Proactive symptoms and conditions

My 12 yr old daughter has been taking Doxy for 1 1/2 months to clear her mild acne. I thought it was the wonder drug because after 3 weeks her skin looked so much better, BUT then her skin started declining again, I can see the acne coming back. She's been complaining of pretty bad stomach pain, nausea and dizziness. I have also noticed major mood swings. She is usually a very happy girl, but now she gets moody and anxious more often than not. She is highly allergic to Benzoyl Peroxide, so she can't use Proactive or any other product with the same ingredients. After reading this site I will stop giving her Doxy immediately! Has anybody found anything that works for acne?

I LOVE my Mirena!!!!!! I don't know who you all are out there complaining, but this is the best thing I have ever imagined! No pills to remember, no periods to deal with, and I can't even tell it's there. I had the most minor cramps when it was placed, and felt totally normal the next day. I had minor spotting for the 1st 3 months, and then absolutely no bleeding, cramping, bloating or weight gain. My libido is completely unchanged, and I feel carefree and with a lot less to worry about than with any other birth control I've ever used. The only drawback to this thing has been mild acne, which got much better after the 1st 2 months, and is controllable with Proactive. I loved my Mirena so much I talked my 3 best friends into getting it too, and they love it just as much as I do, only they didn't even get the acne. Sorry you all got so unlucky... my experience is completely opposite of yours...

My son used a nebulizer 2 to 4 times a day every day from the time he was one and a half years old. When he had just turned three his doctor prescribed Singulair. It was like a wonder drug for us! It took care of his asthma and we didn't have to use the nebulizer any more. He's been on it ever since -- he's 10 now -- he also takes zyrtec and has a rescue inhaler that he uses maybe once a week. About every other year he requires a course of steroids and a week of regular nebulizer use. Also, for the past year he has also required a daily inhaled steroid.
Now, about his mood issues. My son has always been sensitive and intense, moody. The first time I became alarmed was when he was 7, and he told me he wanted to burn his hands on the stove to punish himself for forgetting his homework. I consulted a psychologist who evaluated him and said he was not clinically depressed. Since then he has had periodic "dark" episodes -- especially in the winter. He has said he wants to die. He has had crying jags over things that are upsetting (loss of a pet was the worst) but it seems excessive for him to be saying he "just wants it all to end." He has told me that he is always unhappy and that he hates himself. He has also had problems with moody acting-out with friends. He will brood about hurt feelings until he loses his temper and screams at the friend. I have worked very hard with him on learning to manage his emotions. He hit a friend at school who was teasing him. He accepted his consequences willingly and willingly wrote letters of apology -- he told me he thinks he has anger problems and doesn't want to be this way. And his character is that he is a sweet, caring boy who can't stand to see anyone hurt, but also can't stand to be hurt.
A couple of years ago I asked his allergist if any of the meds he's on are linked with depression. He said no. We have a family history of depression, and I thought my son had gotten the worst combo of all the genes.
Recently, this all got to the point that I decided he needed to see a psychiatrist and quite possibly take medication for depression. Before I made the appointment he had a check-up with his allergist. Going down his list of meds the dr. said, recently Singulair has been linked with depression, have you noticed any moodiness or sadness? My first thought was that I have, but that he's always been like this. My 2nd thought was that he has been on Singulair for most of his life. I said yes and that I'd like to try him off of it.
My son resisted going off of it. He has had enough negative experiences with asthma that he didn't want to risk it, but I insisted. I didn't expect to see any change, but I thought it was important, as I was going to take him to a psychiatrist to consider depression meds, to see how he did off of it for a couple of months.
Less than a week later, he had been in a wonderful mood -- to the point of being silly and giddy all evening -- for 3 days in a row. The kind of mood that I don't see him in often, and when I do I think to myself, "he should be like this more often." One evening he even realized he had forgotten to bring home a homework assignment. I thought, "oh no, here we go, his evening is ruined." But he talked through his options with me, looked a little uncertain, and said, well, okay, I guess I'll have to tell my teacher I don't have it. I'll tell her I'll make it up at lunch if she wants me to. That was it! He didn't mention it again. I didn't say anything about his mood, because I really don't think I can know anything after just a few days -- it could be coincidental. The next day, he said to me that he thinks being off the Singulair is "working." He has now told me that a couple of more times.
I am tentative, but amazed. Even if my son does have a predisposition to be depressed, maybe the Singulair was making everything worse, and things really can improve for him. I am afraid to be to hopeful. At the same time, I feel guilty for giving this medicine to him for 7 years without a second thought.
As an aside, my son has periodically complained of leg pains, that I always told him were growing pains.
I would love any feedback that anyone can give me. So far (these two weeks), his asthma has been controlled with pulmacort, zyrtec and albuterol, so that aspect is okay.

