Muscle cramps symptoms and conditions

I first posted back in January, after having been on Toprol XL for 7-weeks. It's now been about 8-months and some of the side affects are still there, although lessened. My BP, as of two weeks ago, was 114/68. My pulse averages about 68 BPM, lowest in the AM (as low as 48 at times) and as high as 78 in late afternoon. After hard exercise my pulse will hit 110-120, but rapidly drops to 75 or 80 within 5-minutes.

After taking my dose (25 mg), almost predictably I have weird chest pain and gas in the afternoon and some muscle cramps. The symptoms subside after a few hours. Other than that all other nasty symptoms have gone away. I still have extremely vivid dreams, but most are very interesting and the nightmares are all but non-existent. Here are some things that helped me. 1) Take the Toprol immediately after a meal and with a large quantity of water. 2) Take it at the same time every day. I tried several different times and for me with lunch works best. 3) Try to stick with the brand name. I switched to the generic version ($8.00 vs $39.00) and the side affects worsened. Anyone that says that a generic is equivalent to the "real thing" is full of crap. 4) Meals with a higher fat content seems to lessen the side affects. Not sure why, but I experimented with this and it works for me. I'm not promoting fatty food (I'm not overweight). 5) EXERCISE if you can. Even moderate exercise will help. I work out 30-minutes each day and this has helped tremendously.

I went on Simvastatin 40mgs last Christmas 2007 because of the family history of strokes, I was generally feeling very well .
Since being on statins I have felt awful , with lots of side effects " muscle cramps, upset stomach, really really tired, strange feelings in my chest and bad palpations "... I thought I was really ill.which made me very depressed.and even had test's done at the hospital to try and find what is wrong with me thankfully nothing appears to be seriously wrong" so why feel so dreadful i thought it had to be the statins!!"
I came off them my self four weeks ago ,since then I have been to see my doctor who has agreed for the time being I should be off simvastatin but consider taking a milder statin.
I do feel slightly better after four weeks ,but still get some of the side effects can any one suggest roughly how long it takes to feel like one's old self again.....Please!!!

Re: Dosage Confusion- Synthroid

This simple of communicating dosage became confusioning. To prevent confusion synthroid is always discussed in terms of (mcg). That is, micrograms (mcg) vs. milligram (mg).

This is of tremendous value The conversion factor is 1000, for example a dose of Synthroid represented as 0.025mg, would be converted as
.025mg x 1000=25mcg. To fully understand this blogger’s statement feel comfortable to talk with your pharmacist or physician.

I have been taking Lisinopril 10mg every morning for about 1 1/2 months. I have been developing many different side effects, but primarily they consist of muscle cramps (painful!) in the legs/calves, numbness of feet with pain when walking, severe itching (it feels almost like ants walking all over my body), and horrible belching and flatulence. I did not connect it to the Lisinopril until I had ruled out all the other medications I have been taking and then coming across a web site that outlined the symptoms I have been experiencing. Why the symptoms occurred gradually and not all at the same time is bewildering, but it is definitely an allergic reaction of some type. I have discontinued the medication as of today and will call my Dr. in the morning and discuss (Yeah, like he'll really come to the phone!) The constellation of symptoms only highlights the strong and potentially life-threatening symptoms that could have occurred. A major anaphylactic reaction could have led to difficulty breathing, atrial fibrillation and probably death. The doctors who prescribe medications are not always aware of the potential harm that could result from the side effects of the meds they prescribe. It is vitally important that we report all symptoms to our doctors and/or pharmacists, nurses, etc. This drug may need to be further investigated. (An FDA approved drug which results in severe side effects can be pulled from the market and doctors told not to prescribe it while a further investigation is completed. Reading the previous posts, it is apparent that many individuals are having similar problems.
The itching is the WORST!!
My advice to anyone having even the slightest symptoms or if you are experiencing more severe reactions to report this to anyone who will listen. If your individual MD finds nothing wrong, invite him/her to imagine how devastating the symptoms can be and literally demand discontinuation of the drug and a prescription for a safer, effective drug.
The advertising campaigns for the drug companies constitute a very massive push to prescribe any and/or all of the meds brought to the marketplace with little regard for those of us who are suffering. This must not be allowed to continue. The unfortunate aspect of discontinuing this med is that the high blood pressure I currently have was fairly controlled by the Lisinopril, but the side effects are impossible and either a new med will be prescribed by my doctor (if he won't listen and/or try to understand, it is time to find a more enlightened physician!) Our fates rest on the combined efforts of all of us to bring the dangers of this med to the forefront. Our hypertension may not be controlled for a few days (until a doctor can prescribe a new one), but the alternative of continuing the med and ignoring or making light of the side effects is far worse.!

