November 28th
2007
7:39 AM
I'm writing for my mother. She was on 20mg of Lisinopril and her doctor insisted her violent coughs was from her asthma. Being an asthma sufferer her whole life and knowing the difference, she insisted it was not. He told her that this drug does not cause violent coughing as she described (but later admitted otherwise). I saw her in October and then in November for Thanksgiving and it looked as though she aged ten years! She was coughing badly, throwing up from coughing so violently and was white as a ghost and was extremely tired from not getting enough rest (from coughing). Everyone in the family told her to STOP taking the medication. She stopped taking it the day after Thanksgiving. It's been about five days and she is still coughing, although it's not nearly so bad, but she's taking pain medication (Hydrocodone) and I believe this narcotic has helped to subside the coughing, plus allow her to sleep, but masked the effects of the Lisinopril. Please, anyone, that has discontinued this medication, can you tell me how long to expect this drug to be out of her body? This has been an absolute nightmare and I'm so worried about her! Please email at ******
-- By med-private | Reply | (3) replies | Private Message me
November 7th
2007
10:31 PM
I've been on Biaxin for bronchitis for four days now, following a trip to the ER for breathing problems. I thought it was allergies. The first two days weren't too bad except for the extreme thirst and not being able to sleep (and the gas). If I happened to go to sleep I would have weird dreams and wake up again. I don't know if was the Biaxin or the hydrocodone cough syrup. With the third day, I couldn't think straight and I couldn't remember words. Could be lack of sleep, I guess. Conversations were difficult. I felt spacey. At the same time, I felt like I was on fast-forward: hurry up, hurry up, gotta go, gotta go, gotta get it done, faster, faster! This is the fourth day. I'm still on fast-forward and still dizzy and spacey. My blood pressure is up and my heart rate is down. My pulse is 55. It's time for another dose, but I'm not taking it. In fact, I'm going off all my meds except the blood pressure pills in case it's a drug interaction that's not mentioned. I'll call my own doctor in the morning and talk to him. I trust him more than the anonymous ER doc.
-- By sweetdonna926 | Reply | (3) replies | Private Message me
September 16th
2007
7:55 PM
I have been taking Topamax since 2002 for migraines. I started out slow with 25mg at night for a week then 50, 75 then 100mg after one month. The following week I was suppose to start 25mg in the morning. I received headaches from that. I only stick with 100mg at night and have not suffered from a migraine since. Unless I am hung over. I did get the tingling in my hands and now I hate soda. Which to me is a good thing for all the sugar it has in it. However, when my script runs out and it takes me two or more days for a refill, I get extremely sick. Must be a withdrawel thing. So do not miss more than one day.
-- By jsorokach | Reply | (3) replies | Private Message me
August 23th
2007
2:50 PM
I get HEADACHES that don't go away. I know this a listed side-efect, but I was given this inhaler the last time I got Bronchitis. The name Albuterol was in the name of the inhaler so I assumed it was like other inhalers I was given when I would get bad Bronchitis (turns out it was Albuteral Sulfate HFA). The Bronchitis I get, happens at least once every 2 years and on down years mabe twice a year or twice every 15 months. I don't smoke, rarely drink, have no medical conditions (including Asthma), and I'm in the fitness industry, so I'm in great shape, eat a damn good diet, etc.. But nothing can overcome, either bad luck or bad genes or certain physical weaknesses. Not sure which it is that makes me so susceptible to Bronchitis, but I have to deal with it quite often it seems. It happens the same way each time - Beginning with a sore throat & stuffy head (no headache just horribly stuffed up) then after 3-5 days the sore thoat goes away and it moves down into my chest to a cough, then in about 48hrs it turns into full-blown Bronchitis where I can't breathe w/o wheezing and eventually coughing - nights are the worst.
