Non existant symptoms and conditions

I have been on the ring for almost 4 months now. Not true, I actually JUST took it out.. I have to admit, im feeling so relieved right now and thank God i found this website.. I gained 12 lbs in the first month, tried to blame it on my just being 'comfortable' in my relationship.. who was I kidding??...I've never seen that kind of weight gain in my life.. My mood swings are ridiculous, im already a pretty mouthy girl, but since i've been on nuvaring, im almost unbearable, even to myself.. My relationship took a turn for the worse the more my moodiness showed itself.. I have hot flashes all day long, everyday.. i start sweating while im sitting still...the hell????... im tired, always. i want to do absolutely nothing, no drive.. no motivation.. not only is my sex drive very close to non existent.. i find it very hard for me to orgasm... Really, i just wanted to say, Thank you to everyone who has posted on this site.. it was really comforting reading that im not the only one going through this.. I really felt like i was starting to go insane!!... my advice, throw the nuvaring in a river.. and RUN..!!!!

I have taken YAZ for over a year now and have recently stopped after running out. I have recently started gaining weight, becoming moody, but I have noticed that I have a lot more energy where as before I was sluggish and had a very hard time getting out of bed. I would get up late and take a nap in the afternoon. It got bad enough that I was running late to work, and was not able to get up to attend class on time. Lately I have been up early and have stayed up all day. I wish the weight gain would go away being that I've gained about 20lbs in 3 months and I feel hungry all the time.
My big problem is that my period has been about a day in length or non-existent (I know lucky me) but I have never had this problem. My period has been regular since it started 12 years ago. I take pregnancy tests every month being that it makes me nervous that I could be pregnant and they come out negative. The doctor doesn't seem concerned and says it'll start again. Im curious if anyone else has experienced this problem in stopping bc because this is the first time I have ever stopped taking pills. It makes me nervous as to whether I should be seeking different health care being that I am still young and have not had children yet.

Oh yeah, I didn't even go there with the sex drive, mine has become non existent with the Nuvaring, I find myself hiding from my husband just to avoid getting in a situation where he might want to fool around, not good. I have not experienced bleeding during sex but I also had like a 2 week period my first month on it, then it went down to a 9 day or so period and started to level off, but then I took it out for obvious reasons, (see post below)

I had my 3rd child in July of 2008. I decided that I didn't want to do the pill because I got pregnant with my youngest daughter on the pill, my husband said I was a B***H on the NuvaRing and so the Mirena seemed sensible. Since then, I haven't had a normal period. I bleed 7-8 days and it's brown, nasty discharge. It may end for a few days and starts right back up again. I bled from Feb 12 till Mar 14. My Dr told me that it's rather normal because it's not heavy bleeding each time. I'm trying to decide what to do because it's very frustrating when I don't know from day to day what will happen. My husband says I'm very moody. I'm tired all the time and my sex drive is NON EXISTENT!!! Of course, I feel nasty all the time and I've noticed that I feel bloated all the time. After reading everyone's posts, I believe I'm gonna have it removed. Thanks everyone!!!

Hi to all,
I have read all comments in complete shock. I am a 53 year old female.
I was prescribed Simvastatin just over 6 months ago (40mg). I am hypothyrod and also have very high blood pressure. About 6 weeks ago I started to have severe (and I mean severe), night sweats. The sheets are absolutely wringing wet as if someone has thrown a bowl of water over me,
The headaches that start within about 30 minutes of getting up every morning radiate from the middle of my forehead right across my right eye and it throbs all day. My throat is sore, my skin very dry, my vision seems very blurred (especially first thing in the morning), and I don't seem to be able to focus very well. My appetite is almost non existent and my shoulder, legs & feet hurt dreadfully and although I hate to admit this I am quite depressed at how I feel.
Three nights ago I decided to stop taking Simvastin and guess what...hay-ho, no night sweats, no cramp and the headache today was much less severe.
I am glad I found this site and for sure I will be visiting my doctor next week to advise my findings.
I think I would rather live on a diet of bread & water rather than go through this again.
Good Luck to all fellow sufferers.

