Natural alternatives symptoms and conditions

I am a healthy, active female on a low dose of premarin from a hysterectomy last year, went on a low dose or Lisinopril last June and within a month, was at the ER twice for heart attack symptoms. My EKGs were perfect, thyroid, electrolytes, etc. and we determined, my sis has two MDs that I was over-medicated because the panic attacks started there after and were nightmares! My doc said menopause triggers these even on hormones, I know my body and I was being poisoned with Lisinopril! Been off a month now and this is my first weekend I felt normal w/no more stroke/heart attack signs thank the Lord! Any ideas on what we menopausal women can take for high BP? There is life after this drug but if it high BP runs in your family, some kind therapy is needed for us middle aged gals!

Male 28. Was diagnosed a couple of months ago with Ulcerative Colitis and was prescribed Prednisone. A large dose to start with then tampered off for 4 weeks. The first week I felt great, better than great, fantastic. The only downside was difficulty sleeping. The following 3 weeks, without any exaggeration have been among the worst I have ever experienced. I think the lack of sleep finally caught up with me, so I was constantly tired and generically felt depressed, also knee ache, eye pain, inability to think clearly (quite a problem when you are an Engineer), lacked energy or strength – and the Acne. Never before have I had Acne like this, and I used to suffer quite bad during my teens. Its just so aggressive, every few hours there seems to be new ones appearing. It seems to occur when ever I step down the dose. I think having this bad skin has really added to my depression over the last few weeks, it has been especially difficult considering I have been in the process of starting a new job. To top all of that my UC seems to be worst than ever! I’m worried that when I go back to see the Doctor next week he is going to put me on some equally-annoying medication or maybe another course of Prednisone if I’m lucky.

Does anyone know of some natural alternatives that are good for UC, very reluctant to put anymore man-made chemicals into my body.

Well it has been 10 days since I stopped taking Lipitor. I am now sleeping 7 to 9 hrs straight - headaches gone - not as moody as I used to be - better concentration at work and huge improvement in short term memory. I forgot to metion that my doctor put me on 40mg hence it didn't take long for the side effects to start. I saw my Doctor and explained that I was off the Lipitor and told him why. He is keeping an eye on me and I will keep you all updated.
cheers from Down Under.
Goose

I have been on Lamictal now for almost 3 months for bipolar. I'm still not sure if it is helping or not. My husband says I seem better, but I feel almost the same as before if not worse. Has anyone noticed any major changes in their menstrual cycle? I'm on the pill and it would usually last 4-5 days with moderate bleeding. Now I get more annoying cramps than before but my period only lasted 2 days and it was more like spotting than a period. This makes me nervous, but my doctor said that it is more likely the risperdal that I had taken for a month when I also started taking the lamictal, but I don't agree. I recently went up to 200mg (1 morning, 1night). The morning one knocks me out but the night one has been keeping up!? I also feel less coordinated (hard to balance, knocking stuff down, klutzy). Also, it has been hard to put words together and recall correct information. Now I have to say" I think I heard or I think I remember". If I really need to remember something I have repeat it or really concentrate on the information. I used to not have to do that. Another thing I've noticed lately is hand and knee pain. Makes it difficult exercise to lose the 20 lbs I've gained. I don't know, personally I think I will give it one more month and if I still feel the same, I'm going off of it and looking into natural alternatives.

I have been taking this since March and I have lost half my hair, it is so depressing. I only realized this evening that the Wellbutrin is maybe causing it. I am so upset. I can see my scalp, and it is so bad, I canceled my vacation home to see my parents who haven't seen me for 2 years - what on earth will they think? My question is:

Did your hair grow back after stopping the drug? If so, how long did it take?

I am taking 300 mg XL.

I have also noticed that my eyebrows have thinned.

I am an active, 35-yr old male, who is fighting some kind of infection for three weeks, finally went to doctor, who prescribed Levaquin to knock out bacterial infection. Took one pill yesterday at 8:30 a.m. Did not have immediate reactions, but began to develop sore throat throughout the day. Basically crashed last night at about 9 p.m. Exhausted, went to bed, where I had "tired" joints (hard to qualify this, not pain per se, but achiness), numbness on left side of body, tingling, bizarre dreams, but basically so TIRED. Feel better this a.m. (still have the sore throat, residual numbness and joint ache) but I am NOT taking the Levaquin again - after reading these posts, hopefully one pill will not cause me any long term damage.