To make a long story short (I think). Taking Celexa (20 mg) for more than 4 years definitely caused decreased sexual sensations (numbed nerves), though it did change my life. In October Switched to Wellbutrin XL. Withdrawal from Celexa was not easy but Libido is definitely back. Problem is I am angry ALL the time at my husband. In fact, I've been angry almost from the get go from switching to Wellbutrin. I have also been puzzled by slight hair loss in the back of my head at the hairline. I have of late experienced abrupt halts in thought processes and my periods, though I am 45, have suddenly become irregularly. Frankly I didn't realize that Wellbutrin could likely be the cause of these symptoms until I read some of these posts. I really would like to wean off of this drug (was prescribed 300 mg but have taken 150 mg due to feelings of being 'wigged' out on higher dosage - did up the ante for just over a week to see if that would help but didn't seem to matter)...Nevertheless, I really think Wellbutrin is causing me to feel deep resentment toward my husband. This is not a usual emotion for me and it pretty well started immediately after I began taking Wellbutrin. I really could use your opinions(s). IS THE WELLBUTRIN causing the anger??? Did the Celexa simply MASK existing problems??? Is it a combination of both. Is this depression again or am I in the process of slipping back in??? (anger was not a previous symptom of my depression though black clouds, low esteem, doom and gloom and sadness were) Also, aside from anger and sheer resentment, I feel as if I'm spinning my wheels, that I'm in rut and that no matter how I try to move forward, I can't - I really feel lost and am so angry at my husband and see him in such a different way that it is almost to the point of being ridiculous). THANK-YOU so much for your replies.

Hello, i have read several of the response. I had my mirena placed in Aug 2008, when my son was a year old, he is now 18 months, I experienced cramping (but not too bad) and spotting for about 3 months. I have experienced 3 bladder infections (never had any before mirena) and increased acne. Nothing I do works to clear the acne. I have been on proactive for almost 4 years and now it's not working? I have tried another expensive merle norman cream and nutrigenia, but nothing works. THERE IS ANOTHER SIDE EFFECT I WOULD LIKE TO ADD THAT NO ONE ELSE HAS MENTIONED - PLEASE RESPOND IF YOU HAVE OR ARE EXPERIENCING THIS!!!!! I DON'T WANT TO BE ALONE - I have experienced an "odor" with discharge that I never had before. I have dousched and scrubbed but nothing works. It just goes and comes on it's own. You can even smell it sometimes during sex, my husband is extremely understand and worried about this too. If anyone else has had this problem please reply back and let me know what you did. Thanks and I'm sorry everyone is having all of these problems. I am considering having my mirena removed, it has seemed to be good birth control, but I do want to protect my body and my future children.

Hi everyone, I just came upon all this yesterday and can't believe it! I have been thinking I am going crazy and have been going down a shame spiral! I have had the Mirena for about a year after the birth of my twins. When I first got the Mirena I really didn't seem to like it...I had weird bleeding, cramping, headaches but my doctor told me there were really no side effects except for the on and off again bleeding so I didn't think much of it. Soon, I started having heart palpitations and weird panicky feelings when I would be out places which I have never had before. I wrote it all off due to the rough twin pregnancy and moved on. Soon, I really started worrying something was wrong with me because of all these weird things, the headaches and heart palpitations and panicky feelings, also I started feeling foggy like I was walking around feeling out of it and sometimes a little dizzy or something just having weird head feelings. We always had in the back of our minds that it could be the Mirena but never really took action. Just for the past couple of months things have gotten much worse. Those panicky feelings really got worse and combined with anxiety and sad and crazy depression thoughts and feelings. I also have been feeling this weird nervousness.....even in my quietest moments of my day. This is so out of my normal character and I feel like I can't even remember what I used to feel like. I have been to my PCP who gave me medication for anxiety and have had a hard time adjusting because I just can't believe all of this craziness and I just keep thinking is the problem really my IUD? Then my mom came upon this because she just felt that me feeling this way is just to weird and I feel like I relate to all of your stories! I have truly been feeling like I am going crazy...and I have never felt this way before...ever. I called my doctor yesterday to talk with her and I am going to have this removed...although I am a little nervous about the after effects. I just keep thinking a year ago I was fine.. and now look at me...I am on anti-depressants...how did this happen?? I know that I have stress but there is no reason for me to be feeling this way. I would love to hear about anyone else who felt this way and got the IUD removed and how that went. I know that I probably won't feel better right away...but I am hoping with time I can forget all of this and move on.

