Meditation symptoms and conditions

Are there any meds that are safe? I was taking 10mg norvasc. I started taking 20/25 mg lisinopril. I was doing ok on the norvasc but the added lisinopril has almost killed me. They had cut my norvasc down to 5 mg then to 2.5 mg when I started the lisinopril. 4 days ago I stopped the lisinopril and added back 2.5 mg norvasc. Back to 5 mg. The side effects seem to be letting up. Now im wondering is all of my meds are killing me. I can't live without them. My BP sores. Im so scared of what I should do. Im afraid of all my meds.

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!

I'm 51 and in good shape. I ran 60+ miles in Dec, a PR 5K and then started Lisinopril in late January. Since then I have been fatigued and wiped out after running - no longer get the runner's high at all. Two weeks ago I ran 6 miles and couldn't get out of bed for two days. Family doc said quit the stuff. That was 6 days ago - ran 3 today and was pretty wiped - also seen a pick up in anxiety. Any advice? How long does this stuff take to clear your system? When can expect my stamina to return? Thanks.

I have many of the same symptoms as everyone else... miserable stomach pain, diarrhea, terrible headache and heartburn. this drug is awful. I've never had this sort of reaction to an antibiotic before. Today is only day 4 and i'm afraid to take the pills. Has anyone heard that the side effects get better as your body gets used to the drugs?? I'm in the middle of taking exams and I was worried about this throat and ear infection interfering with my studying. I think I could have managed the infection better than these drugs.

First I want to say, after reading several posts, that it seems a lot of you are taking Topamax without food, which may be causing your "spaciness." My doctor suggested always taking it with food, even though it says with or without food, and I only experienced spaciness the few times I took it at bedtime without food. Once I started taking it with breakfast and dinner, that never happened again.

I am a 48 year old woman, prescribed Topamax in September of 08 for migraine associated vertigo without headaches, with facial numbness. The first thing I noticed was I immediately had headaches, which to me indicated it was dehydrating me as that is the only time I get a "normal" headache. So I knew I had to drink a lot of water. Soon after starting Topamax I developed a dry cough that lasted the entire time I was on the med. I did not relate it to the drug at the time, however. It never even occurred to me. After about two months on the drug I started having trouble breathing with extreme dryness in my airways. I was prescribed an albuterol inhaler which did not help. I was then prescribed a corticosteroid inhaler which also did not help. I thought the trouble breathing was from taking Nadolol which I was prescribed for occasional heart fluttering - the neurologist said this was a normal side effect of Topamax. I stopped taking the Nadolol but the trouble breathing continued. I also had more migraines with vertigo and facial numbness than before I started taking the drug. I hoped it would eventually stop and the drug would kick in to help the vertigo, so I stayed on the drug. I had very minor tingling in my feet, but it was tolerable. I became very stressed out, had trouble sleeping, depression, my face started breaking out in November (and still is), I lost interest in everything that I normally enjoy - reading, photography, following politics in the news (sort of an obsession of mine). In December I was so depressed that for the first time in my 11 year career I started canceling appointments and eventually took three weeks off from work to "re-group." In January the neurologist decided that we would increase the dose from 100 mg to 150 mg for one more month, and if it did not get rid of my migraines with vertigo, we would discontinue the drug. The first day on the increased dose I had a killer headache, and I drank 150 ounces of water before it went away. That night I did not have to go to the bathroom during the night, unheard of for me. That's a lot of water to drink and not have to pee. Within two days of increasing the dose, my cough became much worse, and within three days, the breathing became more difficult. Within five days, I was having trouble speaking because my airways felt so dry. I called the doctor the next morning and he said it was not the drug, but if I wanted to, stop taking it. So I went off it cold turkey, per his instructions. I had rebound migraines every day for a week or two and my heart was pounding, sometimes for three or four hours at a time. Eventually the cough and trouble breathing went away, however, I had to continue drinking lots of water or I would notice that I didn't have to urinate, sometimes not at all. Again, unheard of for me. I saw a cardiologist at the neurologist's urging and they said the heart pounding was just anxiety. I disagree, as did another doctor of mine. We both believe it was withdrawal. I have now found out (by getting copies of my medical records) that the neurologist is now attributing all of my side effects from the Topamax to "somatization." In other words, psychosomatic - not a side effect, but just a way of getting medical attention. I am seeing a few people on this board who have also experienced a dry cough and trouble breathing. Can I have the same side effects as other people and have them still be psychosomatic, even though I had no idea those side effects could occur? I don't think so.