I had the Mirena IUD put in 4 years ago when my daughter was 4 months old and just had it taken out two days ago.At first it was okay but then my hair started shedding and breaking off,my sex drive became non-existent,and when I did have sex with my husband i experienced vaginal pain during intercourse,I had horrible acne on my back which in just a couple days of having the IUD removed is starting to clear up,yay!!!
I've gained about 25 lbs and have suffered excruciating migraines.Not to mention the mood swings and depression.I wish I'd never put this thing in my body!!Overall it's made me feel like an old woman and made me feel like I was crazy!I'm looking forward to being "me" again!!

For me having the Mirena removed just last Thursday was the right decision. I was not using it for birth control but as hormone therapy for heavy, crampy periods. I had it inserted in July 2008 and bled every single day for the entire time, I had it removed last week and now I am bleeding very heavily but hopefully that will stop once all those hormones are out of my body.
While on Mirena I lost all sex drive, I became severely anemic and with that fatigued terribly, and moody, crying at nothing and screaming at my kids or husband for stupid reasons, I felt bloated and gassy and didn't have those problems before.
I am 42 years old and I hate my heavy bleeding in fact I want a hysterectomy, but not sure now what I will do.

For those of you who had the Mirena removed, how long did it take to stop bleeding afterwards? This is draining every last ounce of energy for me and I am taking iron supplements.

What sucks is the cost of this, Even with insurance I ended up paying a lot out of pocket to get this thing and then all the Dr. visits due to bleeding and side affects in the 4 months it was in and now the removal of it. I am wondering if there is any way that we can get a Class action lawsuit against Bayer for this horrible thing they are trying to sell to women.
I know there are some out there who have not suffered all these horrible side effects at least not yet or that they are aware of, but I truly believe that there is nothing good about this IUD and those of us and there are a lot of us who have suffered with this should be reimbursed or compensated for the pain and loss of parts of our lives and expenses with this. Does anyone else have any thoughts on this?

It's so funny...I completely thought I was crazy. I have an almost 5 month old and I kept thinking my hormones were just screwed up. She is my third child and it is horrible trying to take care of them with these severe side effects. I have had horrible constant headaches..as soon as I take something- Excedrin, Advil, Tylenol- it comes back within an hour. The pain is constant. I have had terrible back pain, depression, weight gain- I have been trying to lose the baby weight and I am only putting on more- abdominal pain, absolutely no patience with my children, frequent aches and pains, massive hot flashes (and I'm only 29), and running to pee all of the time (and I feel like I'm finished but I get up and I'm not!). And don't even get me started on what it did to my period. With the exception of about a week and a half I have had it constantly since it was inserted 3 1/2 months ago. And it goes from non-existent so I think it's over to full on with-sorry to be gross- terrible cramps and clots. I NEVER had a problem with cramping before. I don't even feel like the same person I was before I was on it. I have had no "baby blues" with any of my three children so I know that isn't the reason I feel so off- I can't keep my emotions straight. After I had the baby, I felt really good besides my abdomen being tender and my incision pain from the c section. I can't believe the drastic turn of events since I got this thing put in. Thank you everyone for your experiences- I don't feel like a lunatic anymore. I felt so guilty for my children, husband, family because I feel so bad- sad and sore- and I felt like all I did was complain for no reason.

I went on NuvaRing when it first came out a few years ago and loved it! No side effects that I can remember, but went off of it as I wasn't actively having sex. Fast forward to Mar 08, I decided to go back on as my periods were very irregular, PMS was lasting for two weeks or more and my period was very light and went on for another two weeks. While NuvaRing eliminated all these symptoms, I'm now wondering after reading all these comments if it is responsible for my incredibly low sex drive. I had been suffering from depression after a very hard year in 2007, but although my depression is under control, my sex drive is still non-existent except during the week of my period when NuvaRing is out. I think I'm going to go off and see if it helps.

