July 22th
2009
8:57 PM
My husband stumbled across this website and first I would like to thank everyone who have posted their experiences on the NuvaRing. Because of you guys I now know I'm not losing my mind.
I started the NuvaRing March of 2008 and I started getting dizzy spells May 2009. I actually got my first dizzy spell when I was driving. Everything started to spin very fast!! My husband had to grab the wheel and tell me how to slow down and how fast to do it. That was the scariest thing ever!! My head felt a numbing sensation in my head. I had a pain above my left eye and it would shoot up my head and down my neck. The dizzy spells would come whenever, once every 8 days to twice in one day. I have had an MRI and an MRA done and nothing. The docs have had me on so many migraine meds to try to get a handle on this and nothing has helped. My longest migraine lasted for 14 days, that was in May. This month (July) I got a migraine on the 13th, took the ring out on the 21st, and had a dizzy spell this morning but this afternoon and especially this evening I feel amazing.
Since getting on the NuvaRing, like so many of you, my sex drive does not exist. It has caused so many fights between my husband and I. Its hard to tell him that he is still attractive but I can't explain why I'm not excited. So thank you for writing your experiences. He got to read that I'm not the only one and I wasn't making it up.
These last three months have been hell for my family and I. I have been like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. So much tension has caused everyone to walk on pins and needles when they are around me.
So lets sum it up here, after being on the NuvaRing for 14 months I started getting dizzy spells, migraines, nausea, neck pain, twice I've puked because of the room spinning so damn fast, and very very VERY low sex drive.
I'M NOT CRAZY!!!! :)
-- By amb316 | Reply | (2) replies | Private Message me
June 23th
2009
10:49 AM
Started taking lisinopril April 6th of this year. Have had many of the symptoms listed in these posts. I just thought I was still having symptoms from being sick. I have had a lot of anxiety and depression, as well as chest pain and heart palpitations. My hands were ice cold and had severe stomach pain. My head felt very cloudy and numb. I have had every blood test possible, 2 EKG's, a brain MRI, cervical MRI and brain MRA, and a chest x-ray. So far, everything is normal. I saw this site a few weeks ago and on June 8th, I stopped taking lisinopril. I have started feeling better, not completely, but definitely better. I am supposed to go back to my doctor on the 29th. He did not agree with me that these symptoms could all be caused from this drug. He reluctantly agreed that I get off it for these 3 weeks. I am still taking Hydrochlorot with no symptoms. Not sure what to tell him when I go back. Are any of the other blood pressure drugs safe???
-- By zooey | Reply | (2) replies | Private Message me
June 10th
2009
11:53 AM
I had my Mirena put in back in June of 2008 right after I got married. I, too, was lead to believe that the effects of the progesterone were purely "localized" to the uterus and would not cause any symptoms at all.
Since then I've experienced SEVERE migraines and dizziness, loss of libido, greasy skin and hair, weight gain (size 6 to size 10/12), numbness/tingling in my feet, crying, irritability, and SEVERE brain fog. For the migraines, I went to a neurologist who wanted to prescribe me topamax and said the only major side effect is cognitive difficulties! HA!!! I already have the worst brain fog, can't remember anything, am tired.... rather..... exhausted all the time, and can't function.
This Mirena surely works well as birth control, seeing as I have NO SEX DRIVE at all! LOL. But seriously, it's great not to have a period, but I knew something was wrong when I was needing medication (antidepressants for the mood swings, provigil for the fatigue, botox nerve injections for the menstrual migraines) for this medication IUD!
Since no OBGYN believes me when I say I think it's the Mirena, I've began to think I was crazy and this was all in my head. So I started on the internet and all my symptoms sounded like MS. So I had thousands of dollars in testing including a full body MRI/MRA. Negative. Had ENT see me for the vertigo. Lots of tests. Negative. Anemic? No. Thyroid? Normal.
HOW MUCH MORE DO WE HAVE TO SPEND ON HEALTH CARE TO FIND OUT WE ARE "FINE" WHEN WE FEEL THE WORST WE'VE EVER FELT???
