easy bruising, unusual eye movements when my eyes are closed, fatigue, loss of appetite, tingling in lips and all throughout body, daily headaches, grinding teeth - my teeth hurt so bad in the mornings, Loss of memory, shortness of breath.

This all scares me greatly - I am under a phychiatrist only doing NO blood work and he just keeps moving my meds up and down! I am so frustrated and afraid (after doing research and my family medical history) that the problems I was having before going to this dr. is due to a thyroid disorder.

anyone else feeling any of these symptoms?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

My 8yo son has been on Singulair for his asthma for about 2 weeks and he has complained of a 'sick tummy' regularly, ending up in tears because he can't do things. We have had a long run of this, perhaps due to the 8 lots of penicillin for tonsillitis, and some tummy bugs going around the schools I work in. The doctor has been suggesting irritable bowel syndrome so we didn't think of the Singulair side effects until it has got so bad that he is not going to school.He has been unusually clingy and almost paranoid about small things that don't usually worry him over the past couple of weeks. We were trying these tablets as he has been on steroid based preventer since he was 3 and we wanted to get him off the cortisone stuff. After reading here he is off the Singulair today and we will report the side effects to the paediatrician.

The ups and downs. I have been on Loestrin 24 for 4 months now and it's been a real experience. To give a quick background so you understand what has brought me to this I will begin with my medical history (at least a brief bit of it)
I am on this particular medication due to severe endometriosis. Six years ago I had the Laparoscopic Surgery and two years ago they did a DNC and Balloon Ablation at the same time. According to my Doc this last treatment had been 100% effective for his patients and he was convinced it would for me as well. One full year after my DNC and Balloon Ablation I was still bleeding very heavily at least 25 days out of each month. For those of you who have or are suffering like this you will join me in saying that anything is worth a shot.
My last visit they did all the typical testing and ultrasounds to make sure everything was as it should be internally. They did another biopsy and everything came back normal. The Doctor then started to push a hysterectomy. I am not completely against that option but I am 32 years old and want to prolong something that definite as long as I possibly can.
So, on to the meds. After my first week on Loestrin I had suffered the following symptoms: bloating, severe mood swings, enlarged breasts, breast pain, anxiety, and the bleeding had not let up at all. I called my Doctor and begged him to get me a different medication and he asked me to give this at least three months to get in my system and that I may see changes if I could hang in there. I stayed on the meds and for the first full 3 months I wanted to toss them in the trash! The feelings of anxiety and depression were consuming me and to top that off I was suffering from insomnia as well.
I did finish the pills and started on month 4 and almost immediately I saw a change. ALL the side effects subsided almost like I had never had any. The only remaining problem I currently have is a very small weight gain. Approx. 5 lbs. But for someone who has struggled with endometriosis since I was 20, been to Dr. after Dr. and gotten the same doom and gloom story of what lies ahead for me and my poor reproductive system.... Well, this has honestly been the best result yet. I can and will live with the weight gain and I will happily take my 2 day period each month. I LOVE this pill. Honestly I would do it all over again to get to the point I am now. I can live a normal, happy, productive life and I have Loestrin 24 to thank for that!

I've been on the NR for about 6 months now.
Now that I'm reading all the comments, I see that my migraines, lack of sex drive (NR kills your sex drive, therefore it is doing a good job of preventing pregnancy :-), bloated feeling, sharp abdominal pain - like someone stabbed me from inside, pain during sex (so we can only do certain positions) ... can all be attributed to NR. I also experienced that my natural D cup breast feel like DD because they are constantly swollen. I'm off the NR for about a month, strangely my migraines disappeared entirely and I do not have to take Excedrin migraine every other day. I'm going to my doc to check out my ovaries since I think that the sharp pain is related to perhaps some cyst.
I'm not sure what will I use in the future as BC... I'll probably try this new minipill called Cerazette, it is a pill without oestrogen.

