Parkinson symptoms and conditions

I'm sorry if someone has covered this already... my grandmother is actually the one on Prednisone because she was diagnosed with peripheral neuropathy about a year and a half ago and I believe they recommended it to help her strengthen her muscles so she could walk. It has really taken a terrible toll as she is now unable to walk, and even using a walker can be stressful and difficult. Once she was put on Prednisone they continued to increase her dosage and because of it she now has terrible tremors. It kills me to watch her go through this and wish that I could fight the illness for her. I just want her to be able to eat without feeling so stressed out because her hands aren't steady. The doctor did say that the medication is causing her tremors, and we were relieved to find out that it wasn't Parkinson's, and now they are beginning to wean her off of the medication but she is still taking it at the moment. If anyone has finally tapered off from the medication, who originally had tremors, did you find that your tremors did go away once you were off the medication? How long before the shaking stopped and you felt better? I just want to give her hope that after she is off the medication there will be some relief. I feel awful knowing there is nothing I can really do but support and be there for her, and do some research. If anyone could help me with my questions it would be greatly appreciated. I'm sad to hear other people's terrible issues with this medication and as far as I know I have only heard negative responses to this drug, so it's unfortunate that in this day and age they haven't found something safer that has the same effect that doctors are looking for in a medication. I wish everyone a safe and happy recovery.

I really don't know what to do, I hurt so bad every single day I could cry. I was given Levaquin in March 2008 when I had pneumonia. I took it for 10 days and I hurt so bad still was very sick so I was put on it for another 10 days, so I took the Levaquin for a total of 20 days. I thought all this sickness was from the pneumonia. I had trouble getting out of bed, I could not even bend my knees, my feet, knees, elbows, and fingers were swelled up and I was getting all kinds of cracking in all my joints, headaches, stomach pains, all kinds of muscle pains. When I went back to work, I was telling a girl at work how I hurt and she asked me what kind of antibiotic I was taking, I told her and she said they had it on the world news . I said why is it still on the market. I seen 3 doctors about this and they think I'm nuts! They sent me for all kinds of xrays for all different parts of my body, what is that going to show! Its been a year and I still ache, I keep swelling up, joint and muscle pains, cracking, stomach troubles, problems sleeping, its terrible. I take pain medication for my back, I have 2 herniated discs, and I have to take more pain meds for all these other pains, this is not going to work. I even went to see a rheumatologists and he said I don't have arthritis. So Levaquin done a number on me. If anyone can help, or know what to do let me know!

Oh My Gosh....I cannot believe I just stumbled across this site. Feeling so NOT LIKE MYSELF for quite sometime now made me decide to google Snythroid side effects, wondering if this medication I am on could possibly be the reason I am feeling so badly. I am 50-years old and started taking synthroid (Levythyroxine) about a year ago for hypothyroidism. I have been struggling tremendously with anxiety, mood swings, fatigue, more hot flashes, emotional instability, and sudden weight gain (about 10 lbs) since I started taking it. I never had any weight issues. I have just assumed this was all related to being "menopausal" (and I'm sure some of it is) and stress-related.....but here's the thing....BEFORE I started taking it, I felt "normal" emotionally, I never had a problem with my weight, and never really had any major "pre-menopausal" symptoms....in fact, I think I had A LOT LESS hot flashes and emotional turmoil, BRAIN FOG, etc., BEFORE I went on this stuff. I was technically POST MENOPAUSE two months ago. Okay, so symptoms should be subsiding now. Any menopausal symptoms would/should have been worse during pre-menopause. Again, I never remember having any major symptoms going through "the change" and felt blessed in that respect......so could it be possible that this hell I have been going through COULD be related to this fricken Snythroid????!?!? I want to just stop taking it to see if I feel normal again, but don't know if it's SAFE to go off all of a sudden. What is this Armour?? I cannot believe how many others out there are feeling like me. I hope this is the reason, so I can feel some hope. But now what do I do? I'm sure I still have to get my TSH levels or whatever regulated. Any suggestions out there? I'll try and make a doctor's appt and check levels again and see what my options are...I was told I probably had to stay on this stuff for the rest of my life. Thanks, everyone.