i started taking Yasmin after i had my 5th child in July 2002. i was about 70 pounds over weight and my gyno said i would lose weight on this new wonder pill. i did, i lost 30 pounds and felt better than i ever had.
My skin was clear, my period light and i just consistently lost weight. i did notice that i was urinating quite a bit but didn't think much about it. About 3 years into taking the pill, my pharmacist mentioned to me that i should be having potassium levels drawn with this pill. I was a bit confused because i had read the literature that came with Yasmin when i started taking it(im a nurse and i just always research new meds i take) and it never once mentioned blood work. i had to harass my gyno because he thought it was useless but to appease me and because i mentioned to him i take a lot of ibuprofen for back pain he humored me and did the test. It was a little high but nothing crazy so i let it go even tho i mentioned that i was getting horrible muscle spasms all the time. he said my calcium was probably low. i accepted that because i had had 5 kids and figured i had depleted my supply. he mentioned that i could take Yasmin continuously without taking a sugar pill to keep me from having a period, said it was completely safe. so for the next 3 years i only had periods about 4 times a year. i raved to everyone how wonderful this pill was. i was still having muscle cramps but it was a small price to pay for no zits, no periods, no water weight, and i could eat whatever i wanted and had lost 30 pounds after one year of being on it though i never lost any after that.i didn't notice my hair was greasier than normal but i never connected it to the pill. i wanted to take the pill forever! that didn't work out thought when i lost my insurance and was forced to go off it because i just couldn't afford 70 a month. within the first couple of weeks i noticed acne appearing all over my face especially my nose and chin. i was 36 years old! far past the acne stage! i also noticed i felt bloated and my first period that came was like someone had released a flood gate. i went through 2 boxes of super tampons and a bag of pads in 3 days. thats about the time i noticed the weight gain. slowly over a period of 3 months i put on 3 or 4 pounds a week to now a whopping total of 30 pounds in 3 months. i was devastated. i knew that there were side effects of any medication and you assume those risks while taking it but not from not being on it anymore! the only good thing to come from getting off of it was those annoying muscle spasms completely stopped. i had been to the point that i couldn't even flex my toes or they would charley horse i had even gotten them in my jaw from yawning! now they were gone and replaced by fatigue, extreme weight gain and horrible acne and periods. i started blowing up and it didn't seem to be mainly weight, it seemed like fluid. i didn't urinate half as much as i used to it was like my body forgot how to make its own diuretic hormone. i could take a water pill and lose 10 pounds in 4 hours of fluid i knew that was not a good thing. i was scared as well as baffled. i went to my internist and he was shocked when he saw me my lungs were full of fluid, i had put on 30 pounds and was short of breath he ordered thyroid function tests and guess what? out of the blue my perfectly functioning thyroid (i had levels drawn the year before in routine tests) had stopped working when i got off Yasmin! so now i have to take diuretics because i don't seem to make enough of my own which i believe is thanks to Yasmin and i also feel it damaged my thyroid since its mechanism of action is inhibiting your adrenal system and thats what controls your thyroid. i am seriously considering filing a class action law suit based on the fact that for 3 years i never had my potassium levels checked because it wasn't advised by the manufacturer and i have experienced damage from this pill that i was not warned about in the package insert or by my doctor. i had the right to be informed and if they didn't know then the fda should have never approved it. i feel like ive been a guinea pig, and if anyone feels the same my number is ****** if we stand together maybe we can make them take this off the market and find out what has happened to those of us hurt already

I started taking singulair 2 weeks ago and was surprised it worked so quickly to relieve my allergy symptoms but then about 4 days into treatment i started feeling strange, i felt not like myself i could not explain it, well then one morning i noticed i was pale and then the muscle weakness began and then 2 days later i started getting bad muscle cramps and very bad muscle tightness in my back shoulder and neck.I stopped taking it 2 daays ago and right now i am suffering from terrible back muscle spasms.I think this medicine is a poison and the fda better take a better look at it.