I have a theory that Topamax interferes with hormones which causes a lot of the side effects like lack of concentration, memory loss, anxiety, depression, insomnia, acne, and hair loss - all symptoms of peri-menopause and menopause. Ask any woman in her 40's or 50's if she has these symptoms and most of them will say yes. My face has not been this broken out since high school! My hair is falling out at a rapid rate. I won't even bother mentioning these to the neurologist. He'll just say it's not the drug.

I'm very frustrated and not sure what to do at this point. The neurologist has me taking a supplement called Migrelief now, but I think it takes three months to kick in, so I have no relief at this point.

Has anyone else experienced the trouble breathing with dry cough? I don't believe for a moment that it was psychosomatic.

I've been on Zoloft for about 4 years now (100mg) a day and I really want to stop taking it. At the time I was put on it I was just getting myself out of a really bad situation and I needed to be put on it for severe anxiety and panic attacks. I'm in a totally different situation now and am doing fine, I don't want to rely on medication anymore to make me feel "ok". I actually kind of feel like it's counteracting in my system. The only thing really holding me back is the fear of crazy side effects after you stop taking it. I heard you can even have a heart attack =/ Has anyone gone through this or going through it right now?

My 54-year-old fit, social, successful husband was put on Singulair in January for newly diagnosed asthma. He developed a depression with anxiety, irrational fears, avoidance, mood swings and even one episode of suicidal thoughts out of nowhere. He saw a psychiatrist and a therapist, tried medications, yoga, a vacation, meditation, breathing exercises - everything! But he kept getting worse.

The day he was throwing patio furniture then sobbing uncontrollably was the day he realized he couldn't work in his condition. He negotiated a 60-day leave without pay. Even that didn't help. It was crazy. How could a man who managed hundreds of employees and a major health service system for 20 years suddenly be so paralyzed with fear that he couldn't walk down a beach or go into a Walgreen’s?

We found this site May 26th. He stopped the Singulair immediately. It has been 10 days and he is already 80-90% back to normal. Thank God.

Partly I am writing because it is so hard to read of parents' guilt that they "should have known" etc. Look, unlike a child, my husband is mature and very verbal; he is also a psychiatrist (!) with a capacity for self-examination and a language to describe his inner experience. And me, I'm a psychologist (!) trained in understanding people and I know him very well. And yet with all that training and skill and consultation and treatment, WE STILL COULDN’T FIGURE THIS OUT! So please, don't make yourself feel any worse with guilt. This is awful and tragic enough already.

I would add that the onset of mood and behavioral problems is so insidious that it is hard to connect the problems to the Singulair. Also, I suspect that children and adolescents are at greater risk because of their immature emotional developmental level. An adult l suspect may need some genetic or personal predisposition to mood disturbance, or stress, or both, to trigger these side effects. My husband had a depression episode 30 years ago and had recent traumas that certainly could have triggered the depression. But how treatment resistant that depression was, and those strange paralyzing fears and extreme anxiety – all that I blame squarely on the Singulair.

I have made a report to the FDA. I urge you to do the same.

I went on Paxil for 7 months. It worked great and took away my anxiety but I was engaging in dangerous behaviors--casual sex with multiple partners, drug and alcohol use and neglecting my job and relationships. I had a pretty good withdrawal. Had some head zaps, got a really nasty sinus infection and fever and experienced mania and rage for the first two weeks. I'd say it takes a good year for your body to come back to stabilization. ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION are survival mechanisms that your body uses to tell you that something is wrong in your life. It's a warning sign that something needs to change--you are on the wrong path. Once I started addressing my life issues, the anxiety slowly disappeared. The thing is that people are lazy. They don't want to change how the eat, their exercise, their jobs, their life, and the way that they view the world. This is the hard way. The pill is the easy way, but ironically the hardest way in the long run. Our modern world makes us sick. My advice--get off the couch, eat some vegetables and get moving. Meditation is a GREAT way to get the same effect as the SSRIs. Until you try all that and still haven't gotten anywhere, stay off the drugs.

