October 15th
2008
2:58 PM
Have been on Simvastatin since May 2007. Have experienced debilitating headaches every day for the first three months, neck and shoulder pain, lower back pain, tiredness to the point of having to stop what I am doing and go to bed and am wondering now whether any other female taking Simvastatin has experienced a burning sensation when passing very hot water and extremely uncomfortable and painful sex.
-- By gloriana41 | Reply | (4) replies | Private Message me
October 14th
2008
4:16 PM
My hair loss actually started 10 years ago with the advent of menopause. It was less an issue of hair loss but that my hair started to grow in baby fine. With that came a depression. A hormone implant helped. Later, celexa and then lexapro helped particularly with the symptoms of irritable bladder. Other symptoms that started 10 years ago included a slowing pulse rate, lower body temp, lost my eyebrows on the sides, etc. I was bounced between cardiologists and endocrinologists -- blaming a marginally low thyroid. An MD, alternative doctor, blamed mercury which did not abate with two separate rounds of IV chelation. Finally, my heart slowed into the 30s and the exhaustion was extreme. Got a pacemaker which helped but did not cure the exhaustion. Sleep apnea study showed a sleep disorder but no apnea. I am on thyroid meds (125 mg.), mycardis, and .75 patch of estrogen. Wellbutrin 150 mg was added about 6 months ago and that helped tremendously with the tiredness. It was great but I finally noticed that I could see my scalp -- my hair had thinned that much with that low dose. I went to various doctors (including a dermatologist) who never mentioned the connection with any of my meds. They could not tug hair out of my head and suggested a genetic problem (the women in my family have big heads of hair until they die in their 90s). Finally a physician friend in Florida suggested that Wellbutrin might be the problem. I am off of it and tired. Too soon to see if the hair loss is getting better. I just want the loss to stop and to start regrowing my hair. Suggestions? A new doc recommended Provigil for exhaustion but there is some hair loss with that noted on the blogs. I have been taking a b complex, biotin, minerals, a vitamin for hair, zinc, D, MSM -- a handful of supplements. I need something for energy (I am a college professor of graduate students) but will not put my hair at risk. I am lost in all the information about how to stop hair loss and help my hair grow out.
-- By sharpars | Reply | Private Message me
June 15th
2008
9:43 PM
I have been taking Digitek since May 2005. In October 2007 I began to feel lethargic, arms felt they weighed 5 pounds each. Then in February 2008 I began to see PLAID (red, green and yellow)! Opthalmalogic tests showed problem was probably in medication and not caused by a eye problem. Had brain and neck scans, x-rays, blood testing and all turned out fine. I am still seeing PLAID and am still off all my medications since February. I have a pacemaker and should be taking some heart medication but am not being given any replacement medication. The Digitek (250mcg) I was taking was listed as one of the recalled pills. You have to go through the FDA's Freedom of Information Act to get more info.
-- By bohunk | Reply | Private Message me
May 14th
2008
6:54 AM
My husband is on dialysis 3 days a week, he went to the hospital for irregular heart beats and a low pulse rate...39 to 48. The Docs found a low grade lung infection......they could not do anything for him heart wise...said no pacemaker, however the discharging doctor prescribed AVELOX 400 MG, KNOWING HE IS A KIDNEY PATIENT. end stage renial failure, with irregular heart beats and low pulse rate....he now has extreme head aches,,,heart rate even worse...........I put in a call to the hospital....no return call.....so I stopped my husband from taking the Avelox 400 mg.
-- By meme_b | Reply | Private Message me
March 24th
2008
10:18 PM
Well, I am not posting a side effect. I actually stumbled upon this website while trying to look up whether hypoglycemia is a side effect of Levaquin. I am a physician assistant and routinely prescribe this medication. Unfortunately ALL medications have the potential for causing many many many different side effects. Obviously one has to weigh the benefits of using the medication with the risk of side effects. And certain side effects are obviously more common than others. While I appreciate the point of a website like this, it is very frustrating for me, as a clinician, to read someone posting things that are absolutely untrue which can potentially cause undue distress or worry for everyone who may read it. I am referring to the person who wanted "to let everyone know of the relationship between levaquin and vancomycin." Her only source for this WRONG information is a nurse who told her daughter. Did she ever think that the nurse could be wrong and that maybe before posting something like that she should ask a pharmacist or a physician. Vancomycin and floroquinolones are not related pharmacologically!!!!