So I go to my doctor and am prescribed antibiotics, sometimes narcotic cough syrup (yum) and an inhaler. It was ALWAYS just Albuterol in th past ( I know it was different because there was no 'Sulfate' or 'HFA' in the name and the inhaler looked different (color, length, even the horrible aftertaste it gave - but I knew it worked). With this Albuterol Sulfate HFA inhaler, yes it has a different color, packaging, length etc.. and all together which I would chalk up to no big deal (I'm not a M.D. or Pharmacist, so maybe it's a different company making the same medication). But the addition of 'Sulfate on the end of the name and the missing horrible aftertaste (which I miss only because the previous Albuterol inhalers I recieved worked great and I felt better in hours despite the wretched taste), let me suspect I was given a new inhaler medication. Well I got all better in about 5 days (about 3 more than t usually takes me) and it turns out I was given a different medication because the government seems to think my previous inhaler was for only those with certain medical conditions, was often abused(? news to me, why would somne abuse something that tastes so bad - I guess it got them feeling high - I don't know or care to),
Anyway, this inhaler was also responsible for TERRIBLE HEADACHES ( and I was already sick with a sever cough, congestion, a little fever, sore throat, and lots of yellowish mucus(sorry for the description),. I sure as hell didn't need a horrible headache to follow that, and these would only appear after I used the inhaler (it took me a couple days to figure this out), and they'sd stick around for about 12 hrs. I didn't want to take anymore advil or tylenol than I already was considering the rest of the medicine I was already taking.
So apparently my M.D. could've prescribed me the old Albuterol (I think), but for some reason the government put restrictins on it's distribution, either that or he was very scared to prescribe it. And this was coming from a M.D. who at the same time prescribed 300ml of Vicodin Tuss cough syrup. I know the horror stories of Vicodin, and I didn't even come close to sing all that cough syrup.
I just can't help but wonder why the previous Albuterol inhaler that helped so well over the years suddenly has a problem with the AMA or DEA or one of those agencies. This was the same type of inaler that worked well for my Bronchitis - and I'm sure thousands of other patients - over the past several years.) Again, I usually get it once a year, and go to the same M.D. who prescribes me the same Antibiotic, Cough syrup, and inhaler).
Whatever the case, I plan on politely asking my M.D. the next time I'm in there, but I've read quite a bit about Albuterol's sudden problems with dispensing now that this SulfateHFA has come along.
Well... WARNING: It will give you HORRIBLE HEADACHES and according to the post above me, it might even give you BRONCHITIS!!! The same stuff I was prescibed it to get rid of. This is just a microchosim of a microchosim of what is wrong with our government - in particular the Health Care industry. Find something that works.... might as well get rid of it, because a few bad apples are spoiling the bunch.
Imagine what would happen if they stopped using Morphine or Morphine derivitive pankillers just because there is a huge segment of this country's society abusing them? Don't get me wrong, painkiler abuse has become an epidemic in this country and a cousn of mine blew his head off after getting hooked to Oxycontin after severe back surgery, and when the Dr. wouldn't give him anymore for his pain, he went to the streets - a few months later he committed suicide and left behind a wife a baby boy. All due to getting what the Dr's and specialists told him was surgery ( he was a farmer and manual labor, including bending over, was something he did for years - but he had a wife and family to support)on his lower back that was absolutely necessary, and he was told it would give him a pain free life from then on and he could return to work. So I understand when companies are scared of drug abuse, or use for other than what wa intended. And for the record I'm so happy Oxycontin got their pants sued off for millions of dollars(and on a side note Rudy Guiliani, who wants to be outr next President, lobbyed on behalf of Purdue Pharma (makes of Oxycontin) for lenancy before the criminal sentance came down. And that supposed 'Great Leader' Guliani, knew full well of the misleading info that Purdue gave to Doctors about Oxycontn being a 'safe alternative' to addictive painkillers, and he knew how Purdue spent millions promoting Oxycontn's 'almost non-existant potential for abuse,' even after all these overdoses, addictions, and suicides that have been blamed on the drug. Yet due to his stake in the stock and his close position with Purdue's CEOs, even after everything, after Oxy's horror stories and addiction potential was fully known, and after thousands have either died or become addicted to this drug, and even after Purdue Pharma was found GUILTY in a Criminal Caseof misleading the Public(including Doctors) in the abusive potential of what has become one of the most abused drug in decades, Oxycontin, Rudy Guliani still got up in front of a judge in court to ask for leniency in his punishment of Purdue Pharma.
But is Albuterol Oxycontin - I don't think so.
If you are prescibes Albuterol Sulfate HFA - ask for something else, the side effects can hurt an already bad situation and there is already a different inhaler out there with Albuterol that works like a charm. And it certainly isn't addictive as a dirivite of morphine and heroin - like Oxycontin.
