Pharm symptoms and conditions

YOU have to get together and fight for change,the big pharm companies are running the show,they just about have diplomatic immunity,they can pass out poison and not be held accountable,change needs to happen,write everyone your congressman,your rep,they are supposed to work for the people.Somebody has to be made accountable.Pharm companies get to police themselves,they are in charge of their own clinical trials,it is a for profit business both for pharm companies and the clinics running the trials,nobody has your best interest at heart only their bottom line.Even the fda gets a bonus...IT IS WRONG

I am a 56 year old that had an aortic valve replacement 51/2 years ago, I have been on toprol only 12 mg a day for around 4 years I have had minor side effects, cold feet, cold hands, optical migraine headaches (once in a while). I was on the real toprol for years and then the folks at walgreens offered a generic and I excepted, things were fine and I was rolling along until they chaned generic brands from SANDOZ to ETHEX, I seemed fine on the SANDOZ it even looked the same as the real thing, but when walgreens gave me ETHEX (which is a round pill about twice as large as the other) I began to feel sensations in the middle of my chest and sometimes while taking my pulse it felt like my Heart stopped or skipped a beat, this scared the shit out of me! I took about 22 days worth of EHTEX and the symptoms kept getting worse, I finally called the Cardio folks and they suggested that I wear a Holter monitor for 24 hours, which I did and felt that I had a few Heart stopping moments along with a odd heart burn sensation in the middle of my chest. Two nights ago I found some of the SANDOZ that I had saved for vacations and began taking 12 mg of that instead of the ETHEX today for the first time in nearly 3 weeks I had NO Heartburn problems and NO Heart stopping experience, mind you this was only day one! Looking forward to day 2 and now that I have read all of the side effects from all the good folks on this site, that are not listed when you purchase the drugs, my opinion is that all GENERIC drugs that are suppose to be IDENTICAL to the real thing is a huge lie! What the hell is the FDA doing? Are they trying to let the GENERIC FOOLS poison all of the good folks that actually need these drugs without doing or maybe reading the test results? Or maybe the drug company's have so much clout that they can grease a few palms and get there GENERIC shit to market. To think that these drugs are suppose to be IDENTICAL and then to receive a pill that looks NOTHING like the real thing and when you bust it in half it's a different frickin color (ETHEX)!!!! What was I thinking taking this GENERIC piece of garbage! The GENERIC buttheads along with the real manufacturers should be required by LAW to list ALL ingredients on the label so all of the good folks can read and compare to see what there swallowing and putting into there bodes! I hope to get off of thos drug soon but if I don't rest asure that I will seek out the real thing. I was so freaked out by the side effects that the Cardio Doctor scheduled an ECHO for this Friday, I think the valve is fine but we will find out! Good luck all!

Welcome a board singulairsurvivor. I received back an email from the woman at the lung association,she was of course sorry for our experiancr,and went on to say the scientist that reviewed the data were some of the best,and the association has no ties to any product.then as i am watching the updates on the hurricanes,i am inendated with singulair commercials as once again it is allergy season,so what a windfall for Merck that this article came out this month and not next....Coincidense i think not shame shame shame on you.To all those unsuspecting people about to get their prescription .i am sorry

my 11 year old was prescribed amoxicillin for an ear infection and cannot keep it down...anyone know what to do? I'm waiting on the pharm and the doctor office to open....

Please let me know if a class-action lawsuit is ever filed against this Pharm Co because I will file a suit to get this dangerous drug off the market. Yasmin/Yaz almost took my life in January 08. My OB/GYN put me on Yaz in Oct 07 for bad periods and cysts on my overies. Within a month my entire personality changed and I started losing my hair. I experienced a complete loss of sex drive, became depressed and was either constanting crying or raging at someone. However, my adult acne did clear up. On 1/27/08 I experienced extreme pain in my calf that moved up to my thigh within 48 hrs. I went to the ER and was told that no only did I a condition called DVT (Deep Vein Thrombisis-blood clot) in my leg but that the clot had broken off and moved into both of my lungs and I had bi-lateral pulmonary embolism. I can't even describe how incredibly painful this was. I was admitted into the hospital for 1 week and was put on powerful blood thinners, which I will be on for about a year. It's now been nearly 6 months since I was diagnosed and the DVT and it is still in my uppper thigh. But am grateful to be alive. If you would like to contact me I would be glad to answer any questions regarding this situation and my email addy is ****** PLEASE DO NOT TAKE YAZ OR YASMIN OR LET ANYONE IN YOUR FAMILY TAKE THIS MED, IT COULD KILL YOU.