Hello All, First let me say that I am sooo sorry for everyone's symptoms and that they are likely a side-effect of the Miracle Drug Januvia! I am on Glipizide which I fought my 'ex-physician' about continuing to take for several years, since I am a nurse and through research had found that this drug is really only an initial medication used for the new Type II (2) Diabetic. You don't want to know that I've been on it (in one form or another - Glucotrol & Glyburide also versions of same drug) for nearly 15 years! I had retired from nursing and wasn't exposed to meds-dispensing and was just trying to live and deal with DM with the dubious 'care' by physicians who just didn't give a hoot about me or my status. I'd tried Metformin when it first came on the market again, over a decade ago, it made me so violently ill that I would have to stop and vomit out the passenger side of my vehicle, on the shoulder of very busy California freeways. My doctor had told me that it must've been IBS - noooooo, it was the Metformin because within 24 hours I wasn't vomiting, in 48 I no longer had severe abdominal pain/bloating/diarrhea and within another couple of days I was no longer severely nauseated. The nausea reminded me of 'pregnancy-related' nausea which for you ladies out there, remember that it is worse than average nausea that is relieved by vomiting. So when my new physician who is a Kidney Specialist, Endocrinologist and Specializing also in Diabetes wanted me to go onto Januvia ~ well, I was skeptical to say the least. Having said that I found myself blythely going ahead without checking the known side-effects and taking first half a tab twice a day and then one tab twice a day. I was delighted that my blood sugars begin to drop immediately; however, also immediately, were the following symptoms on JANUVIA: severe all-over-body muscle cramps/spasms which include my trunk (body), limbs including hands, numbness in my hands (I type a lot in my work but have NEVER experienced anything like this in my hands) - of course the doctor said that I must be getting carpal-tunnel syndrome! In within two (2) days? No, that is impossible. I have spinal injury from a horrible surgery gone very bad 10 years ago and with it I experience very intense muscle cramps/spasming which generate from my spinal level of injury, encompass my hips, entire pelvic girdle, buttocks and into my legs - culminating in my feet. They are so severe as to cause me complete incontinence from the intensity of the abdominal pressure on my bladder and sometimes feces incontinence as well. While these are horrible and irreversible outcomes from this surgery-induced injury - I have learned the factors that cause them to happen more frequently i.e. sitting on unfamiliar surfaces and especially without my pressure-relieving seating cushion, flying - from the unfamiliar/cramped seating, difficulty standing immediately when I feel one coming on (when they do I know to come to a standing position immediately and pressing my weight against my feet at a 90 degree angle from my legs and NOT moving an inch from there for up to one hour and until they subside) well, yes, as you can imagine, these horrible cramps/spasms are no longer an intermittent event but occur Daily now and sometimes up to four (4) times a day along with the cramping in my trunk (in various locations around my back that aren't related to my surgical injury, upper extremities and hands - oh wait! I've had them in my jaw and front of my neck as well! What I haven't mentioned is the following: initial weight loss then recent weight GAIN, after about two weeks. Many are unaware that 'controlled' Diabetes Mellitus Type II (2) results in weight-gain due to the circulating blood sugars being metabolized by entrance via the receptor sites on our bodies cells and the storage of excess glucose into stored fat. I attribute this to the fact that I became less active with the depression coming on and the extreme tiredness from interrupted/lost sleep making me much too exhausted to exercise as per my normal activities. Additionally I've had Severe Nightmares, Sudden Shock-like awakening from deep sleep stages, Night Terrors as reported by boyfriend and family, Headaches that are so intense that I can barely stand them and usually upon awakening during my very Interrupted Sleep and at the end of my sleep, when I just give up and can't stand them or the intense cramps/spasms any longer. The depression has been truly disturbing as I have taken meds for it for about three (3) years. I was on SINGULAIR, another horrible med which I discontinued after only a week and a half from beginning it because I developed significant anxiety (I'd never had anxiety before), a period of five (5) days of No Sleep at all despite OTC sleep meds and a pronounced increase in feelings of depression, irritation (I'm usually very easy to get along with and patient), agitation, mental confusion, and very fast talking and racing thoughts/ideas. I'd never experienced these symptoms either than the depressive lows and insomnia being the reason I was initially started on Wellbutrin. I knew that I was otherwise feeling very well, prior to starting the Singulair to better control Asthma, and certainly quite as 'normal and content' as one can be, so it was evident that it was the Singulair. Against my doctor's initial directions I stopped taking Singulair (he'd not been completely apprised of my symptoms by his nurse and had admittedly not studied any of the increasing reports of adverse effects and side-effects of Singulair since a few years back when it hit the news, apparently - he thought that those were the only problems) after reading the many, many, many posts, HERE, from all the poor folks who were suffering as I was and worse! Within one day the symptoms began to disappear and within four days they were gone and I was back to my 'normal'! This without any change, addition or increase in anti-depressives or anti-anxiety meds (which I don't take). I began JANUVIA about a week before the Singulair and was accepting the symptoms and confusing them with those from the Singulair. If you go back and re-read this you will see that the symptoms, side-effects I've had from taking JANUVIA are not at all like the ones from SINGULAIR except for the increase in depression. The depression did resolve quickly when off of SINGULAIR but when a few weeks ago I began on JANUVIA the depression and related neuropsychological symptoms/side-effects returned and increased. I stopped taking the JANUVIA four (4) days ago and am already feeling much better. Additionally, I was at my hairdresser's 10 days ago and after only a month of being on JANUVIA I was thinning and losing hair enough for she and I to comment on it! I do not want to lose my already fine hair! I am going to wait out an entire week then begin on the JANUVIA again for a few days to see what occurs so that when I return to my Endocrinologist/Diabetic Specialist physician I will be armed with a pattern.