I spent yesterday in the emergency room with my 20 y/o daughter. She was experiencing severe cramping and twitching of her right side, swelling of the joints with shooting pains from her shoulders. The symptoms were those of a person with Parkinson's and severe charlie horses throughout their body. After many tests, I was floored when the doctor told me that he believed that it was YAZ that was causing this. She is also anemic, which she has never been. She has been on this medication for a little over one year. I came to this site to convince myself that the doctor was wrong..... isn't this supposed to be the wonder drug? After reading just a handful of the postings, I have found more symptoms that I have dismissed as 'stress from college'. She was placed on this medication for poly cysts caused by accutane! - Now this!!! What is going on with the FDA that they are allowing so many of these horrible side effects!

My hubby took Cipralex (Lexapro) for three weeks and one morning he woke up with a serve tremor in his left arm. He stopped taking it but now he is showing more and more signs of Parkinson's. And way faster then normal onset. in less than a month and a half he has lost arm swing on the right side, has internal tremors, no stop tremors on the left arm, left toes curling under....... He is only 33.
Has anyone else had anything like this???

THIS IS A HORRIBLE DANGEROUS DRUG!!!!!
Doctors prescribed this to my mother for 5 years!!!! Because of it's devastating side effects it is FDA approved for short term 4-12 weeks and only as a last resort. And NEVER for Parkinson's patients. It is unclear if Reglan caused the Parkinson's like symptoms or if she had it prior. Either way the doctor was so wrong to prescribe this medication to her. She is completely disabled can't walk or even get out of a chair had a auto accident and falls one time a metal frame fell on her head causing a hospital visit another time she fell into cactus! I was horrified to learn that no one caught this error. Not one doctor or the drug store told my parents REGLAN could cause her to end up using a walker and unable to function even the simplest daily tasks and that these symptoms could be permanent.

Here's a way out theory about my unique and to me mystifying medical situation....

I recently read where Singulair, an asthma medicine, is suspected of causing suicides, obviously an effect on the brain function. The FDA notes that over the past year, Merck has updated Singulair's prescribing information and patient information to include the following post marketing adverse events: TREMOR (March 2007), (April 2007), suicidally (October 2007), and anxiousness (February 2008). (the tremor highlight is mine since this is a major symptom of Parkinson's )

Well, I took Singulair from 1998 to 2004 and I wonder if maybe, just maybe Singulair could be a contributing factor to my strange Parkinson's but not Parkinson's problems that is
gait,
balance,
freezing of gait problems

Any thoughts or ideas on how I might follow up on my hypothesis?

For only three days I have been taking 2 squirts of Nasonex in each nostril once a day. At the end of day 3, I have developed terrible hand tremors (like Parkinson's) whenever I pick up a glass of water or something heavy.
I know it's from the Nasonex because I didn't have this ever before!
It's very scary. Also, I have had really confusing, freaky dreams at night.
It's going in the garbage!!!

My father took Amantadine for his Parkinson's disease and a few weeks after starting, went in to neuroleptic malignant syndrome. He was hospitalized for 10 days, and was unresponsive for 4-5 days. As an elderly man, he did not exhibit the exact symptoms of NMS, but showed almost all of the symptoms on a decreased level.

I was on 20 mg for a little more than a year.At the same time I limited my fat intake to about 50 grams/day. I lowered my numbers pretty well and lost 15 pounds unfortunately much of it lean mass. Slowly my 53 year old body, which was in good shape, started to feel old. Subtle loss of coordination and balance, especially fine motor skill in my hands. I chalked it up to getting older. Also my wife wondered about my irritability which wasn't normal for me.Finally cramping that got worse was followed by twitching in my legs and then pins and needles sensations. It came on slowly enough that the light bulb didn't go on.Oh I was starting to have neck and shoulder discomfort too.So I did a little research and thought I was getting ALS or parkinson's until I saw the Lipitor sites. I was so pissed at myself for letting my doctor and the brainwashing of drug companies go against my better judgment to never take the stuff. Its been two months off the poison and I'm feeling like myself again. I still have the tingling and twitching in my legs but my strength and coordination is better. All I can say is get off the crap and just change your lifestyle. I threw a year of my life away for nothing!

