Respiratory problems symptoms and conditions

severe GERD, respiratory problems, blurred vision,tingling sensation, abdominal pain, abdominal spasms, nerve and muscle damage,chest pain,headache,

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'm just heartbroken over this. My 6-year old identical twin boys have been on Singulair for 4 years to help control severe asthma. Looking back...I now realize there was a definite "personality" change in both of them after going on it. I've been living with it for 4 years now and have just "gotten used to it." Since October, one of my sons has experienced severe back pain, abdominal pain, fatigue, swollen lymph nodes (though I don't know if this is related), and sadness. I have put him through tests because I just knew something was wrong - he has had an MRI spine, CT chest, abdominal ultrasound, and lymph node biopsy (all negative). I am just crushed because I wonder if I have put him through these tests for absolutely NO reason. That all along, it has been the Singulair. My other son has had insane mood swings for the past 4 years and I had just chalked it up to his personality. He can be extremely mean to his brother and has indicated to me that sometimes he just doesn't "want to be."

The only positive thing out of this is that I learned how insightful my pediatrician is. He took both boys off the Singulair about 6-8 weeks ago. I have noticed a slight improvement in his symptoms, but they have not yet all gone away. I'm hoping there's not lasting damage...

I've posted before so I won't bore you with the details just a quick synopsis and an update.

Prescribed Levaquin AND Prednisone for an upper respiratory infection during last December/January. Went through the roof! Two trips to the ER, couldn't eat (lost 10 pounds), thought I was going to die, anxiety out of this world. Then started sleeping constantly. Even light exertion caused profuse sweating and tiredness. Lost 3 months from work.

Gradually started feeling a little better but in August my left arm started hurting very badly. Couldn't turn it or lift with it at all. Presently, it is ok about 90% of the time with only occasional pain. Then bam! Bent over to pick up a light object with the other arm and the tendon connecting my right bicep snaps. Talk about pain! No warning, no discomfort, just snaps.

Visitedthe Ortho today and scheduled surgery to put it back. Not sure if the other side has sustained damage or not. One doctor agreed that it was the combination of Levaquin and Prednisone, the other doctor feels it is "inconclusive" due to the time lapse. Personally? I KNOW it was! I never had a problems with my arms in my life! I'm 47 and in great shape otherwise.

Please stay away from this stuff and spread the word to anyone who will listen. My respiratory problems are gone but I'm just beginning to experience real problems!

My daughter is 5 years old and has been on singulair for 1 week. i have already noticed a dramatic change in her behavior. she has become irritable, mean, nasty, and emotional. she has had me in tears on a daily basis. she has turned into a monster. we will be calling the doctor in the morning!

Was on Prednisone 2 years ago for respiratory problems 30mg. Gained 25 pounds, fat face, felt tired, etc.

However 2 years later, after weaning off Prednisone my muscles ache, joints are most always stiff, esp. hands plus my feet feel numb and my short term memory has not returned to normal----does any one else out there have similar problems. What can be done?

TOOK BIAXIN XL 500 MG FOR RESPIRATORY PROBLEMS AFTER FIRST DOSE TAKEN IN THE MORNING MOUTH STARTED BURNING 12 HOURS LATER
AFTER SECOND DOSE ALSO 8 HOURS LATER I WOKE UP BREATHLESS, PANICKY AND HAVING CHEST PAIN ALSO DEPRESSION AND WANTED CRY ALL DAY LONG
RESPIRATORY PROBLEMS GOT HELP AFTER FIRST DOSE BUT AFTER HAVING SIDE EFFECTS DECIDED NOT TO POISON MY SYSTEM ANY LONGER.

a Doc put me on Singulair today, and when i saw Merck was the manufacturer, I was hesitant to take it. Besides having other drug side effect issues, Merck is also a pesticide manufacturer, and pesticides are one of the main causes of asthma and allergy and other respiratory problems.

I was trying to tell the doc I had an infection -- a fever, and he just wanted to fixate on post-nasal drip.
I took one Singulair leaving his offiec and by the time i got home I was yelling at my daughter. My mouth was so dry it was almost unbearable.

I knew I was really sick so i went to an urgent care for another opinion and i have strep.

So I won't be taking any more Singular, especially after reading your comments.

One thing I know -- if you have asthma/allergies, get rid of all the synthetically fragranced products from your home, including and especially laundry products -- i can have asthma attack sleeping on sheets washed or dried in scented products.

use only boric acid for pest control and soap, Dr Bronner's, will kill insects on contact. Dr Bronners or any safe soap will do without poisoning the air. Get rid of those antibacterial anythings -- they are toxic, and get an air purifier.

Products by Nature's Sunshine herbs (like Sinus Support) have helped me tremendously -- stay the hell away from steriods if you can.

Previous statement didn't go through, which was about my shock when I read my suspicions about Levaquin were confirmed and validated by so many on this website.

I first took Levaquin for 10 days several months ago ,for a sinus infection. Around the 8th day, I experienced neuropathy with leg aches and pains, some numbness, and feeling like bricks were on top of my feet. My sister had also just taken Levaquin had some of these symptoms, but we chalked it up to a virus. She told me to take Super Vitamin B complex pills which seemed to help a lot.

In Jan. I took Levaquin for 5 days for respiratory problems with no ill effects.