Then I found this site!!! I think it's the Mirena now! So I want to get it out. But then on the other hand, I feel SO GUILTY that my husband paid $900 for it and I only kept it 1 year. That's expensive birth control! But then again, all the tests, doctor's bills, and feeling lousy cost more! (Not to mention that my doctor cut my strings too short so we can't "check" them each month so to be certain that my IUD is in place he makes me get an ultrasound every 6 months for $250!!!)
My ONLY FEAR is that I will have this out and the symptoms WON'T go away and it was NOT the Mirena after all. Then I will have gone through the pain of putting it in, taking it out, and the cost of "throwing one away" and then what am I supposed to do? I'm 29 but in school and can't get pregnant for a few more years. I don't want to go back on the pill because the mood swings were terrible. But I never had migraines or anything on those, so why is the Mirena causing problems?
Any feedback or encouragement would be helpful right now. I need advise!
-- By ameigh | Reply | (4) replies | Private Message me
March 23th
2009
10:19 AM
I have been on Toprol-XL (BRAND) for 3 months. I took the generic for 2 months with no change in BP so I requested the brand name. I found your website by surfing the web looking for answers to my complaints. I have weight gain, vivid violent dreams, extreme fatigue, my breathing is slow and I am just dragging around in a fog. I felt better when my BP was high and I didn't take all this medication. Currently, I am taking first, Lisinopril, then added Toprol XL AND then added Clonidine. My BP is still not properly controlled. I am going to the doctor today to have my medication changed. Thank you for sharing your comments.
-- By glawrence1 | Reply | (1) replies | Private Message me
March 10th
2009
8:23 PM
Since taking Propafenone for atrial fibrillation, I've been having horrendous headaches during sex. Two heart doctors and my regular physician say there's no correlation between the two. I've had MRI, MRA, and CT, none of which showed irregularities. Anyone else had this reaction? I'm male.
-- By baldie754 | Reply | Private Message me
February 24th
2009
9:39 AM
I am thinking of calling my doctor today to schedule an appointment to have my Mirena IUD removed. I had it inserted about 1 year ago. In August of 2008 I turned 37. My original thought was I was getting older and although I had been in perfect health up to this point, I figured my age was catching up to me. Now I am starting to think differently. Here's my story:
The day of my birthday party an overwhelming wave of vertigo swept over me and I ended up on the floor (and no, I wasn't drinking, it was a family party!). I was so dizzy and so sick I had to go straight to bed. I went to the doctor the next Monday and saw the PA. She thought I had an inner ear imbalance and gave me some Meclizine for the dizziness. That wave of dizziness ended before I had to take the medication but I held on to it in case I needed it in the future.
End of August nagging pain in my foot sent me to the doctor's office again. I had been ignoring it because I had no injury to my foot. Come to find out my foot was broken and I had a severe Vitamin D deficiency. I have no idea if this is related to the Mirena but I am adding it in for the consistency of my story.
Since my Mirena I have also had to get new glasses. My contacts drive me nuts and I can't seem to see out of them. This also happened when I was pregnant and my doctor told me it was the hormones from pregnancy causing the visual changes. I think this time it's the hormones in the Mirena causing me to walk around like Mr Magoo when I am wearing my contacts.
My brain is in a fog. I can't think clearly. As soon as I see a bed or a couch I am planted. I have no desire to do anything. If I could stay in bed all day I would. I really have no idea how I manage to get out of bed each morning and me a productive member of society. I am on Zoloft for depression. I have had to have my dose increased due to it not being as effective as it was when I first when on it. I have no patience when it comes to my kids and that kills me. I don't want to be a grumpy mom.
I have headaches everyday. Throbbing headaches where I swear I can feel the blood vessels in my brain pulse. Somedays it feels like I am about to have an anorysm. Other days my headache is confined to behind my eyes and I was contributing that to my contacts and vision changes.
This past month I have been to the doctor due to horrid jaw pain. My jaw actually locked up on me and I couldn't open my mouth. I have been fitted with a mouth guard for sleeping and was given a prescription for a muscle relaxer to help me not clench when I sleep.
And again this weekend greated me with the horrible experience of vertigo. I was grocery shopping last night and thought I was going to pass out in the middle of the frozen food aisle. My dizziness didn't go away with sleep. I woke up at 2am this morning still dizzy and unable to fall back asleep. I am trying not to move my head or my body for that matter too much today. The medication was brought out of the cabinet and I took one last night and one this morning. It isn't helping very much.