I was placed on Birth control pills around 16 because i have elevated hormones, and Birth control helped bring them back to normal, and regular my wacky cycles. Lately i just can never remember to take my pill, i have alarms on my cell phone and i still forget. I started Nuvaring last month and i have 1 more week on it and I've been having pains like needles in my ovaries and random cramps everyday. Also I've noticed my left kidney has been aching. My sex drive has because non existent. I can't believe have had these complications just on the first dose. I've noticed a lot of you are just now having the problems with the nuvaring, i wonder if they changed the formula?

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

It kind of feels good to read these posts because now i know it's not just me. i started birth control when i was 18 years old. i started out taking lutera. i don't really remember having many side effects. after maybe a year of being on lutera my doctor switched me to loestrin 24 to give me lighter and shorter periods. well, the pill really took it's toll on me. my mood swings have been so bad my boyfriend and i fight constantly, i have been so emotional crying over every little thing. and my sex drive? it is GONE! like non existent. when my boyfriend wants to have se i just can't really get in the mood, and I'm really dry down there. it just hasn't been fun. it's really taken a toll on my body and my love life. i finally just went back to my doctor and told him to switch me back to lutera. i was on loestrin for a full year! so for me it wasn't just the first couple months your body goes crazy because of new hormones, it just wasn't worth it to me. there were so many months that went by and i didn't get my period. i was constantly going out buying pregnancy tests to make sure i wasn't pregnant. I'm 21 now, i don't need to freak out every month thinking I'm pregnant. and then there were months when i had my period for a week sometimes two! and i had spotting like you wouldn't believe. i had to throw out a lot of underwear because of those little surprise visits in the middle of the month. i know birth control effects everyone differently but i just wouldn't recommend this to anyone.

Boy I wish I found this website when I was trying to decide what Mirena to get!
I've only had the Mirena since Jan. 25 and can't say for sure if I'm going to keep it or not as I've only had a few side effects. However the main one is the non-existent sex drive which will convince me to have it removed if that doesn't change. I had a very healthy libido before getting the Mirena but it literally disappeared overnight after getting the thing.
At first I thought it was because I was sore after getting it (cramped everyday like I was getting my period for a week and spotted) and I've never had kids so I just figured my body was adjusting to it. However to this day I have not regained any interest in sex at all and it really bugs me! And the hardest part is being interested when my boyfriend is and I really would rather not. How wrong is that?! I mean this is why I got it so I don't have to worry about becoming pregnant and an IUD is supposed to allow for 'spontaneity'. I've also noticed sex feels different. I can reach orgasm but it's hard getting wet so it's hard to have my boyfriend believe I'm turned on when I'm not showing any signs of arousal. Plus it's hard to enjoy sex when you aren't feeling right.
After the first week the cramps went away till last week which would be the middle of my usual cycle (which is about 35-40 days prior to having this so I'm curious if I'm going to get one).
Another side affect is the nausea. The first week was the worst. I never did throw up but I had to change my workouts at the gym so they weren't as intense cause the power I needed to do squats, leg press and dead lifts made me feel ill. I haven't noticed any weight gain as I do work out pretty hard and am trying to gain muscle so at this point it isn't an issue. I haven't noticed any change in increased body fat and if anything I've leaned out some but that I'm sure has to do with the way I'm training right now.
I also have been spotting everyday since getting it which also kills the interest in sex although my boyfriend hasn't noticed anything. I also have to say I did experience the huge mood swings the first week but now nothing too irrational. However that first week was rough and I thought "what is wrong with me? this isn't me!" I'm not an emotional person to begin with so to be crying and upset over stuff was not something I enjoyed. If I was still feeling that way or remotely like that the Mirena wouldn't still be in me.

