Severe itching symptoms and conditions

I have been on Mirena since Feb of 2008, around mid April -May I started itching and have not been able to figure out why or what is causing it. Have been to doctors tried all different OTC medication, lotions, etc. and nothing helps. My Allergist questioned the Mirena but don't know much about it has anyone had problems with severe itching or no of anyone.

I was prescribed Bactrim by an ER doctor after seeing them to have a procedure done to drain an infection underneath my fingernail. I completed my medication without having any known side effects. (however I was itching a lot underneath my feet, but I didn't realize it was a side effect at the time). The day after I finished the medicine I developed flu like symptoms. I had chills, hot flashes,fever, my whole body was aching. Even my eyes hurt! I stayed home from work for two days, expecting to come down with the flu then surprisingly on day 3 all of the flu symptoms left. Then I developed sever itching all over my body. I tried lotions, bath soaks, anti-itch creams. But it just won't seem to go away. I have also developed a yeast infection. The bottom of my feet itch like crazy and are red. This is my 4th day off the medication and my 3rd day of severe itching. I am wondering how long these symptoms will last. I am glad I found this site because I was really wondering what was going on with that "flu" symptom thing. I will never use Bactrim again!!

I was prescribed Avelox for a sinus infection and bronchitis after relapsing twice following treatment with amoxicillin and Levaquin. The doctor had provided me with 12 sample packets and advised me to take (1) 400 mg tablet each day for 12 days. He then wrote me a prescription for another 14 day supply and advised me to wait to fill the prescription until I determined if I could tolerate the drug. That statement should have been a red flag for me, but, I didn't think twice about it.

I proceeded to take the Avelox for 9 days before the side effects kicked in. The first thing that I noticed was itchy skin. I didn't associate the itching with an reaction to Avelox right away because it was mild itching. By the 10th day, the itching was very severe all over my body. I took Benadryl and went to bed. When I woke up, my face had swelled up, my eyes were practically swollen shut, I had a rash on my entire body from head to toe but most noticeable on the upper half of my body. The itching was unbearable and my body kept going between chills with extreme shaking and teeth chattering to profusely sweating. At this point, I finally associated my symptoms with a reaction.

I stopped taking Avelox 5 days ago. It took two days and a bottle of Benadryl before the rash and swelling subsided. The severe itching also subsided after two days. However, I still have mild itching and some swelling. I've also had two severe migraines in this 5 day period along with fatigue and an upset stomach. I've also continued to experience chills and profuse sweating.

This is a wicked antibiotic. I would strongly advise against it. I've never experienced anything like this before. It's scary.

I am a 52Yr old male and was diagnosed with T2 Diabetes 2 1/2 yrs ago ....The doctor prescribed me simvastin a few month later 20mg once a day all had been fine till about 6 months ago when I developed tinnitus and started feeling very tired...My concentration started to lapse especially when driving as i found i couldn't remember driving down a stretches of the road etc ie passing speed cameras etc ...my memory also seems to have slowed down and i have problems recalling recent conversations or things i have done etc...just recently i have been getting severe itching on the soles of my feet almost becoming painful i have pains /aches all over and now especially have pain in my left arm right knee and fingers...when i get up in the mornings i feel like i have run a marathon the day before as i ache especially my neck and shoulders...needless to say i have now stopped taking the tablets after reading this forum and i am seeing my doctor next week initially i put all this down to getting older ...
Steve

After usual injection for eye examination there was subcutaneous
blood leakage in a patch about 1 square inch on my right arm
showing red color from the blood and a central yellow region.
There was severe itching in this area. I take plavix and aspirin.
Have others had this reaction?
Roy B.

Here is my Mirena Story.

I was 6 weeks post partum....I had mirena inserted...it was very painful and I was not warned about that.
About a week later I noticed yellowing in the whites of my eyes which I thought could be coming from a iron def. since I just gave birth. So I made sure I was eating well and taking vitamins. I also had severe itching at night especially on my ankles and legs. Oh and sex drive was gone. It was fine the 6 weeks after birth but as soon as mirena was in it was gone!!! I went to the doctor about a month after insertion and asked to have it removed, of course my doc said it couldn't be iud causing my problems...come back in a month...So I did....within this month I started having severe anxiety, insomnia and panic attacks, to the point were I actually thought I was loosing my mind. Of course again the doc told me that it wasn't iud and prescribed me an antidepressant which I reluctantly excepted. I'm not depressed...my life was perfect before mirena!!! I finally went back for the third time and decided I wasn't leaving until somebody took this thing out of me!

