Short period symptoms and conditions

**I found something that helps the foggy head, forgetfulness, short term memory, and sleepiness that comes with taking Lamictal!!**

I want to pass this along , because it has helped me SO much. I was diagnosed bipolar II recently and was put on Lamictal. I'm a writer, so my biggest concern was being able to find the words I need and having the concentration for my work, but suddenly I lost my ability to string words together when speaking OR writing. The words weren't even close to coming to me. I felt like I was sleepwalking half the time, along with other symptoms, but the bouts of spacehead were hardest to take. I felt pretty desperate and kept researching until I came across a post on a message board that claimed to have the answer.

If you can manage, do not take Lamictal at night. The following is so simple that it might seem strange that it works (it did to me):

All you have to do is set your alarm for a half hour to an hour before you would normally get up. Then take your Lamictal and go back to sleep for a half hour to an hour (it takes a little practice to get used to this morning routine at first, but it's totally worth it). For some reason, it's ESSENTIAL that you do go back to sleep for that short period and do not just rest with your eyes closed until it's time to get up.

I tried this, not really expecting anything from it, but on the very first day it seemed that at least 85 percent of the foggy-head was gone. Just gone. It has continued to work every day that I have managed to do it, and when I don't do it, the foggyhead is back again with a vengeance. I finally feel great, as if the medicine is doing exactly what it's supposed to.

Taking Lamictal at night (like doctors often recommend) can make the fogginess worse than any other time. The person who posted about this originally said he told his psychiatrist about his experience, and the psychiatrist told his other patients on Lamictal to try it. It worked for them too.

I hope this is helpful to others as much as it is to me, though I know everyone's body and brain are different, so it's possible that it won't work for everyone. I do hope if it works for you that you'll spread the word, because this is such a debilitating side effect.

Best wishes to you all.

I have been on the NuvaRing for over 2 years. At first it was great! I loved not having to take the pill everyday. Im so happy I found this wedsite and read everyones stories. I thought that I was not having any side effects until now. For the past couple years I have had an uncountable amount of UTI's. I also experience painful burning and redness after having sex for a short period of time. I would even have swelling. Its horrible. I didn't think these things were related to the NuvaRing, but now its all making sense. Even though I have been on the ring for 2 years it seems like more side effects have popped up in the past 6 months. I have felt more moody since iv been on the ring but im now having crazy mood swings that are totally out of character for me. I have also gained 20 lbs in 5 months. I didn't think that the ring had anything to do with this until last night after having sex with my boyfriend he told me that his penis burned. When we turned on the light he had a red rash right under the head of his penis. This redness looked like the same thing that would happen to me. After reading everyone eles storied Im going to get off this ****** ring as soon as I can. Im sick of the pain and I hate that its effecting my boyfriend too.

lower back pain, hair loss,joint pain, complicated migraines, vertigo, palpitation, hormonal imbalances (lowered DHEA, increased aldosterone-it affected my adrenal glands and kidneys), epigastric pain, bleeding, extreme fatigue, anxiety,pulmonary failure etc. I had to go through ER, 2 CT scans ( abdominal and brain), 2 MRIs, neurologist, endocrinologist, GI, gyno etc. I threw my Yaz pills in the trash after the first CT scan that revealed multiple tumors in my liver and left adrenal gland ( i took the pills for about 3 and 1/2 years)... the past 6 months have been a hell, but there are no more migraines, anxiety or other neurological symptoms at this point. By the way, one of my best friends who just started on Yaz recently ended up in the ER last week with a blood cloth in her left lung. Please stay away from that drug!