when I was in my early 20's i got a sever case of bad acne! I was prescribed 100mg of Doxy 2 times a day. Of course I learned very quickly to eat before having it. Other than that no side effects. I had flawless skin for about 2 years, at which point i had built up a tolerance to it. When I noticed a few pimples I went straight to my derm before it got out of hand. My derm switched me to minocycline and after about another year of perfect skin I got off of meds all together. I have great skin now, just use proactive and nothing else.

Well now my 14yr old has started breaking out..nothing topical worked, I want to protect her from all of the emotional damage that acne caused for me. Put her on doxy 100mg 2x a day. Shes been on it for about 2 weeks and it seems like the big ones went away but there is an over abundance of small ones now and they are flaring up. Is that normal..I don't remember this happening to me but it was so long ago. Does it get worse before it gets better? Anyone experience this?

I have been taking 150 mg Wellbutrin SR twice a day for about a month now. It has lifted and stabilized my mood to a lifesaving degree. I feel like I have "me" back and my life back after suffering through a very deep depression for approx. a year. My only negative side effects are a bit of cystic acne, which I haven't had since college (I am 45 now) and breast tenderness all month long rather than just before my cycle. I have started using Proactive for the acne and it is working well. I guess I'll just live with the breast tenderness if it means having my life back! I have also had a few positive side effects, namely, my libido which was completely dead has started to re-emerge, and I am eating less, although I haven't lost any weight yet. (I used to have a compulsive desire to binge and that has waned.) I have more energy but whether this is due to the Wellbutrin or just ot being in a fog of depression, I can't say. Overall, Wellbutrin has been a very positive medication for me. I have used Prozac and Zoloft in the past and they neither worked as well on my mood and also had many unbearable side effects (weight gain, loss of libido, inability to orgasm to name a few). I'm hoping once I have been stabilized for a while the doctor will allow me to lower my dose and perhaps then the breast tenderness will go away.

My daughter is 8 and was prescribed Singular AND Zyrtec for asthma/allergy maintenance. She's been on both meds for 7 months. I have seen a steady decline in her ability to learn. Prior to these meds, she knew her addition math facts. Now, she forgets simple equations (3 + 4). Her mind wanders, she is unable to focus, and homework that should take minutes takes hours.

In addition, her emotions are all over the place. My little girl who once loved nature and held wiggly earth worms in her hand now runs in terror from any bug. She is frightened of everything.A tiny scratch makes her emotionally distraught for hours. She obsesses over slights from friends and withdraws to her plush toys.

She's also created imaginary monster friends: werewolves, vampires, and other ghoulish creates. She tells me of the living dead who cut off part of your skull and eat your brain and so you become part of the living dead. This is from a child who has never seen, watched or been allowed to view a horror film of any kind, who still watches Noggin and PBS on TV, and who, 10 months ago, wanted to be a marine biologist when she grew up.

Like others, the first symptoms were nightmares and night terrors. She also experienced itching, which I thought was due to her ballet leotard and tights (why do we look at everything but the meds?--because we trust the doctors!!!). Then, toward the end of school, came the stomach and headaches, so frequent, in fact, her teacher emailed me that my daughter was going to the school nurse too much and wanted to know if something was wrong. Her teacher also said my daughter seemed very spacey in class. No behavior problems. Just drifting. Very inattentive.

Like others, my daughter had her tonsils removed prior to going on these meds. Like others, my daughter was seeing a specialist--a pediatric allergist--for treatment. I discussed adverse effects for all medications with the allergist.

Like others, Dr. Allergist said there were none for either Singulair OR Zyrtec. My daughter had been prescribed childrens' Claratin (Rx for liquid form) by a pediatrician when she was 5 and exhibited the same behavioral and learning problems she now has for Singulair and Zyrtec. Again, Dr. Allergist said there were no side effects, that Claratin had a different active ingredient (I don't recall the name, something like lurderine) and to keep away from online Web sites, as they will only scare me. Ha! She also said ignoring my daughter's asthma posed greater harm than treating it. This is for a child whose asthma was non-existant until she began Claratin.