Normally I wouldn't even post this info cause I'm a private person but it's just too coincidental that so many other women of different ages experience the same things. And it doesn't look like it matters whether or not you've had kids or what kind of birth control you've used before.
I thought I did my research prior to making my decision of choosing a Mirena over a copper IUD but I have a feeling I made the wrong choice. I shouldn't stuck with my beliefs of staying away from hormonal stuff in my body but the constant warnings of the severe pains and heavy bleeding associated with the copper IUD was not something I wanted to experience as I can get pretty bad cramping prior to a period without any help. Bleeding wise my periods always have been 3-5days and not heavy so I didn't want that to change. However unless these symptoms change, I'll put up with a little more blood to enjoy sex again cause I'm off limits anyways when on my period so what does it matter?

Also, has anyone had their side effects go away? I'm hoping since the emotional thing has calmed down the rest of me will return to normal too. I mean, if every woman who gets the Mirena experiences all the symptoms listed in previous postings why is this IUD still on the market and available for more women to get?

I have been on this pill for 11 months now and it has almost gotten to the point of ruining my life. I've experienced weird symptoms and I thought it was just from some mild changes in my life (just graduated from college, moved away from home, got my first job). But now that I have read all of these comments, I realize that ever weird symptom was from this pill! I have a non-existent sex drive (which almost ruined my engagement to my fiance), I've experience weird hives on my legs, arms, hands and feet. I'm constantly tired. I can concentrate (which has been detrimental to my home and work life). I've gained 11 lbs in 2 months. Hair loss, which is super scary for a 22 year old! I was taking a shower one day, washing my hair, and 2 big clumps of hair just fell out. I was scared to death. I've even experienced an increased heart rate. The scariest time was when I woke up one morning, had a horrible migraine, and my heart was racing. I took a shower and collapsed shortly afterwards. I was rushed to the ER and they did a TON of tests: cat scans, xrays, blood test. All the test results came back normal. I am convinced now, after reading these posts, that it was due to Yasmin! I've never experienced these symptoms on other birth control pills that I've taken. I am stopping this pill immediately & I am looking forward to starting my life, back on track again.

The worst part is that these symptoms that thousands of womens have experienced these symptoms & it is not warned on the label or website of Yasmin! The only side effects they list are the normal ones that are experienced with other BC pills: Headaches, Nausea, Bloating, Bleeding between periods, Breast tenderness, etc.. BUT NOTHING as severe as what we have experienced!

Is there a class action suit against Yasmin? I mean, for all the doctor's visits, ER visit, vitamins, how it has hurt my relationships, work-life & home-life, extra hours of exercising, many months of weight watcher membership fees, the list goes on and on.... I should be reimbursed for this! I could not afford to live like this any longer.

I just finished taking my 3rd pack of pills. I loved Yaz my first 2 months. This month, I'm just not so sure. Ive had HORRIBLE acne when I usually don't even have acne at all. Maybe one pimple, thats it. This is terrible. Also, my mood swings are like a crazy person. One minute I'm fine, the next I'm breaking up with my boyfriend, then I love him more than anything, then I don't want to have contact with anyone who is living, then I'm lonely. Oh its bad... But my cramps are pretty much non-existent. Which is nice because off of Yaz, they are TERRIBLE!

Wow, I'm glad there is a place where women can discuss their side effects with this pill. Only, I'm very shocked that so many women have been so sensitive to the hormones and other ingredients. I've been on Loestrin 24fe since April of 2006. My periods have gone from 3 days (the first month) to non existent (month 18). I've had a very light period for the past year, but this is the first month (18) that I have not had a period. I've had all the following symptoms: steady headaches, nausea, sore breasts, increased breast size greater than a cup (that's a positive) BUT that's about it. I've been able to keep the weight gain off by exercising 90 minutes a day, 5 days a week. I rarely drink & keep a strict diet. Yes, I've had the mood swings, but attributed them to a combination of factors: graduating college, moving to a new state where I knew no one, and transitioning from college life to business professional. I truly feel that exercise decreased my mood swings to something manageable & kept me from gaining any weight.