62 year old female, taking Lisinopril for over a year. I was at lost for my symptoms until I read this site, pain in arm, don`t sleep, itching all over, Head ache, pressure on back of head Dizzy, trouble walking,depression,loose of memory etc.( history of a benign brain tumor about 10 years ago) Pressure was so bad I made a appointment with my neurosurg) Talked to a Pharm. He suggested to not take it one night and see. I did and the pressure went away.I called the Cardiologist. His nurse really told me off and that I was not having any side effect, something was going on, but not Lisinopril as I had taken it for so long. She was just plain rude! She would not call anything else in for me either. I am titrating it and and looking for a new doctor!!

I have posted a few times. My daughter started taking singulair 11-17-2003 and I stopped it 3-28-2008. She is the one that dropped out of dance and cheerleading, withdrew from old friends and family, headaches, stomachaches, missing school with this, depressed, anxiety attacks and CUTTING her self under her clothes. 6 months with a psychiatrist did not help. She is now about 80% back from the darkness. She is so much better and is such a loving child, She is not cutting, has a part time job, and has passed all her classes with 3 A's, 1 B, and 2 C's. BUT there are learned behaviors while in the darkness that still show up. Not every day but they are there. She has been pushed off her life path. I am hanging on to her with all my might and I know that I will get her through college and she will have the tools to be self reliant and happy BUT what could she have been if I never gave her singulair???? I can not help but feel guilty to what I have done to this child

In reply to concerned-dad and all others with chronic congestion, etc. I have heard several people that have tried the "Eat Right For Your Blood Type" (in bookstores) with incredible results. Even if they have not followed the most strict food do's/don't for their blood type, and made minimal changes they noticed a dramatic difference with congestion and asthma symptoms in children and adults.

I am not endorsing the book - but I will however give it a good hard try if my daughter's symptoms return that she had prior to being put on Singulair. And yes, you are so right to be concerned with the timing of Singulair and any new behavior issues - I still stand my ground when I say it is NOT normal for a toddler growing up in a loving home to have such horrible night terrors, screaming in fear.

My 4 year old took her last dose 3 weeks ago after a 2 year run on Singulair not an hour has gone by without her dad, sister and I still feeling waves of shock. She has completely changed from an unhappy, moody, unemotional girl into a loving, well-mannered, well-disciplined, even tempered 4 year old. Unfortunately, since the side effects have been so secretly held, all parents have been chalking all the behavioral issues to "toddler" years.

As I wrote to the FDA rep, this would be a classics Deceptive Trade issue for any other company in our country. Quite simply, when Singulair first rolled out it was sold with "ABC" treatments and "XYZ" side effects by the pharm reps. In February the FDA website notes they have given Merck 9 months to investigate (THEMSELVES) the many consistent complaints of side effects received for Singulair. And since the FDA did not give them a time limit to communicate the ongoing investigation and recently added side effects, my pediatrician and pharmacist as of May are still unaware. Same old commercials airing with the original "mild" side effects as sore throat, etc., same pharm reps visiting my doctor without informing of recent changes to the originally selling points.

Had my pediatrician been aware, I would have not received the answer I did when asking her what a toddler could have so horrible in their life to scream and cry through nightmares - "Some children react in their dreams if perhaps they saw a spider earlier in the day that scared them". I figured it would have to be a spider the size of my car to get that kind of nightmare, but in her defense had she been aware of the updated information with Singulair she would have zeroed in on the "bad/vivid dreams" Merck has now added to their website.

Hope this helps someone and if anyone has given the "Blood Type" eating regimen a try would love to hear comments.