So, between the anti-depressant, the muscle relaxer, the dizziness medicine, and the constant supply of Advil I am consuming I am thinking now is the time to call my doctor. It was until my sister mentioned that all my problems seemed to have started when I got this monster implanted that I realized that yes, this was true. I want my health back. I want to enjoy my kids again.
-- By cbneary | Reply | (1) replies | Private Message me
February 17th
2009
8:34 PM
I had my Mirena place June of 2008 being that it sounded like the best option and it still allowed me to breastfeed, and since then I have felt horrible. At first I figured that I was just getting used to it. Ever since I have had horrible anxiety to the point of a full blown attack at least once a week. Depression to the point that suicide crossed my mind on several occasion. I have extremely high blood pressure which I have never had before. Random outbursts of aggression. I am tired all of the time and my points get these sharp pains throughout the day. I have spent the past 2 months going through blood tests, thyroid tests, MRA's, you name it trying to find something that explains why at 23 I feel like this. I have gained 10 lbs and I have never had weight problems. I can't concentrate at all, even when I try my brain just wont connect to the information that I am trying to retain.Thank you to all of the people that have posted on here. I am calling my doctor first thing in the morning to have it taken out. I can't continue on feeling this way. I hope that this will help me get back to the life that I had before.
-- By yzarkyob | Reply | Private Message me
January 23th
2009
2:25 PM
I have intense pressure in my head, left front lobe. Had MRI and MRA and all was normal. OK on lisinopril for many years at 10MG when it was the little blue football shaped pill. Then, they switched it to a white hexagon shaped pill in January of 2008. That's when the pressure in my head started. When to GP and Neurologist and could find nothing wrong. Told to go to a holistic healer and laughed off that it could be lisinopril related. When I stop the lisinopril the headache goes away. When I take it just one time to test the headache comes back.
-- By terryp | Reply | (2) replies | Private Message me
September 14th
2008
11:23 PM
I had NuvaRing in for 6 days. Since the first day I experienced some itching and discharge, I was not concerned with it. On the night of the 6 th day I experienced stroke like symptoms(vision problems, tingling, numbness, nausea, headache). I was rushed to ER and stayed in the hospital till all tests(CT, MRA, MRI, carotid Ultrasound, 2 D echo, TEE, as well as bunch of labs were done). All came negative for any congenital or structure defects. So the blame is on NuvaRing.
I have been on birth control pills for 9 years and had no problems. My doctor suggested to try NuvaRing since it is so simple to use it. I paid a big price - my medical bills will be huge and I cant go back to work since my vision is not normal yet. I am so scared it can happen again.
August 14th
2008
2:47 PM
I have been on topomax for nearly a year and have many of the same problems you guys have but a new one has popped up on me that scared the shit outta me and no one can seem to figure out what is causing it.
During sex just before orgasm my brain felt like it was going to explode!!
All I could do was hold my head in my hands and roll on the bed. this pain lasted for almost 8 hours. the next day i felt fine and went motorcycle riding and while racing my buddy and while passing him(More Excitement) It hit again and it was all I could do to stay on the bike. Went to the hospital and they did cat scans mri ,mra tests and have found nothing wrong w/my head .So my ? is could this be coming from my topomax??
July 14th
2008
5:52 PM
I am 18 years old and have been taking Loestrin 24 for about 7 months now. I started taking the pill because I was sexually active and was having extremely long and painful periods. The first few months of the pill were fine, I had some minor bloating. However, I was happy with the pill for the most part. The little acne I had cleared up and my periods were almost non-existent (12 hours of a light brown spotting at most).
Now, for the past three months I have been struggling with depression and anxiety. I could not figure out what was happening to me because I had never had emotional problems like this before. Given, I am prone to depression (both my mother and father have been diagnosed). Nevertheless, I am starting to wonder if the hormones in Loestrin 24 have triggered my depression symptoms and made them worse since they were NEVER a problem until I went on this pill. Previously, I was on Ortho Tricyclen Lo and did not have any emotional side effects whatsoever.
