Prescription strength symptoms and conditions

My 18 year old daughter had a terrible allergic reaction to omnicef 2 weeks ago after a 10 day regimen. Sadly, it happened 2 weeks after my nephew had an allergic reaction to the same medicine. His situation did not end so well. He was taking the medicine for strep. The allergic reaction started with hives and got worse. After some aggressive research on my brother and sister-in-law's part, my nephew was diagnosed with an allergic reaction to omnicef followed by rheumatic fever. I should have refused the omnicef for my daughter, but who knew.
My daughter is 2 weeks into annoying hives that continue to pop up in different places. Her feet are swollen and we are very concerned. She has taken steroids, Kenelog cream, benadryl, as well as prescription strength antihistamines. Tomorrow she is going to see another doctor to find out what is going on. Cefdinir/omnicef is no longer welcome in our extended family.

This reaction is to the entire "PrevPak", vs. just the antibiotic Biaxin. The PrevPak, used to treat H. Pylori, also contains another antibiotic, Clarithromycin; along with 2 capsules of Prevacid in prescription strength, "these are proton inhibitors" which reduce stomach acid by preventing certain actions to take place in the stomach. The side-effects of the proton-inhibitor include the potential to block the absorption of Vitamin B, calcium and an enzyme needed to process and use iron in your body. Therefore, the following symptoms or behaviors may occur, once you begin the Prevpak. a) anemia/tiredness (take some slow-release iron) b) confusion and anxiety..(B12 deficiency); c) craving for milk and dairy (calcium deficiency).

Long-term, bone breakage, and other issues arise if you continue long-term use of a proton-inibitor.

I am posting this here as many of the reactions people are associating to Biaxin seem more attributable to the Proton-inhibitor that usually accompanie's Biaxin's use for gastrointestinal issues.

Biaxin's reaction, in my case, I would say was isolated to sleeplessness feelings, strange nightmare-like wakings, disorientation, a metallic taste in my mouth, and dehydration.

All of these are considered traditional symptoms of Biaxin.

I also had itching on day 12-14 for the PrevPak dose. This is probably attributable to the proton-inhibitor possibly affecting my histamines. However, it could also be an allergic reaction to either Biaxin or clarithromycin.

I used Cystex for the symptoms of a UTI, within two hours I had a horrible raised facial rash that was burning horribly and spreading rapidly. A quick trip to the ER, some prescription strength steroids and antihistamines quickly reversed the side effects. One day later I still have a residual dry itchy rash that is significantly smaller than before the ER, but hopefully with the continued medications I received I will be 100% better soon. By the way I did have a UTI and was prescribed something for that too, so it was not a totally wasted trip, just a bit more dramatic than usual. I have been advised to avoid Cystex or any product that has any of the same ingredients from now on. The next allergic reaction might be more severe.
Female 38yo - Texas

Have been taking topamax for 4 months and now have hand and feet tingling. major spelling and memory loss issues. My question is Does any one else have HIP PAIN??? I can't think of any reason why I have it now... except for the addition of the topamax.Thanks, TL

All these stories touch home. I recently lost my metal strings. My mate said he hasn't felt them for a while now. Men I sware wouldn't it be nice if they told us these things. I have extreme pain in my ovaries for the last two weeks, the pain is so bad it makes me ill. My mood has been fine however I do tend to cry easily. So I guess I am emotional. I like a dumb arz threw away all the papers the doctor gave me after he inserted the iud. I just wanted to forget about it because it hurt so bad. I am tired a lot more, I started taking diet pills to boost my energy and even they don't work. I am breast feeding only at night now because it drains me so much. After reading all of your comments I want this thing out of me. I am totally freaking out about the iud being lost in my uterus. I hope i'm not pregnant and miscarrying. The pain I fel resembles a miscarriage. I was have symptoms of pregnancy early on when I first got it put in. I'm so tired of bleeding and the embarrassing odor. I thought it was an infection but was to embarrassed to see the doctor about it. I guess it's another side effect. So we are the gunie pigs for this New IUD. Great.....

I'm calling kaiser Monday to have it taken out hopefully it doesn't hurt to much. Over the counter meds won't help that area of the body if they do have to dig around to find it. I am positive it is not in my cervix because I checked.

Ugh.....