From my research, I'm wondering if the meds used to treat allergies and asthma actually contribute to lung ailments. Since starting these "meds," my daughter has had pneumonia and bronchitis. She did not have any lung ailments prior to Claratin. In fact, she was perfectly healthy.

Has your child experienced the same? Have you?

As another alternative for action, I am contacting my PTA and am pushing from that direction. These meds affect our children's abilities to learn. Teachers care. I urge all parents to discuss your situation with your child's teacher and push an agenda with your PTA. Collectively, the PTA can be an influence (it already has a nationally recognized presence with solid reputation). Forget the medical community (for now--drug reps "buy" doctors). I am telling friends whose kids have asthma about Web sites. I am writing to my Senators and the FDA as well.

Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to post. We can collectively push forward to get action soon for our children. Please, do not just sit and read. Take action. Your kids need you to.

I have had so many shots of
Corticosteroids/NSAIDS/Steroids:

Triamcinolone Acetonide, Kenalog, Depo-Mardol, Lidocaine, Marvaine, Toradol, Epinephrine, Bextra, Xylocaine, Isovue.......on and on and now I do not walk hardly anymore.

I am married, no sex whatsoever! I stayed away from my husband for 3 years almost, living at my apartment. I just moved out by Eviction March 2, 2008. I did not pay rent for one year. I applied for disability since 1995. Won ALJ decision September 2006. I appealed the case being opened back to 1995. I wanted it go go back futher. Just appealed it again in 2008.

Okay, I am a simpleton out here needing a HERO to Take A Stand and Advocate for me.

I do not live with my husband. I live at his mother's home so that he comes and takes cares of us at the same time. She is 90 now. Can you imagine this? I have been reduced to a cripple.

I am a prisoner laid to rest by the BIG DRUG COMPANIES MISLEADING ME, IN NOT KNOWING ABOUT THE DISEASES THAT WOULD ATTACK ME IN THE ONLY LIFE THAT I HAVE.

I wonder if my hip bones have collasped. I have terrible bone pain.

I waddle like a duck, side to side with extreme pain until I freeze up and fall, but mostly, I live with a cane at my side when going out and about.

I now need a wheelchair.

From 1980's, 1990's and now all the way to 2008. I have all medicals.

It was not until 2003-2004 that my life took a turn for the worse.

Hips pain, arms pain, shoulders pain, pain in the Thorasic area to the tail bone area, right groin pain/pubic area pain/gentials, stomach sores/cut out, pain on the scalp, calves feel hard in side/stiff at all times, hamstrings are short,open sores have been on my face, arms and neck lasting for 4-6 mths, low back pain....all of me has been injected with the above crap.

I was doing quite well in life until 2004 when this Orthopedic doctor had shot my left shoulder 3 times.

After this June 2004 event above, and by September 2004 I had walking problems, blamed only on Fibromyalgia, DX 1989.

They took one blood test for Polyrheumatica.

I was fed 20 something meds in 2004.

By 2005 I was devestated in life, health and even wanting to be alive. For one full year I lived on the pot, using Lidocaine up the butt 3-4 times a day for the pain.

Now, looking back at this part, no wonder I had extreme skin blisters, hives, rashes, extreme sweating....this Lidocaine for rectum pain was harming me and no one took me off of it. I finally had my pharmacy tell me this was so wrong to be using 134.00 a month for over one year for pain. I stopped!!!! he seemed to say that I was being harmed.

Suddenly, at my clinic, all of my primary doctors began to do trigger point injections weekly, monthly and for 4 years for my Fibromyalgia comlaint. DX in 1989.

Many NSAIDS for one year, 2003-2004.

In 2003 I had a new denture and a few teeth extracted so that I smiled great when got married April 2003.

By August 2003 I was off the State HMO, had housing city of salem voucher for 5 years at my apartment and was planning to move out and be at my husband's home, but...by September 2003 I was already in some medical exams, new meds and was being normal to a point.

By late 2003 to mid-2004 I was feeling strange about my health. I felt as if I was being sucked dry of any fluids, weird to say, but it felt as if...hard to explain.

I was dizzy, vertigo, some balance problems and like itching, sweating and extreme fatigue. I felt like i was melting. My muscles felt like jello. I had no ability to stay upward on my spine.

I did complain to my dentist and doctors that I was feeling numb on my face and gums by may 2003.

After 2 years, leaving room for a possible lawsuit on the dentist/OS, I filed, had one deposition and my lawyer walked.

I had laughing gas for teeth extractions/numbing shots.