This medication was a life-saver for me when I first started taking it 7 years ago. Unfortunately, every so often it would stop being effective. My Dr. would up the dosage until I was on the highest and could go no future. So I set out to titrate off, which I did very slowly, but it was hell. The worst was when I was finally done. I felt like a junkie. I was shaking, having crazy brain zaps that made me feel like I was being shocked every time I'd close my eyes. I was sweating like a pig. My sleep was was filled with terrifying nightmares that left me screaming out in my sleep. I am 5 weeks off and still experiencing nightmares, and a few mind-zap things-but nothing like they were when I first started to come off. Yoga and meditation seemed to be the only things that helped. Each day I wanted to take it again just to feel normal. No one can believe that a common SSRI can have such horrible withdrawal effects, so I am on a quest to educated everyone I know.

Ten years on zyprexa and seventy pounds gained. Decided diabetes risk too high, tried to change to Geodon, horrible. Zyprexa has done me great good (no delusions, less paranoia, out of silent stupor) but after ten years I feel maybe my life and skills have progressed to point that I don't need it. Tried to go off it before but terrible physical side effects, ready to try again.
Think my very bad anxiety disorder is driving all other symptoms (including psychosis!) so will try antianxiety meds and then off to meditation. Ultimate goal: no meds.

I have been on 40 mg Geodon for over 6 months, and I stay like I am in the clouds and my legs and hands will shake ,bad anxiety,I don't want to go out and do anything.I want to get off this drug against my docs orders , does anyone have any information on withdrawals from the Geodon?and how do you tapper yourself off it . email me *** thank you Melissa

I have read some of the board and would like to know if anyone else has had prolonged side effects after being off Prednisone for almost a year. I think Prednisone caused all my current health problems. Was on the higher dose 5 day plan for a severe inner ear infection. I stopped taking it after the third day cold turkey, which I know was wrong because of blurred vision and stomach distention so bad I thought I was going to burst (almost the same as when I was pregnant). The first 4-6 weeks of stopping it were pure _ ell. So many withdrawal symptoms. I went to my doctor and he said I couldn't possibly be having all those symptoms from the Prednisone since I was only on it three days (but it is the regimen where you take the higher doses/multiple pills in the beginning and then it lowers the dose each day). Every few days it seemed I was having something new happen - heartburn, sweating, headaches. Then my thyroid function began acting up (hypothyroidism) and glands seem to swell with my monthly cycle. I started having a daily dry throat. All my symptoms seem to be on my right side: blurred vision, dry throat, swollen lymph glands, ear pain, groin swelling. It is one month shy of a year when I originally took the Prednisone and nothing has decreased, only new symptoms appear. My doctor keeps treating each symptom individually and won't look at the whole picture. I tried acupuncture and it didn't help. Any suggestions/comments?

In January I was diagnosed with polymyalgia rheumatica and temporal arteritis (giant cell arteritis). I was put on 60 mg prednisone and an array of other meds to help with pain, inflammation, water retention, and stomach problems from everything. I've lost some vision from the TA. I've experienced the weight gain, the moon face, stomach problems, depression, fatigue, muscle weakness, lack of memory and concentration, and generally feel miserable. The brain fog is awful! I don't trust myself doing much of anything these days!

When I was first put on the prednisone it completely took away all my TA and PMR symptoms. I could walk and get up and down again, didn't have the headaches, and didn't hurt all over.
My doctor tried to taper my dosage about 6 weeks ago and all my symptoms returned and increased as I went down on the prednisone. He upped me back to 60. That time the symptoms didn't go away. They lessened but were still there.

He's trying to taper again, and I'm down to 30 mg now and feel worse and worse. My sed rate has been normal, so the doctor thinks it's from the prednisone. Does it mimic all the TA and PMR symptoms? I also am having a lot of hand and feet cramping.

Does anyone else have these two illnesses? I would be interested in your experience. I want off these meds! Anyone found an alternative approach that's helped?

God bless!

Has anyone experienced re-current colds after going off of Yasmin? I've been now for almost 3 months (went to Orthocept) but I've been sick now for almost 4 whole months!

Can anyone reccomend remedy for this? I can't figure out why this is happening? I was on Yasmin for 2.5 years, never,/rarely sick and certainly not ever this long!