August 1th
2007
9:12 AM
I had a shot of Imitrex in the hospital for a migraine and it made me feel like my head was on fire!!! I hated it so much. They gave it to me as a perscription in pill from the next day so I thought maybe since the other one was a shot this wouldn't be so bad. I took it with my husband home because I was afraid to take it alone. I felt fine for the first 10 min then my head started to burn and my whole body started to ache and I could not fall asleep it was horrible!! It got rid of my headache but I rather have the head ache than having my body feel like its dying!!
-- By tiffany13 | Reply | (1) replies | Private Message me
July 28th
2007
9:04 PM
I've been on Seroquel for a month now. My dosage was progressively increased from 100mg to 400mg for severe chronic insomnia, a symptom of manic depression.
Within one month, I've gained 20 pounds and I look as if I'm six or seven months pregnant.
I am weaning myself off of it, because my doctor doesn't seem to care much about the weight gain, despite the fact that I eat less than 1000 calories a day.
A symptom of bipolar disorder is also depression, and the more I look at myself in the mirror, the more depressed I get.
I'd rather go without sleep than gain weight at the rate I've been gaining it. It's just not safe, and I can feel it taking its toll on me physically and psychologically.
It's just not worth it in my opinion. I'm giving Melatonin a try. Hopefully, that will work for me. It was suggested by one of my nurses.
It's not easy to go from a 4/5 to nearly a size 9 in a month. It really makes you feel terrible, especially when you exercise an hour and a half everyday and are on a low calorie diet.
Until I'm given something that can counteract the weight gain, I refuse to stay on Seroquel.
I admit I'm having some bouts of insomnia, but they're not nearly as bad as they were before I started the Seroquel. Perhaps that will change once the Seroquel is all out of my system.
I also notice I'm itching everywhere, from head to toe. I suppose that's a symptom of weaning yourself off of the drug.
-- By cali5932 | Reply | (6) replies | Private Message me
June 13th
2007
5:31 PM
I was prescribed Levaquin for what appeared to be impetigo on my outer ear. The first dose gave me a monster headache and very weird almost-dreams (because I couldn't sleep). After the second dose, I had a horrible stabbing pain in the middle of my back, my wrists and upper arms began to ache, my vision was disturbed and I couldn't concentrate. Weirdest of all was a sudden compulsion to shave my head (which I thankfully snapped out of). I'm a textbook normal 45 year old woman, otherwise healthy, and professionally employed. It's been 30 hourse since my last dose, and the mental stuff has subsided, but my arms and hands are still very painful. This is a bad bad drug. I'd have to be on the verge of death to consider it again.
-- By ali_d | Reply | (1) replies | Private Message me
April 14th
2007
6:00 PM
I'm a 39 y/o male and have been taking levoxyl for over 3 years. Dr. increases the dose about every 8-12 months. I'm on 125mcg now but I may have very mild thyroiditis compared with some of you who have posted. I don't take ANY other drugs (over the counter or narcotic) and I eat very healthy and exercise. Some of these postings are a bit unnerving, so I only post this so others don't get scared that Levoxyl is doing damage.
-- By jmastror03 | Reply | Private Message me
March 23th
2007
7:40 PM
My husband took this medicine after coughing continuously for over a week. Neither one of us was getting any sleep. We tried everything before he went to the doctor. He was prescribed Vi-Q-Tuss. It worked great. Nothing else worked. You have to drink a lot of water for the medicine to work right. It helps the guafenesin do its job. You should not take this medicine unless you are really sick and regular cough suppressants don't work because it is narcotic and can be addictive.
