Rheumatoid symptoms and conditions

Over 6 years ago, the following Petition was submitted to the FDA, I would encourage every patient being treated with statins to read it and bring it to the immediate attention of their physician:

CITIZEN PETITION TO CHANGE THE LABELING FOR
ALL STATIN DRUGS (MEVACOR, LESCOL, PRAVACHOL, ZOCOR, LIPITOR, AND ADVICOR) RECOMMENDING USE OF
100-200mg PER DAY OF SUPPLEMENTAL CO-ENZYME Q10 TO REDUCE THE RISK OF STATIN-INDUCED MYOPATHIES (INCLUDING
CARDIOMYOPATHY AND CONGESTIVE HEART FAILURE). http://www.fda.gov/OHRMS/DOCKETS/dailys/02/May02/052902/02p-0244-cp00001-01-vol1.pdf
May 24, 2002
Petitioner:
Dr. Julian M. Whitaker, M.D.

This Petition is based in part on the clinical findings of Dr Peter H. Langsjoen, MD, which he also reported to the FDA:

Statins kill people - lots of people - and they wound many, many more. All patients taking statins become depleted in Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), eventually - those patients who start with a relatively low CoQ10 levels (the elderly and patients with heart failure) begin to manifest signs/symptoms of CoQ10 deficiency relatively rapidly - in 6 to 12 months. Younger, healthier people who's only "illness" is the non-illness "hypercholesterolemia" can tolerate statins for several years before getting into trouble with fatigue, muscle weakness and soreness (usually with normal muscle enzyme CPK tests) and most ominously - heart failure. In my practice of 17 years in Tyler, Texas, I have seen a frightening increase in heart failure secondary to statin usage, "statin cardiomyopathy". Over the past five years, statins have become more potent, are being prescribed in higher doses, and are being used with reckless abandon in the elderly and in patients with "normal" cholesterol levels. We are in the midst of a CHF epidemic in the US with a dramatic increase over the past decade. Are we causing this epidemic through our zealous use of statins? In large part I think the answer is yes. We are now in a position to witness the unfolding of the greatest medical tragedy of all time - never before in history has the medical establishment knowingly (Merck & Co., Inc. has two 1990 patents combining CoQ10 with statins to prevent CoQ10 depletion and attendant side effects) created a life threatening nutrient deficiency in millions of otherwise healthy people, only to then sit back with arrogance and horrific irresponsibility and watch to see what happens - as I see two to three new statin cardiomyopathies per week in my practice, I cannot help but view my once great profession with a mixture of sorrow and contempt.

I have active Rheumatoid Arthritis and am currently on Methotrexate, Celebrex and Vicodin to alleviate the symptoms. My rheumatologist at the beginning of December gave me a flu shot due to low immune side effect of Methotrexate and also gave me an injection of Kenalog (80 i think) for the pain. She told me it was a cousin to the cortisone shots I had in the past but that it was much more effective and with a lot less side effects. I did feel better after a few days. But now 2 months later a large apx 3" long by 1 1/2 inches wide jagged edged discoloration has appeared the entire area is indented almost to the bone apx 1/2 inch deep in the center. This occurred during one week time. last week was not there, this week it is. Very worried looks just like some of the melanoma pictures on the internet. Glad to have found this site. I am seeing a doctor tomorrow morning will update this site once it is diagnosed, hopefully it is from the Kenalog shot - it is in the same area, left arm starting just below the ball and joint of the shoulder.

Hello EveryOne out there...OK OK....

Now Why have I been out of touch since Sept 14th.... 2007???

I have been VERY VERY ill.....

Y'See, I went to see this new Doctor (Quack) for continued pain in my chest (sternum) area....that I have been having trouble with all Summer. (Severe Costochondritis/Fibromyalgia) By Sept 14th, this Quack who claims to be a Doctor had given me this prescription for Prednisone pills (20 mg each)....with orders to take mega doses of this toxic poison in order to combat the pain I was suffering. I was so desperate to get out of pain that I went ahead and filled the prescription and started taking the pills that eventful Friday night. I made the fatal mistake of trusting this Doctor!!!

If I had any sense God gave green apples I would have researched this a little before taking this medicine!! I would have run like all heck in the opposite direction!

