Mgm symptoms and conditions

I'm 54, started taking lisinopril in jan 09. I took for about 3 months and noticed a decrease in libido. My pressure was pretty much in control, so I stopped taking it. I started again around 1st of Aug 09. Approx 3-4 weeks later, I began to experience severe pain in my left shoulder and arm. It began to move into my neck and back. I went in for an EKG to ensure I wasn't having a stroke. It was normal. I experience dizziness and headaches. I wake in the night and my 2 left fingers on the left hand are completely numb. The pain in my neck is now moving to the right side and some shoulder pain seems to be apparent. I noticed pain in other joints as well. I'm unable to work out at the gym as I usually do due to the pain my my left arm. I highly suspect these symptoms to be caused by lisinopril. I've been taking 20mg and was just switched to 20 mgm Hct. a week ago. X-Rays were taken of my neck and shoulder last week. Haven't' heard from the doctor as of yet. I was on Diovan before I lost my job and health benefits. As a vet, the VA put me on the Lisinopril. The Diovan worked fine for me, too expensive for us vets I guess. I am discontinuing the Lisinopril as of today 10/24/09. I feel like I imagine a ninety year old would feel with these aches and all. I havent' admitted it, but I believe I'm feeling mildly depressed as well. Let's see what a week of purging this from my system does. f. D.

An update to my husband's experience after taking Lipitor 10 mgm/day for 4 yrs. He developed Parkinson's disease and stopped taking Lipitor at that time--summer 04. He is taking anti Parkinson's drugs as well as many vitamins and suplements in an attempt to correct some of the damage done by Lipitor. He is fairly stable. My niece's husband who was diagnosed with Parkinson's at the same time as my husband and had been taking Lipitor also, continued on Lipitor for another 1 1/2 yrs. He had a progressive neurodegenerative disease course and died 2 yrs ago. 3 other individuals with whom I am acquainted who have been diagnosed with neurodegenerative diseases have not stopped their Lipitor--one individual's diagnosis has progressed from Parkinson's to Parkinson's with Lewy Body dementia to Multiple Systems Atrophy. this is the same progression my niece's husband experienced. The other 2 individuals are currently diagnosed with Parkinson's disease.
Husband started taking 1200 mgm of coenzyme Q10/day upon diagnosis of Parkinosn's. This amt has been shown to be beneficial to those with early stage Parkinson's--irregardless of their statin status. Seem all parkinson's patients have abnormally low levels of CoQ10 in their blood--and statins DEPLETE CoQ10. What a set up!!!!!

I had tried Lisinopril 5mgm years ago and hated it. I was depressed and exhausted. More recently another doctor talked me into trying it again. 10 mgm this time and recommended I try taking it at night. I am laying my head on the computer desk at home all the time. I will "last" about 10 hours until my head starts drooping forward. And most recently, I've been too exhausted to chew. Now some might think that's a weight loss tip, but it was awful. I was so hungry, made a sandwich and took almost an hour to eat it because I was too exhausted to chew. I took myself off of lisinopril today. Has anyone else been too exhausted to chew? I almost fell asleep in church today and when I got home took a 5 hour nap (unheard of) and woke up exhausted. I too appreciate this site. If you go to the lisinopril site, they down play the side-effects. I'm a nurse and am not willing to go through this, hoping the side effects would go away. I don't believe they will and these are dangerous effects.

I took levaquin 750mg as prescribed yesterday, after leaving my doctors office at 330pm ( june 18th). along with calrinex d (1tab) and a tsp of tussionex suppension syrup and 4 nose shots of astelin in increments of two over a 4 hr period of time. I was awake a majority of the night unable to sleep. But had some bouts of sleep. This morning (june 19th) I awoke at 930 am forced awake due to an appointment, and took 550 mgm of levaqin and the array of other drugs, around 12pm I noticed a headache and believed it was due to the exertion of coughing so much, my appetite is non-existent and around 6pm I felt flushed and sweaty, however this feeling subsided. I am now in hyper drive, I want to fall asleep but when I do my throat has the sensation of being choaked and then I have this odd gush or air emmited nasally which awakens me from the doze. My left corotid arrtey was tender and my heart is palpitating. While my sinus infection is almost gone I do not think I will be continuing this medication. There will be a call made to my physician at first reasonable light, I am sure I will be awake.

I have been taking Zetia(10 mgm) for over 6 months with short breaks when I was sick or took antibiotics. My gut has not been right since. I have had severe gastritis( NOT caused by bacteria) and recent bouts of lower abdominal pain requiring ER visits and a hospitalization for suspected diverticulitis. All extensive tests negative for that or any other reason.. Surgeon called it IBS but I never had anything this bad ( I am 65). My prescribing doc said to stop the Zetia--and I am NOT going to take it again.
I got similar complaints from a couple of others.

Dr. Duane Graveline MD is a family practitioner who trained as an astronaut. He suffered 2 episodes of transient global amnesia after being on Lipitor 40 mgm/day for several yrs and began researching statins. He has a very informative web site which also has a forum for participants to share their symptoms of statin side effects. www.spacedoc.net

I had been on Prednisone for 6 mo. -started at 40 mgm.and decreased it 10 mgm. every mo. -ending with 2 1/2 mgm. I have been off it completely for 5 days and the pain had returned & is getting worse. I have Polymyalgia Rheumatica.What can I do & is this nirmal? Thank you , Marilyn

Have been taking Prednisone since January for a severe eye problem. Since there was a strong possibility that I could go blind, I had to take it. So far, I've only gained about 10-12 pounds...but keeping the pounds away has been tough! I'm now down to 7.5 mgm alternating with 5 mgm daily and my appetite has decreased, thankfully. All of my weight has accumulated from the waist up....which is typical. I continue to be bothered with hot flashes that come on suddenly and disappear within a few minutes. Eating a banana a day has eliminated the muscle cramps. Also, cutting back on salt helps the ankle/leg swelling. When I was on 60-30 mgm/day, I lost ALL sense of TASTE and SMELL! You'd think that would help with the appetite...but no! (One day, I ate six apples...as fast as I could!) Taste and smell is slowly returning.
Here's my two cents worth: 1. Prednisone is a powerful drug...don't mess around with it. If you stop taking it without tapering, you could place yourself in a life-threatening situation. 2. If Prednisone is precribed for you for an extended period of time, GET A SECOND OPINION. It is always possible that a newer, safer drug is available that your doctor may not be aware of. 3. Use the internet for finding the latest research pertaining your condition. Take copies of your findings to your health care providers. Be convinced that Prednisone is your only option.

My best to you all.....Mary

my 60 yr. old husband experienced hand tremor and tingling, muscle twitching and jerking of legs esp. at night and immediately upon awakening, slowed reaction times, walk without swinging of arm on right side. He was diagnosed with parkinson's disease last week. my niece's husband (57 yr. old) was diagnosed with parkinson's 3 weeks ago! when it was discovered they had the same symptoms and had one major factor in common: BOTH HAD TAKEN LIPITOR FOR 4+ YEARS, i made my husband stop the drug and began researching. since statins result in incredible decrease in the body's ability to manufacture coenzyme Q10 he began on 100 mgm/day of the drug. on his own. when he was diagnosed by the neurologist with parkinson's the physician recommended my husband take coq10 at a dosage of 1200mgm/day! ( He also is taking vit c, selenium, & folic acid)It is still way too early to determine if any benefits will result, but the night and early morning twitching and jerking of his lower extremities has stopped for the past 2 days and the hand tremors have definitely decreased.