After taking it for 6 days, Omeprazole caused me to suffer arthralgia. That translates to joint pain (knees, elbows, wrists, shoulders, neck, back), swelling (hands and feet), stiffness (all over), weakness (especially in the hands), and fatigue. I am having problems driving because it hurts to hold the steering wheel and exert enough pressure to turn the wheel, and overall I can barely move. I found a case study on the net that examined five other people who also got arthralgia, and the symptoms went away 10-18 days after stopping the drug. This is only my first day off Omeprazole, so I hope things will clear up for me quickly.

I was diagnosed with PCOS (based only my medical history). My hair has been thinning in recent years, and my doctor said Yasmin was an antiandrogen and would reverse my thinning hair, but I've been on it for two months and it's only getting thinner. Has anyone with PCOS had luck getting their hair to grow again?? I'm afraid to quit the Yasmin but also afraid to keep taking it.

i was prescribed meprozine when i had my wisdom teeth removed. i only took two during the healing process because it didnt hurt hardly any. i saved the rest. i have taken a couple when i couldnt sleep for a long period of time and i got on here to see if it might help anything else.... sinuses, colds.... anything? i find some of the stories on here kind of scary. im sorry that those reactions happened to yall. hopefully next time the doctors will listen to you and prescribe what is helpful instead of harmful.
*tip- i wouldnt go back to a doctor that clearly ignored or wasnt paying attention to what i was saying about my medical history (seizures). thats YOUR life they are dealing with. find a doctoe whom you trust! :)

Some day in the future, our children's children, and their children, will look back and recount the statin drug disaster as the biggest embarrrasment in medical history.

Bobby

Hello. I am in the US, but I though I would add to this list in hopes of helping somebody else avoid what i hope isn't to be my fate.

I am a 30 year old male who has chronic sinusitis and have had either no insurance or low-quality health insurance from my younger years till September 2004. I have gotten into the habit NOT consulting a doctor when I was slightly ill and have no fever because It was all out of pocket and I could not afford it. (before you comment, have you ever been sued for medical bills?) I have been lucky to only get sick once a year or less with a sinus infection that usually turns into an ear problem. I was given samples of Tequin several years ago and had a horrific reaction to sunlight which was witnessed by several medical professionals after less than two hours in direct sunlight and more than two weeks after I had discontinued use of the antibiotic and developed a good tan. This experience caused me to avoid medical treatment for the infections (very mild in nature) for the past 4 years.

I was persuaded to see a GP by my fiance because we both had very bad upper respiratory infections (similar to the one that I had when I took Tequin before). She is a hypochondriac; I'm the exact opposite in every way. I made an appointment with her physician, explained my medical history including the Tequin, and received 5 x 750mg Levaquin and was told to take one a day. I took it immediately after leaving his office at 2:30 PM. I was not warned that there were any signs to look for, such as muscle aches and pains, and I had none at the time.

The first day after, (Wednesday, March 22 2006), I awoke around an hour early around 6:00 AM. While I wasn't alarmed, I did have some muscle and joint pain getting out of bed. I attributed this to the fact that I only had 5-6 hours of sleep. I noticed some unusual but mild stiffness and aching while getting up from my desk and that my hands were seemingly more sensitive to cold air; they became numb as I typed (I am a software engineer for the #1 ranked LIS in the U.S.) and have a fairly in-depth medical background as I had initially sighted a career in pharmacy and then nursing and worked in the field as a C.N.A. and Q.M.A. for several years. I am fluent in medical-speak for the most part. I attributed the symptoms to my illness and the decongestant that I had been taking (and have always taken since the age of 14) Benadryl Severe Sinus Headache. I took my dose of antibiotic without question at 2:30 and went home sore and stiff.