Here is a list of other side effects that I had/still have!!

acne
migraines
extreme lower back pain
numbness and tingling in hands and feet
vision problems
fogginess
An ADHD type feeling
inability to focus or concentrate
extreme fatigue
feeling of throat closing up
heart racing and palpitations
night sweats
sinusitus
dizziness and light headiness
headache

The problem here is that the doctors don't even know how extreme these side effects can be and they keep telling us that it's not the mirena. PLEASE trust your instinct.....I wanted to trust my doctor but I knew in my heart what was causing my problems...I am only 1 week post mirena and I am still having a lot of my problems but I can tell a difference. DON'T LET IT GET OUT OF HAND....TAKE IT OUT!!!!

DON'T GET MIRENA...IT MAY WORK WELL FOR SOME...BUT IN MY OPINION IT IS NOT WORTH THE CHANCE THAT THESE HORRIBLE SIDE EFFECTS COULD HAPPEN.....HAD I BEEN INFORMED PROPERLY I WOULD HAVE NEVER HAD MIRENA INSERTED!!

Good Luck Ladies!!

I have been taking Lisinopril 10mg every morning for about 1 1/2 months. I have been developing many different side effects, but primarily they consist of muscle cramps (painful!) in the legs/calves, numbness of feet with pain when walking, severe itching (it feels almost like ants walking all over my body), and horrible belching and flatulence. I did not connect it to the Lisinopril until I had ruled out all the other medications I have been taking and then coming across a web site that outlined the symptoms I have been experiencing. Why the symptoms occurred gradually and not all at the same time is bewildering, but it is definitely an allergic reaction of some type. I have discontinued the medication as of today and will call my Dr. in the morning and discuss (Yeah, like he'll really come to the phone!) The constellation of symptoms only highlights the strong and potentially life-threatening symptoms that could have occurred. A major anaphylactic reaction could have led to difficulty breathing, atrial fibrillation and probably death. The doctors who prescribe medications are not always aware of the potential harm that could result from the side effects of the meds they prescribe. It is vitally important that we report all symptoms to our doctors and/or pharmacists, nurses, etc. This drug may need to be further investigated. (An FDA approved drug which results in severe side effects can be pulled from the market and doctors told not to prescribe it while a further investigation is completed. Reading the previous posts, it is apparent that many individuals are having similar problems.
The itching is the WORST!!
My advice to anyone having even the slightest symptoms or if you are experiencing more severe reactions to report this to anyone who will listen. If your individual MD finds nothing wrong, invite him/her to imagine how devastating the symptoms can be and literally demand discontinuation of the drug and a prescription for a safer, effective drug.
The advertising campaigns for the drug companies constitute a very massive push to prescribe any and/or all of the meds brought to the marketplace with little regard for those of us who are suffering. This must not be allowed to continue. The unfortunate aspect of discontinuing this med is that the high blood pressure I currently have was fairly controlled by the Lisinopril, but the side effects are impossible and either a new med will be prescribed by my doctor (if he won't listen and/or try to understand, it is time to find a more enlightened physician!) Our fates rest on the combined efforts of all of us to bring the dangers of this med to the forefront. Our hypertension may not be controlled for a few days (until a doctor can prescribe a new one), but the alternative of continuing the med and ignoring or making light of the side effects is far worse.!

Well I'm glad I'm not alone...I was given the generic brand for Bactrim for a Staph infection and I took the first pill this morning. Just before lunch I began to feel quite dizzy and even after eating, I still felt dizzy and out of sorts. I came home and went straight to bed. Has anyone experience dizziness w/ Bactrim or its relative generics? I also have diabetes and my levels were a lot lower than what I'm used to. Needless to say, I called my Dr and they are giving me something else.

any one experiencing severe itching to the point they cannot sleep? At first the doctor thought I had a staff infection-i work in sports medicine so their easier to pick up. When I was back two months later after taking my antibiotics he didn't know what was causing it. My husband hasn't caught it either and it's supposed to be highly contagious. I've spent many nights trying to figure out this itching-so bad I can't not scratch. The only thing I can think of is the IUD. Also have gained weight and can't loose it although I have ate and exercised tons better than ever before!

yaz is horrible.
I recently had a baby 5 months ago, and my obgyn gave me yaz to start taking 2 weeks after she was born. so i did........
I thought I had serious post partum depression or something. I was getting severe headaches EVERYDAY, i was always nauseous, irritable, horrible mood swings (actually thought i was bipolar or something) i was also gaining a lot of weight even though ive been working out like crazy and eating healthy since the day i gave birth. right now i currently weigh only 6 pounds less than when i delivered.....thanks to yaz.
I was also having severe itching spells, chest pain, difficulty breathing for no reason, constant headaches, always sick to my stomach, sleep issues (i would either have to sleep for more than 12 hours to feel rested, or i would be almost on a euphoric *high* with only 2 hours of sleep and function better than ever) and numbness is my arms and legs.
I took this for about 4 months before i finally just realized not to long ago, that all my symptoms date back to around the time i started taking this.