-- By marilee_j | Reply | Private Message me
December 30th
2006
7:43 PM
My 24 yr old daughter started taking Biaxin on Chrismas for sinusitis. On Saturday am, she woke up with excruciating abdominal pain that seemed to be worse on the left side, and would radiate to her back. we took her to the ER. They gave her dilaudid ( a heavy duty narcotic for pain) and that helped but didn't take it away. They took an ultrasound and found her ovaries to be normal. They they did a CT scan of her entire abdomen. They also did a urine test and CBC. All tests were fine. They gave her a 2nd dose of diauded, which again helped some, but she still had pain. Finally, after 5 hours, they gave her a big dose of anti-inflammatory and then the pain went away. They sent us home and said it was just some mysterious thing. Now I'm wondering if it could be the biaxin
kd in Ohio
September 10th
2006
2:07 PM
I have had severe pain for the past 5 years, stemming from 3 herniated discs, and then a fractured thoracic in 2004. I became so addicted to the pain, ( narcotic), meds, and didn't even know it. The pain meds kept me "high", until I went through physical withdrawls ( aka DT's), and never got relief from the pain as I did with methylpred. Last year, I was prescribed 4 mg. in a 5 day pack. This was a very heavy dose, and my nerves were shot! Thanks to our phamacist, I was able to get a prescription in a bottle, rather than a heavy dose by the "pack". Being able to take it "as needed", took the pain completely away. Unfortunaltly, if you have liver problems, as I do, it can take it's toll on your body. After high liver enzymes were revealed, I knew I had to get off of them quick. It is a good alternative to narcotic meds, but then , we all have pain in different ways. I prefer to suffer it out, but if I need meds, I'll only take Methylpred.
-- By chattyc | Reply | Private Message me
September 10th
2006
11:10 AM
I have had moderate to severe pain in my hip due to joint deformity and subsequent deterioration and arthritis. I am unable to take even one dose of any NSAIDs as they cause stomach bleeding. Ten months ago a doctor prescribed Ultracet for me and it has provided tremendous pain relief for me. However, one of the side effects that I first noticed was it aggravated neck pain that I had from a couple of degenerated disks. I couldn't figure that out until a few months later when I read the Ultracet could cause muscle tightness. That explained that, and that finally subsided in the last few months. I had some of the side effects others described the first couple of days but then they subsided. I find that if I stick with just one tablet nstead of the two prescribed, I don't have all of the central nervous system reaction that some describe...nerve twitching, itching, sleeplessness and agitation, but if I take 2 at a time, I have all of the above. I always take one in the morning and usually don't have to take another the rest of the day unless I overdo. Sometimes I will need to take more doses but I take it knowing that I will be itching and agitated. I have had a couple of doctors since that have had bad experiences with Ultracet personally, and they always try to switch me to a narcotic. I have not had any decrease in effectiveness or increased need or dependency, but I also figure that if I only take my one in the morning on a normal basis, and only supplement as needed, I won't have problems with addiction.
-- By gil_anne | Reply | Private Message me
September 5th
2006
1:25 AM
I experienced a small aount of itchiness on my body, but concentrated mostly in my face and nose. The itching was distracting enough for me to not notice being in pain, but was not very effective otherwise. Also, noticed a slight ringing in my ears and restlessness. Dosages do not last 6 hours as prescribed. Discuss your dosages immediately with your physician if you feel you are not being treated properly. For those having migraines, the narcotic should be helping, not hurting. You should probably be on another medication if you are experiencing poor side effects and you run the risk of addiction if you continue to take the medication without it helping you.
-- By jessica_waltz | Reply | Private Message me
May 27th
2006
3:18 PM
I HAD A SIDE EFFECT , I HAVE HAD SHOTS BEFORE BUT THIS TIME IT CAUSED ME SEVERE SIDE EFFECTS.AFTER A SHOT IN 6 AREAS IN MY BACK I ENDED UP WITH A SEVERE HEADACHE FROM THE NECK UP.FOUR DAYS LATER.I WAS DUE TO HAVE MORE THE FOLLING FRIDAY.I CALLED ME PAIN DR AND HE SAID NOT TO WORRY ,SO I WENT THE FRIDAY AFTER AND THEN THE DR GAVE ME 6 MORE SHOTS IN THE LOWER SPINE. TWO DAYS LATER,WHICH ENDED ME INTO THE EMR,I NO SOONER GOT HOME ANOTHER ONE HIT,IT WAS SO TERRIBLE,THE PAIN WAS SO SEVERE ALL I COULD DO WAS WHISPER TO THE MEDIC AMBULANCE PEOPLE TO PLEASE HELP ME,MY HEAD FELT LIKE IT WAS GONNA BLOW UP.I ENDED UP BACK AT THE EMR SO THEY KEPT ME A COUPLE DAYS,WELL IT HAPPENED AGAIN AND MY PARTNER CALL THE AMBULANCE FOR THE SECOND TIME.I HAD TO GET NARCOTIC SHOTS TO SETTLE IT DOWN,MY BLOOD PRESSURE WENT HIGH,202/102.MY DR FINALLY TOLD ME I HAVE AN ALLERGY TO THE KENALOG ,MY BODY WAS HAVE SIDE EFFECTS.SO PLEASE BEWARE-------------THERE R SEVERE SIDE EFFECTS . SEVERE HEAD AN NECK PAIN THE DR CALLED MIGRAINE BUT TO ME ITS WORSE.