In closing, I would like to say that Pharmaceutical REPS make high six-figure incomes by pushing these drugs! Don't do as I did and not 'read and research the side-effects/adverse effects and opinions of existing 'guinea pigs' (all of us) on any meds! Please, review the SINGULAIR section of this board and pass the information on to others and especially to the parents/guardians and physicians/health-care workers enlisted with providing care to children! SINGULAIR is a dangerous, dangerous drug - having read hundreds and hundreds of posts and hearing the heart-wrenching stories of many children taking this drug from the tender-age of two (2) years on up, and their being starting on anti-psychotropics and other meds for all types of 'early-onset' depressions, anxiety, oppositional and impulse control disorders and ADDHD, I am convinced that it is a poison we can live without. Many children have been long-term affected by it with all the concommitent psychological effects of being 'branded' as psychotic, hard-to-handle, out-of-control, ADDHD and more ~~ they've suffered needlessly at the hands of Pharmaceutical companies and the physician's who are so easily 'swayed' into trying a need 'quick fix' drug by some very unscrupulous Reps in the industry. Merck Pharmauceticals is again under forced investigation by the FDA for SINGULAIR - but, please, go read the reports for yourself and see that they've been ordered a nine-month (9) period of time to SELF-investigate! The FDA doesn't have the money to investigate any longer - they spent countless millions on VIOXX and CELEBREX and they can no longer afford to do the costly investigations they used to do. They, instead, rely on 'clinical trials' by whom? The Pharmaceutical companies themselves! Hey sign us all of for that lack of responsibility! Please, spread the word: in the grocery store, doctor's office, gas station, hairdressers, to family, neighbors, friends and strangers and do them all a huge favor, please? Give them the LINK to this wonderful site and it's message boards!

Thank you for reading and may you have much improved and a wonderful health-conscious life!

I believe that objective sources of information should be posted periodically so that they are not missed.

Adverse Reactions
(As reported in adults)
>10%: Central nervous system: Headache (18%)

1% to 10%:

Central nervous system: Dizziness (2%), fatigue (2%), fever (2%)

Dermatologic: Rash (2%)

Gastrointestinal: Dyspepsia (2%), dental pain (2%), gastroenteritis (2%), abdominal pain (3%)

Neuromuscular & skeletal: Weakness (2%)

Respiratory: Cough (3%), nasal congestion (2%), upper respiratory infection (2%)

Miscellaneous: Flu-like symptoms (4%), trauma (1%)

Postmarketing and/or case reports: Agitation, anaphylaxis, angioedema, arthralgia, bleeding tendency, bruising, cholestasis (rare), diarrhea, dream abnormalities, drowsiness, edema, eosinophilia, hallucinations, hepatic eosinophilic infiltration (rare), hepatitis, hypoesthesia, insomnia, irritability, muscle cramps, myalgia, nausea, palpitation, pancreatitis, paresthesia, pruritus, restlessness, seizure, urticaria, vasculitis, vomiting

http://www.umm.edu/altmed/drugs/montelukast-088375.htm

I've been on Synthroid for 8 months after gaining 10 pounds in two months. The symptoms started to appear when my Mom was very ill. Doctor said it was caused by stress and started me on 25 mcg of Synthroid. My reading at that time was 5.56. I had blood work done every 4 weeks,and the numbers are going down (1.8 last reading), but so is the quantity of my hair, which I see all over my white tile. My weight hasn't budged even though I am dieting. My doctor upped me to 100 mcgs. My blood work is not good - low white count, low lymphocytes, borderline anemic. Mom died, and I didn't get any better. I feel sick all the time and it's difficult for my husband to understand how bad I feel. I've tried to get my doctor to prescrive Armour, but he doesn't even return my phone calls. When I see him in the office, he keeps telling me it takes time. I hate living this way and want to stop the pills completely.

I was put on Yaz (same as Yasmin but with a smaller estrogen dose) due to irregular periods and a presumed hormonal imbalance. That was in September '07. Four month later, on Jan 1, '08, I went to the ER with breathing difficulties, and weakness in my arms and legs. I had been having muscle cramps/ charley horses in my right calf, but that was the only other health problem I had experienced. I thought I was having an asthma attack. So did the ER - at first. After I did not respond to the breathing treatments, and I became completely out of breath and exhausted after walking across the hall to the restroom, the ER doc checked my D-Dimer level to see if I was at risk for blood clots. He said if it came back over 500, he would have to do further testing for clots. It came back 4500!! I was sent immediately down for a CT Scan which showed mulitple clots in both lungs, mostly small, but several of significant size. I was immediately put on oxygen and a heart monitor, and an IV drip of heparin was started. I was in the hospital for 4 days, had to learn to give myself shots of Lovenol in my stomach until my pill form of blood thinner had time to kick in. I am now taking Coumadin blood thinner every day until July, when my D-Dimer will be checked again. Depending on the results, I may come off the Coumadin, or I may have to commit to it for 3 years. However, I was tested for all the hereditary blood clotting disorders and all came back negative, so my doctor feels as though the cause has to be the YAZ! Everyone tells me I was very lucky and that I could have easily died, especially when I was just thinking I was having an asthma attack and put off going to the ER for a few days. If you are taking Yaz or Yasmin, and you begin to have difficulty breathing, any kind of leg cramps, weakness, or tightness in your chest (I had also been having severe heart burn) - go have yourself checked out!!!!!

