Placebo effect symptoms and conditions

WOW i can't believe what I am reading on here! this is exactly what's been going on with me for years (i've had two mirenas; one for five years and then a new one was put in last may):
acne
VERY stubborn weight gain
anxiety
mood swings
abdominal pain
digestive issues
pain with sex
thyroid issues
...i just made an appt to get my mirena out on Wednesday! thank you ladies!

adderall XR -is a time released drug.
must be taken first thing when you wake up... the effects thus will start to wear off around 4pm... and complete by 8 or 9pm. basically we piss it out of our system.
don't take on weekends.
taking less then 20mg is not necessary...cuz then you are abusing the drug. anyone who takes less then 20mg could be simply experiencing a placebo effect. adults are not to take less then 20mg since this is the starting point. yes, metabolism does effect everyone diff.
don't mix with caffeine, or allergy drugs like zyrtec D -this drug increases your pulse and so does adderall and then if you add coffee -you could be heading towards a heart attack or even worse like a stroke.
think about the tingling effects you all have reported.
i too have had those... and there was pain that kept me up at night. i had to go to a neurologist who prescribed laxipro (depressant) to calm my nerves that had gotten literally a tight hold on my finger's blood vessels and thus i wasn't able to feel them at times.
this drug helps you focus... and times, that is what "us" anxiety prone people need -simply the time to focus in order to do our job or study for a test, etc. but cuz we are with anxiety or prone to it -genetic, it can get the most of us when this drug starts to wear off in the day -since it's time released. our anxieties return and then we feel them even more then before.

easy to understand if you read a little on this drug.
i take birth control too -so estrogen causes anxiety on it's own.

so... read... and observe your body. eat accordingly to help your metabolism adjust your body's dealing with this drug.
drink water to avoid headaches due to dehydration -this drug makes your mouth dry to begin with...so water is best vs coffee. or simply make sure to drink lots of water with your coffee.
don't take the drug past 10am -otherwise, you'll have a hard time to sleep.

don't make your own portions of this pill. if you have 20mg don't break it down. these capsels have ingredients that help the time release process and thus if you break it down or up -the effects are not known.

i'd recommend a special doctor that monitors depression with a pharmacy background. they are out there. they can begin to test your metabolism with the right drug with the right dosage to help you achieve the most effective result.

good luck everyone!

Hi ladies,
I had my mirena removed 10 days ago after 4 years and 3 months. I can't say I was ever really depressed on it but life lacked a certain color and my libido was very low. My partner always swore this changed after the mirena but I disputed it until now because I have been having sexy dreams, sexy thoughts and even sent my partner a very raunchy text yesterday because of something that just popped into my head. All this has not happened for over 4 years. I went to see the latest Star Trek film on Thursday and at the sight of kirk in a quite tame bed scene got a little flush. Even I am shocked at the rapid change in me and all this despite 8 days of very heavy bleeding and clots post removal which has now settled thankfully. Another strange change I didn't anticipate is that a lot of people have commented on a change in my appearance which started 4 days post removal, saying I am glowing. My partner said the other night you are always beautiful but at the moment you are particularly beautiful. I feel more alive in myself so maybe thats it but even I think my complexion looks better. And the hairs that I constantly had to be on the look out for on my chin, plucking at least once a day seem to be coming through much more slowly. I have only plucked twice in 9 days! Whats weird is that I didn't think it had had this much affect on me so there is no placebo effect. I had it removed because I bled 14 days a month with it in, lighter than normal but twice as long and I had had enough. My advice is if you feel this iud is bringing you down, dampening your libido, etc get it removed because you only have one life and the only way you can eliminate the mirena is to try life without it!
love and luck to you all!!

I had Mirena removed on Friday. After I described symptoms to the GYN, he said it s likely to be caused by Mirena, although I am an exception, and the majority of women tolerate it well.
I was afraid to believe it, but I felt better immediately... On my way out of the office I already was less foggy and more alert. I don't know If I can really believe it, or it was a placebo effect, as there is absolutely NO scientific explanation for such a fast relieve.
However, I am not back to my normal self yet, and I still feel tired. I just HATE to think it was something else, and not Mirena... First, that means I removed a wonderful device for no reason, and second, I have a severe problem :(
Whatever... I think Mirena needs further development. The idea is great, and I felt just wonderful with it initially. I don't know what happened. Hope nobody will have my experiences.

My wife just took her first Yasmin pill today, and later that same night, she began to complain about feeling manic. She started to clean the house, and eventually laid down complaining of anxiety. Later as we were watching TV, she described a drug-like euphoria, similar to the come down of heavy stimulants or a mild hallucinagine. Out of concern, I hopped on the internet and came to this website, but I question whether she is experiencing a placebo effect. I believe these posts, and the harshness of the side effects, but I wonder if it is possible to experience the side effects so early on in the treatment. After reading these posts however, we are both considering trying something else.