THANK YOU CORINNE
October 18th
2005
9:59 AM
I have been on imitrex and atenolol for a week. It has caused pain in the right side of my neck that runs through my right arm.I'm trying to stop my headaches, not cause more pain. Ithink the medication is unsafe if you have to use a low dose blood preasure medicine with it. Imitrex, and it's counterparts shuold be pulled from the market! It all stems from doctors trying not to prescribe narcotic type medication for headaches.
-- By redhotlady | Reply | (1) replies | Private Message me
September 18th
2005
10:40 PM
hi im a 19 year old girl and i've been on tramadol for at least a year. i was given it because of a pinched nerve in my lower back. and what is worse than the back pain is the addiction. my doctor told me since it is no-narcotic there will be no addiction so i took as perscribed. 2 every 6 hours.. well that didn't help so i bumped it up to three.. well here i am a year later and im trying like hell to get off.. i have horrible withdrawels.. i tried to get off them about a month ago but the withdrawels were so terrible i couldn't so tomorrow i am trying to again.. luckily i have a little smirinoff to help me when im at my worst.. you know just to take the edge off.. not to get drunk or anything.. but i love my tramadol.. but hate these withdrawels.. why is it that im having them? could it all be in my mind.. could i just be building up the idea of not having them so much that i put my self in a state of anxiety.. please help.. tell me if anyone has had withdrawels from these wolf in sheeps clothing pills
-- By lennox324 | Reply | Private Message me
September 14th
2005
1:07 AM
I'm currently taking this drug for Migraines. I had a question though, nobody's been able to answer this. Why is this drug a narcotic? It does nothing for me. The big pink pills are disgusting too, they leave a horrible taste.
also, the only thing that i have gotten from these pills is cotton mouth!
-- By underlyingsong | Reply | Private Message me
August 30th
2005
7:14 AM
For the first few days (taking 2 100mg pills each day) I felt mostly dopey (stoned) and my vision got blurry at times, slight ringing in the ears, and slight pain in my arms. None of this was extreme, but worth noting. I was prescribed this "narcotic" for a slight groin pull.
Then ... on the 5th day, I took one pill around 8 in the morning and it helped alleviate some of the pain and then I took the second earlier than I normally would (2:00) and this is where the nightmare began. After about a half hour I started getting extremely dizzy (I did have lunch) and almost felt like I was losing consciousness. I forced myself to get up and walk around the office. My chest felt constricted and I had a very difficult time breathing. This lasted for several hours and was VERY scary. I had breathing problems all the way up to laying down for bed that night and fortunately the next morning, I appeared to be OK. I'm still kinda in shock and wondering what the hell happened.
I plan on letting the doctor know, I am not allergic to anything and have taken pain medication in the past (vicodin's, etc). I assure you advil will be the only thing going in my system from this point forward. Just be careful.
-- By djm101 | Reply | Private Message me
February 16th
2005
1:01 PM
I have had surgery on my elbow for a bone spur and tendon repair, I have a tremendous amount of pain and am not aloud to use my arm for anything for almost 6 to 8 weeks, no lifting, no pullin. no pushing only some writting and am only able to lift the wieght of a coffee cup. This has been very frustrating to me, I have been on vicodin and percacets for almost three weeks and now started Ultracet cause it is "non-narcotic" I am so far having no pain relief and no side affects, all this stuff on this page has actually scarred me but I don't know where all these symptoms are coming from I sure hope it kills the pain in time but this first dose has done nothing for me
-- By curlynana40 | Reply | Private Message me
January 27th
2005
8:53 AM
My nephew took Ritalin for years and has now been diagnosed Schizophrenic! I believe it stems from the prolonged use of Ritalin! He is on so much medication now and it is so sad! If only he wasn't so young and could have told someone how it made him feel. He's only 17 now and was diagnosed Schizo @ 15! Ritalin is a schedule II narcotic just like Cocaine which means it is one of the most potent so why in gods name would you give it to a child who's brain has not even fully developed! If anyone suggests your child take Ritalin ignore them or believe me you'll have far more problems!