Mid March I was switched from Z pack for sinus infection to Levaquin for 10 days due to progression to pneumonia. It was thought later to be viral as I didn't improve on the Levaquin. I continued to take it to help prevent picking up a secondary infection.

Again, around the 8th day, the leg aches and pain returned but this time it was different. The stiffness was much more pronounced. By the last day of the Levaquin, I could not rise from a sitting position with yelling out in pain. It felt as if my right knee was ripping. I had to grab on to tables and counters to get up. The next day I was pretty much immobilized and kept ice packs on my swollen knee all day. I had started back on the Vitamin B Complex, was flushing my system with juice and water and began researching this antibiotic which had worked so well for some problems.

I hobbled in to see my regular physician that next day for follow up of the pneumonia. The stiffness was subsiding but my right knee was swollen in several areas and painful. My doctor said I had 2 areas of Tendonitis and 1 of Bursitis. He said he couldn't say it was from the Levaquin. He prescribed Prednisone, which I chose to take only the 6 day pack as he said there was a 1 in 100,000 chance the Prednisone could cause further injury and possibly even require a knee replacement, the longer I stayed on it.

After I got home, I researched more and found this website. Everything I had experienced, even the insomnia, twinges of pain in my arches, especially all the leg and knee problems, had been documented by a multitude of others. There are too many cases for this to be considered coincidence.

I appreciate eveyone taking the time to register these side affects of this harsh medication. I plan to educate eveyone I can as to these dangers of Levaquin, especially the various doctors who have prescribed it.

I don't know for others but the Super Vitamin B Complex daily did help me. Since Levaquin instructions say grapefruit juice inhibits the absorption, maybe we all should be drinking that, as long as it doesn't affect any other medications.

It is now 9 days off the Levaquin. The Prednisone helped significantly with the knee stiffness and chest congestion. I still need to wear the knee brace, walk with a very slow gait and a limp, and hear my knee popping regularly. The hip pain radiating down my legs, which I almost forgot, has improved but it is still difficult to find a comfortable position when reclining.

I'm 56 years old and was recently diagnosed with adult onset asthma and started on Singulair. I'm not a smoker, and never have been, but I've had a cough and other respiratory problems for the past couple of years. At first, the Singulair seemed to help with the cough, although I've had problems sleeping from when I began taking it. Also, in the past couple of weeks I've developed flu-like symptoms (I don't have the flu), and a severe sinus infection. I didn't realize these could be side effects of Singulair until I began to do some reading. I'm discontinuing the Singulair tonight, and hopefully these symptoms will disappear.

Not sure where to begin with my side effects...
The biggest (and scariest) of them is that, since I have been on Advair, I have had more and more severe respiratory problems. Every year, since I began the "medication", I have (at least once per year) bouts of either Bronchitis or Pneumonia (sometimes even both). Advair is obviously formulated to make patients become dependent on the drug to where they can NOT stop taking it. I have even tried to wean myself off of it, but thru this process, I truly felt like I was dying. I struggled so hard to breathe. I eventually had to go to the doctor and get a dose of prednisone and begin Advair again.
Another side effect that torments my every day life is thrush. I can not seem to shake it, no matter how many times I have been treated for it. I ALWAYS rinse after using Advair, with water AND a mouthwash with ingredients that are used in treating thrush.
I have also had other side effects as well. I have a twin sister and she has experienced some of the same. One is a strange "cramping up" or "locking up" of our feet. It's very strange and has NEVER happened to either of us, before Advair. It's painful and we have no control over it. The toes separate/spread and "lock up" in cramping pain that lasts a few moments at a time.
Since being on Advair, I have also had weight-gain. The only reason I mention it is because others have posted it as a side effect. I have never blamed Advair for this, but who knows? I think it's just neglect on my part. ;)
Those are the only that immediately come to mind. If I think of any later on, I will post them. :)

I took Advair about for 2 years. Hoping, that it would help to breath easier. I did not feel significant changes in my breathing. But I started coughing.Bedly. At work my collegues
kept bigger distance from me, they did not want to be infected
from me. They did not know, it was not contagious. I have sinus infection, dry mouth, respiratory problems, since I was
using Advair. Now, on my own, I stopped to take it. I had enough. Taking medicines for the side effect of the medicines. Maybe I never had asthma, only the doctors irresponsible decisions made me belive, I had it. I already suffered from the side effects of prednison. (joint surgery) The doctors used to give to me, in large dose. Now, after several years, I was told, maybe I never had asthma. How can we trust doctors?

increases respiratory problems

My daughter is 13 years old. In October 2003 she had her right middle lobe of her lung removed. She has chronic asthma and other respiratory problems. She has also has 2 sinus surgeries and 5 sets of ear tubes. After her lobectomy she was on several different antibiotics and we had a terrible time clearing her lungs. Finally in December her Drs. put her on Levaquin. She took her levaquin at night due to some of the side effects listed. I didn't want her in school if there had been a problem. It was like a miracle drug for her. For the first time in months I did not hear her say she was not feeling well, no low grade temps and most important of all...she stopped coughing up phlegm. The Drs now have her on another antibiotic...its working well but some of her problems have slowly returned. She is much wheezier, she has started to cough again and she says she doesn't feel as well now as she did on Levaquin. As a matter of fact she has a Dr. appointment in a week and I am going to ask about using Levaquin again.