On the second day (Thursday, March 23rd 2006), I awoke at 5:30 which alarmed me as I had only slept between 4.5 and 5 hours. I was very stiff and the balls of my feet, backs of my hands and feet, great-toes, and thumbs were extremely sensitive to pressure which caused very bad pain. I have a herniated disc with sciatic nerve-induced leg and hip pain, several broken bones, severe sinus pain, and know what having a ruptured appendix feel like; so please don't call me a sissy. I had a lot of difficulty due to weakness and pain while getting out of bed. I have used one sick day in the two years that I have worked for this employer and was considering using a sick day to recoup but went into work anyway... which was a stroke of luck because I looked at the side effects. I found it difficult to lift myself onto my toes and the backs of my legs at the ankle and knee felt inflamed. I went to work and had increasing difficulty typing (shooting pain and numbness like sudden carpal-tunnel to my elbows) also, standing up and walking to use the restroom or get a beverage was a chore as others saw me staggering down the hall and asked if my foot was asleep. I took two 325mg aspirin for the pain which seemed to help a little and took my next dose of Levaquin at 2:30. The symptoms worsened and I became shaky and confused as if I were in shock at 5:00 or just before. I called my brother who is a Pharm D. and asked him for advice. He first said that I must have another infection because of the pain and then hours later called back asking me if I had tremors and told me to stop the Levaquin and call the Dr. the next day if I didn't feel better. I searched Yahoo! for "Levaquin and Joint Pain" and found hundreds of websites like this one. I can relate to nearly everyone here, this drug is trouble and I wish that I had never gone to the doctor and just stuck it out because I was already feeling better at the time and went at the insistence of somebody else.

On the Third day (Friday, March 24th 2006), I called in to work and contacted the physician's office, as I woke up at 4:30 and couldn't return to sleep and my symptoms had made it impossible to hold onto the steering wheel of the car or even motivate myself past the pain of getting up and taking a shower. I only got up once before noon to soak in a hot bath (which helped slightly with more aspirin). The physician's office called back in two hours saying that they had a prescription for another antibiotic, this time the penicillin-derivative (Augmentin), ordered for me and wanted a pharmacy to call. I assumed that there were no permanent problems that were to result from the side-affects because they didn't mention anything to alarm me and continued to rest. I noticed that I had severe difficulty even holding open a book with my thumb while laying on my back and that my arm became numb and then pain-stricken when holding the book over my face to read within just a few minutes. I do not know how many times I had switched hands before noticing this. I then contacted my brother again to ask about the "Seek immediate medical attention" portion of the warning for liver problems and joint pain, etc from the internet site "drugs.com" for Levaquin. He said that it should pass when the drug began to leave my body and that things would begin to become normal again by Saturday (now Friday afternoon). I proceeded to spend the rest of the day laying around and noticed that when pouring my coffee that I had to hold the decanter with both hands because my wrists and fingers were weak.

The weekend of March 25-26th 2006 were far worse than anything I have ever experienced up until the afternoon of Sunday, the 26th when I began taking an increased dose of aspirin at my brother's advice (four every four hours this time). I also drank an entire bottle of Riesling out of desparation, which may have helped dull the pain a little. :-)

I am currently experiencing a numb and weak feeling in my hands and feet, mostly in my thumbs, great toes, and Achilles tendon (mostly in my right heel). I cannot lift myself with my right foot and have extreme difficulty rotating my hands and grabbing things. Today is Monday, March 27, 2006 and I have no improvement to report other than the pain is less intense but still present. I have contacted my physician with no response and am going to the ER tonight. I doubt that they will do anything other than waste 5 hours of my time and bill my insurance company liberally. I hope that I have inflammation and not ruptured tendons but am prepared for the worse. Thank you all for your words of warning. I wish that I had done my research before trusting the physician with another drug in this category.

Guest # 14173

If you also want to know an Alternative Drud then you need to ask your Doctor too! We are NOT doctors and cannot tell you what you should take INSTEAD of Prednisone. Every person is different, therefore only your doctor would know what would be appropriate for you to take based on your medical history. Nobody was rude here, It was only a wise advise but it's you who sounds rude to me.