I have being taking thyroid medicine since 1994. I was diagnosed with Hyperthyroidism and prescribed Synthroid. It didn't work. Instruct to take radioactive pill. Now, diagnoses change to Hypothyroidism. Prescribe Levoxyl. Endocrinologist said I would lose weight, but instead I have gone from a size 8 to 16. I feel really bad when I miss my doses. Really anxious when I take it every day. I am noticing that I have moles growing out and spreading all over my body. Switch back to Synthroid three months ago. That when start experiencing a great deal of hair loss. Decide to switch back to Levoxyl but a lower dose. The hair loss has slowed down a little. But, hair is growing slowly. I am having problems focusing and some memory loss. I really don't know what to do. I have change endocrinologist twice. I really think that Levoxyl and Synthroid have bad side effects on human after long term usage. I am miserable because I can't control my weight. I know that it has something to do with this medicine. If anyone know of some other medicine that would Hypothyroidism in check without all of the side effects that I mention. Please share it with me.

I was put on Lipitor over a year ago. I began having memory problems last Sept. and even asked for an Alzheimer's test. Thing got worse, I now have constant pins and needles in my middle and ring finger of my right hand. My hands ache all the time, and I am constantly on pain killers for the severe pain in my shoulders, thighs and lower legs and my feet.

I have also developed the shuffling walk, and sometimes I cannot decide which foot to put forward first, which is as I understand it a sign of Parkinson's. Today I saw a Neuropath specialist he used a machine which gave me little electric shocks, I will not learn the results of this test until I go back and see the specialist who has diagnosed me with Fibromyalgia. I am also severely depressed mostly because I stopped taking the Lipitor several weeks ago and I am getting worse not better. I feel about 30 years older than my age of 65.

I printed out some of the material I found on the net about the dangers of Statins and gave it to one of my doctors, but so far none of them acknowledge that Statins are responsible. Oh yes and my memory is still as bad. I am seriously thinking of making arrangements for my funeral.

When I refused to take Lipitor the doctor tried to prescribe a different drug but the pharmacist told me that it has the same effects as Statins, so refused to take the prescription.

I have already started taking CoQ10 and Vitamin C.

consider the following if one is experiencing any symptoms of parkinson's--tremor, shuffling walk, lack of arm swinging on one side while walking, rigidity...and taking a statin:
Ivanhoe Newswire) -- The results of a recent study has scientists concerned
about a possible link between statins -- the cholesterol-lowering class of drugs
-- and Parkinson's disease.

Researchers from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill discovered
people with low levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) -- "bad" cholesterol --
are more likely to have Parkinson's disease than people who have higher levels
of LDL.

UNC researcher Xuemei Huang, M.D., Ph.D., reports the link raises questions
about whether cholesterol-lowering drugs, like statins, could increase a
person's risk of developing Parkinson's disease.

Dr. Huang and colleagues are now planning a study to further investigate this
possibility and other reasons for the unexplained link. In a UNC press release,
she reports she would not recommend people change eating habits or stop taking
prescribed medications because of the preliminary results of her small study.
She cautions previous studies have linked smoking tobacco to a reduced risk of
Parkinson's, but health providers would never suggest smoking.

Parkinson's patients are more likely to carry the gene APOE-2, which is linked
to lower LDL levels, reports Dr. Huang. This is another area she will explore in
her upcoming study.

S

On: Wed, 28 Mar 2007 06:43:56 -0700

to joyce, have your loved one evaluated by his MD--my husband and 2 male friends were diagnosed with parkinson's after taking lipitor for 2 yrs for one guy and 4 yrs for the other 2 guys. it may be nothing in your brother's case--or a minor problem. i would definitely have him see a doctor....

In 8/06 I was switched from generic to the brand name LEVOXYL and developed horrible problems. After 4 months I finally connected the dots and went to my doctor to get my levels checked. Sure enough they were too high. After lowering the dose most of the side effects went away but I am still suffering from anxiety and trembling. An all over, full body trembling. Like a haven't eaten. Which of course make the anxiety worse because now I am sure I have MS or Parkinson's. I am still working with my doctor but he seems to be fighting me on the idea that it is the LEVOXYL. We shall see.