I thought that GAS/SHOTS was to be blamed, maybe the tools they used, or the water and I worked this case to the bitter end, sad to say, that a Lawyer Walked On Me.

By 2004 I did not know what hit me with my health issues..dentists/new meds/new marriage/new doctors involved.

I was in a drug stupor, taking almost 30 drugs from this clinic in 2004.

Prescribed and the samples of Vioxx, Mobic, Celebrex and Bextra.

I had so many Toradol shots to my spine and hips at this clinic and thought they had crippled me.

This doctor humiliated me.

Told me that I was a nut.

I now needed long term counseling with all of the body ailments they all told me. My primary doctor told me many times that NONE OF THE SPECIALIST NEEDED OR WANTED TO SEE ME FOR ANYTHING.

Nothing was hardly affecting me when I got married April 2003. I was a knock out!

The Gastro doctor had me on his 3 drugs also, including that daily Lidocaine up my butt. He did the endoscopy and colonscopy, bloodwork and he said I had Atrophic Mucosa.

He was in direct conflict with my Neurologist who did his own work and he claimed that I was Gluten sensitive, a Celiac now. He gave B12 shots and Folic Acid on top of all the other crap that I was taking.

The Hospital did a spinal tap and may tests.

The pain specialist did his epidurals 2 times.

I have had every NSAID they prescribed me.

I had sleeping pills.

I had anti-depressants.

I had Vicodin to Percacets and then they tried to get me on Methadone. One week on that crap was all.

I notice that Depo-Medrol, Marcaine, Lidocaine was mostly used thru out my life.

The pain specialist above that I used in 2006, also shot me with the epidurals 2 times before 2006, and the O.H.S.U. also shot me with all the above when they DX me with Fibromyalgia 1989.

Then many Toradol and Kenalog shots.

I live with daily diarrhea since 2005-2008.

My legs are always red every day with any walking, sleeping, sitting, balance is off, waddling gait.

My feet pain is as if I walk on glass or rocks....sharp pain now for 4 months.

Arachnoiditis fits me well. I have spoken with the doctor/expert that can test me.

I have been searching since early 2004.

I have no way to know who or what to blame.

I even thought that the MRI's Contrast Agents harmed me starting from the past to now.

I left the clinic that stole my life from me and now have a new doctor at Kaiser Permanente.

I am scared of all doctors now.

I have 4-5 meds right now.

Not one doctor or specialist will DX me. I have a thought below...

I fought the medical community WORLD WIDE back in 2002-2003 with the President Dr. Richard Willner, of Retired Association of Physcians and Surgeons. My two other sisters were in this heated debate.

I was told to expect danger at any time after this online 30 page cruel attack by the doctors on my wrongful death of my mother by her doctors/nursing home/hospital.

I proved this case.

The lawyer in Portland, Or. Judy Snyder told me I did extremely well proving this death was murder...but the Medical Consultant who did the summary of this death was hushed up!!! Later on, after another summary by Medical Consultant, she told me that we would be lucky to get $10,000 for a Nusiance Claim. I tried to get one Lawyer before the statues ran, but no luck. I heard that the Elder Abuse Statues ran for 7 years and to try for that. Oh well, I tried.

Joanie K.

Has anyone had extreme heavy bleeding/clots after having the Mirena removed? This is day 3. The last time I had such heavy bleeding I had just had my son. When do you start to worry about the bleeding?

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!

I am just turned 24 years old. I have done the ortho evra patch before and had no problems.. well two weeks ago i started the nuvaring.. i though it would be good as much as my doctor talked good about it and meaning it cost me 50 dollars for 1 ring.... well the first few days went okay i didnt have many symptoms.. well then i started noticing a yellowy discharge and had to wear panty liners and it made it feel like i was always wet there.. well then there ended up a smell there and yet i was washing the normal amount of times a day.. then i ended up with a uti that lasted a week.. as well as it was my birthday weekend and i spent most of it with mood swings.. mainly i was very depressed and spent alot of time crying or angry for no reason at all.. like every little thing got on my nerves.. i ended up feeling very tired and wanting to sleep alot but then would wake up in the middle of the night with cramps... Then ever since i started the ring my acne has been terrible.. i wash my face and use proactive but it didnt work.. well i had a pimple near my lower lip of my face and it hurt really badly well then this morning i woke up and the whole area around it was swollen and my lip was massive.. and right that moment i knew it was the ring.. so i took it out.. and since ive taken it out ive felt happier, still a bit tired but not as much, and the swelling in my face and lip finally went away.. and when i took the ring out i felt nausea and had a headache.. which was a typical ever day thing since i started the ring these werent like typical headaches they were very painful...

i do not recommend anyone to use the nuva ring no matter how good the doctors talk about it.. it causes depression and everything that everyone else puts out there.. i read this website after i had just put it in and i regret not listening to all the other woman on this site...