Hi, thought I'd share my positive story about having Mirena removed. Having it removed was no doubt the best decision even though two doctors told me that it was not necessary and the loss of hair, graying and loss of libido could not be due to Mirena since it releases minute amounts of hormones locally. Not only have I seen a return to my libido but the hair loss has stopped. this cannot be placebo effect. Even my husband has noticed the difference (no more clogged drains). Thank God! I felt like I was aging at the rate of knots. I now feel so much happier, healthier and more attractive. For all out there who are wondering if it's the Mirena causing hair loss etc, I sincerely believe it is probably very much the case, despite what the medics will tell you. Best wishes.

Wow, everyone, thanks for the support. Medicdad asked that I keep him posted about how I'm feeling, and this is only day two, and I hope this isn't a placebo effect, but I do feel better already. I did cry a bit yesterday, but I didn't get carried away with my thoughts or anything, and not once did I have any inclinations to harm myself. No thoughts like that came into my mind all day, and for what seems like forever they came in several times a day, even when I was "happy". Seriously, I would be doing laundry, nothing upsetting happened, and I would think about hanging myself in the garage. And who do you confide in with something like that? That is CRAZY. I feel like I have more rational thoughts and a better perspective on pretty much everything that presents itself to me, but I don't want to get my hopes up just yet. As far as the asthma, I feel like I can breathe the same, even better, which seems odd, since yesterday. I do take advair, and I am hoping that will be enough. I also take zyrtec for my allergies, so hopefully those two will suffice in maintaining my quality of life in those areas. I am already planning to exercise this afternoon after work, which I think is a good sign, and could help my lung function naturally. So I hope that I can report that things are much improved after a week, like so many other people have posted.

I am a nurse of 20 years and was placed on Toprol XL for super ventricular tachycardia (SVT) over a year ago. I was place on 25 mg dose after a stress test, ekg, echocaridogram and 24 hour halter monitor. I was not feeling any better and I was having periods of weakness, profuse sweating and being clammy. The cardiologist had me wear a 30 day event monitor and it showed frequent PVCs and runs of SVT. So he increased the dose to 50 mg. I continued to have the weakness, tachycardia, PVCs, extreme weakness, poor concentration and extreme periods of sweating with becoming clammy and some chest pain. Oh and I started having severe left leg pain that I had not had since my back surgery, so I went back to my pain specialist for treatment. I became so depressed, thoughts of life not worth living, poor endurance, not able to sleep in bed due to severe leg pain and increasing bouts of tachycardia, irregular heart rate, weakness, and sweating this is while at rest or working the symptoms remained. I forgot to mention that my blood sugar was increasing during this time to the point of in danger of being a diabetic.

I decided to stop the Toprol XL after reading some of the side effects that are less common. I was able to sleep in bed for the first time in 6 months, no leg pain. I called my cardiologist and he told me my symptoms were not consistent with Toprol XL side effects or reaction and to double the dose of Toprol XL. I refused and changed cardiologist, one who listened to me.

The result is I stayed off Toprol XL, after 5 weeks it is getting out of my system. No more sweating spells, cold clammy spells, extreme weakness, I feel part of life again and ready to go back into the world not hide from it, my blood sugar is getting back to normal. I am getting my strength and endurance back but have to rest some still, oh and I am losing the 25 pounds that I gained while on Toprol.

I still have irregular heart rate and that is okay but I am on a new medication that really seems to work. Oh, and the spinal implant that I was to have has been cancelled because the leg pain is almost gone and I sleep in a bed not a chair.

I went off Yasmin four days ago after taking it for about 4 years. I am 36. Before Yasmine, I was on and off various pills since I was in college. I had never thought I had a problem with it until my doctor ran some tests and showed that I had extremely low testosterone levels. I then did some research and found that this can be caused by the pill, and side effects can be low libido and low energy/fatigue. This stunned me because for years I have been trying to figure out while I am tired all the time. I've gone to nutritionists, sleep clinics and psychopharmacologists to figure this out, and noone ever mentioned that it could be related to the pill and my testosterone levels! So, after four days of being off of it I can report that I definitely feel like I have more energy (perhaps at this point it's the placebo effect) and have a greater sense of well-being. I expect that I may break out a bit since my skin has been pretty great on it. In terms of hair loss, I see women post who experience hair loss on the pill as well as off, so I guess that remains to be seen. I also have noticed that my stomach and hips seem thinner and wonder if I was carrying around extra water weight due to the pill. I'll keep you posted on how things work out.

has anyone started experiencing liver problems? I have been taking Benadryl frequently (for anxiety) and now have these problems. Is it a coincidence? Stormy Georgel

Woke up at 4:30 on Tuesday morning... can't remember if I woke up before or after my cat was coughing and puking up a large piece of folded up packing tape.. But then I noticed my right side of my chest hurt when I tried to take a deep breath. It's in my lower right chest, behind my ribs, and lower than my right breast. I just took my nuva ring out a at 4:45, and maybe it's just a placebo effect, but my chest felt a little better right away.