I am 21 years old and I was on Yasmin for three in a half months (i stopped the last pack half way through). The first month i was on it, i had a lot of leg pains especially at night and sometimes to the point where i couldn't sleep. I went to the doctors and told her about this and she said it had nothing to do with the pill. My leg pain stopped after the first month i was on it and for two months i was fine. At the end of the third pack i began to get leg cramps again, but this time it was different i had little sharp pains here and there and tingling and my legs became extremely itchy. In the matter of two months i got spider veins and cellulite on my upper legs. Before the pill i had NOTHING on my legs. I searched the internet and found that birth control can cause spider veins because of the hormonal change so I thought my legs were itchy because of the spider veins so i stopped using the pill and made a doctors appointment. Three days after stopping i got my period for the second time that month. I also broke out with lumps that are red and extremely itchy. The doctor told me that the bumps are eczema and i also have a lymph node, which she said is from the eczema (which i find very strange). Two days after i broke out and got a lymph node, i got sick with a fever, extremely soar throat and a swollen neck. Today is my 7th day off the pill and im still sick. Hopefully i get better. But from being a 21 year old whos 95 pounds and having nothing wrong and starting this pill and getting spider veins, cellulite and then eczema all around the same time, i feel like im aging before my time. If anyone else has had any similar effects please let me know. Thank you.

62 year old male. After one month of taking it, my doctor raised me from 50 mg Metoprolol to 100 mg. No side effects until the dosage was raised. Then immediately got a traveling toothache, going from one tooth to another, culminating in an extreme earache. Had many of the symptoms mentioned in this forum, including short term memory loss resulting in my first auto accident in 40 years--a parking lot collision which was my fault. My doctor refused to ascribe any side effects to the drug except headache ; but I was told by local pharmacists that doubling the dose was too drastic and that my symptoms were typical. Had some rebound after stopping on my own a week ago, but pretty much back to normal, and the side effects are gone. I've tried other BP meds and am convinced that modern medicine just doesn't do it. Am looking into natural alternatives.

I had pain in my lower back and left side of my hip, while sleeping, the pain woke me up. I've been on Fosamax D for nearly a year, but I've been reading about the terrible side effects, that I am not taking it anymore, even if my doctor insists that it does more good than bad for my bones. I stopped taking Fosamax D for about 2 or three weeks and the pain stopped, thank God. I am looking into other natural alternatives like Vitamin K2 to build strong bones, in addition to Calcium supplements, Vitamin D and magnesium, and yesterday I read about the best Vitamin D comes from exposure to sunlight.

I have been on Toprol for over 5 years. I have finally (after numerous attempts) - been able to wean off of it. I am on my 10th day (7 day step down and now 3 days with NO Toprol). Can anyone that has successfully gotten off of Toprol please tell me how long it took to start feeling better?

It has caused be severe GERD/Acid reflux, SEVERE breathing problems, and has stopped controlling my HBP - in fact my B/P is HIGHER on Toprol than it ever used to be. It also caused my heart to race from time to time.

I want to get excited about feeling better - just waiting for that to happen. Anyone know what I can expect? Thank you so much.

I have been on this for 1 month. The first two weeks was fine then I started feeling bloated big time. I do exercises for my stomach and I know I have good core muscles and I can't hold my stomach in. I'm not working right now need to be looking for work but I have been waiting for the bleeding to stop and the bloating to disappear. I am getting off of this. All of the head problems people are having are due to the extra drug in Yaz that deals with moodiness. I have been on tons of different anti- everything and usually it takes at least 3 to 4 weeks to adjust to your brain. If not it's not for you. I am completely off of meds now because I took the steps to freedom in Christ in a book called Breaking the Bondage by Neil T Anderson. I took ortho tri-cyclene before years ago and it did great compared to this stuff. Taking something to help with moodiness just causes a person to be numb to their feelings. The feelings don't go anywhere the pile up and that's why you find yourself at times crying uncontrollably. The only way to heal these things is to face them and the only one that can take that pain from you is Jesus. I know I tried everything. Exercise and changes in your eating habits will help with period problems. Water water water will help with acne.