I have only been on Aviane for a week and a half. Within the first couple days, I noticed some bloating, which annoyed me, but which I thought would eventually go away. It didn't. In fact, it keeps getting worse. My routine is the same; yoga each morning for an hour, plenty of walking, a healthy diet. But I have gained at least 10 or 12 pounds in this short period of time, and each day seem to balloon. On top of it, I am nauseated every day, as soon as I sit still for a moment. I've also had a noticeably reduced sex drive, anxiety, and have been easily provoked into feelings of anger and depression, so much that I've often taken myself out of the situation mentally, noticed my ridiculousness, and felt out of control in preventing my responses! I think it's not only affecting my relationship, but absolutely affecting my sense of self-control and self-esteem. I can't deal with this, and after reading most of these posts and learning that I'm not alone, I realize it doesn't necessarily get better, and often gets worse. Everyone is different, of course, but I think this brand, and maybe even method, is having a very negative impact on my life. Thank you all for sharing your experiences. It's been a huge help. I'm going to look into other methods and am looking forward to feeling like myself again!

I have been taking 40mg lipitor for over 9 years now.

I have had back issues since an injury to one disc (L4?), and had microdiscectomy in 2001? Took about two years to actually get close to normal.

The last few years, I have had multiple issues with shoulder pain, wrist pain, elbow pain, lower back pain, Upper rump muscle pain , and now both hips are killing me (the shoulder, upper rump muscles and hips are by far the worst). And I am now so weak in my lower back muscles, that it feels like I will (and do) pull out my back.

I have seen NO many doctors I can't even name them all. I have had operations, multiple injections (cortisone) taken pain meds, etc. Nothing has helped and in the last year and a half, I have gotten steadily worse. To the point where I can't really do much of any activity. Sleeping at night is painful. Can't lie on left shoulder, and can't lie on either hip for more than a few minutes. If I fall asleep on my side, the pain wakes me up. When I try to walk, 80% of the time, I end up with a pain in my upper right rump (sacroiliac area), that I MUST sit down to get the intense pain to go away, which it does. But comes right back when I walk again.

I have had x-rays, MRIs etc, and never reveals all that much. Disc issues, yes. NOt much else.

Recently, I have begun to get a nasty clicking (catching) on my left jaw (joint?). Not really painful, but something definitely wrong. My dentist sent me to his Chiro. I went and liked him right away. I had gone to another chiro for years and I believe in them. But this one is the best I have seen.

Anyway, one of the FIRST things he suggested, was that it was POSSIBLE that the Lipitor is causing all of my problems. Put me on COQ10, and doing multiple adjustments and treatments. I will be seeing my regular doctor 5/26, and my chiro wants me to see if he will take me off lipitor and put me on Niaspan instead.

I guess my question is: Can Lipitor be fine with me for so long, and then in such a short period of time, turn me into a compete wreck from the pain and wasting away of my body/muscles? I've told doctors for over a year now that there is SOME connection as to all these issues and pain. One Doctor, of course, gave me the "you are getting old" bull. Yes, I am 56 yrs old. But I understand the process of getting old, vs the complete failing of ones body.

Also, IF it is the Lipitor, can it possible all go away? Or should I expect some damage forever?

One more thing, the last ortho I went to the other day for a second opinion, wants me to do a EMG, to see if there is muscle damage. I was not planning on doing it, but wonder now, should I? He was not doing it because of lipitor, as he never even talked about that to me. I had shoulder operation and have not had the results I feel I should have had.

Last Tuesday, my son was prescribed Singulair by our pediatrician. He was also prescribed Pulmicort by nebulizer at the same time. Within a couple of days, I was noticing a dramatic change in his personality. He's only 21 months old and normally a very happy, lovable, easygoing little boy. He did a complete 360. By Friday, I had to take a day off from work, as I was too scared to send him to daycare. He took his last Singulair chewable tablet on Friday night. Saturday was his worst day by far. I was in shock by his behavior. He was extremely aggressive, punching and slapping anyone who came near him, he was throwing things, throwing himself into walls, etc, just completely out of control. I contemplated even taking him to the hospital, but then started doing some research online. I had my mother contact a pharmacist whom we trust, who advised for us to stop the Singulair, as if he was having any side effect, it would more than likely be from that. On Sunday, I started to see some changes in him. Yesterday he was getting back to normal. Today, he's that much better. We actually went back to the pediatrician this morning and I'm actually thinking of filing a formal complaint against the dr. as he basically swore up and down that his side effects weren't from the Singulair. Well as a parent, does anyone really think I'd want to put my child thru this?? It may be different if he had behavioral issues prior to this, but this came completely from left field. I am beyond upset right now, pissed off that this drug can be on the market. How many children have to be affected??? This is very scary to me. My son was only on Singulair 4 days, and I feel guilty and angry that he had to go through even that short period of time on the drug. And then to have a pediatrician basically discount me and say that it has nothing to do with singulair is a complete slap in the face! I won't stop speaking out against this drug and hopefully it will inform other parents of these harmful consequences!!!!