Also, I am pretty much fed up with this pill after today. A few days ago, I suddenly began having chest pains and a numbness/tingling on my left side (arms, legs, face). Feeling nervous, I went to the doctor today. They gave me an EKG which was normal (thank goodness). However, they have ordered me an MRI for tomorrow to see if I have suffered from a stroke! My doctor said that he thinks that then numbness pain is more likely caused my depression/anxiety. Depression and anxiety that I think were caused by this pill.
I can't stand these pills and I refuse to finish this pack. Enough is enough already! Has anybody else suffered symptoms similar to these and if so, what was your outcome?
-- By erinsarah | Reply | (1) replies | Private Message me
July 5th
2008
11:55 PM
I gotta tell ya this is scary. I am a 30 yr old guy my wife is 27 we have four children.Our last one was born Mar. 2007 She has been on Yasmin 6months or so.She has never been regular on periods. Well a few weeks ago she started having massive headaches.As of June 31st her doctor said she has migraines. Well by July first her left eye went blurry by the 2nd she has lost vision in both eyes.She only sees light and is very cloudy and can see shadows. We made 3 trips to ER. They did Cat scan and it was neg. the doctor said she might have even had a mild stroke because her left cheek went numb. By the 2nd we were in ER again because of total vision loss. They did a lumbar punture and no Meningitus. cat scan again neg. blood work neg. except UTI sound familiar ladies??? By the 3rd we visited her doctor and she passed out and was rushed by EMT to Hosp. They did and MRI,MRA,had a eye Doctor called an ophthalmologist clear her of vision problems.She has talked to a neurologist. So here is a 27 yr old female with all the test's coming back normal but she can't see.They even had a psychiatrist talk to her because she is on Prozac because she has PCOS and had half her ovaries removed and almost died.They even suggested that she had conversion disorder(google it).Finally I decided to check side effects for all her meds. When I checked this one I almost jumped outta the chair.She has about 10 symptoms. But before I get too excited has anyone had vision loss for a period of time and did it come back once off of it?? I'm throwing these away
-- By scottyd | Reply | (2) replies | Private Message me
May 9th
2008
6:11 PM
I got my Mirena put in November of 2005. Didn't really have any problems at first. I will say my periods were heavier than ever before, and my doctor said they would eventually stop, but they never did. In February, I started feeling extra tired and having some anxiety attacks, but figured I had experienced anxiety before and maybe it was just coming back. Then I started getting dizzy spells, headaches and just an overall bad feeling. Couldn't explain it, just didn't feel well. I decided to quit smoking. Figured maybe that had something to do with it. But instead of feeling better after quitting, I was feeling even worse. I was losing hair in clumps, bleeding gums, sweating much worse then ever in my life!!!! I had pains and numbness in my left leg. I even had chest pains, but it was all over my chest, not just near my heart!! I was also getting very depressed. I could cry because my husband looked at me the wrong way. And talk about not wanting any kind of intimacy!!!!! I wanted nothing to do with it!!! I feel so bad for my husband that he had to go through all of this with me. Thank goodness he's a wonderful, and patient man!!!! I went through many doctors, primary doc, hematologist, back to my primary. Had several blood tests, ultrasounds, MRI and an MRA, but all the tests said everything was fine. Finally, I happened to search Mirena on the internet. And I found all of these stories with women who were having the same problems as me. Thank God I may have found my answer to all my problems. I'm calling the doctor on Monday and scheduling an appointment to have this "thing" removed. I could care less about the side effects from having it removed. I just know that if in a month or two I feel better, than it is worth it!!!!
-- By thomscollins | Reply | (1) replies | Private Message me
May 5th
2008
6:35 PM
These posts about contacting a bad viral infection while the immune system is suppressed by Singulair are particularly worrisome. This was from 2007 so it has nothing to do with the FDA investigation. Epstein Barr causes some really bad illnesses including lymphoma.
The scary part is that children are the most susceptible to viruses. They need to develop immunity at a young age that will build up over time to levels that will protect them for the rest of their lives. Why are we giving children a drug that will suppress the leukotrienes? Why do we think that it is okay to take away one of the bodies defense mechanisms? Wouldn't it be logical that a drug that suppresses the immune system is a last resort option not handed out like lollipops?
www.iddb.org/drugs/singulair/ - 243k
.
Anonymous Immune System Dysfunction September 13th, 2007
Do users of Singulair and Advair understand how these products work? In order to understand how they work, you must first know what happens in the body during an allergic attack.