I have just gone back onto Yasmin after an absolutely horrifying experience trying to come off it.

I have taken Yasmin for 3 years with minimal problems. My skin was fantastic - never a blemish. I actually LOST weight while on it and went up a up a breast cup size. I got lighter periods which was a godsend. I did get a few problems though - gas and stomach bloating as well as headaches sometimes shortly after taking it and occasionally break-through bleeding. But for me the pros outweighed the cons.

I came off it recently as I'm no longer in a long term relatonship and it was just awfull. My skin broke out, I got very oily hair and skin and felt like I was going through puberty again. The worst problem was that in just 3 weeks I blew up like a baloon. I literally stacked on weight every day and my family all made suggestive comments like "been enjoying the cake lately?" I was so angry since I'm such a healthy eater and excersize every single day!!!!! I have never had a problem wth my weight before and the only change I made in my lifestyle was coming of Yasmin. I was so upset with my appearance I have actually gone back on the Yasmin. However its ridiculus to stay on it for beauty's sake.

Has anyone ever experiecend this before??? If so what did you do????

I HAVE HAD MY MIRENA FOR ALMOST 1 YEAR AND WAS THE WORST THING I'VE EVER DONE. I PAID FOR IT AND I LIKE THE CONVENIENCE BUT MY FACE IS AN ABSOLUTE MESS ALL THE TIME!!!!!! I JUST BOUGHT PROACTIV AT AGE 35 AND I HAVE NEVER HAD AN ACNE PROBLEM IN MY LIFE. I HAVE GAINED 10 LBS AND I EAT HEALTHY AND WORKOUT 6 HOURS A WEEK AND CANNOT LOSE THE WEIGHT. I HOPE GETTING IT OUT IS NOT AS PAINFUL AS GETTING IT PUT IN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm 18 and I've been on Loestrin 24 Fe since august. I haven't experienced any weight gain, but although I've never had but the occasional 3-4 zits at a time, I've had to go on Proactive to combat the breakouts that keep trying to happen on my face. I've noticed that i will wake up and it will just be a aggravating day. But all of a sudden a switch flips and I'm the giddiest thing alive. And two more hours it's gone. Also I'll go thru a stage about a week and half before i WOULD get my period, if i still got one, my breasts will stay sore and tender so where i have to watch how i play around with my boyfriend. I only began having sex about 3 months before i was put on loestrin but i noticed that around my 3rd month or so on this pill (around November) i became VERY sexually aroused all the time. Honestly i think my boyfriend gets tired of it sometimes, but i just can't help myself. I've been seeing the opposite feedback from most posts on here, so if someone has a similar one please reply or post, Especially about the OVER SEXED part.

This is my second round with Doxycycline for a Staph infection (probably MRSA - the culture isn't back yet); the first round was unpleasant, especially in terms of feelings of heat in my head, wooziness, and rather severe stomach upset and esophagitis due to reflux. I am a Chinese herbalist, and tried going that route with the first bout of the infection (which fortunately is at the skin level), but didn't get much relief so went the route of the 'big guns.' The infection cleared up, more or less, but three weeks later I began to get another new lesion. Grr. Back to Doxy. This second time I've been more proactive, however: Ginger is used in a lot of chinese formulas to help with digestive upset, so I've been taking a couple of pieces of candied ginger as soon as the stomach upset gets going, and hey it works! By the way, I am taking capsules, and I find that lying down on my LEFT side actually helps prevent the reflux pain - the exit of the stomach is on the left side, and since capsules float, lying on my left side keeps the med closer to the exit than the entrance... or so it seems. Whew - I'm glad this stuff is out there, but I'd really like to be done with it - forever....

Oh my goodness, you'd think this stuff was evil in a pill. ALL birth control pills, and hormonal methods of birth control (and medication for that matter) has side effects. Everyone's body is different. I have severe migraines, but taking a pill with a higher estrogen level makes it much worse. Not to mention Yasmin was my fourth try before I was comfortable on the pill again after a long time BCP free. I suffered through break-through bleeding, constant bleeding, turning into satan, constant PMS symptoms, infections, migraines, you name it. Finally, I found Yasmin and I lost a little weight and my periods remained the same (sometimes too long, sometimes too painful, but that never changed with any of them -- and I hear the same thing with the new "miracle" pill Yaz), and I was fine. I have spent time off of Yasmin, simply because I was ill and on antibiotics so I didn't fill a couple of months worth, and I noticed no difference in the before and after (other than having to use condoms in the meantime).