I think most of this is all in your heads. It does state clearly in the booklet though that you will have less of a sex drive. But being depressed and all is all own thing. Maybe if you start thinking that its making you happy you will feel happy....

Thank you all for sharing! I thought I was crazy. I have 3 bulging discs in my neck and have been seeing a new doctor for neck block injections. He prescribed Ultracet for me on Jan 29, 2009. I did not know it was Tramadol, which I told him I could not take because of the side effects. In a short period of time I began to experience the same problems that I had with Tramadol. Very dry mouth, weird dreams, uncontrollable sleep but not rest, hyper activity as if I had had coffee, which I don't drink, and the strangest one of all that I just discovered on this site. I live in Chicago so dry skin is typical in the winter but I have had uncontrollable itching on every single part of my skin including private areas. I had already stopped taking them except in extreme need but I am stopping completely now. For those of you who are helped with the drug, good for you, for the rest of us, we are not crazy with these strange side effects. I for one have stopped and will look, with my doctor, for an alternative.

I started taking Yasmin March 2008. I did not know I was pregnant at the time. I only took it for 1 month. Once I found out I was pregnant I stopped taking it. Withing just a couple of months I had a DVT (Deep Vein Thrombosis) in my right thigh. I was admitted through the emergency to the hospital where I stayed for 6 days while they overlooked me & my unborn baby. They wanted me to not move around much for chance of a pulmonary embolism. They were also afraid that if a piece of the clot moved to my uterus it might have killed my baby. I was out of work for three weeks while the swelling & the purplish color went away from my legs. I still has severe swelling in my ankles, calves & sides of my feet after walking for a very short period of time which was not linked to my pregnancy. I was 28 weeks pregnant at the time. I started out with some hip socket paid in within 3 days time my this was swollen down to my knee. I figured I would call my doctor the next morning to see if I could get checked out. Over the course of the night when I had to go to the bathroom I was just about screaming in paid as the tears soaked my face as I tried to walk. It was unbearable. My leg was now a purplish color & the swelling has extended down my calf & into the sides of my feet. I could not wear normal pants since the swelling had gotten so bad. I was on Lovenox blood thinner injections twice a day for the rest of my pregnancy.

I have been on Loestrin 24 Fe for 2 years and it is the best BC for me! I am a newlywed and our sex life is great! Previously I had tried OrthoTriCyclen Lo and Yaz. Both did not work for me at all!!!! I felt awful with both, especially Yaz. On Loestrin 24 Fe I might have a very short period or sometimes I do not even have a period at all and it is amazing! My doctor said that is okay and normal. I love Loestrin! It has saved me a whole lot of pain that I used to go through once a month. I had the worst cramps and bleeding in the world. I would have to go to bed I was so sick and take tons of alieve and ibuprofen. Now I take nothing but my multivitamin in the mornings! I feel great. Actually I just went to Disney World and my period was due, but I felt great and didn't even have a period!!!!!!!!!!!! INCREDIBLE! Life has changed for the better. I hope you all can give it a try. I will forever be thanking my OBGYN!