Allergic response is a function of the body's immune system. When an allergen enters the body through the nose or the lungs (e.g., a bit of pollen or cat dander), it is recognized by the body as a foreign substance, and the immune system then produces histamines to fight the intruder. Singulair and Advair work by disabling the body's immune system, so that there is no allergic response.
I too thought these drugs were wonderful. I was on both Singulair and Advair to combat asthma from my new husband's cat. I took high strengths of these drugs for approximately three years.
During the time I was on these drugs, some disease entity, most likely a virus (e.g., Epstein-Barr, Herpes Simplex I, HTLV I). I have been sick with a fever for the last four and a half years. My immune system seems to have been permanently impaired, and every organ in my body is now compromised. I have a fever, night sweats, liver and spleen enlargement, digestive problems, skin infections, hypertension, rapid-onset insulin-dependent diabetes and other endocrino;ogical problems, blood cell abnormalities, and neurological problems (e.g., tremors, myoclonic seizures, muscle cramps and weakness, vertigo, incoordination).
I am about to undergo a spinal tap and other tests, looking for the causative entity. Whatever it is entered my nervous system when I had an epidural anesthetic while on these immune system depressants. I have not been the same since. I have been too sick to work. This has ruined my life.
As we have all learned from recent reports of heart damage from Vioxx, the FDA no longer has the money to fully test new drugs entering the market. The "clinical trials" are a drug's entry into the population. If it kills or sickens too many people, they withdraw it. However, the drug companies define "too many people" as a number that could potentially ruin profits through lawsuits.
MORAL OF THE STORY: Don't rely on the government to protect you. Before putting any drug into your body, do the research into how it works. Read comments from other users. I wish I had done that.
-- By concernedcitizen | Reply | (2) replies | Private Message me
April 10th
2008
9:18 AM
I am now 66 and was on Lipitor for about 10 years and was gradually getting worse, right to the point that my doctor gave me a Hand-I-Cap sticker for my car. I had hip and leg pain so severe I couldn’t function. Not once did my doctor mention Lipitor as a cause but he did have me go through a battery of tests including and MRA to examine circulation, low and behold he told me I had a blockage in my groin and that poor circulation was causing the pain. You guessed it, and arteriogram showed no blockage.
By chance I had watched a person who was only in his 40’s go from a robust person to finally having to use crutches just to get around. Then about a year later I saw him again and he was his old self again. I asked if he had surgery or what he did to recover so quickly and that is when I found out about all of the damage satin drugs can/will do.
I immediately took myself off of Lipitor and now 6 months later I can walk short distances without sever pain. Someday I hope the effect of satin drugs wears off but at my age I will never get back all of the things I missed because of drug companies greed.
-- By jim04 | Reply | Private Message me
March 3th
2008
9:26 AM
Back in July of 2007 I had a partial Colectomy and was given Levaquin before the Surgery. When I woke up from the surgery I immediately felt all types of strange symptoms like, vibrating all over my body, anxiety, chills, Heart palpitations, tremors, insomnia, memory loss, and panic attacks. They told me that it was the anesthesia wearing off so I just sat in bed feeling that way for my entire 2 week stay in the hospital. When I went home these symptoms persisted as well as continued pain in my lower left quadrant where surgery was performed. It has been 8 months now and the symptoms are not getting better. They have conducted MRI’s, MRA’s. EEG’s, EKG’s, CAT Scans, X-Rays, numerous Blood Tests, and Thyroid tests but have found no physical problem. They can see that I’m having the symptoms I describe but cannot give me a reason for them. At first they thought that my Thyroid was having problems that turned up to be inconclusive. The doctors are currently referring me to a third Colorectal Surgeon, a Neurologist and a Second Gastroenterologist. We are also looking for a new Endocrinologist and will be going to the Cleveland Clinic for help. My life has come to a virtual standstill and I have no Diagnosis or direction to go toward other then the possibility that I have been affected by the Levaquin they gave me. I found a website that has all kinds of information concerning Levaquin poisoning. http://www.fluoroquinolones.org
-- By sfuertes | Reply | (1) replies | Private Message me
February 28th
2008
5:34 PM
Hi! I've been on Wellbutrin XL since November 2007. It's late February 2008 and I just stopped taking it two days ago. I know I shouldn't go cold turkey, but like others...I'm afraid of the side effects.
