June 30th
2009
9:47 PM
I started taking Levaquin on Saturday for preventive measures for knee surgery. I had taken Keflex the week before and had an allergic reaction to it. Extreme itching on my hands, hips, shoulders and feet. I broke out in hives and my lips, eyes, hands and face swelled up. I quit taking Keflex and then a week later, they started me on Levaquin. So this morning, Tuesday, I had been on Levaquin for 3 days, I woke up feeling fine. I was up for about 10 minutes and the back of my head was itchy. I itched it and noticed that my fingers and hands were starting to swell. I took a sip of coffe and my lips were starting to swell. Within 10 min. I was swollen, itchy, in an extreme cold sweat, my throat was swelling and I could not breath very well. I grabbed my phone and called 911 and I could barely remember my address. I told the dispatcher that I was going to pass out and I did. When I came to I could hear the dispatcher trying to get my attention. When I got back on the phone after passing out, she said paramedics were on the way. They showed up about 2 min. later. My blood pressure was 101/53. I ended up going to the hospital and on the way there, they gave me a shot of epipedirine and benadryl. When I got to the hospital there were 8 people working on me. I got a shot of pepcid and a shot for the rash that was covering 90% of my body. I was still having a hard time understanding questions and was having a hard time staying focused to answer questions. I was in the ER for about 4 1/2 hours for anaphylaxis but they finally got it under control. Now I get to have epi pens to carry around with me since this was such a severe reaction. I was told to look into an allergy screening so I think I might see how much the insurance will pay on that and maybe get that done.
-- By golferguy09 | Reply | Private Message me
November 18th
2008
7:20 PM
After being treated for two major crohn's flares since 2005, I have had all the regular treatments for crohn's. Remicade gave me a liver abscess so the only choice left for Mass General Dr. I see from the MGH Crohn's and Colitis Center was Humira. It is helping to keep me in remission after a long bout early spring, but since Humira Pens were added to my treatments and medications I have had short term memory loss, lack of concentration and foggy head. I have been off and on Prednisone without the memory loss, but have had a bit of a fog due to it. This has been bad enough that after attempting over a month to get back to my teaching job, I have had to ask for a leave. Has anyone else complained about this problem with Humira?
-- By capthugh | Reply | (4) replies | Private Message me
November 8th
2008
7:43 PM
I URGE YOU TO PLEASE SUBMIT ANY ADVERSE EVENTS OF THIS TERRIBLE KENALOG DRUG TO THE FDA--JUST CLICK THIS LINK AND COMPLETE THE FORM: http://www.fda.gov/medwatch/. The FDA is responsible for assuring safety of medications. Therefore, it is imperative that the FDA recognize the adverse effects to provide any credibility to a class action suit. Please consider forwarding your case to the FDA to force them into action and begin addressing these atrocities.
Here's my case: I am also a victim of having the Kenalog injection administered over a year ago to alleviate poison ivy itching symptoms. Prior to having the injection, I was not informed of any side effects. Not only did the injection not alleviate the symptoms, but has resulted in a discolored and uncomfortable indentation in my left buttock area and psychological anguish because of disfigurement of my body. It is over a year later and the indent remains and continues to cause discomfort. The dermatologist who administered the injection stated that there was nothing I could do to reverse such effects. I reported my case to the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) Med Watch and strongly urge others to report their adverse event to the FDA (see link above).
-- By slmgator | Reply | (6) replies | Private Message me
April 30th
2008
10:45 AM
I discovered this site last Wednesday morning - without taking the time to list all of the grief I felt reading through the pediatric postings, I will briefly note my 4 year old daughter has been on Singulair for 2 years now. What I now realize is all the behavior issues, night screaming, etc. are so easily dismissed as stages of a toddler. She has suffered (as well as our family) every symptom and behavior listed by parents on this site with the exception of leg cramps.
Our entire family can see the dramatic results since taking her last pill last Tuesday night. The melt downs and tantrums are all but over, she even commented "hey, I listened right away" on the second day without Singulair. She is still having night terrors - I call them that because they are in no way a dream or nightmare, but rather agonizing moments that break our hearts to hear. I hope those will soon go away as well so her sleep pattern results in a restful night.