-- By downtheshore | Reply | (3) replies | Private Message me
March 22th
2008
6:46 PM
I was just prescribed lisinopril a few weeks ago, for HBP, my pressure was always low but, I recently had a malfunctioned defibrillator change and my BP went very high, so the MD put me on lisinopril. I have been on it for about a month now, but the only symptoms I have been getting is severe fatigue,sleeping a lot and very thirsty. Are some of the symptoms putting on weight, I don't want that, and I did or have not had a bad cough. But sleeping is bad and very tired all the time. Should I ask my MD to change my meds? I did have 2 heart attacks and two by pass surgeries, l4 years ago one in 93 and one in 99. Then my heart weakened and I came down with arrhythmias after passing out. They inserted a pacemaker/def. thanks to medtronic after the pacemaker and def. were recalled I had to get another one, but if this drug is causing everyone a lot of problems I don't want to take it. I do get up a lot during the night (constantly going to the bathroom) due to thirst and am constantly tired I am 51,and came down with this disease (it is a childhood disease and have had it since I was l9), but it is a scary one, heart problems. They never ran in my family. Any suggestions would be appreciated. I am going to get my blood taken on Tuesday to see if this Lisipril is working or not. Thanks for anyone help, I really need it on this new drug. Thank you.
Julie
September 9th
2007
12:33 AM
Glad to find this site. My BP has always been high, but due to stress it has been 170/110 on Inderal 40mg, 3 times a day. My doctor put me on Lisinopril 10mg, my BP was same. He increased it to 20mg, and am having numbness and tingling in arms with nausea and dizziness. My BP is still the same...He increased it to 40mg., I am flushing it down the toilet after reading the comments. My mom was on it for years and finally realized the constant cough and uncontrolled hypertension, which lead to a pacemaker, was due to the Lisinopril.
-- By gilly | Reply | (1) replies | Private Message me
June 14th
2007
12:00 PM
Been on warfarin about 3 weeks due to an a-fib condition.. Dose is 2.5mg a day. Since starting I cannot sleep, feel very tired and fatigued and slight sour stomach. Doctors say this is due to the a-fib but I don't think so. All I hear from my doctors is no side effects. Hs anyone else experienced these symptoms, and/or is there a website where I can find some answers.
-- By bullwinkle229 | Reply | (5) replies | Private Message me
November 19th
2006
1:39 PM
i had a pacemaker put in and it sure has helped me.i took one a day at night to help me relax and go to sleep. i need to know is it ok to get another mounths supply to take like that because im still a litle sore
-- By suecochran4 | Reply | Private Message me
January 3th
2006
12:35 PM
hair loss on top & palpitations ; just had pacemaker put in for heartblock.
-- By hstadalnik | Reply | Private Message me
October 5th
2005
9:06 PM
very interesting as I read the above side effects people have experienced. I was put on toprol - l00mg two years ago. I have always been a healthy female = only going to the Dr. for yearly check-ups. Never having the flu, colds, and always low blood pressure. I was exposed to a chemical that immediately increased my blood pressure. Had a clean bill of Health with low blood pressure two weeks prior. I was put on Tropol 50 mg and then l00 mg. I had dizziness, tired, etc. but never related it to the possibility of the medicine and neither did my doctor. I was sent for tests for the dizziness and ended up with a pace maker. After reading the above side effects people have written in about - I wonder what actually created my problems. I always have dry mouth and dry eyes, which I never had before. The reason for pacemaker is if I should go into a faint spell it will kick in and not allow me to faint as I had three episodes of fainting. I also was given every test imaginable prior to the pacemaker. My heart and arteries are fine, cat scans, my heart beats are fine, all arteries flow properly. I now wonder about the medication.