I've been having headaches since December. After having my eyes checked (prescription barely changed) and returning to the chiropractor (thinking something may have been pinched in my neck), nothing helped. I have NEVER had migraines until I started taking this medication, which a friend brought to my attention. "When did you start having these headaches? Wasn't it around the time you started Wellbutrin?" He asked because he, too, has had issues finding an anti-depressant that worked for him. On many, he's experienced headaches.
My doctor ended up prescribing a CT Scan and an MRA w/contrast of the brain because I told her that, in addition to the migraines, I also had two occasions where it felt like I was going to have a stroke (like my head was just going to explode and I almost passed out).
I have yet to have the scans due to an insurance issue, but I have stopped taking the Wellbutrin to see if that will help. I'm not looking forward to the depression, but I'm hoping I can take other positive steps (exercise, proper diet, vitamins, etc.) to avoid taking any more anti-depressants. The side effects are NOT worth it, at least at this point. I'm just going to have to find another way to get myself out of bed in the morning! :)
-- By benney928 | Reply | Private Message me
February 23th
2008
11:59 AM
My 16 year old son took Levaquin 6 months ago and had a bad reaction to it. His symptoms were severe muscle weakness (he would get exhausted walking from the parking lot to a store and back, severe joint pain (in thumbs, wrists, elbows, knees, and ankles), dizziness (he felt like the room was moving away from him and would lose balance), and headaches (a severe pressure in the back of his head that was constant and then shooting pains in his his head that would come and go for no reason). I should say he was in top shape before this and wrestling in the 125 pound category. He took Levaquin to prevent an infection after sinus surgery.
Now 6 months later, his joint pain is completely gone except for his knees. They still hurt when he does squats and they are not good enough for him to go back to wrestling, but he can walk around pain free. His dizziness is also gone as well as his muscle weakness. His headaches are still there and still constant, but not as bad as they once were; however, he has had them 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for 6 months. He is on Lyrica which has helped make the headaches subside.
I have taken him to more than 16 medical doctors of all specialties, had multiple MRIs, CT Scans, blood tests, spinal tap, and an MRA. All come back negative. Thankfully, despite all of this, he still remains happy and positive that he will once again be 100% healthy; it will take lots of time, but he will get better. I know the first three symptoms (joint pain, dizziness, weakness) are clearly Levaquin related, but I haven't heard much about the headaches from people. Anyone else out there that has suffered from a constant headache after Levaquin? I REALLY want to hear about headaches from others!!!!
By the way, we have filed a medwatch already. I also know that Levaquin is not approved for anyone under 18 years old and he never needed such a powerful drug to prevent an infection, but there is nothing I can do about that now except to warn others. One of his UCLA doctors wants to write a case study on him to make this more known to others and I am helping him with that.
If anyone has questions, please feel free to ask. If you have had a headache from Levaquin, please let me know where in the head the pain was, if it is constant, what it feels like (pressure, shooting, throbbing), how long you have had it, and what, if anything, helped. THANKS.
-- By martinsmom | Reply | (13) replies | Private Message me
February 6th
2008
11:31 PM
Thank goodness I typed in "Dry cough "and "gag." I found this site and now I know WHY I can't seem to get over this "cold."
I've been on lisinopril for about 3.5 weeks and I was beginning to think I had suddenly developed allergies. I get this terrible tickle and I try to fight it, because I know once I start coughing, it will take a while to settle down again. My eyes water, my head throbs, and I reach a point of nearly gagging. In addition, I get to deal with the added pleasures of menopausal stress incontinence. I'm MISERABLE!
I've been needing to schedule an MRA for another non-related issue, and I have been putting it off due to concerns about being in the MRI machine and not being able to catch my breath.
Thanks to all of your input here, I'm calling my doctor tomorrow. Enough is enough!