Am I angry that we have all suffered for 2 years only to find we have been basically poisoning her? Am I angry that for the 2 years her dad and I have sunk pretty low, feeling inadequate as a parent to teach and discipline our child? Am I angry that after 20 years of marriage, raising a great 16 year old in the midst of all this, we were to the point of the ADD, bipolar, etc. theory that would have been misdiagnosed? Heck no, we are all so thankful to have come across this site and are so giddy and excited to be happy again.
What I am angry about is this - when I called our pediatrician last Wednesday and relayed what I had seen on the Merck website for side effects added in recent months she had not heard this information and asked where I saw it. At that point I had not seen this site. I asked her how is it the well dressed pharmaceutical reps come in with doughnuts, exotic trips, etc. to market a drug with "ABC" treatments and "XYZ" side effects, continue to market the drug and never update the doctors when original selling points are altered - ie; new side effects.
The FDA website is troubling for two reasons: Merck is in charge of their own investigation regarding recent complaints and the FDA expects this to take 9 months. Gee, who gets to investigate themself? Secondly, in February the site notes the FDA and Merck are trying to find the best way to communicate the concerns being investigated to prescribes and patients. HELLO - we live in a world of real time, instant communication methods, two examples being the United States Postal Service and an internet connection.
Today is April 30 - a full two months after "trying to decide how to pass this information on" and my doctor, nor my pharmacist have received any information. Apparantly since we missed the story and coverage on Dateline we are out of luck.
I plan to start from ground zero to get our voices heard to change the way, or the law if you will, to implement an immediate communication link between the FDA and prescribes when an investigation such as this has been initiated. I realize Singulair has most likely benefited more humans than it has destroyed while on the drug and the FDA would have to clearly not communicate "panic". However, when a drug is used for pediatric treatments we need information quickly to assess on behalf of our children. In my case, since my daughter had been on the drug since 2 years old, I do not know what her "normal behavior" should be as that is the age they start to develop and show personality. Additionally, when enclosed prescribing information is updated with a prescription -MARK IT IN RED, "UPDATED INFORMATION". I read every ounce of information that accompanies a new prescription for any family member. I would NOT, however read the information every 30 days for an ongoing, long term prescription over the course of 2 years.
I am looking for anyone that may have started contact with a congressional representative or otherwise to change the communication to our doctors. Please note - I am in no way interested in any legal action regarding Singulair and our nightmare. We are moving forward and do not wish to live the nightmare one moment more. I simply want to see our doctors and pharmacists have vital information as it happens.
Thank you to all for sharing your experiences - I truly believe it is changing lives and making a difference. I am personally telling everyone I know about what is happening with our child and all of yours. Andy by the way, by telling one of my long time friends our amazing discovery, she realized she had been suffering from depression for some time and chalked it up to various things going on in her life. She had her last Singulair last week and feels tremendous! So keep the word going!
-- By rlcoffin | Reply | (5) replies | Private Message me
Singulair (1) Kenalog (1) Byetta (1) Humira Pen (1) Amoxicillin (1) Levaquin (1)
November 7th
2009
3:47 PM
500mg 3 times a day for 10 days, vomited once, have had a horrible headache that started day b4 yesterday, still kinda have it, comes in waves, sux real bad lol
i have Sinusitis, Bronchitis, and a severe respiratory infection.
i see some guy on here mad cuz the doctor didn't tell him he would have bad headaches, like the doctor was going to know in advance he would. this anti-biotic affects different ppl different ways, its really not his responsibility to go over every single side-effect this very common anti-biotic is going to have, thats why the pharmacy gives you a huge pamphlet informing you on the medication, if you would had read it then you would see that headache, diarrhea, and constipation are all common side-effects
i didn't read it however, until i came here and read what i read, which is comforting really cuz at least i know why i have the headache so bad, and why i lost my lunch yesterday, was actually worried maybe i had an infection in my brain and thats why i had it, i know, sounds dumb, but what can i say, im paranoid lol
-- By rattle | Reply | (2) replies | Private Message me