-- By bobbiep63 | Reply | Private Message me
July 26th
2004
6:00 AM
I started taking Ultracet several months ago for pain after knee surgery but found that it also helped my Fybromialgia symptoms. Any initial side effects such as headache, itching or dizziness ceased after the first week. I take 2 pills only in times of extreme discomfort. 1 at a time works fine and I attempt never to take more than 3 a day. I find sleepiness to be a factor only if I am already in bed (which is good as my primary concern from Fybromialgia is insomnia). Overall, this drug has been a God send for me as I think I would have gone quite mad from the extremely extended and painful healing time after the surgey (compounded by the onset of sciatica which even the Ultracet made only marginally bearable). I am fortunatly not disposed to addictions but I am begining to wonder if the continued taking of a narcotic substance (yes - synthetic - but the effects amount to the same thing) is justified. The euphoria associated with even a low dose is very beguiling; it feels better and more positive than any antidepressant I have ever taken and with far fewer side effects as well. What to do...what to do...no 2 doctors will agree on the matter. My GP says NO; my Rumetologist says Yes!
-- By jandjlemay | Reply | Private Message me
April 15th
2004
9:58 AM
i can't sleep, have lost my appetite and find the constricted
blood flow has at least a small impact on my sex life (i am a male). the narcotic buzz is constant and seems kinda speedy.
it does drain your sinus...i'm gonna go off it as soon as the anti biotic that i'm also taking has kicked in enough.
September 25th
2003
9:01 AM
I was prescribed Tramadol for TMJ pain. It works GREAT!! I understand some people cannot take them, but for the ones who can it is truly a miracle drug. It lasts for a long time, and gave me enough energy to clean my whole house. It took away any pains I had from TMJ, even my headache! I've never had a prescription narcotic take away my headache. For those who cannot take it, dont knock it, everyones bodies are different, take something else.
-- By carieevans | Reply | Private Message me
October 10th
2002
7:58 PM
I took my first prescribed dose, and it felt like I drank 20 cups of coffee, and the effects lasted all night and the next morning! It also made me enormously irritable and grouchy, not to mention I did NOT get one minute of sleep all night, and I took my first and only dose at 6 pm, early evening. What is worse is that my doctor basically called me a liar by stating he's never heard of that happening when I told him about my reaction. He also believes this drug is better and safer then hydrocodone! He said that ultracet is not narcotic, which is not the information I've found out about it.
-- By janihenn | Reply | Private Message me
Ultracet (9) Propafenone Hydrochloride (3) Biaxin (2) Imitrex (2) Amigesic (1) Kenalog (1) Guaifen-C (1) Toradol IM (1) Vi-Q-Tuss (1) Vytorin (1) Meprozine (1) Morphine Sulfate SR (1) Oxycodone Hydrochloride (1) Toradol (1) Lisinopril (1) Seroquel (1) Ritalin (1) Methylpred DP (1) Topamax (1) Buprenorphine Hydrochloride (1) Albuterol Sulfate HFA (1) Levaquin (1) Levoxyl (1)
November 28th
2007
4:36 PM
Was on Vytorin for 3 mos before I started developing serious health issues. First it was pneumonia. While trying to recover from that, I started experiencing pain in my thigh muscle which caused me to have difficulty walking and sitting. Each day the intensity of pain was increasing, so much so that by day 5 my husband took me to the emergency room at 4 in the morning because the pain wouldn't stop. I was put on bed rest for a week and had to take a narcotic for the pain, anti-inflammation and muscle relaxer meds. I missed 2 weeks from my job in 2 months. After paying attention to the commercials (something I never do) I realized that Vytorin could have caused my problems.
I've been off the drug for 30 days now. It has also caused damage to my liver. I have to have blood drawn bi-weekly to see if my liver is healing properly. The pain in my thigh has gone away to the point where I can walk normally but I'm still stiff when trying to stand up after sitting for a while. I tried to go back to exercising but the damage to my muscle isn't allowing that to happen. I'm praying that this won't be permanent.
-- By sray | Reply | Private Message me