Wow…I was doing so much research today and was so excited to find this website and seeing all the responses from everyone below. My daughter had a really bad allergy attack last 6/2008 when there was a lot of smoke in the Sacramento, CA Valley from surrounding fires. The smoke was so bad for a couple of months. I took my daughter into an urgent care Med 7 of Folsom per the advise nurse line provided by my health insurance co. Nothing had changed in my daughters diet or environment for the hives to occur, other than the smoke that was really bad outside. So the doctor came in and looked at my daughter and then he said they would be administering a Kenalog shot and that would help the hives disappear for what ever reaction she was having. I was a bit concerned because my daughter was only being 2 years old and there is steroids in this medication. Normally when we have ever got any type of injection from a doctors office they have always given you a side effects form for you to review and a form for you to sign an authorization to CYA. Unfortunately, due to me being so concerned with my daughter I didn’t realize it until I had to take my daughter an hour later after we got home the hives did not disappear they got even worst, so we rushed her Mercy of Folsom, CA and I gave my daughter benadryl only to settle the hives because she was so uncomfortable and itchy. Finally after waiting for about 2 ½ -3 hours in the emergency room the hives settled down for a short period of time. Finally we got in to see the doctor I explained everything and realized that the paperwork I had for my daughter didn’t have the side effects paperwork from Med 7 or the amount of the kenalog shot they administered to my daughter. The only thing the doctor could recommend was Zyrtec and to follow up with my daughters primary physician. So, we went to the store and purchased this over the counter medication for her allergies and it worked great for her. About a month after the kenalog injection in her upper left thigh I noticed she had these small white/purplish color marks on her leg and then it turned into a dime size indentation. Over the last 7 months that indentation has grown into the size of a quarter, maybe a bit bigger than that. We didn’t think anything of it until recently we called the advise nurse and she said to make an appointment with our primary physician to have him look at it. When we came into our appointment I explained the long story to him about the shot she received and why she received it, so he referred me to a dermatologist who really couldn’t give me any advise other than it was a lipoatrophy? He said he couldn’t recommend anything other than to watch it over time and if it gets bigger to go back to her primary physician. He stated that she could probably get surgery to have the muscle in her leg pulled together or add filler injections. He said I can’t really suggest anything if it is not effecting her general health. From what I see when I touch this area of my daughter softly she doesn’t even want it to be touched as if it is very sensitive? This is truly unacceptable and I plan on coming after the Med 7 clinic for not providing me any side effects paperwork before administering the shot and they have a rate us 1 - 10 website. I rated them a couple of days later and from what I heard from their Folsom, CA office is that they have the board of directors for these clinics and managers review what is sent on this rating website and someone would follow up with the client. Unfortunately, that was not the case because nobody ever called me back or was concerned. I will never go into a med 7 clinic for assistance again and I will continue my mission to make sure my daughter and others are aware of what could happen to them as well.

PS. To the writer slmgator Thank you!!! I will report my message to the FDA as well….

Is anyone experiencing confusion, trouble thinking, trouble concentrating, decreased cognitive function, mental sluggishness, trouble solving problems or situations which require logical thinking and sequencing, and memory loss? Would love to hear from anyone experiencing any these symptoms and if so, how long were you on the drug.
Thanks!

My 6 1/2 year old daughter has been on Singulair for 3 1/2 to 4 years now and we have had horrible experiences! She was having night terrors, mood swings, angry issues, self control issues, crying over small things, etc. We have been to psychiatrists and psychologists who have diagnosed her with mood disorder, sensory processing disorder and anxiety disorder! Well she has recently been having stomach problems so we have been going to a GI to figure that out. I got online to research and found numerous sites that told how Singulair causes all these things in children. We took my daughter off the meds and within 3 or 4 days seen a tremendous difference! She is a totally different child! It just really frustrates me and saddens me that all these children and their families are going through all this and the doctors do not seem to care. The allergist or psychiatrist didn't believe me. They say no study has ever proven such things. I don't care what they say we as parents know our children and we are the experts when it comes to seeing how they change when on this medicine, we are the ones that live with them and are with them everyday not the doctors! I think they just don't want to lose out on their money from prescribing this drug 90% of children with allergies and asthma!

i have been on W 150xl now for 3 days. I have had UNREAL side effects for the short period. The first day - within 30 minutes I started having racing heartbeats. I could literally SEE my chest thumping. It was so horrible I had to lay down with my feet up for around 10 hours. I couldn't even move without feeling like I would pass out. I felt very nauseated but didn't throw up. Since then, I am struggling with being groggy and can hardly stay awake at all. I AM having very interesting dreams - so I guess if I have to be asleep all the time, at least the dreams are good. Needless to say - I am STOPPING this drug.