I have come to the conclusion that our pediatricians, allergists and various other doctors, have been brainwashed by the drug reps,possibly even bribed. My friend took her son off of Singulair almost a month ago when I told her about all of this. He already suffers from a learning disability, but she feels that his ability has improved along with his disposition and complaints of various aches and pains. She took him for his usual appointment at his allergist and told him what she had done and why and he literally YELLED at her, calling her a fool and demanded that she put him back on it. She stood her ground and refused and now is under the impression that her son will be dismissed as a patient from that practice. That won't be a problem. From what I read and what I hear, a lot of doctors are dismissing the whole deal. They can't be bothered with finding out for themselves, what the truth really is. No, they might miss out on the "perks" from the drug reps, like free samples of the deadly drug, or free pens, or a chance at a vacation in the Bahamas, and the list goes on. The drug reps are a hazard. They lack education on the drugs that they are "dealing", and if they HAVE been educated and are still promoting it,
they are no better than the crack dealers in the alley.

Some common sense observations about Singulair side effects. (As everything on the internet, this is only my opinion.)

Conclusion up front: Ethics in science SUCKS these day. Put enough money on the table and what happens? I don’t mean all scientists, just the few. But, the Merck ghost writers are the tip of the iceberg for those in the schm#ck category. Maybe, if we reveal the extremes of abuse of laboratory animals, the ASPCA will organize and save us all. How about if they find out about the pharma labs that just beat the cr@p out of the lab animals to produce a stress response to find out what chemicals are produced? What was that all about?? Probably military—send our soldiers out to war over politics/oil, then we will have a pill to give them every night to put them back together again for the next day??

1.The cysLT1 receptor, which Singulair blocks, is a gene, found on the x chromosome (?), part of our inherited innate immune system. It is evolution. The hypersensitive individual overreacts to environmental stimuli causing unpleasant or dangerous symptoms. It is advantageous to intervene to prevent that. Merck’s idea was to block cysLT1 so that the chemicals secreted by the mast cell cannot reach the tissues in the lungs and nasal passages to cause the inflammatory responses-asthma being the more severe.

2.How did Merck develop such a drug? The cysLT1 receptor , a gene, has a profile, a chemical map of the components. Montelukast, was modeled to chemically bond with the receptor so that it does not function. That bond will endure until the liver enzymes break it down. Montelukast blocks the leukotriene response until it is time to take another pill. All that sounds good so far.

3.Now comes the first of the too good to be trues. Montelukast was formulated for a specific gene profile. However, cysLT1 has variations, numbers unknown, but more than several. Even Merck recognizes that it is not effective for everyone because the clinical data shows that. Mis-matches with the gene profile can cause montelukast to be recognized as an allergen. Then, the body mounts an immune response against montelukast.

4.Many of the symptoms that we see here are allergic reactions to montelukast, headache (18%), types of neuro-muscular (10%), hives, nausea, vomiting, leg pain, stomach cramps, and more. Some people will recognize montelukast instantly as an allergen. If the mis-match is slight, the allergic reaction could be acquired or build over time. Montelukast will ALWAYS be an allergen to those people. Doctors will do great harm if they treat allergic reaction to montelukast with other drugs. Those people must STOP taking montelukast.

5.The second too good to be true, is that cystLT1 receptor, involved in the leukotriene response, is only a very tiny part of the immune system, genetically programmed to function as a WHOLE. Now what? It is highly unlikely that montelukast can block the leukotriene receptor - cysLT1 in the brain, lungs, spleen, intestinal mucosa, etc. and not cause some kind of re-structuring of the immune system to compensate for that. Those who take Singulair can expect that they are a new adaptation of human being who can operate without the cysLT1 receptor. Or, they can expect long term damage. How scary is that?

6.What would happen if Merck revealed that montelukast, by definition , cannot work for everybody because it is based on a gene profile with variations? What would happen if patients and doctors started to think about the immune system as a whole? Then Singulair – which means “single thing you need for air – breathe” the logo is even Singul-AIR, would not be the huge money maker that it is. Doctors would find a way to use it, for whom it is effective, in an appropriate way to consider the long term effects. For some people, this drug could have a place. But this drug does not deserve to be a CASH COW-money, money, money!

7.What in the heck is wrong with the FDA? Are they under a spell or hiding under a rock?