I am a 62 yr. old female and in good health. In January 2007, my doctor ordered a cholesterol test and the results indicated a number of 237..."bad" cholesterol was not horrible, "good" cholesterol was very good. The doctor put me on 20mg of Lipitor without any hesitation... After a week or so, I started having horrible leg and muscle pain, so when I went back in 3 months (cholesterol 181), I told him I couldn't take this med, so he put me on Zocor. Really bad joint pain with this one, so I went back again in 3 months(cholesterol about the same) and told him again that this one had similar side effects and diarrhea. He then put me on Crestor...took this med, but was so lethargic and in a fog, my family told me to get off of that one. Went BACK to the Dr. in 3 mos., told him I couldn't take this one...he put me on prescription strength fish oil (6 per day) saying that this one should not have side effects. Other than some gastric/intestinal rumblings and some diarrhea, it was ok, but when I had my cholesterol checked it had gone up HIGHER than when I started this whole ordeal, so he put me on Welchol...saying that this one was not absorbed in the blood...blah,blah, blah... Still had the gastic/intestinal issues, SO when I went back 3 mos. later in March 2008 (cholesterol 200)and having already stopped this one myself, I told him I was NOT going to take any more meds for this "issue," and I would manage it with diet and exercise. I told him that this was supposed to be the best time in my life, and I was tired of feeling so poorly. He blatantly told me that if I did stop taking the cholesterol "you'll probably have 10 good years and 10 "crappy" years, and he was visibly angry about MY personal health decision. I had at one point during that the 1 year + mentioned to him about the information that I had been reading online...he pooh-poohed the whole "internet" thing, indicating that he had better information (I"M THE DOCTOR" syndrome!). Needless to say, I don't trust him, BIG PHARMA, or anyone else who says that these statin drugs are NOT harmful...My husband has since stopped taking Lipitor, due to our children and me noticing lapses in his memory. These drug companies and doctors are totally ignoring the side effects and health issues of the unsuspecting public. Hopefully, the truth will emerge, but how long it takes...who knows??????? I am glad I'm not on them anymore...I feel GOOD, and I know that whatever aches and pains I have ARE from aging and not drugs!!

I never thought about the side effects of mirena. I had mine in over 4 yrs. and now I've realized the maybe everything that I've been going through could be because of it. I've been depress, moody, in pain all over and I feel like no doctor knows what is going on with me. I have gain a lot of weight, I'm heavier now than I was at 9 months pregnant. I'm a 36 year old married mother of four, my youngest is five now. My main concern is that lately, I've been feeling this terrible pain on my upper back and neck. I feel my bones crack with every movement, they crack even when I breath. A few weeks ago I went to the doctor and she order an x-ray of my neck and it showed some deterioration of the bones. I've been so worried, even thinking that it could be cancer or something. Now after finding this website I am wondering if it could be the Mirena.

I just had Mirena implanted and it was not a pleasant experience. I have a high threshold for pain and delivered my children naturally and without medication. I wish I had been given a valium and prescription strength Motrain for this procedure. I passed out and was weak and dizzy the remainder of the morning.
I have read all the posted comments from everyone and am scared to death to wait and see which bizzare side effects will overcome me. I am a true believer that the medical professionals (doctors) are not keenly aware of the general public's documentation on side effects and in this case Mirena. I took the Chantrix (stop smoking drug) this summer and the worst side effects possible presented themselves to me. I quit the drug after 3 weeks of progressively worse symptoms such as nightmarish dreams, auditory hallucinations, depression and stomach aches.
I am going to have Mirena removed immediately -- Monday next week if possible -- because I do not want to experience anywhere near the degree of suffering the poor ladies have in these examples

I had Mirena inserted April 28/2008 and just had it removed in the hospital September 13/2008. Within the four months I had it in place I developed cysts and fibroids in my breasts, depression, headache, joint pain, back pain, 'Unexplained' swelling and extreme irritation in the vaginal region, weight gain (with no appetite), and had little to no energy or interest in sex. I was recommended Mirena by my OB/GYN because of my heavy periods, cramping , history of endometriosis and presently adenomyosis. As many others have duly noted it did nothing but make the periods worse with next to no break in between ( I was lucky if I had a couple days). Because of this I'm now on prescription strength Iron supplements. My OB/GYN suggested one more treatment with another method "Ablation" before we go ahead with the hysterectomy.

After having the third shot I noticed my hair began falling out (July 2007). It is now over a year later and after having numerous blood tests, visiting a dermatologist and doing tons of research, I have concluded that gardasil must be causing this. My hair continues to fall out, I have bald areas around the crown of my head and my mood is very depressed by this. I also experienced soreness in my legs and joints but these are not constant. My periods also are out of whack. They can be between 28-50 days apart. I would not recommend anyone getting this vaccine. I wish my OBGYN had not sold me on it. I was 31 when I got it but she said age didn't matter, she said one day insurance companies would cover this vaccine for all women no matter what age they are. I paid $190.00 a shot and now I have a thin head of hair that may one day soon be bald if it doesn’t stop falling out. I think they should take this vaccine off the market. If anyone else has had severe hair loss, has it stopped falling out after a certain point?