I do tend to have a tendency to be extremely sensitive to drugs - so have done well with lower dosages of other things in the past.

Prior I have been on zoloft for the last 6 years off and on for depression. i have done well on Zoloft(had reactions to generic so went with actual zoloft) at 25mg or 50mg, but have been frustrated that it killed my sex drive completely and I literally can't orgasm. This was the reason for the switch to Wellbuterin, and although I feel some sex drive coming back- it just isn't worth it. I will be going back into my doctor and going back on Zoloft. The wellbuterin has been a nightmare so far and I am NOT willing to tough it out just to have decent sex.

G. in WA

Very high tolerance for medications incl 60mg morphine, 20mg oxycontin 4x day, however, I just cannot seem to tolerate Fentanyl. Have tried it two times in past, both the 25mcg and 50mcg. The first week or so is great, after that the side effects are more than I can tolerate. All of these side effects were extreme and unbearable not just mild. They affected my ability to function and sent me to bed on more than one occasion. Extreme fatigue, nausea, sweating, anxiety and weakness. I felt as though I had a very bad case of the stomach flu. Both occasions I stuck it out for 2-4 weeks till I finally had to quit using it. Any suggestions as to why would appreciated. Some of my side effects aren't even listed in brochure.

I'm an 81yo Caucasian male who has been taking Lisinopril for two years ago. I have suffered through the aches and pains , dry cough lightheadedness , associated with this drug. When I first took 20mg/day, I tracked my BP as frequently as 20 times per day. Some of my symptoms were a result of my BP dropping down to s practice of medicine, MDs do not always have the time to experiment with each patient, so the patient must do some of the logical investigations independently.
Remember, no one knows your body better than you, and your PCP or Cardio MD only sees you for a short period of time. I have tried five statin drugs and cannot tolerate any of them. Alternate, naturally-occurring substances are available.

I have just been started on Advair as of today and now I am concerned.

I have been ill for a month with a upper respiratory bug and my doctor is trying to help ease the breathlessness I have been experiencing with it.
But, after reading all these posts of the side effects, I wonder if there are alternatives I should ask my doctor about?

I don't need the weight gain, dealing with that thanks to Cymbalta (which I am off of now) and the other symptoms don't sound fun either.

The only thing I am having from today is a dry mouth and sore throat.
I say, that's enough!

My first side-effect was dizziness when I would get up from squatting for a short period time...darn near fell down.

I'm glad I've read the above because I've thought that the aches in my hands were from my not taking my anti-inflammatory regularly enough.

Great thing about sharing experiences, we all profit in some way.

I'll check back to see what other symptoms others are having. Thanks to all who contribute.

I love Quasense. I have been on it for about a year and a half. For the first year, I took it for the 3 month, would have a very short period for the placebo week and I had no breakthrough bleeding. My gynecologist told me I could skip the placebo week and start the new pack to avoid having a period at all. Every once in a while I will have spotting when I start the next pack after not taking the placebo, but its very light. Other than that, I have not gained any weight, my appetite is the same, I don't have nausea. I don't have any cramping, I don't have mood swings, it improved my acne. Other birth controls I have taken in the past has made me gain weight, or given my acne or made me nausea. I love this stuff.