DO NOT TAKE THIS

Hi all! I just began taking YAZ two weeks ago and things were fine up until two days ago. I started experiencing itching on several parts of my boy an last night, realized I had hives on my waist at my back, near my underarms and have serious itching all over the rest of my body including the palms of my hands. Please, please, please if anyone reads this an has had similar side effects, please let me know. Furthermore, I did not take the pill last night as I knew this could be the only thing causing these issues. Does anyone know the reprecution of stopping the pill mid month? Please let me know and thanks for your help!

My mom had fluorescein injection for retinal photography yesterday and in 5 min after injection she experienced flushing, dizziness, shaking, severe itching, trouble breathing and than pass out. Heart rate dropped to 20 and we end up in ER. Her BP was 200. She got IV fluids, and something for nausea . For the following 5 hours was in recovery in the ER with vomiting, severe nausea,shaking. Terrible experience and think twice before doing this injection!

I was prescribed Topamax several years ago and stopped because of the forgetfulness and trouble concentrating. The words I was thinking were not what was coming out of my mouth! I started to think I was losing it! I've been seeing a different doctor now who has suggested that I try it again (for migraines) and I guess I just didn't remember how bad it was, so I agreed to try it again, starting out at 25mg daily for the first week, then up to 50mg for the second week. As soon as I increased the dosage to 50mg, I developed a severe itching on the palms of my hands and the soles of my feet that just won't stop! I stopped taking the medicine two days ago, and I'm still waiting for it to go away (although it has improved slightly since stopping). There are other alternatives...just make sure each of you listen to your bodies and don't let doctors talk you into something that makes you feel bad. Only you know how you feel!

I am experiencing a tremendous amount of hair lost. I take 1000 mg of Niaspan with an aspirin at night. In addition, I have begun to have headaches, severe itching, and difficulty sleeping.

I have been taking it for two weeks. The first week I noticed severe itching lasting 30 minutes or more within 3 hours of taking the 50 mg pill. I also had headaches, insomnia, nightmares, ringing in my ears and short term memory loss. I thought these symptoms would decrease when my body adjusted to the medication. After taking it for one week, my blood pressure did not go down, but increased. I called my doctor's office to let them know. I should have reported these side effects at that time, but since I just talked to the nurse on the phone, I didn't mention them. The nurse told me the doctor wanted me to double my dose since it was not decreasing my blood pressure. I then began having swelling of the hands, feet, ankles & lower legs, joint pain, increased thirst, dry lips and mouth, shortness of breath in addition to the original side effects. The only thing that stopped was the itching. I am going to call my doctor's office Tuesday (we are in the middle of a 3-day weekend/holiday) and report all of this.

I had the Mirena IUD inserted on October 10th. I had it switched from the copper IUD because I was spotting dark brown blood prior to my period, so my gyno recommended the switch. I spotted for the rest of the day, then stopped for two days, then began what I would call my period, since I was due for it later that week anyway. I am still bleeding, but I'd like to believe I'm nearing the end, since it seems to be lightening up. I expected my period to be fairly long after insertion.

The day after insertion, I experienced severe itching and swelling down there, and decided that I must have a yeast infection, but both symptoms are listed as side effects on the sheet I got from my pharmacy. I treated the infection, but still itch from time to time... I'm wondering if it's the hormones in the IUD.

On the weekend of October 19th, I lost my appetite, my sex drive, all sense of sexual pleasure and my ability to acheive orgasm. I ate three meals all weekend long, and only because I felt that I should eat, not because I was hungry. Sexually, I felt friction and not much else. Upon trying to climax 4 seperate times over the course of the weekend, I failed at all 4 attempts and all I got from my efforts was sore muscles, frustration and tears from being so upset by it. I have never experienced problems with sex or climaxing in the 14 years I've been with my husband. However, a couple of days before insertion, we had had sex and it was fabulous, as always. I climax every time we have sex, so it's been very upsetting.