This is for a friend of mine diagnosed with Parkinson's and dystonia. All her big problems began shortly after hypothyroid diagnosis and her starting on Synthroid. Is it coincidence? Or has anyone heard of synthroid or thyroid meds promoting or mimicing Parkinson symptoms,or involuntary muscle spasms? Am I just imagining a connection?

I had been taking lisinopril for 18 months ... the caughing side
effect was apparent within one week and occurred frequently
but most annoyingly while I was eating at a restaurant (definite
affect on others nearby!) Eight months ago I was diagnosed with
Parkinson's disease and began taking medicine for this condition.
Within a month a starting having "sneezing" fits in addition to
the caughing. On many days, I was going through a whole box
of tissues. Since then I have stopped taking Lisinipril twice ...
and the caughing and sneezing stopped within two days!

I am currently looking for an alternative BP medicine.

double vision, twitches of large muscles to point of near seizure eventually then walked like I had parkinson's - could not lift my feet when walking so had to shuffle.
My primary care MD and my prescibing psychiatrist didn't either one believe these things were not symtoms of lamectal
toxicity "cause they never read about them: infact psych. suggested I probably wasn't BP after all and just needed counseling - and she was the one that gave me that diagnosis/label about 6 yrs ago ! Primary went along with her.
Don't deny counseling would help, but very angry when they said "behaviors" couldn't be due to lam. cause level too low.

Have been taking for only 1 day (3 doses) and right before lunch, I started feeling like I had extremely low blood sugar. By the time I got downstairs and stood in line to get food, I felt shakier and shakier. As I rushed to sit down and eat something as fast as possible, my hands were shaking as if I had a nervous tick or Parkinson's.

After eating the shaking gradually subsided, however, I have been feeling weird pressure in my eyes as if my pupils are extremely dialated. And I am also feeling a little detatched from my surroundings and a little nervous.

I don't liike the way this medicine makes me feel at all! I am calling my doctor right away to switch meds.

This is scary stuff!!!! How long has this drug been out?! Thanks, FDA!

Shaking--like mad crazy! My poor mother in law took it for just 3 days, 3 weeks ago. She couldn't move, had massive anxiety, and shook like she had Parkinson's. She still shakes and has anxiety. Took weeks to convince her that she could move. It's pitiful.

I've been on it off and on--mostly on--for 3 years now. In part at least it's been a godsend. I had the weird experience of worse side effects on a lower dose. I would get urge incontinence (as soon as you think of peeing, you're going to go before you get your pants down); sleepiness so terrible that I would have to go out to the car at 10AM at work and sleep for an hour; my voice and hands would get shaky; but I didn't feel depressed. My doctor doubled the dose to 160 mg and had me take it all at night, and all the side effects went away. I just worry now about Parkinson's or tardive dyskinesia when I'm 60.

Olsen: Isn't it ironic that 3 persons close to you all came down with the same symptoms. When I mentioned the possibility of my husband having Lipitor-induced Parkinson's Disease to my internist, he was adamant about it and said Lipitor had been on the market a long time and that my husband was probably going to get Parksinson's whether or not he took lipitor. After reading of so many instances in this site, I cannot agree with my doctor . I asked my husband's neurologist (who treats his Parkinson's with medication that doesn't help) if there were any data banks that accumulated information from people diagnosed with Parkinson's to see if there was a common thread that would link Parkinson's with anything in particular, and he said there wasn't anything like that. It seems that a questionnaire asking what medications they take, what type of work they did, what chemicals they had ever handled, etc. should be given to all Parkinson's patients to fill in data and sent to a Parkinson's Institute for evaluation. I hate to see my husband's quality of life taken away and wish there was something I could do to make things better. I've also had to become the designated driver.

the three men I mentioned in my previous post who all developed hand tremors were given diagnosis of Parkinson's disease within 2 weeks of one another---did Lipitor cause the parkinson's or unmask it? i am convinced the drug played a major role in my husband's parkinson's.