Well ladies, I don't really have much to add. Weight gain, depression, anxiety, loss of sex drive and as many of you have said the mental problems are the worst.
In high school I tried "the pill" despite my better judgment. Ironically the female doctor I had requested did not believe me when I told her my regular migraines were caused by estrogen. Predictably I became extremely aggressive and angry.Since then I had been taking a pill with no estrogen, a once a day birth control pill, the kind you have to take at the same hour every day.
I changed over to Depo-Provera because I don't trust myself to take a pill with in an hour window. And because with out some sort of birth control I'm worried I might bleed to death. During the short period between the once a day pill and the shot I bled through two tampons and a pad in under five minutes.
I pushed through all of the horrible side effects of the first year, weird bleeding weird discharge. All the ups and downs.
I am glad to say I have no more period.
But I don't know what to do, I'm losing my friends, my life, and myself.
I'm starting to feel like this whole birth control thing is just one big joke. Or worse some sort of sick punishment.
I don't understand how these medications get passed inspection.

I have the Mirena since 06/07 and i haven't had one problem. I love it! I have slight cramps right before my personal but nothing major. My sister best friend and 3 sister n laws all have the mirena and we have never had one problem.

I was on the Nuvaring for 6 months in 2006 but had to stop because I lost my insurance coverage. I had no side effects back then, except abnormal clots in my period.

I just started it again a month ago, I'm on my fourth week and have to put the new one on on Monday. I have no other side effects while the ring is in, but since I started my period yesterday I have had bad cramps and very bad lower back pain. I never usually get cramps during my period without birth control. I also have the blood clots again.
Is this a bad side effect that could be effecting the health of my body overall?

Endo Cancer?

It has to be listed and discussed.
All you ladies out there that have had the Mirena removed:
Are your periods lighter than they ever were?
Are they still?
What is the time frame of having the IUD removed & your return to what is a normal period for you?

If you're still experiencing a "light" or "lighter" flow than what is your norm after having the Mirena out, get yourself to the doctor's office (NOT your Gyn), tell them you were using the Mirena & ask for an ultrasound to measure and look at your uterus. Chances are, like me, you'll have an unusually thickened endo lining. Not just thickened, but irregular as opposed to smooth.
What does this mean? Well, you shouldn't have a THICK lining that keeps growing or stays the same.
I was normal before insertion. (u-sounds done 2 weeks prior)
At about 10 days after removal, u-sounds showed an irregular thick lining measuring at 10mm.
At almost 8 weeks after removal, u-sound test showed the lining to be at 13mm.
NOTE: The "C" word starts getting used if you head toward the 15mm range.

Has anyone in your GYN office addressed this side effect with you?
Mine certainly didn't. Not one word. They didn't even tell me what to expect after my insistant demands for removal. (I called them after to report severe bleeding and clots of tissue, to which they responded was "normal".)
Ok....so if I had a heavy bleed, one would assume that the lining would be completely shed. So, why, after two cycles, and only 21 days of actual Mirena usage, is my endo lining growing like a banshee?

I have taken one 7-day prednisone taper (40-40-40-30-30-20-10) for severe back pain due to a herniated disk on my S1 nerve. I noticed an improvement in ability to stand up, pain decreased, mood was happy, energy level up. Negatives? none. Thirstier than usual. Once dosage was decreasing, pain returned. I am about to try another prednisone taper, only on a 12 day schedule. I am looking forward to some relief and hope to avoid any negative side effects. I do not think prednisone is negative if you don't take too much and you drink a lot of water.

i'm 26 and this is the first time i've ever taken any birth control. for the past 2 1/2 yrs, i've had my period every month and a half, then every two months, and the last period was three months late. after many visits to the gyno - ultrasounds and blood work, i gave in to the idea of trying this out for a short period of time to get my periods jump started again. i've been on loestrin 24 for 4 weeks now. i had a period after the first week of pills, i've been nauseous 90% of the time, i have unexplained pains in my chest and i've been crying more than usual. i've felt depressed, anxious, and have severe mood swings - all of these things are more than normal and i thought i was just loosing my marbles. after reading this site things make sense now and i'm going to stop taking it. my gyno says how i feel is normal but that my "emotional" part has nothing to do with the bc. there's no abnormal stresssors in my life as of late but maybe trying a different bc might help.