It does bother me that I have entirely missed my period this month, but the bigger issue is physicians who prescribe the pill are not telling me these things. I've read the instruction page from the manufacturer and the pharmacy, but not one mentioned a missing period until this site. Thinking that your preggers is some added stress on its own. Plus, while I hate my period, it is comforting to get it every month. Natures reminder that your not pregnant. Being nauseous and not having a period is not fun. I've thrown more money away at unnecessary pregnancy tests since going on Loestrin 24fe.

So for the most part, I recommend the pill to all of my friends. I do stress to them that they need to keep their exercise and diet habits in check, because it is very easy to gain weight on this pill. (A much needed thing for me; I've always been under weight! But not after Loestrin 24fe)

*As for women discussing lower sex drive; the reasoning behind this is because the progesterone attaches itself to your natural level of testosterone. Your testosterone levels having something to do with your sex drive. I'm not a doctor, I just read a lot.

Oh MY LORD! I can NOT believe what I am reading. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU! I have been taking Singulair for approximately 3 months. I went to a local doctor concerning yet another sinus infection when my doctor was out of town - she prescribed Singular for my allergies and I have been praising her ever since... until this past week. My allergies were non-existent and, until recently, I hadn't noticed any side effects.

I did not get my refill on time and went a couple of days without my Singulair, when I refilled it and started up again the INSANE side effects began. It wasn't until this morning that it occurred to me that these two things coincided and I should check the side effects online. Thank you ALL for writing here!

I have been EXTREMELY depressed, anxious and having terrible nightmares. I nearly had what I can best describe as a panic attack on the way to work this morning, for NO REASON. I actually began talking to my family about seeking therapy because I could see no reason for feeling the way that I did! It has been about a week of this and I was really becoming frightened. It was really only the suddenness of all of these symptoms that helped me make the connection.

I also haven't been wearing my contact lenses because my eyes have been so itchy! My goodness! Is this all from this drug?? I have not taken anything else. I am 31 years old and otherwise healthy - I can't believe I am going through all of this to avoid a sinus infection!

Goodbye, Singulair! Sweet dreams and happy wakings to me!!

Thank you again to all that wrote here - and for any readers - BE AWARE - all that glitters is NOT gold. While this may seem like the GREATEST thing ever for allergies, please take note of your other behaviors. When Singulair turns on you it takes no prisoners!

I was taking Danazol for 20years in alow dose for pressitant breast pain. I gradually began to suffer from muscle pains for no apparent reason. My doctor immediately stopped the Danazol, although wouldn't admit they were causing the problem. I ''fell apart at the seams''. None of my muscles worked properly, I had extremely high blood pressure, could barely walk, I was in constant pain and had to have massage for 2 hours per day. My eyes ached, I couldn't control my bladder and bowels very well. I thought I was going to die. My doctor sent me for numerous blood tests, endoscopes etc. But said I was depressed. I was depressed, because I felt so ill !
Its now 4 years since I stopped Danazol and I feel it has caused long term damage to my muscles. I have tried everything from massage to supplements. Things have improved a great deal, but I find it difficult to exercise as I tire very easily and particularly my back muscles seize up even after sitting for any length of time.

Has anyone else been on a low dose of Danazol for this length time. Have you suffered?

I was on Ortho Tri Cyclen- Lo for a year and a half. It really helps with cramps I never had any when my period came. After starting on this pill I took it in the morning and that didn't work because if I didn't eat on a regular basis I would get sick so then I was eating all the time and gained weight. After I began taking it before bed this got better. My boobs got bigger (no complaints there). I used to have a really strong sex drive after starting this it was killed and now is non existant. I had really bad mood swings the week before my period, really bad anxiety and depression.

weight gain, numbness, diminished (non-existant) sex drive, dependance on the "daily fix".

Any suggestions on how to discontinue usage, with the least troublesome withdrawal symptom? I would love to stop taking Paxil, but am scared of the withdrawal process.