I think that I can get my head around certain things and try to explain to you that medications do not work for all people or affect all people the same way. Well, that sounds simple enough to say - DUH. But, it is actually quite complicated chemically. Human beings are not chemically the same because we have variations in our genes. Would you be surprised to learn that about 60% of adverse drug reactions involve certain chemicals (in some cases enzymes) that we already know what these chemicals or enzymes are and what the variants are among populations groups? Some times we can predict who would have an adverse reaction to what medications if we knew what gene subgroup the patient was part of. We could also predict whether the patient would metabolize a drug at the same speed as others or not. Metabolize means utilize the drug and then discard the by-products--mostly the liver is the recycling center of chemical waste. Anything that the liver cannot re-use, the kidneys gets rid of in the urine. Speed of metabolism is a very important thing because people who are slow metabolizers might actually experience over-dose. There are other differences caused by genes that can cause different reactions according to the individual person.

I am interesting in following this site because I am wondering if the concept is flawed meaning that other parts of the body were ignored at the expense of controlling asthma and allergies of the nasal passages and lungs. OR - is there just a problem that relates to genetic differences in something such as enzymes and certain populations groups do just fine on Singulair with no problems and other people have some awful problems?

This isn't my area. But, sadly, if I can spend two weeks looking at this and come up with at least a road map of what I am looking for to answer some important questions then people who do this for Merck already know the answers. Why do I say that? Because, the adverse side effects (major categories) correspond to important areas of leukotriene receptor location and activity. Maybe not necessarily this receptor but part of a chemical process that involves this receptor.

The bottom line is that Singulair is the wrong medication for anyone that has adverse reactions. OR, there is a problem regarding the dosage that involves how fast the patient metabolizes the medication. Considering that there is a link to psychiatric adverse drugs reactions in Singulair and some medications for depression are linked to differences in metabolism due to enzymes, then there could be possibly something important to be learned from Singulair adverse drug reactions.

The biggest problem is that pharmaceutical companies are not properly communicating with the doctors who prescribe their medications. Why not communicate to doctors to look out for side effects and be aware that there are gene variations among people that are directly linked to how the patient might respond to the medication?

What happens if the patient belongs to the gene group that will have problems? If the pharm company does not tell the doctor to be on the alert, then the doctor tells the patient that it is not the drug that is causing the problem. Then the gene groups with the problems, go on the war path.

DO NOT LET YOUR DOCTORS AND PEDIATRICIANS LEAD YOU TO BELIEVE THAT SINGULAIR IS NOT THE CAUSE OF THESE BEHAVIORAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL ISSUES. IF THEY DON'T LISTEN TO YOU, FIRE THEM!!!!!!!!!

I am contacting the Attorny General's office for the State of Connecticut this evening and have communicated directly with the leading professor at the University of Florida - School of Pharmacology and Pediatrics. His exact quotation to me was "The efficacy of Singulair is modest. If we took all of our patients off it right now they would not suffer"

Spread the word to ALL people you talk to on the street, at work, and wherever you may go. While this drug may work for some it is BAD for MANY!!!! Too many people are being misdiagnosed because of the side effects of Singulair.

After a simple operation I have these symptoms after taking Cephalexin: nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, stools that are watery, pale or yellowed skin, dark colored urine, fever, mental confusion, weakness
dizziness, tired feeling AND vaginal discharge.

I've only been on Lamictal for about 3 weeks now. I started taking it the day after Christmas. I take 25MG twice a day, with .5MG of Klonopin 3 times a day. I have been diagnosed as Bi Polar II, with very deep bouts of depression and suicidal thoughts. So far the Lamictal has been working for me. I have noticed that if I don't take it in the morning when I am supposed to, I let little things get to me. But as soon as I remember to take it, I feel better in a short amount of time; but that could also be the Klonopin. Anyway, the only side-effect I've noticed so far is that I started my period a week and a half early, and I have been on it for 2 1/2 weeks now. And it keeps getting heavier and that is very annoying.

Are any other females having period issues? Or is it just me? I can't find any other sides that list heavy bleeding or early periods as a side-effect.