I've been on Yasmin for three years, absent two months. Everyone's body is different, everyone reacts differently, and this site is NOT this place to get the information you need to make a decision about medication. A starting point maybe, then go off the pill, see how you fill (talk to your doctor first). What's not being taken into consideration is other medications these users are on, ages, individual physical illnesses or situations, or other things that could be reasons or interferences with the pill. Good luck ladies. :)

Oh, and an acne tip... rather than putting more chemicals into your bodies, try Proactive. I had AWFUL skin in areas that nothing worked for, from cheapest to most expensive to prescribed. I started using it in 1996 or so and my skin is perfect. I use it now because it keeps my face clear and makes it radiant, and I don't even have to use it every day. I don't have to wear ANY make up on my skin at all. Something to think about instead of putting worrying about trying to find a BCP that works for you and for your skin. :]

I just found this and wanted to put a warning on here to new topamax users. If you experience difficulty breathing, please consult with your doctor immediately! I havent even been on this for two weeks and this week I upped to 50mg @ bedtime, and within 1hr of taking the first 50mg dose of this, I started having swelling and tingling of my hands and face, difficulty breathing, and a lot of problems concentrating. Second day, same thing, third day same thing, and today, I went in and demanded to see my dr (who wasnt in the office today) and they wanted me to wait until next week to be seen, and I knew something wasnt right, I wanted seen now. They kept insisting "its not a common side effect of the drug" and I kept asking if it was a side effect at all... seriously, it took me several hours to be heard, and finally, the ARNP that I was seeing in place of the practitioner I normally see looked it up and its a severe side effect. Needless to say, I am not taking this drug anymore, and will continue my quest for a migraine relief. *They* said it should only be in my system 21hrs (we're on 25now) and the effects should be gone by then, which makes sense because each day, the effects seemed to subside shortly before I took the next bedtime dose, but today, they're persistant... I can't breathe, my fingers wont cooperate with me due to the numbness and tingling, and my lips are numb, swollen and tingling which makes it difficult to drink anything...

Anyway... PLEASE... be proactive with this medication... if something doesnt feel right, talk to your dr, and make them listen to you... Im waiting for blood and urine tests to come back to be sure the drug hasn't had any other effects on me... they said that the topamax allows (as a severe side effect) the blood to absorb high amounts of carbon monoxide (great, huh?) which is what causes the difficulty breathing (which she was originally trying to brush off as my athsma, which I KNEW wasnt the issue... I KNOW when my athsma is bothering me, and what an athsma attack is... I've been athsmatic for the greater part of my 26yrs of being...)

I was prescribed 25 MCG tabs of levothyroxine (generic for Levoxyl) by my MD for my hypothyroid. (I was tested at a 4.5 reading -- just below a normal 5 reading). After 60 days of taking levothyroxine EXACTLY as prescribed (i.e.; on an empty stomach, 1st thing in the morning with a glass of water; no vitamins for at least 4 hrs afterward), I started to have symptoms that I've never experienced before: my hands began hurting so bad with joint pain; my lips felt numb; and I was sweating more than I ever had in my life. I decided to stop taking the medication due to these symptoms, and in about 7-10 days from stopping, ALL these symptoms had disappeared and have not returned to date. I relayed this information to my MD who told me that my symptoms had nothing to do with Levothyroxine and that I needed to continue taking the drug. It's more than strange to me how some MDs will not listen to his/her patient -- even more so now that I've read other info on the internet where many other people have had these same side effects taking levothyroxine!! On my own, I am now looking into taking an all natural alternative that I found on wellness resources called "Thyroid helper". I will not take Levothyroxine again if I can avoid it by taking an alternative. Has anyone else out there had success taking "Thyroid Helper"?

I started taking the pill 2 weeks ago for ance problems. I have experienced severe nausea, and an extreme burning sensation in the sun! I also have chest pains. my acne doesnt seem to be getting too much better.The nausea is sometimes unbearable! We'll see what happens when i keep taking it.