my mother was on Advair for COPD and now she is totally messed up mentally....My mother is paranoid. She refuses to go outside and thinks people are bugging our house and are all out to get her....she never used to behave like this. My mother is from the generation that I like to call "old school" Its a generation that goes to the doctor and takes whatever the doctor prescribes without questioning it. I'm "new school" I question everything and only take medicine as a last resort....I believe in natural alternatives....if there is anyone else out there who is suffering or has a loved one suffering from paranoia please contact me at ***

Thank-you for this site! After reading all the testimonials I was greatly helped in realizing I was not alone in the terrible side-effects I was having since being on Fosamax for the past 5 months. A week ago the pain got so crippling I could barely walk,---left hip was awful, pain going right down the leg. It was hard to even sit without pain... X-Rays ordered by our internist revealed no new fracture or injury. I was on 70 mg tablets once weekly. Fortunately a lobotomist lady told me while taking my blood that the pain she had when on a Biphosphate medication (Boniva) crippled her with such pain she had to stop working! My internist is unable to accept the fact that Fosamax is the culprit causing the horrible pain...and although he has asked me to continue it, and use acupuncture to alleviate my pain, I HAVE TAKEN THE LAST DOSE Of IT AND HAVE INFORMED THEIR OFFICE...Many of the postings reiterated what I have suffered the last few months. The capstone came yesterday when an adult doctor-student of mine told me he would not take any Biphosphate drug and feels that like Vioxx the FDA in time will HAVE TO TAKE IT off the market. In the meantime, you folks are doing a wonderful service in helping your fellow-beings make wise decisions! I feel doctors prescribe these drugs in good faith,---after all their training is drug-oriented...I am thankful there are also Natural Alternatives and this is the route I plan to take! Blessings on all you dear folks out there who are victims of drug-reactions....The good news is that I understand most symptoms will be relieved when we stop taking the drug....Also, aural surgeons will not do surgery on any patient until they have been off Fosamax or any Biphosphate drugs FOR SIX MONTHS.....THANKS AGAIN FOR THIS SITE AND ALL OF YOU WHO POSTED ON IT....You have all helped me make a wise decision...Thanks again and God bless!

I am a 34-year old women who started 50 mg of Toprol-XL 4 days ago for a rash of panic attacks I experienced earlier this week, after having high blood pressure and occasional panic attacks in the last 3 months. Since then, I've had migranes for the past 2 days, bad allergies, stomach pain, loose bowel movements, slight difficulty breathing, frequent urination, and tiredness/lethargy during the day with trouble sleeping at night. I was already feeling strange my 2nd day on it and called my internal medicine doctor, who, of course, told me to stick with it. At this point, I'm ready for safer, natural alternatives. I'm will call the doctor tomorrow to tell him that my mind is made up and ask for instructions on how to wean off of it safely.

I started taking the lowest dose and began having burning all over and itching. Does this last forever???
I am a teacher and need to be fully functionally every day!!!
Help, any natural alternatives? Just started on 3 days ago??

ive taken advair for 3 years,ive had a few side effects including: weight gain, pains in my leg, and tiredness. i dont know if these are from the advair or not. i never had these issues before taking it. i really dont know what to do. if im not on advair i have a hard time breathing and have chest pains. Does breathing better out weigh the side effects that it causes??? i have problems with inflamation and advair seems to work well with that aspect. Is there natural alternatives? HELP!!!

I am an RN. I have complained to my allergist and Practisioner for years that I have terrible hip pain, muscle and joint pain with the Advair. It works great to control the wheezing, but everytime I start back on it, within 2 weeks I am limping and crying with pain in my legs and hips. Everytime I manage to get off for two weeks the pain subsides. I have had xrays of my hips and there is no deterioration. I too have gained considerable weight. We have tried Spriva and it also had adverse reactions. It increased mucus instead of decreasing it. If anyone has a suggestion, I would like to hear what it is.