Has anyone had severe headaches, loss of TASTE for food? My husband is taking 20mgs of Zocor and he has a terrible pain in his back in the center of his shoulders, knees crackle when getting up from a sitting position or bending to pick up something. His vision is getting very blurry, to a point he finds it hard to read, bouts of depression, cannot sleep, but, always tired, no ambition, thumbs lock-up like a Charlie horse, cannot lift anything heavy anymore. He started taking Zocor 40 days ago, and never been on any other cholesterol medication before this. 40 days ago he did not have any of these symptoms! I have a question for the people that have stopped taking Zocor and all other statins, what are you taking to keep your cholesterol and triglycerides down? Has anyone tried flaxseed; fish oil; cholesterol off and/or omega 3? I too, have many of these side effects, especially my left knee (my doctor says I will need a hip operation!!!!) sometimes I need a cane to walk, my eyes are also very blurry at times. We need help or suggestions, cannot get from doctors, they believe medication can do no harm. Would like to hear from those who stopped Zocor and all statins, thanks for reading, Helene

Since posting my side effects with the Mirena a lil' while ago! I've read all of Oct. 07 entries of side effects and I am realizing that i have more... I am dealing with a strange discharge, heavier hair loss (since I was already having it postpartum), weight gain & bloating, and a downward spiral on my already improved postpartum depression.
I will be having this THING removed tomorrow... I already spoke to my Dr. over the weekend, who told me that I was obviously having a severe reaction to the chemicals in the Mirena... I feel like my skin is going to come off! If i don't scratch it off, first!!!
I feel there's a MAJOR Big Pharm/Medical Industry cover up going on... And not just with the Mirena, but with Most MEDS... EVERYBODY, Beware of PHARMACEUTICALS...!!!
Sylvia

My doctor started me on Mevacor a few months ago at 40 mg - I could hardly stand up to walk - my back was killing me! Then she put meon 5 mg of Zocor - okay for the first few weeks, and my cholestorol went down so she told me to double it to 10 mg - then the leg cramps started. I stopped taking if for a few weeks and restarted at 5 mgs (again) last week - now my legs are aching and my ankles are swollen big time. Also noticing fatique and some blues/depression. I told my doctor today that I am not taking it anymore! Not asking her, TELLING her.

Hi all,

I am 53 and from the UK. I was on Lisinopril for 13 years. First 5mg, later 10mg then a few weeks ago 20mg as my BP was 169/90. Afetr 8 days of taking this dose I felt strange and felt as if I was about to fall down when walking. Also had a feeling I was kinda walking sideways if that makes sense. Anyway, went for check-up with health worker at docs surgery and after 8 days on this stuff instead of my BP being reduced it was up to 210/120. The health worker took my BP 5 times and looked cncerned while trying to reassure me not to be concerned. She went of to consult the senior practice nurse and made me an appointment for the next day to see my GP. The next day I told my GP how I was feeling and he said he didn't know why my BP had gone higher on the double dose of Lis but to continue taking it along with nother drug he prescribed called Amlodipine 5mg, a calcium channel blocker. After another couple of days I felt very ill. Palpitations, dizzy, and a feeling every ten minutes or so as if my chest was puncched from the inside, a very uncomfortable feeling indeed. I decided on a process of ilimination and stopped the Lis but kept taking the latter drug. Almost imedietly I felt better even though my BP was round about 146/85. I started to realize that symptoms I had for 13 years were probably due to the Lis. Symptoms including, waking suddenly, literally choking on acid as my throat closed in a spasm, Strange nightmares, food sticling halfway down my gullet causing extreme discomfort etc. On top of this, nearly two years ago I was diagnosed with auto immune disease and had radioactive iodine treatment on an overactive thyroid, an overactive thyroid that instead of making me lose weight, made me put it on. A while later I was diagnosed as having type two diebetes which I tried to control with diet. Now since stopping the Lis my blood sugar readings have never been better, in fact I wonder now if I was ever diebetic at all. The most upsetting thing is, I now wonder if the thyroid malfunction was caused by the Lis. I feel much better like a veil has been lifted from my mind, no longer moody or having foggy thinking. I hope I have not gone on too long. I wish you all luck with your meds. I have started taking Hawthorn berry capsules which it's claimed help to lower BP naturally. My BP today is 140/80 but does fluctuate.
Lawrence

not really sure if 1 of my symptoms were from nr, i had been on it for 3 months and started breaking in hives for 3 weeks now. my husband thinks it is from nr, but the derm and pharm told me that it is not a side effect. if i am allergic to it i should have had the rash the moment i put it in. i had definitely gained 6 lbs. i thought it was from prednisone(derm put me on prednisone) thought it was allergic reaction from antibiotic. i cant stop eating, bloated and gassy all the time it is annoying and frustrating !!!!!!!