I was prescribed prednisone with antibiotics (2 weeks prescription after 5 days in the hospital) when I had severe bronchial pnemonia. I was not told about side affects except for swelling. I ended up having a severe case of adult acne that lasted about 4 months -- many tiny bumps mostly on my forehead and both sides of my face, going down my neck and onto my chest. I seemed to have a sensitivity to grapefruit and orange juice, as well as beer (it would be very flared the next day). As a vegan I already have an excellent diet that I follow -- I'm sure if I ate animal proteins and fried foods it would have been much, much worse. My pharmacist friend told me that topical creams for acne would be of no use, since the reaction was coming from the inside out and that since the prednisone remains in the body tissue for a while, it would take a few months to work its way out. I'M HAPPY TO SAY THAT I'M COMPLETELY BACK TO NORMAL SKIN AFTER 6 MONTHS. I should also say that I never had acne, even as a teenager, so this didn't happen because I was prone. All I can say is have alot of patience, eat really clean food (lots of fruits low in citric acit and veggies) and keep oil and spices to a minimum. Definately give up dairy and animal protein to help the healing faster. Good luck and don't despair!

My daughter is 7 years old. She has severe skin problems due to allergies. She has been complaining of stomach aches after a week or so of singulair which seem to have gotten worse. When she first started using it she also started having a lot of fear, nervousness, and anxiety- seeing things that aren't there etc. I was hoping that these side effects would go away since it seems to have helped her allergies and skin. However, after reading the remarks of others, I am very concerned. I think I will try skipping her dose tonight and see what happens tomorrow- maybe taper it off slowly. We switched to singulair because claritain makes her tired, and benedryl makes her extremely tired as well as see things that aren't there. Anyone had any good experience with any other allergy meds which may help with allergies and atopic dermatitis?

I was diagnosed with Systemic Lupus in 2001 and have been on Prednisone since then! I started on 60 mg and am now going off of the drug.

I gained about 60 pounds, I have a classic moon face, buffalo hum (on neck), and the bloaty belly--and I hardly eat. I went from being in shape and running three miles a day to barely being able to get off the couch! Here are some of my other side effects;

*sleep issues
*gum/teeth are more frail
* severe eye problems (blurred vision, loss of peripheral vision, depth perception problems)
* excessive hair in places I don't want and hair loss in the places I want to keep it on!
* mood swings
* inability to concentrate for long periods of time
excessive fatigue

My advice on this drug--if you can--avoid it. If not--be proactive in getting your doctor to get you off of it as soon as possible at a slow rate.

I am now on 5 mg being tapered off permanently! Thank God!

Hi all,
just reading the posts about acne. I suffered from this too after stopping the yasmin. I got spots around the side of my face and when my period was due they appeared around my jaw line.

I went to a dermatologist who prescribed me an antibiotic called tetralysal 300 and a gel called isotrexin. The gel is a milder form of Retin A. I cannot use retin A at all because it is a cream and it clogs my pores.I also have been using the skincare system called proactive. The best system i have ever used. You can order it online at proactive.com. My acne completely cleared up in about 8 weeks.

It is a very good combination. I had tried every other cream and lotion but they did not work. Or if they did not for long. My dermatologist told me that hormonal acne is one of the hardest to clear up but was confident that the treatment would work.

Flowerbabies about spironolactone.
It is recommended as a treatment for acne because it is an anti-androgen. I took it for about 6 weeks. I had to have blood tests regularly because it sometimes affects the liver. I started to feel very dizzy and tired. My doctor phoned me one day and told me to stop taking it immediately because of the blood test results. It had raised a level of something or other in my blood that was very dangerous. It probably doesnt affect everybody that way but be careful if you do start on it.

Because of all the problems yasmin caused me in the past few years i have done a lot of googling and asked a lot of questions. One thing i found out from my dermatologist was that hormonal acne is usually the result of low progesterone. That was the reason i was referred to a fertility specialist. After months of tracking my cycle to find out when i was definitely ovulating i then had my hormone levels measured at the correct times.
And as i wrote about last week i do have low levels of progesterone and estradiol which will be treated by hcg injections.

So maybe for any body here who is suffering from hormonal acne that is the way to go.

A gp will read results differently. To a gp and a fertility expert blood results have different meanings. My gp told me my results were normal but when i spoke to my fertility doctor he told me thay were very low.
So maybe it is best to go with the decision of the person who knows best.

I hope this is some help to those of you who are suffering from hormonal acne. It is very distressing and can make pms worse because of the anxiety it causes all by itself.
I think this post is very long and will take up almost an entire screen. Just thought i would share what i have learned over the last few months.
Good luck to all of you

Murph70