My Mother was diagnosed with Rheumatoid arthritis 30 years ago. She has been on prednisone at low doses since then. About 3 years ago she started imagining things, and hallusinations. About 2 years ago her prednisone dose went up to 60mg a day due to a stroke of the optic eye nerve. She has since been tapering down, now at 15mg a day. But tapering down makes her arthritis more painful. She has developed diabetes, loss of sleep, loss of apetite, loss of muscle tone. When she gets bumped, it's a big opened gash, rather than just a bruise. With the higher dose she was more moody & would get angry easier. The hallucinations & paranoia continue & are making me more & more concerned. I haven't read about this in any of the stories. Has anyone else experienced this side effect? I spoke with her Rheumatologist who suggest a psychiatrist to prescribe anti-psychotic drugs. She's already on 11 pills a day, does she need another?
Please let me know if anyone has experienced this as well.
Thank you.

This is not my experience but my mothers; She's been taking this poison for 8 years. Her doctor finally(though her bagering) has her at 5 mgs. a day but it's already too late, her spine has had disc fractures to the point where she is completely hunched over, when she first started the drug she had normal bone density. Now her doc wants her sed rate to be 19 before he even considers taking her off the drug, which is ridiculous since I read that most women over 50 average s hard. My brother and I help with some shopping and things but both of us have other obligations(he works full-time; I have husband and two kids) so my dad has alot on his plate.

Prednisone destroys the body, eventually, and sometimes it makes the original condition look like a cakewalk.

i have been taking Yamine for about a month and a half, after being on a generic pill for a couple years. I didnt know if these symptons i was having was caused by yasmine, but now i think it may be. I have been getting lightheaded, blurry eyes, shakiness, hot flashes..almost like a panic attack, and i have become very dehydrated, even though i have been drinking alot of water. I even went to the doctors for these symptons and they still don't have an answer, so i think it may be yasmine.my newest sympton as of yesterday is chest pain. also i feel like my heart is beating fast all the time, and i feel fatigued way too often, which is causing me to eat more, becauase i am starving way to often, and if i don't eat i feel like i am going to collapse. Also my sex drive has gone to non-existant- is that common? I workout all the time, and eat pretty healthy, so i don't know what else these symptons could be coming from. Is anyone else experiencing these sympons?

I'm soooo confused! I have just recently started feeling VERY depressed- when I fisrt got it put in, I was fine, no pms or anything. But I've now had it in for about a year and am thinking about having it taken out. My moods and my self confidence are very up and down. One moment I feel great and the next I want to scream and break things and cry. And I often do. I thought I was going mad, but having read these it all makes sense. I had been taking the pill and it made me depressed, so I got the copper coil put in. That caused me to have terrible periods, that were very painful and when I went to the family planning, the doc said that a mirena coil would be better for me and the hormones would not affect me, since the hormone is localised. But I have had bad acne on my face, chest and back and I had never had acne before. If the hormone is that localised, why is it causing the acne?! I keep thinking, maybe its just me being mental and its not the coil making me depressed. But I think thats just cos I feel a bit desperate- what the hell contraceptive can I use that wont make me depressed(no hormones)?? condoms are just rubbish. O and my sex-drive is currently non-existant and my relationship with my boyfriend is going down the drain due to that and the moods. My sex drive used to be healthy. My breasts have also shrunk but are painful. I luckily havent put on weight. I have really bad period pains, that feel like a 'snapping' feeling. If I ever had period pains before, they never felt that way. Its weird!
I don't know what to do. I will get it taken out-its not a financial concern for me since I live in Scotland. But it is stress to find something to stop getting pregnant!

Be careful, do your research before taking Topamax. I took Topamax for 5 weeks for severe migraines. The first 2 weeks were fine, a slight decrease in my appetite. The third week, my memory suddenly got really bad, really scary. By the 4th week, my memory was non-existant and I felt slightly depressed. My Dr. assured me these side effects would soon pass. By the 5th week of Topamax, I plunged into a horrendous, suicidal depression. I cried all the time, I woke at 4 am with irregular heart beats. I have never been so uncomfortable in my own skin. I became a stranger to myself.

I much prefer my migraines over the side effects I suffered from Topamax.