I AM 65 YEARS OLD. I TAKE SINGULAIR ON AN AS NEEDED BASIS. I HAVE NOTICED THAT AFTER 2 DAYS I HAVE BEEN GRITTING MY TEETH UNTIL MY JAW HURTS, I GET VERY IRITABLE AND SHORT TEMPERED, I AM RESTLES AND CANT SLEEP, I HAVE RINGING IN MY EARS AND THE BLOOD PULSES IN MY NECK WITH A GUSHING SOUND, I HAVE MUSCLE CRAMPS AS WELL, I GET BLURRED VISION AND HEAD ACHES. I THINK I WILL STOP THE SINGULAR.

Oh my gosh, I am just shocked after reading these posts. I am taking my son off of Singulair immediatedly!!!! I knew I wasn't crazy!! My son was on Singulair for over 2 years and it was awful. He was so hyper and uncontrollable. He couldn't control his temper. He had headaches everyday. He was put on it due to severe allergies and asthma. He is on other medications as well as allergy shots. I kept telling the doctor that I think the singulair was causing his bad behavior problems. He was just so hard to handle. He couldn't sit still for anything. The teacher couldn't get him to sit still in his chair. It just wasn't normal behavior for him. The teacher even thought he had ADD!! I didn't accept that however. The doctor just thought I was crazy and told me that Singulair wouldn't cause those symptoms. She said it actually would work opposit that and cause him to be sleepy. Well I took him off of it anyways and he did get pretty sick. His asthma acted up ect. But he eventually felt better and his behavior improved drastically. He wasn't so hyper and he could actually sleep at night and wasn't so scared at night. Just within the last week he has been pretty sick due to allergy season, his asthma has been bad and the doctor told me to put him back on the Singulair. So I did he has been on it for four days now and he is HORRIBLE.. It was an instant change. My husband and I can't control him and he can't sleep at night and has headaches every day. I am so glad I found this sight. I am taking him off immediately.
Thank you all so much for your comments. This medicine should be outlawed. I don't care what the doctors say. By the way my son is 9 years old. I certainly had no idea that it has caused suicide. I am so sorry to you all that have experienced such horrible things. Come to think of it my son used to say he hated himself all of the time when he was on this medicine.
God Bless You All

I have been on Advair for the past three years after a severe asthma attack on Oct 2005....what a mistake..I got all the side effects possible...really! Rash, arrhythmia, tachycardia, eye problems, runny nose, shakines, depression, anxiety, sleeping problems, nausea, muscle cramps or muscle spasms, hoarseness or voice changes, sinus infections, abdominal pain, dizziness, etc, etc and it is gatting worse! I am on 100/50 once...every two days! I could not stand all of this anymore- Does anyone know about some other less dangerous medication (Albuterol gives me the worse arrhythmia) Is it sensible to note that Advair and another dangerous medication; Paxil are from the same maker: glaxosmithkline pharmaceuticals? No wonder! Any input/help will be most welcome-A very worry French guy in San Francisco-

I was on Lisinopril for a while until the dry hacking cough drove me crazy. It got so bad I had trouble driving. I would start coughing severely and could not stop. Had trouble with bladder control due to coughing. Went to my Urologyst, he mentioned coughing and Lisinopril. I looked it up online and immediately stopped taking it. Cough stopped in about 2 weeks. Husband has been on it for about 6 yrs and 3 wks ago started having SEVERE muscle cramping on back. Drs. give him muscle relaxers and pain killers. One of his toes is twitching (mine used to do that too) and seems to be confused and forgetful. I just told him he's not taking it any more. Lisinopril is pure poison!!!!!!!!!

Has anyone been diagnosed with ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease) after taking Zocor? My mother was just diagnosed and we feel it could be due to the medication. She is/was also taking Toprol.

My 44 year old, otherwise very healthy husband has been taking Lipitor (10mg) for several years. Currently been showing ALS-like symptoms. Left foot dragging, muscle cramps, twitches, etc. We are headed to Duke University to find out of he has ALS. He is off of Lipitor for 3 weeks now, taking CoQ10 and lots of vitamin C. If anyone else has had these symptoms and they've been rectified, could you share how long it took and how soon you began to feel the initial improvement? Thanks KCC>

My doctor (PA, actually) prescribed Lisinopril a few weeks ago because I'm diabetic and she said it would help protect my kidneys as well as lower my moderately-high blood pressure. Things went well for a couple of weeks, but the past few days have been unbearable. Not much of a cough, but I feel terribly weak, exhausted, and I can hardly think at all--am very confused, and can barely write this note (strange for a professional writer, eh?). I also have trouble walking, am quite dizzy and out of breath, and have severe muscle cramps; feels almost like my nervous system is shutting down. And truly, I feel like it could kill me. I was grateful to read all of your comments; makes me know that I'm not alone. I will have to discontinue this medication, as I simply cannot function while using it. (I'm a 62-year-old female, by the way.) Thanks again for your comments, and I wish you all luck and happiness.