I weighed myself today, just out of curiosity, and since the insertion, I've lost 7 lbs. I'm not dieting, not exercising, not even trying to lose any weight.

Upon calling my gyno and discussing my symptoms with her assistant, I was told that it couldn't be the Mirena, because the amount of hormones in it are so minute that they wouldn't affect anything outside of the uterus. I was told that something else in my life must be causing my sexual problems. !!! I don't think so! The IUD is the only thing that has changed in the past 2 weeks! And how do you explain a sudden loss of 7 lbs??? She didn't want to say it straight out, but she was trying to tell me it was all in my head.

I've had sex again since my failed attempts, and it's getting better, as is my appetite, so I'm hoping that my body is simply adjusting to the new IUD and getting used to the hormones. I have not been on any medication or hormones in the past two years, as I've been pregnant and then breastfeeding, so it might be quite a shock to my system.

If my inability to acheive climax continues, I am going ot have the IUD removed and have another copper IUD put in. My sex life isn't worth this.

I took increasing amounts of Niaspan for a number of years and experienced the flushing that even at its worst soon passed each time. But earlier this year, while on 1000 mg, I suddenly experienced terrible itching after showering, even after taking cool showers. It was maddening, as sometimes after a shower, there was no side-effect. When it reached the point one day that I had hives, I stopped Niaspan. I have been off the medication for about 4 months. Two weeks ago, I started up again at 500mg. I have been ok with no flushing. Today, after a cool shower, I experienced a bout of severe itching on my legs. I don't know what to do. I can't tolerate the itching but my HDL has already gone lower than before. Any ideas?

i was originally prescribed bendrofluazide for high bp but this caused gout. a locum doctor then changed the prescription to lisinopril. i have been taking it for a couple of years and since then i have had various problems. i had severe itching of my hands and then all over my body. a friend suggested this could have been caused by the pain killers i was taking - paracetamol and codeine - so i changed this to to a different one (paracetamol and dihydrocodeine). but although the itching lessened it still goes on. also i have discomfort in both my big toes (could this still be gout?) when i visit the doc my bp is high they tell me, but when i take it at home it is within the correct limits. i suffer from anxiety anyway so tend to put any symptoms down to this but having found this site i realise that maybe this is wrong and that other people have also had similar problems to those i have encountered.

i am not happy with the big drug companies as so many others of you also feel. i was put on strontium ranelate for osteoporosis but the aspartame in this made me so ill i had to stop taking it. the drug company says it is not going to take this ingredient out despite several people getting in touch with them.

i don't know what to do about the lisinopril as i am worried that if i just stop taking it there may be other problems. i have been on bp drugs for around seven years. i am coming up to my seventieth birthday. any ideas would be welcome please.

The flushing is tolreable. The itching is intolerable. I'd rather have heart surgery than suffer with that infernal itching. My cardiologist believes the severe itching is unrelated to the Niaspan because the reaction has only occured twice since I started taking the medication 6 months ago. I disagree. It seems to me the itching is caused by the Niaspan, together with some other unknown factor. There may be something to the "spicy food" suggestion posted by others. Last night, I ate a bunch of hot peppers an hour or so before taking the Niaspan. I woke at 3 am, with a mild hot flash, followed by the dreaded itching. Pure torment! My chest, back and legs were bright red. A cold shower helped a little. On the first occasion, two months ago, Benedril help some, but relief did not begin for over an hour after taking it. (Take at least two tablets!) But last night, I didn't mess around with Benedril. Instead, I took two codine tablets I had left over from surgery. Relief! If you are suffering from this terrible side-effect, may God be with you!

I was put on a 5-day dose of Levaquin, and am on my 4th day. After the first dose, I started to get severe itching and pain in my vaginal area. I know it's a yeast infection because I had it once before. I have also had really bad insomnia for the past two days. Called my doc; she told me to continue the medicine and perscribed Diflucan and monistat 3-day. She also said to take Benadryl for itching, but I am feeling really tired already, and I think the Benadryl would just make it worse. I am very tempted to stop taking this med right now, but not sure if it's ok to do that. Has anyone else gotten a yeast infection from this? Thanks, and I hope everyone starts to feel better soon.