40 yr old male taking Lipitor 10MG for 4 yrs. Not able to express the anger and at the same time relief that I am not crazy and that others feel like I do. Its crazy how many people have written that their head feels heavy. I remember how I felt when I mentioned that to my Dr. He ignored me so I tried cutting down to 5 mg on my own for last 1.5 yrs. I have experienced significant muscle deterioration, mood swings, fast heartbeat, and many of the same things as other contributors. I took my last dose this morning and thats it. Plenty of useful natural alternatives for me to try from here. Who was calling the shots at the FDA when these statins were approved and protected from litigation? Its criminal.

I am 43 yr old African American male recently diagnosed with Adult ADHD. I have been taking Adderall for about 2 months now, I have not experienced any of the side effects most people talk about with the exceptiong of the weight loss. I have lost approx 15 lbs since I began the medication. I started out with 1 10mg in the morning and 1 in the afternoon. I noticed a change (as well as others around me) in the first few weeks. I do not eat as much as I used to, but I am still always hungry (can't explain), but eat very heartily when I do eat. Like another respondent, I am very leery about taking the drug because of what I have heard about the addiction possiblities. I intentionally did not refill my prescription (one week) to see how I would do and I thank God (literally) I was relieved to know that I did not craaavve the stuff. Although I did once again start to lose focus and the ability to finish tasks. I started taking it again today, I will keep everyone posted as to how I am doing.

My prayer is that they will find out more about this disorder so that we do not have to rely strictly on meds. I am looking for a doctor who is not just interested in filling out a prescription and getting paid large sums of money for a fifteen visit, so I have begun looking into Cognitive Behaviorial Therapy, and natural alternatives as well. If anyone knows anything about these, please post.

Are there any natural alternatives to taking Maxide? I'm sick of having to check with my docotr just to get a prescription refilled after six months! When I try to stop taking Maxide, I get fluid retention in various places of my body, like knees, elbows etc. Very painful. I take Maxide just for lfuid retention, not for blood pressure.

I sometimes experience lightheadedness, coughing, constipation, mild body aches (chest area), and have this mild stabbing pain in my lower right leg. It's not really painful, just annoying. I just noticed it after taking these medications. However, I'm also taking Metaprolol and Liptor. So, it could be those meds as well.

I'm gonna have a talk with my doctor and discuss more natural alternatives. If you're deciding on going the natural route too I know a lot of doctors will not support it, what a surprise huh? I think doctors hate to admit there could be new and better ways to treat a problem. It like offensive to them because of what they learned in school for years.

I sometimes experience lightheadedness, coughing, constipation, mild body aches (chest area), and have this mild stabbing pain in my lower right leg. It's not really painful, just annoying. I just noticed it after taking these medications. However, I'm also taking Metaprolol and Lisinopril. So, it could be those meds as well.

I'm gonna have a talk with my doctor and discuss more natural alternatives. If you're deciding on going the natural route too I know a lot of doctors will not support it, what a surprise huh? I think doctors hate to admit there could be new and better ways to treat a problem. It like offensive to them because of what they learned in school for years.

I recently posted severe bloating in my stomach which I was very worried it was something else, but suspected Advair. Well I received all of the results back from blood tests and my pelvic ultrasound and they were all fine. I have discontinued using Advair and my stomach has gone down A LOT, it is nice and flat again although (of course) I am having trouble breathing again. My face is clearing up too, it gave me horrible rashes and breakouts and the dark circles under my eyes are gone too.
I did research on some natural alternatives to help asthma and some simple changes in diet and supplements can help as well as breathing exercises and yoga. I am going to try that for now and keep my albuterol handy for emergencies. I have had it with traditional medicine and inconsiderate doctors who are just too busy to really care about the root of the problem, they just give you a quick fix that can hurt you long term. this medicine has actually made my asthma WORSE since I stopped taking it.
A book I recommend is "Reversing Asthma" by Richard N. Firshein, D.O. he is an osteopathic doctor.
take care everyone.