I put the nuva ring in on Thursday, June 28th, and have been so sleepy since that first night that I've felt compelled to take a nap every day, whether I wanted to or not.

Woke up Sunday night with an itchy eye, which I rubbed, then fell right back asleep. A couple of hours later Hannah (my 3 year old) woke me up because she'd peed in her bed, and after cleaning her and her bed up and getting her back to sleep, I went to the bathroom to pee, and when I looked in the mirror, my left eye was extremely swollen. It watered a lot, and the eyeball looked slightly red, but it didn't itch. I read about swollen eyes online and fell back asleep with my laptop on my lap at about 5:30 am. On Monday my eye improved over the course of the day and now it is about 95% back to normal.

On Saturday Hannah and I stayed over at our friends' house on the beach, and I woke up around 5:30 AM and noticed that: A.) The birds outside were chirping and making a ton of noise, and B.) On both of my hands, my pinky and ring fingers felt like they'd fallen asleep. I wondered if I slept on them in a funny way, and wiggled them and kept changing positions for about half an hour before they regained good circulation and I fell asleep again.

I don't remember if I woke up Friday night or had any health issues on Friday.

On Thursday, the day I put in the Nuva Ring, I had a terrible headache that was barely managed with advil and acetominophen. I had a headache the day before that was less severe, so I assumed the two were related. That night I fell asleep sort of involuntarily at about 10:30 pm, which is very early for me.

I normally sleep through the night without waking every night that Hannah doesn't wake me up, but not since I put in the nuva ring.

I am feeling quite a bit better now at 5:10 am on Tuesday, and will lay down again and try to sleep.

Five weeks after I first started using NuvaRing, I am DONE! The depression was terrible. I felt hopeless, despondent, full of shame, overwhelmed and sad all the time. In addition, I was taking 2-3 hour naps everyday. All of these things are out of character for me in general. So, it finally dawned on me that it must be hormonal. Eight hours after taking the ring out, I am a whole new person. It might be a placebo effect, but I feel more like myself, and happier/more energetic than I have in weeks. I am SO relieved.

All you are Hypochondriacs. If one person says this medicine is causing this, then of course; you all have the same problem "some how." Isn't this weird? It is called the "placebo effect." Normally all the people involved in the testing are given "Lisinopril" (or some other drug), then the placebo group is given a vitamin supplement, the group receving the vitamin supplement is being told they are receving "Lisinopril." Mysteriously?, the "placebo group" is all feeling better and their symptoms are gone. This is due to the fact that all these people in the "placebo group" have interacted with eachother and have told eachother "I feel better" than of course everybody feels better. So WEIRD!! So, my point is this forum is all your peoples "placebo group." If you guys never heard of these side effects from this forum you would have never experinced them. Hypochondriacs all of you are. This is a very good medicine that is helping all of you make up for your peoples lack of self-disipline to control your diet or exercise enough to lower your blood pressure naturally. So be thankful. Lets not complain about false side effects because John has them. I wonder what the side-effects of that cheese burger are that caused high blood pressure. It is funny, I don't see a forum for that. So deal with your so called "side-effects" that are associsted with "Lisinopril" or go on a diet people. Get over it!!

I feel a tingling sensation throughout my body, its like you can feel something traveling through your veins. I'm not sure if it is cleaning out my veins and I am feeling small particles of what ever floating away in my bloodstream. I also feel like I am burning up from the inside out, my temp is normal but you get this burning feeling throughout your body. I got on the internet to find out if this is normal, but it says that there are no side effects for the drug PLAVIX. If you have any side effects like mine please feel free to inform me, Thank you.

Well, the news is reporting that the placebo effect is not really worth it. Homeopathic ways are not really the way apparently. So, do some research about this and heed their warning. Still, you have to have gone through prednisone before anyone can tell us what is best for us. The "natural way" of healing may not be the best. Time will tell. As time passes by, so will the side effects diminish and so will the withdrawl. Maybe some natural ways might help. I,will listen to alot of things to determine about myself. When we post it benefits all of us to keep an open mind and take into consideration each of us are unique situations. All advice and experiences are needed here. This site has helped me alot. Thankyou...........How are all of you doing out there?

To my fan fare;

"U have to be an idiot to write things like that to people like us who r really suffering because of pred. Obviously u have found the wrong website. Now go find yourself a SHRINK. "

Thank you, your blatent insults obviously indicates superior intelligence and mental stability. Far be it that anyone poses a theoretical question or thought based on their own experiences.......