I had been taking these reccomended large doses for approx two weeks back then per Doctor 'Quack's' order.... I have been hooked after the first week....and now currently desperately trying to get off of it with only marginal success!!

I have been on this Prednisone crap for some 49 days, currently and desperately trying to get off of it....with terrible side effects!! I have experienced every side effect known to the Devil himself and even discovered some new ones that I never knew was possible!? Case in point! I can't sleep night after night without terrible withdrawals all night long!!! I am forced to contend with them every night here. Not to mention I fight the withdrawals all days long too. I have this inept doctor and I am sorry I even went to him in the first place...!

The withdrawals I am now getting are harder to deal with than the original chest pain itself!!! Not to mention even eating the so-called 'wrong' foods sets off even more withdrawals almost immediately. I am now extremely sensitive to light and the sun~ not to mention.....noise....and stress....

I am much sicker from this Quack Doctor's so-called "HELP" than I ever was before....

I don't mind saying his name and trying to steer everyone away from this jerk Doctor here in Las Vegas who takes advantage of people in pain when they are desperate by feeding them toxic poisons and passing the poison off as something harmless thats gonna help them??? Just ask me who he is and I will tell you. I have no qualms about it....

Bottom line is I have spent this last month trying to get off this crap and I just found out that the withdrawals may bother me up to a YEAR after I take my last dose of this crap poison!! I have been going thru H***!!! A nightmare I would LOVE to pass onto this Quack who pretends to be a doctor!

I am down to about 7.5 mg per day now from about 180 mg that he gave me originally Sept 14 2007. Believe me this was not easy thing for me to do. I went "Toxic" on this drug weeks ago and it has affected my ability to process, think and reason properly. I feel like part of my mind is now missing or went on permanent vacation!! Dizziness,feeling like I'm gonna pass out, Brain Fog and Mass Confusion is the order for the day~depending on the time of day???

"The side effects of prednisone include adrenal suppression, which can occur with periods of prednisone use to surpass seven days. Adrenal suppression refers to the body’s inability to synthesize natural corticosteroids, resulting in a dependency on the prednisone taken by the patient. This is why doctors do not recommend the cessation of prednisone when the patient has taken it for longer than seven days. They reduce the dose gradually over a few days in the case of short-term prednisone use, and over weeks or months in the case of long-term treatment. Stopping prednisone treatment abruptly can cause the life-threatening Addison’s disease, in which in the body no longer produces sufficient amounts of adrenal steroid hormones"

I want to SUE this Doctor for making me this sick!!!!!

SDR

GRRRRRRRRRrrrrr!!!!!!!

My husband is taking Lipitor for high chol. just like all of you. In June 2007 he began to complain of mild pain in his body...including joints and muscles. He also had a very painful stomach ache with a feeling of tightness. He takes many meds. due to Parkinsonism and depression. As time has passed the pain has become so increasingly bad that I took him to a neutologist to determine if the pain could be a Park. symptom. His doctor is no dummy. He first determined that it was not parkinsons, but did order some tests to analyze a number of other possibilities....one being a form of rheumatiod arthritis that suddenly attacks the entire body without warning. ..it is very rare. In addition he ordered an immediate rheumatology appointment to have another doctor give him an opinion from that specific area of expertise. When we get there the rheumatologist will determine if it is a rheumatoid syndrom or not and then put him on a regimen to help that.if necessary...BUT, HERE IS THE THING THAT THIS FANTASTIC NEUROLOGIST ALSO DID....HE ORDERED HIM TO STOP TAKING ....LIPITOR.....FOR A MONTH AND SEE HIM AGAIN AFTERWARD FOR A FOLLOW-UP FOR THAT POSSIBILITY...LOVE HIM...DON'T YOU!!!!!!
For all those doctors out there who don't want to test the possibility that LIPITOR could be the cause for these life dibilitating symptoms....may ALL THE ATTORNEYS BONE UP ON THIS PROBLEM...AND PREPARE TO GO TO COURT. WE WILL BE FIRST IN LINE.....I am almost positive it is the Lipitor...and I will try to get back to this site and let you know what happens.
God Bless you all.....and God help all of the care givers who also feel pain from their loved ones' physical dilemas.