-- By sharlgd5 | Reply | Private Message me
June 5th
2005
3:28 PM
I have written before about my disatrous experiences with statins especially Lipitor. Through the years, doctors have insisted I take them and I, like a good patient, never questioned that side effects to them were causing my problems. (knee pain, imbalance, muscle stiffness, etc.) I stopped Lipitor in Sept., 2004, and of course my cholesterol numbers spiked. I found a protocol suggested by LARRYHOR on a forum and, in desperation, tried it and it worked beautidully. In fact, my doctor said to keep doing whatever I was doing. My total cholesterol went from 293 to 226, HDL from 71 to 84, LDL from 188 to 112 and triglycerides from 166 to 152. The ratio of total cholesterol to HDL was 4.1 and was brought down to 2.7. With this protocol it is necessary to take 8 pills a day but that didn't bother me if it worked and it did. My thanks to ****** for leading me to this. I have read and researched enough about the statins to really scare me. In fact, my husband, who is also a long time user has just been told his liver enzymes are higher and he has to stop Lipitor temporarily and have additional tests. He has had a quadruple by-pass, a stent and a pacemaker so the doctors have scared him into continuing Lipitor until now. I don't think doctors have stressed muscle pain, weakness and siffness enough or maybe they are unaware that all these symptoms can be caused by statin medication and not age, as I was told. As proof, my muscle pain, stiffness and knee pain are gone. Some of the other symptoms are long lasting or maybe permanent. At least, I have no pain.
-- By dstevens175 | Reply | Private Message me
December 13th
2004
7:01 AM
Last year, I was prescribed Etodolac for pain I was experiencing in my knee. After incredible improvement in my knee within 24 hours, I continued taking Etodolac. After 7-8 days on Etodolac, I started waking up in the a.m. feeling like my heart was racing and difficulty breathing. I thought I was coming down with flu or pneumonia. Went back to dr., who additionally prescribed an antibiotic. Symptoms continued until I read about the "rare" side effects (breathing difficulties, congestive heart failure, etc). I called my pharmacist Sunday morning, who advised me to stop taking the Etodolac and see if symptoms improved. I stopped having the pounding heart (which occurred 9-12 hours after each dose). I called my dr. the next day to make him aware of my reaction to Etodolac. However, I'm wondering if it could have done any permanent damage. I found out, during a routine colonoscopy that I had a heart irregularity and ended up having to have a pacemaker.
-- By jwebber | Reply | Private Message me
August 20th
2004
4:48 AM
I have been taking the drug for two days now and I have experienced weakness in my legs and shortness of breath. I am a cardiac patient with a pacemaker. I wonder if this drug is causing my shortness of breath. I'm afraid to continue taking the medication, but it has helped the pain in my wrisk.
-- By iwp68g | Reply | Private Message me
March 15th
2004
11:00 PM
I am not sure if this was the reason or not but I have had to have a pace maker put in for irregular heartbeat and in fact my heart stopped twice in the one day once for 35 and once for 15 seconds that was when the pacemaker was put in.
Mary Lang
November 25th
2003
2:07 AM
Hair loss, joint pain, bloating, itchy rash, dry skin
weight gain.
Have been on Lipitor for nearly four years. Cardiologist told me to stop taking it today.
I'd like to know of side effects from stopping! Will hair grow back?
I'm female in my 70's with a recently installed pacemaker.
-- By jaybee | Reply | Private Message me
August 8th
2003
12:03 AM
Atenolol effects everyone "slightly" differently I imagine but it is relatively side-effect free and, with the lower dosages, there are almost none. Definitely no depression, tiredness or sexual dysfunction. No heart racing. My only problems with it is that it dropped my bp too low. So the recommended dosage of 50mg to 100mg is way to much for me. I'm on 24mg now and it drops my bp from about 150+/90+ to 117/80 (ball park figures, of course). Before the pacemaker, it was taking my heart rate into the low 50's and even 40's during the night. So it's a very strong drug, good for lowering bp, with none of the Lisinopril nonsense. I'm feeling much more optimistic about life after just a few days of cutting my dosage in half. I've gone from 5mg to 2.5mg a day; even brought some new clothes today and suddenly don't feel like killing myself. Am soooo glad I found this site!!!!
-- By bernovac | Reply | Private Message me
August 5th
2003
10:40 AM
Oh, yes. Most important...