'So Jules, 5 mg a day for a few weks and you're the expert ?'

Just so you know, I've taken doses as high as 60 mgs a day many times in my life.
My daughter, who was on life support for a month, was given 500 mgs a day. I owe a higher power and the prednisone, my sincere gratitude for her survival.

I never stated that "anyone" has psychosomatic side-effects or "the placebo" effect here. Did anyone bother to notice the ? at the end? Did anyone stop to think that I might be posting a serious question/concern I had?

To those that are suffering from the horrific side-effects and I offended...my sincere apologies. I wasn't trying to dismiss your suffering, only trying to point out the positive side of the drug, and to open some peoples eyes to the reality of "possible" placebo effects.

Where I was coming from:

During my 3rd year in Pre-med, several of us students began suffering from chest pains, arrythmias, perfuse sweating, etc...guess what we were studying at the time?

I could list thousands of studies showing the reality of psychosomatic/placebo effects. I could also post harvard/mayo etc. studies that show the ultimate power of mind and the positive/negative effects that peoples suggestions have on our healing, side-effects and survival.

Posting the horrific side effects of ANY DRUG might offer reassurance that were not alone in our side-effect suffering but it can also have some really negative psychological effects on certain people and ultimately affect their decision in taking it...ie...my mother had penicillian anaphylaxis, and none of us would touch it with a ten foot pole for years.

Some of the posts here are terrifying and I personally feel that people should think about the impact it is/could have on people just beginning drug therapy.

In my opinion, when taking any drug, the bottom line is weighing the risk versus benefit, ...ie...chemo has terrible side-effects, but does the disease it's treating have any less profound effects?????

To "jules777"

NO Placebo effect here......It appears that unlike you, most of us come to this site after we are going through Prednisone's terrible side effects. Only because you felt the side effects by reading these statements, doesn't mean that's happenning to the rest of us. Yeah, to have your family telling you Oh dear, how can you have gained 20 lbs in 1 month, oh look at your face, what's wrong? IS NOT A PLACEBO EFFECT. As well as the terrible night sweats, facial hair that now needs to be shaved..NOBODY tells herself to grow facial hair and voilá she grows hair. Do us a favor and read a little more about Prednison and EDUCATE yourself before you dare to write that it maight be all in our heads.

Came down with whooping cough 7 weeks ago.
Took antibiotic after antibiotic, nothing touched the shortness of breath or the wheezing tight whooping cough I had.
My dogs vet heard my cough and couldn't believe the 3 doctors I had been to see hadn't started prednisone yet.
Started on 5.0 mgs that same day. Cough is almost gone and I can actually breath again.
Thought I had a few side effects, blurry vision, sweats, etc. Told myself it was all in my head from reading articles and peoples experiences/side-effects from the stuff.
Just like that, side effects gone. Has anyone thought about the placebo effect? or Psychosomatic side-effects?
Personally, I think this stuff is a wonder drug. But then again, I value being able to breath! Bet the asthmatic community's would agree with me.

I have been on Zoloft for two and a half weeks, and in a constant mental struggle with the fact of being on psych medication (one minute I'm going to stop taking it, the next I'm giving it another week). Have seen few benefits, although early in the course of usage. One benefit is I'm tiring out earlier at night and getting good sleep. Another is probably a placebo effect of feeling a little more calm and less tempermental. But the negative side effects have been a minor sexual problem in finding great difficulty achieving climax. The worst side effect (assuming it is a side effect of the drug), is urinary incontinence, especially at night. I wake up with urgent bladder pain only to release a small amount of urine with almost no force behind it. This is followed by several daily episodes similar in nature and lately a mild pain in my lower left abdomen. I am visiting the doctor today in hopes of determining the cause of this, but it seems too coincidental to not be related to the Zoloft. I'm stopping cold turkey today.

I have been prescribed Verapamil and am very reluctant to take it. I take digoxin for atrial fibrillation, (makes no difference) They both control the calcium on a cellular level and yet are counter in effect. The requirement is that both be taken together! Seems a madness to me given the potential toxicity of both and neither cure my condition anyway, at best moderate it. I would be delighted to hear from anyone who has gone down this path and is free of their heart condition. I take Hawthorne & Ginko tinctures daily to keep me going and do not know of or feel any side effects from these. I am still alive but this is in in spite of the various pharmaceuticals administered. Betablockers, Sotalol made me zombie-like. Diltiazem, another calcium channel blocker made me feel awful. Flecainide, put me into intensive care in hospital. Well from my empirical experience I would say avoid these poisons like the plaque and if you can find an alternative. You may of course have found benefit, I and others might say there is nothing like the placebo effect.