Hi
I started taking 10 mg. daily ofLipitor 8 yrs. ago and about a year later I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia. There's no test for Fibro, just blood tests to elimate everything else ex: Lupus, RA etc. I've been suffering so much from muscle pain, all the tender points as in Fibro and also diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome. Three doctors diagnosed me with Fibro. and chronic fatigue. I had most of the symptoms everyone else is complaining about also. The pain in my stomach muscles are just about gone too.

It reached a point three weeks ago when I was having sharp pains all over my body and muscle cramps and charlie horses at night and I could just about walk up the stairs my hips hurt so much that decided to stop Lipitor. I was so tired all the time and in constant pain.

My doctors said it couldn't be the Lipitor. The pain in most of the tender points are just about gone but I know it will take a while to get out of my system. I lost muscle strength over the years and hope to get that back. I'm 64 years old and know it will take awhile .

I went to my doctor Tuesday and told him I took myself off the Lipitor and that I now remember being diagnosed with Fibro shortly after going on Lipitor. He got so mad at me and said that Lipitor doesn't cause a disease. As I said there's no test for Fibro and it's not a disease it's a syndrome or condition where the brain sends pain signals to the tender point muscles but there's nothing actually wrong with the muscles. I told him that 6 years ago when I tried going off Lipitor for 3 months and joined a gym, Curves, I felt fine and thought I was in remission. Then when I started taking Lipitor again I couldn't do the exercise in Curves and had to stop going. It never dawned on me it was the Lipitor.

I now have a problem with my heart, one condition I might have been born with but the Arrthymia I don't know about. My heart beats too many beats and it beats 4 beats and the 5th beat is backwards. Now I'm on 25mg of Topricin (the generic) beta blocker to slow down the heart beats. I don't know if this is caused by the Lipitor or not. My cardiologist said that Lipitor can affect every muscle in your body and she suggested that I get a RX for a blood test to tell whether I have muscle damage. I went for the test Tuesday but haven't received the results yet.

I'm going to change doctors, I don't like my doctor's attitude with me over the Lipitor. These doctors think they're God. When I told him on Tuesday about the 3 months that I felt fine 6 years ago he said that there are other drugs besides statins to lower cholesterol. I don't want to go on any drugs and the non statin drugs can cause intestinal blockage, he got upset when I told him that too. I'm going to try to lower it with flaxseed and fiber and see if that works. I go to Weight Watchers and kept 17 lbs. off for 6 years now, I do try and eat healthy.

I can't believe it cost me almost 8 years of my life in pain. It's even hard for me to get down on the floor with my granchildren, I have to crawl to the couch or chair to lift myself up and I get tired so easily. I just hope I get back to normal.

I'm so glad I found this website and figured out what was wrong with me. I hope my writing helps someone else dignosed with Fibromyalgia and taking a statin.

Thanks for listening.
Marie

I have read everyone's symptoms that have written their concerns on this website and I want to recommend that you contact the U.S. Food and Drug Administration website at: www.fda.gov and it will give you all the information you need on the side effects of this drug.

Believe me, many of the symptoms you have all described are on their list under the section that I browsed through when I looked up Lisinopril/HCTZ or ZESTORETIC (the generic kind of this drug).

This what I found:

ADVERSE REACTIONS

ZESTORETIC has been evaluated for safety in 930 patients including 100 patients treated for 50 weeks or more.

In clinical trials with ZESTORETIC no adverse experiences peculiar to this combination drug have been observed. Adverse experiences that have occurred have been limited to those that have been previously reported with lisinopril or hydrochlorothiazide.

The most frequent clinical adverse experiences in controlled trials (including open label extensions) with any combination of lisinopril and hydrochlorothiazide were: dizziness (7.5%), headache (5.2%), cough (3.9%), fatigue (3.7%) and orthostatic effects (3.2%) all of which were more common than in placebo-treated patients. Generally, adverse experiences were mild and transient in nature, but see WARNINGS regarding angioedema and excessive hypotension or syncope. Discontinuation of therapy due to adverse effects was required in 4.4% of patients principally because of dizziness, cough, fatigue and muscle cramps.

Adverse experiences occurring in greater than one percent of patients treated with lisinopril plus hydrochlorothiazide in controlled clinical trials are shown below.