I started with 60 mg per day for polymyalgia rheumatica and now after two years have weaned myself down to 5 mg per day. I have a side effect that I have not read anyone else having. It has effected my taste buds. Many foods that I loved in the past, have a foreign taste to me. I am 66, male and have tried to drop down to 2 1/2 mg but the pain is too intense to remain at that level, so had to return to 5 mg. I have lots of pain in the feet and especially toes. I can tell that I am getting better and am very anxious to get off of Prednisone.

I have been on 10mg eoday prednisone for years to counter my psoriatic arthritis. I guess I'm the lucky one because I've had no side effects. Psoriatic arthritis is like rheumatoid, but has skin problems associated. A round of arava kicked the arthritis into remission and the pred kept it there, and I've been pretty happy. I decided to try to get off of it, but now all of my joints ache again, so I'm deciding to go back on--although, you-all are scaring me! Maybe I'll rethink this!

Since going on Effexor 3 years ago, I have had similar side effects, as well as withdrawal symptoms when trying to go off the drug. My symptoms while on it are: night sweats, being hot all the time (sweaty hands and feet), rashes all over, excema on my scalp and neck, "lightning flash" type feelings in my brain/head, extreme depression, an inability to feel intimacy (although no sex drive problems), extreme weight gain (despite frequent exercise and good diet). During my pre-menstrual period, I am pretty much psychotic, to the point of wanting to hurt myself and others. With the weight gain and depression, I really AM better off not taking the drug. But I find it impossible to take two weeks off work to simply stop taking a drug. It is not possible to stop taking effexor and work or function in ANY CAPACITY. I really feel for the moms out there who have had to do it. One other thing I have been experiencing is severe joint pain. I would like to know if others have experienced this.

My mom has had 4/5 of her thryroid removed over 30 years agao and has been on SYNTHROID ever sicnse. Recently she has been experiencing intense muscle and joint pain in her hands, fingers and legs. All tests for Rheumatoid are negative. Can the Synthroid be possibly causing these side effects???? Ayone else out there with these same complaints?

I just started taking a vey low dosage 5mg 3xday. for severe
rheumatoid inflamation and pain. I was desperate to be pain free so took Dr.s advice. It has taken my pain away almost completely. Noticed irrability right away, stomach bloating, increase in apetitite, low sex drive. I feel like I'm in a terrible mood and depresssed. Although it did take pain away. Dr. wants to wean me off down to 0 for the next 5 days and see how I'm doing. I don't want the pain back but might be something else he can put me on.
If'm glad he feels that it's unsafe to stay on. Told me of all of the horrible side effects.

I was at the end of my rope when I looked for Levquin side effects tonight. I have been on Levaquin 500 q.d. for a UTI that I've had for months. I had a cystoscopy nearly a month ago and my urologist put me on Levaquin 500 for 30 more days. I did not have any of the common side effects listed but started having horrible joint pains right after starting on it but thought it was something else - I also have cardiomyopathy and insulin dependent diabetes and thyroid, etc. etc. Finally saw my internist yesterday who did rheumatoid panel and sed rate and called today saying my sed rate was high but rheumatoid panel was fine and offered nothing further. Thank goodness for this web site! I'm not taking another Levaquin EVER! Thanks. Jody

Yep...........I trashed mine last night.
Did not take a second pill. Even though I did not get
any rashes, itching or other serious side effects my body
was just telling me "there ain't something right about this
drug". The side effects I had were total insomnia two
nights ago and frequent peeing yesterday. Never peed
so much in a day? Last night I got some sleep and I woke
up today feeling normal as I usually do. I think this drug
is terribly dangerous for anyone with rheumatoid or joint
problems to begin with. It is too powerful. My doc said
the same thing to me....let's try it..........wrong answer.
I probably don't even have a sinus infection since they
feel alright today. The only thing I have had for the past
two months is a feeling like my head is warm inside alot
but I don't have a fever? I am pretty sure it is all due to
allergies since I have environmental but went on immunotherapy again this spring.......3rd year in a row..take
9 shots. They definitely helped but I still take an antihistamine
but I find my joints and sinuses are always a little done in
this time of the year once again probably due to inflammation?
Anyhow......Thank you all for the input on this drug. I am
grateful it was here. I have heard so many horror stories
on this drug the past few days. Good luck to you all who
did suffer physical or mental ailments. Hang in there and I
hope you get peace of mind, body and soul.
Later............