I am a caregiver for my 75 yo stroke victim Mom; on dialysis, diabetes and hypertension. I took her to the ER fearing she was suffering from either another stroke or heart attack but they couldn't find anything instead of spots of pneumonia in her lungs. The ER doc prescribe her Levaquin 500mg, and she became "looney" for 5 days; verbally combative, talking to herself incessantly while slipping in and out of consciousness in between. Short term memory was lost - big time! On the 5th day, I read the med literature Walmart Pharm inserted in the bag. IN BOLD LETTERS, IT WARNED: BE CAREFUL IN GIVING THIS MED TO ELDERLY. They may be more susceptible to suffer from side effects of dizziness, weakness and tremors. So I stopped giving it to her that very day, the next morning she open her eyes wide but slept for 2 days. As if to regain strength from what she went through for 5 days. Then, 2 days ago, she suffered from tremors or muscle spasm in her injured leg which caused her to scream in pain. I wonder if this still the side effects of Levaquin!?!

Leizel S.
Gloucester, VA

Started my 2.5 year old son on Omiceff 6 days ago for ear infection. Has been having very weird bowel movements, dark and clumpy and liquidy at the same time. Worst is his behavior extreme changes in personality, showing aggression and anxiety. Hitting, tantrums x10 ( not the typical terrible 2's kind) crying, irratable, and will not nap. Finally today all of a sudden he began screaming in pain saying his groin area hurt. He would not let me look let alone touch. After 30 minutes of inconsolable crying, I put balmex and he calmed down I hope it is nothing worse than a diaper rash. Called the DR advised me to finish the 10 days, did not respond to behavior concerns. Want to hear my prognosis: STOP TAKING OMNICEF. I will not continue to put my son and our family through this horrible ordeal. If his ear infection returns they can put him on Augmentin. Enough is Enough. Sometimes we have to listen to our own intuition Dr's only go my want the Pharm Co. has to say.
Concerned Mom

I am 32 years old and I was on Celexa for two years and I loved it. I also lost weight while taking Celexa and my mood swings was good compared to now because my Doctor switched me to Effexor XR. I stay eather mad or sad about something all the time now.

I was definetely warned by my cardiologist that I would feel cough symptoms. He also told me NOT to get pregnant. I am concerned that I am on Lasix and although the recommendations are to take 6 - 8 glasses of water while on Lisonopril, this is contraindicative to the Lasix which already gets rid of excess water. My newest concern is that I have read weight gain as one of the symptoms and if I start gaining weight, this will cause pressure on my heart. HAS ANYONE ELSE EXPERIENCED WEIGHT GAIN?

1500mg/day for 2 yrs now and it's been a lonnnnng road with this flushing and itching. The typical avoidance foods, hot showers, spicy foods..etc..all help to aoid the side effects. However, if you still get that flushing/itching effect, take some antihistamine medication. Benedryl works, although it will make you drowsy, but it's worth it ! It relieves the itching !

Why does this happen ? it's NOT niacitic poisoning like some on this site suggest. Niaspan causes vasodilation of your the blood vessels in your skin. This causes your mast cell to increase thus triggering a production of histamine in your skin receptors. This is what causes the unbearable itching to occur. It is completely harmless, however, it can be un-bearable at times when the flushing/itching become severe. So taking an ANTI-histamine works well. Time on the medication helps. Reducing the dosage may help as well, however, you will most likely see a drop in your HDL levels by 5-7% for every 500mg drop in dosage.

Hang in there, hopefully big Pharm will come up with a new drug to increase HDL.. I know they are working on it as we speak, but may take a few more years.

My husband was on this Propoxy and he said that it didnt do anything to him.. He thought that it was a fake pill that the pharm had givin him...