What i can say and will say to everyone experiencing anxiety-the one tried and true remedy I have ever known was true and effective is EXERCISE. Aerobic. Meditation. Avoid caffeine COMPLETELY and sugar.

I would also say to be warey of all the Anti-anxieties and the anti-depresesants. i was on Prozac years ago when it just came out and since, they've come to recognize they've linked it to causing worse depression and suicide and there are no means to measure long term effects on the body/brain and its ability to naturally create and manage levels of dompamine and serotonin after going off of it.

I have been on lisinopril for 1 year and for one year I have had a dry choking cough and have had what I describe as sever insomnia. Needless to say, I have been put on an antidepressant and ambien cr to help me make it through my days without high panic and then ambien because the insomnia has lasted for more than 3 months (tylenol, lunesta, atarax, plus about 2 others have been tried with no success).
I happened to be in my meditation to help me get thru my work day (frequent breaks or become visibly panicked). The ambien does not keep me asleep and with suspicion I am doing this keyword search and landed here. I will go back to my doctor to talk about switching and the connectedness of my symptoms. He has not listened in the past, but I hope he will or I will find a new primary. I am so very misarable without sleeping a full night and always feeling like I'm in someone else's body. I lost 42 pounds 2.5 years ago and have been told that my sleeplessness is a result of weight loss and need for less sleep. Sleep study found no apnea, etc.
I've had days where I just wanted to drive off the bridge from this disconnected and out of control feeling.
Thanks for all who contribute to this site. Otherwise I would still feel like the only one with this issue. I now have a little hope.

I've had the Mirena placed for 3 years now. My periods stopped within the first month. I no longer have any more night sweats, hot flashes or mood swings. I still may have insomnia but only mildly and it's managed with meditation & homeopathic meds. My appetite is unchanged & I've been able to maintain my weight. The only effect I have a problem with is that my libido extremely decreased.

Kay, I completely understand your exhaustion over the time it takes to feel better after getting off Yasmin, but you need to TRUST that although you dont feel it, everyday is a day closer to being the 'old Kay'. It has now been 4 months for me and I am only really feeling like my old self now, you need to take one day at a time. By the sounds of it, you are currently either ovulating or pre-menstrual...you always feel worse around these times. I understand that knowing you will get better soon isnt always enough to make you feel better right now. The biggest thing is to TALK to your friends and family. They need to know exactly how you're feeling. Get them to read posts on this website. I'd also recommend you make an appointment to see a psychologist. This is not because anything is wrong with you, but as a result of taking Yasmin you are suffering side effects that you currently have no control over. I have been seeing a psychologist for the first time in my life over this whole experience and it has helped enormously. He reminded me that I need to stop being so hard on myself and that I am making gains....its' always good to have other people's views on our progress as it's often difficult for us to see.

I'd also recommend you cut out any caffiene, white sugar, white flour etc as it only makes you feel more on edge.

I found meditation helpful as it helped calm me down.

You need to know that you're not alone. All Yasmin Survivors out there are sharing your pain, and we all have brighter times ahead!!!

I took Advair for asthma for the past 6 months. At first, it did make me breathe deeper, and I felt like my lungs were much stronger. I never had to use my Albuterol before exercising. It was like I didn't even have asthma anymore.

Then I forgot to take the diskus of Advair on vacation with me. After not using the Advair, my asthma came back and was more difficult to control. It took 4-5 puffs of my Albuterol inhaler to relieve my chest tightness and wheezing. My Albuterol inhaler barely worked on my asthma after being on Advair. It became clear to me that Advair had actually made my lungs weaker.

I have been off Advair for about 3 weeks, and my lungs are still weaker than they've ever been. My chest is still tight, and I have difficulty inhaling. (It's almost like my lungs have forgotten how to breathe.) I feel like there is a stack of books on my chest. I also have a slight burning feeling in my chest especially when I inhale. I'm just hoping that these symptoms are not permanent.

I started doing deep breathing exercises 10-15 times a day(Inhale 8 counts, Hold Breath 24 counts, Exhale over 16 counts...) which are slowly strengthening my lungs. My friend, who had asthma as a kid recommended swimming and meditation.

I am turning to Chinese Medicine. I no longer trust Western drugs.