-- By msfortunecookie | Reply | (8) replies | Private Message me
November 28th
2007
1:47 AM
My son is 16 years old, a wrestler, and was in excellent health. He developed sinus issues and had surgery on September 17, 2007 (he had a headache on the left side of his head which the ENT said was due to sinus issues). After sinus surgery, the doctor prescribed Levaquin for 10 days. After 4 days, I called his doctor and told him he was getting worse and not better. The doctor said not to worry. After that he had sleepless nights, felt like the room was moving away from him, became dizzy and light headed. Then the joint pain came. First in his thumbs, then wrists, elbows, knees, and ankles. He developed severe headaches in the back of his head. The headaches were moderate to severe and with him 24 hours a day. He became extremely weak and his dizziness continued. He was tested for many diseases through numerous blood tests, had a spinal tap, MRI, MRA, CT of the spine, CT of the sinuses, x-rays of the knees, and an EEG. All came back normal, except his sinuses were still swollen which is normal after sinus surgery. He has seen numerous medical doctors (primary, pediatrician, two neurologists, allergist, two Ear Nose Throat) and is now seeing a pediatrician in UCLA and has appointments to see more UCLA doctors.
He has been out of school now for a couple of months. Luckily, the school has him on home instruction and sends teachers to the house and he is maintaining his honors classes. To give you all hope, he does appear to be getting better, but it is a very slow recovery. Up until two weeks ago, some days were okay and some days were pretty bad. It comes and goes like that. At first I never suspected Levaquin, but stumbled across the side effects when I was trying to research what was wrong with him. The only thing I found that had helped some people was taking high doses of magnesium (the kind ending in "ate" is better absorbed). I was and still am nervous about giving my child a lot of any type of vitamin, but no one was able to make him better, so I gave him 250 mg three times a day for three days. It could be just a coincidence, but about 3 days after I stopped giving him the magnesium, all of the joint pain was gone except for his knees, which still hurt if he bent down.
After a couple more weeks, he still had severe headaches, knee pain, some dizziness and some weakness, so I thought I would give it another go and gave him magnesium three times a day for 4 more days. After the 4 days of magnesium, he started on a new medication called Lyrica. His knee pain is almost gone and his headaches are minor with only an occasional flair up. I can see in his eyes and how he reacts that his is feeling better than he has in a long time. He has always been a happy kid, but I can tell he has his special spark back.
For the last two weeks, I just give him one 250 mg of magnesium a day, multi-vitamins, and Lyrica. By the way, one of the blood tests I requested was for magnesium, and it showed his level was normal. So, I have no idea if it is time that is making him better, the magnesium, or the fact that he is taking Lyrica. He will still continue to go to the doctors, none who believe Levaquin could be a cause, until he is completely back to normal. I believe that Levaquin was likely a culprit in his overall health issues, especially since no one can figure out how my healthy, energetic son suddenly became so ill he could no longer go to school. For the past two weeks now, he has had good days mixed in with okay days (no bad days though!!!) He has had only 2 weeks so far of better health and we hope it continues to get even better. Good luck to all of you and my prayers are with you. I hope somehow this will help someone.
-- By martinsmom | Reply | (2) replies | Private Message me
August 16th
2007
7:03 AM
Just one question I have been on this stuff at the beginning dose for less than a week. My eyes hurt, my head is about to explode, I am sick as a dog, I lost 5 pounds, I can't eat, constipated, can't sleep, can't function, ringing in my ears, and the ADD is unbelievable. I am a medical transcriptionist I kind of need to be able to work, no work, no pay. Topamax is going bye-bye for sure but how long till the side effects go away?
-- By d04pony | Reply | (5) replies | Private Message me
April 5th
2007
7:23 PM
Been on 20 mg. Lipitor for 4 years. It brought my total cholesterol down from 290 to 190. Tolerated it well for awhile, then I started dragging. Last year, started having ringing in ears, dizziness and fatigue. Had MRI, MRA, heart CT scan, blood work, etc. and they could find nothing wrong. I have suspected Liptitor for awhile, but doctor was so proud that my cholesterol was going down, he wanted to increase dosage to 40 mg., I tried it for a week and felt worse. He told me to reduce it back to 20 mg. But now, I feel so bad with extreme debilitating fatigue and nausea. The ringing in my ears is driving me crazy. I have talked to several people who told me they felt the same way on Lipitor and when they got off, the felt so much better. I hate to give up the progress of getting my cholesterol down, but at what price? I just hope it gets out of my system real quick. Will try to keep cholesterol down by eating more healthy foods (I love red meat and fried chicken).