Have been taking Lisinopril (5mg) once a day for almost two months. I'm a 52 y.o. male in good physical condition, 5'11", 200 pounds, work out with weights at least three or four times a week, treadmill work at least twice a week and very little salt intake, no fried foods, and overall healthy eating habits. The doctor told me when I was diagnosed with H.B.P. during a visit for a muscle strain that losing weight or changing diet and excercise weren't options to help with the problem since I was in good shape and eating well already. My blood pressure went down beginning the first week and by the third week was near normal (about 123/78). Great news, you would think........except.............
I developed a dry cough and scratchy throat within days of starting the drug and it now persists 24/7 causing a loss of sleep. I have severe itching and small rashes in various places but mostly in creases around joints and between cheeks (yeah, THOSE cheeks). Broke out in a cold sweat, became nauseous, and nearly passed out at work one morning. I guess because of a quick drop in B.P. Have a hard time concentrating and making sense according to others at work. And last but not least, my sex drive is practically non-existent, which is okay I suppose since I haven't been able to get an erection since about three weeks after I started taking this crap. Other than that life is just great!
So I stopped taking this stuff two days ago and am hoping to become healthy again once I get whatever this poison is out of my system. I'm willing to live with a little high blood pressure since I felt just fine before the doctor told me I just HAD to take something. I'd rather be healthy and happy with a touch of H.B.P. than sick and impotent with a normal reading.

I

I am currently taking a 40mg lipotor. I have devloped chronic hives mosttly on my arms and thighs. The itchng is so bad that I scratch these welts in my sleep. I have been on Plavix 75 mg since my first cardio-chatherization which has made my blood so thin that I actually bleed when I scratch. I'm now in a itch and scratch cycle that keeps me from sleeping. My doctor originally started me on 10 mg. This was before I started having clogged coronary arteries'. I am 74 years old. I have just had my second bypass operation. I started on lipitor 10 mg about eight years ago. I developed a hive like welt in my groin area. This welt or hive itched so bad that I damaged the skin. I went to a dermatoligist and the only answer he had after a biopsy was that it was probably Lichon Planus. I had a triple pass July 18 2007. That is when my doctor increased my lipitor dosage to 40 mg. He had increased it to 20 mg several years. I finally realized that it may be the 40 mg dose that causes me to wake about three hours later with Hives and itching that is so bad that even scratching doesen't relieve the itch.
I have seen two dermotoligsts. They can find nothing that I am allergic to. This condition has gotten progressivly worse over the last three years. I am taking Zanix and Benedryl I have eliminated all of my other medicines as the cause.
The only thing I could see as a possible cause is acute anxiety. After seeing my family doctor he prescribed the Zanix.

My last hope for relief is to get off Lipitor. I stopped taking it two days ago
and I already see a change in this chronic hive condition; I am assuming that it may take a while to see if I have solved my problem.
Incidently I started takng Zocor about three years ago instead of the Lipitor and I had such severe neck and shoulder pain that it was obvious Zocor was the cause.

zocor was the cause

The flushing didn't start for me until after I'd been taking it a couple of weeks, and seems to be getting worse. I am also experiencing bad swelling of feet and ankles. Muscles in back of my thighs are very sore, just like they got when I was put on statins several years ago, and I had to stop taking them because I got where I could hardly get up from a sitting position. I was assured this is not a statin and led to believe it is "safe". I also have arrhythmia and cannot afford to have my heart racing, which hasn't happened yet, but I think this Niaspan is going to go the way of the statins for me. I want to know what percentage of heart attack victims are on cholesterol lowering drugs - the truth. How can I find out? Thanks. Ernestine B.

I have severe itching, with dark rash spots on most of the body, with nervousness, panic attacks and weakness in the arms and legs, and flu symptoms. I take have been taking 20 mg once a day for about 10 years. Previously taking zestril, I had to change because of insurance costs, and have had these symptoms almost from the start. I was told by the pharmacy that zestril and lisinopril were the exact same ingredients, so I thought I was allergic to something else. The itching is now so severe, I have purple spots and scars on most of my body. I finally went to the dermotoligist and he did a biopsy, which reveiled the allergy to lisinopril.

OMG! Tonight is my second night on Niaspan. I took the aspirin beforehand etc.. I am experiencing severe itching. I'm about to cut off my fingernails, I'm itching so badly. As I type, one foot is rubbing the other - I ITCH EVERYWHERE AND CAN'T KEEP FROM SCRATCHING!!! And it won't stop! I tried taking 2 benadryl about a half hour ago, and thus far no relief. If it continues to worsen I'll call the "ask a nurse" line to see if I should go in to poison control or the hospital. This is crazy!