Two days ago I took out my third molars (wisdom teeth), afterwards I took a prescription strength 600mg Ibuprofen with no side effects. I took another pill 6 hours later, and I have been having the worst upper stomach pain, much worse than the tooth ache ever was since then. I have been waking up with agonizing pain every hour for the past two nights, and I can't even take Tylenol for my tooth pain now since my stomach is so messed up (I tried and it cause horrible stomach pain).

So on top of having to treat the stomach problem, I can't take any pain medication for my teeth and I'm just miserable. I'm 25 years old and have never had stomach problems before, the first night I thought I was poisoned or something and I was dieing. I think the small label on the bottle that says "if it causes upset stomach, take it with crackers or bread" needs to be replaced with "it doesn't matter what you take it with, it can cause much more pain that you have ever imagined." Because it actually doesn't matter if you take it with bread, or inject it to yourself, the function of ruining the stomach lining is because of it's anti-inflammatory chemicals, not direct contact with stomach.

I read about it now, and apparently the deaths from Ibuprofen and Aspirin (anti-inflammatory pain medications) caused by gastrointestinal problems is about as many as deaths by HIV-Aids in USA*. I don't see any Ibuprofen awareness rallies though. I wish I had time to sue someone because I really really want to.

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I have beenon lipitor for more than five years. I now have unbearable pains in my shoulders which are only relieved with antiinflammatories. I also have pains in my right foot which is sometimes very difficult to walk on. My Dr says ok go off lipitor but risk heart attack/stroke. I am getting to the point that the pain is so debilitating that Idon't care.

I took this for about three weeks for acne. On the day the side effects started, it started with a back ache. Then the next day my hands and feet started itching like CRAZY. I didn't connect this with the sulfameth though. I started taking Benedryl to get relief from the itching. Two days after going mad from itching my hands and feet, I started getting chills and nausea, and I started itching all over my body. This got worse throughout the day, until at night I went to an urgent care clinic. The doctor there immediately said it was from the sulfameth. He gave me a shot to help with the symptoms. That did help with the nausea and chills, but the itching stayed with me for THREE WEEKS. My dermatologist gave me a prescription-strength antihistimine, but even though the sulfameth was no longer in my system, she said I could continue to react for weeks! I'm better now but am completely horrified by this drug.

I took this for about three weeks for acne. I didn't have any problems for THREE weeks, then one day my back started aching. Then the next my hands and feet started itching. I didn't connect this with the sulfameth, until day four when, along with the muscle aches and itching, I had nausea and chills so bad I went to an urgent care clinic scared out of my mind. The doctor there said it was the sulfameth, and gave me a shot of something to stop the nausea and chills. That was a week and a half ago, and I still have the itching reaction. There's no visible rash--just insane itching. The urgent care doctor told me to take Benedryl, which I did to no avail. After a week, when it was clear the itching wasn't going to go away, I finally called my dermatologist who prescribed a prescription-strength anti-histimine. That helps to some degree, but the itching is still there, and my derm. said I could expect it to last for "a few weeks" despite the sulfameth not being in my system anymore!! I felt better after finding this site, knowing that I wasn't crazy, but I'm still angry about being prescribed this. Also-I had no appetite, but that is starting to come back slowly.

I have just started taking Lamictal and typically have sensitivity to meds. I take it for mood stabalization along with effexor xr 150 mg. Moy dose of Lamictal is only 75mg right now. But I have been getting acne again which I haven't had to deal with in over a year and a half. I go my occassional pms pimple or two even but now I am constinantly fighting the blemishes, including a couple of new ones on my back which I haven't gotten in probably 7 years. Frustrated is an understatement. But it is good to hear others are experiencing similar systems and I am not as confused finding the cause for this. Memory loss, lack of focus, disorientation,confusion are also the scarier of the side effects I have been experiencing. Today something new and very scary happened. For a split second I had to grab my desk at work cause I literally felt like the room was spinning. Not see swirls or anything but like when your on the til-a whirl at the amusement part. Does anyone have any idea what that could have been? I have been feeling a bit dizzy since also. Anything neurological really scares me. Does anyone also know what other mood stabilizers if they have taken any have little side effects from their experience?