Table Percent of Patients in Controlled Studies

(For a more detailed breakdown of this chart, pls. check the fda website)

Incidence (discontinuation)

Dizziness 7.5
Headache 5.2
Cough 3.9
Fatigue 3.7
Orthostatic Effects 3.2
Diarrhea 2.5
Nausea 2.2
Upper Respiratory Infection 2.2
Muscle Cramps 2.0
Asthenia 1.8
Paresthesia 1.5
Hypotension 1.4
Vomiting 1.4
Dyspepsia 1.3
Rash 1.2
Impotence 1.2

Clinical adverse experiences occurring in 0.3% to 1.0% of patients in controlled trials and rarer, serious, possibly drug-related events reported in marketing experience are listed below:

Body as a Whole: Chest pain, abdominal pain, syncope, chest discomfort, fever, trauma, virus infection. Cardiovascular: Palpitation, orthostatic hypotension. Digestive: Gastrointestinal cramps, dry mouth, constipation, heartburn. Musculoskeletal: Back pain, shoulder pain, knee pain, back strain, myalgia, foot pain. Nervous/Psychiatric: Decreased libido, vertigo,
depression, somnolence. Respiratory: Common cold, nasal congestion, influenza, bronchitis, pharyngeal pain, dyspnea, pulmonary congestion, chronic sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, pharyngeal discomfort. Skin: Flushing, pruritus, skin inflammation, diaphoresis, cutaneous pseudolymphoma. Special Senses: Blurred vision, tinnitus, otalgia. Urogenital: Urinary tract infection.

Angioedema: Angioedema of the face, extremities, lips, tongue, glottis and/or larynx has been reported rarely. (See WARNINGS.)
In rare cases, intestinal angioedema has been reported in post marketing experience.

Hypotension: In clinical trials, adverse effects relating to hypotension occurred as follows: hypotension (1.4%), orthostatic hypotension (0.5%), other orthostatic effects (3.2%). In addition syncope occurred in 0.8% of patients. (See WARNINGS.)

Cough: See PRECAUTIONS - Cough.

I found this website to be helpful information in trying to find out more about the side effects I have been experiencing after taking this drug. I also wrote in to the U.S. Food and Drug Adminstration with my concerns to see what we can do to get it off the market or have it improved.

There is alot more information about the drug and its generic brand as well, but I thought this was important to put on this website. Hope this helps!

Martha

I really felt the need to post my story about Advair. I started having seizures 2 years ago. I have been seeing a neurologist since then. In the mean time, I have been working with a lung specialist for asthma/COPD. I was placed on Advair. Over several months I started experiencing vision changes, muscle pain, muscle cramps, headaches, weight gain, confusion, trouble speaking, constantly clearing my throat, severe pain near my left armpit, with sever muscle tightening. The muscle tightening was so severe that my arms and legs started moving and twisting by themselves. This is called agentatious movements. The neurologist has been putting me through a battery of tests because these symptoms can be from a severe neurological disease. As of now, I have been passing them with flying colors.The neurologist thinks I am faking, or these symptoms are a figment of my imagination because he cannot find a reason for them. That's when I decided to start checking the side affects of all my medications, and found this site. I have printed off all the stories that match my symptoms and will take them to the neurologist to prove I am not a nut case, and them I will see my lung specialist and take care of getting off the Advair. It does work, but there has to be something else in the medical world than can help us breathe without feeling like we are dying other wise. I want to thank everyone for putting their story out there is is a great help to know you are not alone. Good luck!

I'm 16 and i started taking Accutane about two months ago. i was on the medication for three weeks and had to get off it. The first week i feel like my body was being bond into a rubber band ball and then being bounced around it killed but i figured it fade but then i was having suicidal and violent thoughts, i was short of breathe, crying daily, fighting with everyone, throwing emotional fits, blacking out, dizziness, headaches, hot and cold flashes, back pain, i was isolating myself, and blaming my self for everything. I also had the minor side effects of chapped lips, bloody noses, dry skin, and muscle cramps. Luckily my boyfriend noticed and told me to get off it.