-- By cajunmiss | Reply | (1) replies | Private Message me
March 10th
2006
12:29 PM
I HAVE BEEN ON TOPROL FOR 5 YEARS SINCE MY FATHER AND MOTHER HAVE PASSED. BOTH HAD HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE AND I HAVE TWO SIBLINGS WITH HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE. BOTH SIBLINGS HAVE HAD HEART ATTACKS. ONE SIBLING HAS CHF THE OTHER REFUSES TO GO BACK TO DOCTORS TO GET EVALUATED FOR MEDS.
ANYWAY - MY SIDE EFFECTS HAVE BEEN VERY SLEEPY SOON AFTER TAKING, VIRTIGO, COLD FEET AND HANDS, SLEEP IS SOMETIMES INTERRUPTED BY DREAMS, WEIGHT GAIN HAS BEEN 15 POUNDS OVER MY ORIGINAL WEIGHT (NUMEROUS DIETS DON'T HELP). I AM HAVING DOUBLE VISION AND HAVE BEEN FOR 2 YRS - I HAVE HAD MRI'S/MRA'S ULTRASOUNDS, FLORESENE TEST - MY MUSCLES HAVE BECOME WEAK IN BOTH EYES TO THE POINT THEY THINK I MAY HAVE MYASTHENIAGRAVIS DISEASE - BLOOD TEST WILL CONFIRM WHETHER OR NOT BUT THAT RESULT IS 2 WKS AWAY. I HAD TO BE PUT ON ZOLOFT TWICE AND COULDN'T TAKE IT DUE TO ANXIETY ATTACKS WHILE DRIVING IT ALSO LOWERED MY PULSE BELOW 44. PULSE IS NOW AT 56 WITHOUT ZOLOFT. WHILE ON ZOLOFT I HAD REALLY CRAZY DREAMS EVERY NIGHT. I STILL HAVE PANIC OR ANXIETY ONCE IN A GREAT WHILE WHEN I AM DRIVING AND I HAVE TO PULL OVER FOR A COUPLE OF MINUTES TO RECOUP. I HAVE LIMITED MEMORY SOMETIMES. SEEMS LIKE SHORT TERM IS RARELY THERE.
-- By bobbisoxd | Reply | Private Message me
February 23th
2006
12:29 PM
warning DONT TAKE THIS DRUG i took it for three days and i am now suffering from migraines for 5 weeks now ... im serious this drug is destroying me ..i have never had a migraine in my life ,,, maybe a headache but never a migraine that feels like a knife is piercing ur head . i have gone to a neorologist and have had an mri ... a mra all negative and currently on topamax and going for p t all bec of sulfameth .... take that stuff off the market
-- By telephoneman756 | Reply | Private Message me
Lipitor (5) Mirena (4) Levaquin (3) Topamax (3) Lisinopril (3) Toprol-XL (2) Yasmin (2) NuvaRing (2) Singulair (1) Cortisone Acetate (1) Propafenone Hydrochloride (1) Vytorin (1) Sulfamethoxazole (1) Magnevist (1) Loestrin 24 Fe (1) Wellbutrin (1)
October 27th
2009
11:38 AM
On Sept. 2, 2009 I had a cortisone shot in my back for L4, L5, C1 disc problems. The shot was painful but brief and I went out of there with no particular symptoms. It was done in a hospital by a neurologist. On Sept. 4th I woke up and the whole room was spinning. I threw up and this continued for awhile. I could hardly stand and went to the hospital emergency room where I spent the next twelve hours getting all kinds of tests. My blood pressure was 185 over 110. Finally, they told me they could find nothing physically wrong and dismissed me with meclizine for dizziness. This is now Oct.27th and I had these vertigo symptoms for seven weeks! I was sent to an ear specialist and underwent vesicular therapy for benign position vertigo several times a week at a rehabilitation center. I had brain MRI and a neck MRA which showed nothing. Last Saturday I passed out for a few seconds. Every medical specialist insists that the Cortisone shot had nothing to do with all this but I am still undiagnosed. Yesterday (Oct. 26th) the dizziness ended (7 weeks). I don't know if it is gone for good. I cannot believe that it is just a coincidence that all this happened two days after the cortizone shot. Does this strike a bell with any of you?
-- By skyline1 | Reply | (3) replies | Private Message me