I forgot to mention the strange shortness of breath that comes on, unlike the kind I had before the pacemaker. Pressure on my chest, like I can't get enough air, almost like an asthema or anxiety attack. It's very reassuring to read so many have it with this drug!!!
-- By bernovac | Reply | Private Message me
August 5th
2003
10:26 AM
Goodness, this is an amazing site. Just came to check and see if depression is a side effect of Lisinopril. And what do I find? All my other symptoms. I'm taking it for mitral regurgitation and, after a pacemaker (ICD) implant in Feb., my doctor increased dosage in June from 1.25 mg daily to 5 mg and wants to go up to 10 mg. I also take 25 mg Atenolol for bp (which does the job, and I can't imagine using Lisinopril for high bp).
My symptoms: tired, tired all the time unless I drink lots of coca cola (yes!); sudden onset of narcolepsy (falling asleep) in the late afternoon; feel like I haven't slept; can't get going; feel hopeless, depressed, dizzy at times, can't concentrate, trouble reading, focusing. I'm really not "myself".
So I decided this morning, with a four-fold increase in this drug two months ago, I'd better check it out.
I'm cutting back to 2.5 mg, and taking it at bedtime only. I might as well be an invalid this way. What do others think?
Now I'm off for that Coca Cola to make it through this day!
-- By bernovac | Reply | Private Message me
Lisinopril (6) Lipitor (3) Etodolac (2) Warfarin Sodium (2) Levoxyl (1) Wellbutrin (1) Mirena (1) Avelox (1) Gabapentin (1) Omeprazole (1) Simvastatin (1) Propafenone Hydrochloride (1) Toprol-XL (1) Methylpred DP (1) Levaquin (1) Digitek (1)
October 20th
2008
5:22 PM
okay ladies, I'm not sure what you all are experiencing since I'm not a doctor. But I will tell you that a huge amount of your symptoms can either be age related or post baby related. I have four children ages 15, 6, 5, 3.
-- By ktull68 | Reply | (6) replies | Private Message meThe beginning stages of the Mirena granted are not pretty and can last for months. I was having a terrible time with my periods and was out of commission for the first three days of every cycle each month. I have had my Mirena for almost 2 years now and am going on 41. I had to wait it out for about 6 months before seeing any huge improvements. I will tell you this, over eating and NOT eating a healthy diet of fruits and veggies will aggravate bloating and mood swings. You could have these with or without the IUD. I never lost my hair unless I was 3-6 months post partum.
A diet rich in potato chips, bread, meats and cheesy pizza will show on your hair skin and nails. The typical American diet will leave even your special guy moody. As we age the expectation is that we will always feel 18 and I have had to come to grips with how my body ages and how I take care of it. A new baby whether it is your 1st or 4th will cause unwanted fatigue. I still struggle with fatigue because not everyone sleeps thru the night including my hubby so my sleep gets disrupted a lot. There are several things you can do to help your Mirena work for you and not scare you. I NEVER lose my sex drive unless I fail to exercise even a little each week and have fought back with a super charged diet. I'm not perfect at it but boy does it ever help. Sugar has a HUGE impact on your hormones and fatigue level. Limit it. Got to bed as early as you can and avoid late night TV. Don't give your precious zzz's to some silly show that won't help you be a better person any way. Get moving and add a little (or a lot) of weight training to your days- your sex drive will soar and your body will thank you. Pray for wisdom. God will help. Sometimes he uses fatigue to slow me down and focus on what is really important. Granted not everyone can handle an IUD. But if you try a little self care and be patient you might find that it works for you. I had heavy bleeding and at my age the doc said I got it just in time because from 40-50 I could expect more of the same. I am grateful for it because I felt like I was dying every time I had a period. A little fatigue is worth the benefits. Keep in mind that even your little ones get tired. They need naps and they are kids. We need rest in the afternoons too. It's okay to stay off the phone and rest a little if you can. My energy drainers are TV, negative people, talking on the phone too much, eating too much especially when I'm not really hungry, the wrong foods when I do eat, and not getting sleep or exercise. Start small and see if over time it doesn't make a big difference before you throw in the towel. Blessings to all and especially the new mommies.