I have asthmatic bronchitis. In June 2006 I came down with an infection in my lungs, which also set off my asthma. Between the two I was hospitalized and put on 240 mg of intravenous Prednisone and the antibiotic Levaquin. I was cured of the infection and was able breathe normally again but it took a great toll on my body It took me 3 months to taper off of the Prednisone and almost a whole year to feel myself. I was a strong, physically active person before this happened to me and I have not gotten my energy level and endurance back to what I was before I was sick. When I was released from the hospital I went from 160 mg of intravenous Prednisone to 80 mg of pill Prednisone. That step down was too severe and I went through intense joint and muscle pain in my body that it woke me from a sound sleep in the middle of the night. I luckily had an old Vicodin that I took which only made the pain bearable. I should have upped the Prednisone to make it go away but I wanted off. This pain lasted one week with each day getting less. The side effects I experienced from then on were so plentiful that I almost can't remember them all. The physical problems were, thin skin that bruised or ripped and bled profusely with the slightest bump, blurred vision, sensitivity to light, muscle cramps in my legs and hands, sleeplessness, dry mouth and frequent urination. My stomach bloated and got stretch marks. I didn't have any before that. The muscles in my thighs and upper arms atrophied so bad that I could not walk up stairs w/o using my arms to help. My arms were also very weak and I got hemorrhoids; another muscle that was affected. I had a bad case of the drops. I couldn't hold on to anything and broke many glasses. I got moon face that took a couple of weeks to go away after I was off the Prednisone. Because I was on such high doses, my hair died and stopped growing. About 40% of it fell out in one month. It took 6 months to grow back and it all grew back curly. On January 30, 2008 my bronchial tubes closed again due to a sinus infection. Again I was hospitalized with 240 mg of intravenous Prednisone and Levaquin. This time I responded much better, because I jumped on the infection/asthma instead of waiting. I stepped down from 240 to 180 to 90 to 60 and decrease 5 mg a day until I was off. This time I did no lose my hair land did not get hemorrhoids. The other physical effects were pretty much the same but much less severe. However, this time the emotional effects of Prednisone were much worse than last time. I was not a nice person. I was short tempered and argumentative and even had to stop myself from resorting to violence a couple of times. That is definitely not who I am. Prednisone stops your adrenal glands from working and adrenaline is you chemical way of coping with stress. I have been off of the Prednisone for one week and still find it hard to cope with the slightest controversy. My brain is still in a fog and I get confused easily. I cannot handle too many questions at once and forget things. My face is still round. Both times, I have found it the hardest dealing with the Prednisone at the very end and even after I finished taking it. I think it builds up and even though the chemical is suppose to be out of your body in 24 hours, it's effects stay a lot longer. I thought I knew what to expect but the second time was different again. It is a horrible drug but my trade off was breathing. Sometimes I think, that if I have to go through this a few more times, the side effects will kill me before the asthma. I wish all you Prednisone users loads of luck and stay positive.

I just had cortisone shots in both shoulders for and a one quick shot in my neck muscle for Rheumatoid Arthritis joint issues. My left back muscle under my shoulder blade spasmed about 10 minutes after the shots and proceeded to affect my lung from breathing. It is 8 hours later and I still have issues with my lung breathing - I hope I can sleep. It feels like I have a pulled muscle in the middle of my chest. Also I just got a cramp in my foot. After taking 1 mg Prednisone daily...and shots every 3 months for the last few year - I have never experience muscle cramps. I have had some heady feelings - but that far outweighs the amazing pain relief from the shots. I would like to find another answer to help my pain than any type of cortisone. I am 37 yr old healthy slim woman (other than arthritis).

I was prescribed Levaquin 1000 mg. for 5 days for pneumonia the last week of December 2006. I was also prescribed Prednisone. Everything I ate tasted like metal. A couple of days after I started taking the Levaquin I started experiencing muscle cramps in my rib cage which are so severe it makes me double over in pain. After more than a year I still have the muscle cramps which now include not only my rib cage, but the arch of my feet and sometimes legs. I have a torn tendon in my left arm which didn't happen until about a month ago, but I am sure it is caused from muscle damage from the Levaquin. I am also on Advair Discus 250 which I didn't take before using the Levaquin. I didn't require inhalers or other medication before the pneumonia. My doctor now says I have COPD caused from asthma and chronic bronchitis. I used an Albuterol inhaler when I first got sick because the pneumonia was so bad. I thought after taking the Levaquin I would get back to normal. But even after the infection was cleared up I would get out of breath, so I returned to my doctor. She did an x-ray and said I had COPD and prescribed the inhalant. What I don't understand is that I didn't have breathing problems before the Pneumonia. I didn't have joint pain and muscle cramps either. I have had to quit working this past year because of it. I cannot go without the Advair, I can no longer walk long distances without pain. I have constant muscle pain just trying to do normal housework. How long do the effects last? Must be a lifetime.

I was given 20 mg of Prednisone for 10 days for a rash and joint pain.
The pain went away and I felt great the rash got a little better. Two days ago I took my last pill. I woke up that night and my knees gave out. By morning I was great! Next night I woke with knee problem again had to slide down the stairs to the living room. I got to wondering if the knee thing could be associated with the Prednisone. I got on line and read all this terrible stuff. I am so Horrified! Today I am in pain like my body is bruised and my face is swollen a little. I have acid reflux as well. Non of this is typical for me. My knee thing is ok again, but I am just appalled! I have no MED insurance. I hope this isn't the beginning of worse things I am not taking that drug now. The Dr. didn't say I needed to taper...

I hope I have not damaged myself by taking this drug! My heart goes out to all of you! My question is - Why are the Dr.'s prescribing this terrible drug?