October 10th
2008
9:02 AM
I suffered from major depression last spring. The worse in my life ever, with a lot of anxiety.
I have been on Effexor XR 75 mg for 6 months. My main problems are :
LOW SEX DRIVE 9could also be from the birth control pill), SHORT TERM MEMORY PROBLEMS (a bad one), DIZZINESS.
My doctor felt that i needed to increase to 150mg because she thought i still had problems (like lack of motivation and negative thoughts): we started by adding 37.5mg extra. By day 2 or 3 of this increase, I was waking up constantly during the night, and felt extremely agitated. Like I would crawl right out of my skin. I couldn't lie still and moved about a lot in my bed, especially my legs. By day 6 of this increase, my anxiety was SO BAD, I was back to nearly the same anxiety I had in the spring before starting treatment. BE CAREFUL about increasing your dosage. TELL SOMEONE to watch if your mood changes and to take you to the ER if necessary. thank goodness I didn't need to go.
I now take fish oil (omega 3) and within a couple months of that, I noticed that my anger/impulsive and concentration seemed better. I am also going off the birth control pill this month 9ortho tri cyclen lo). I brought it up to my GP, to a psychiatrist and to my opharmacist that I was depressed and could there be a link with the birth control pills and they all said "I don't think so."; "no", "very unlikely". Well my major depression, MAJOR MOOD FLUCTUATIONS, anxiety and ANGER control problems all started with the beginning of the birth control pill.
May 12th
2008
7:30 AM
I was on Advair then my doctor switched me to Serevent and Qvar and now I am back on Advair. I have gained 150lbs since starting this medication in 2002 and just now realize that maybe my weight gain is due to this medication. I also started having short term memory problems as well as swollen legs and anxiety. I never had these problems before. My doctor then prescribed me Xanax for Anxiety but it made me too tired so he prescribed Zoloft which boosted my short term memory and then prozac which I have recently just stopped taking. I never knew that all these prescriptions could be the cause of my health decline. I am only 38 and use to be in top shape playing tennis but now I don't have the energy to do much at all.
-- By daleannie | Reply | Private Message me
February 13th
2008
9:14 PM
I started taking Toprol XL after being diagnosed with SVT back in May of 2003. I was only in my late 20's & was very trusting, at the time. I was recently sent to a cardiologist because I was having horrible chest pain & the Toprol XL 50 MG wasn't working at keeping the heart rate down. The GP put me on a double dose as well as Cardizem to help with the chest pain & rapid heart rate. I was already on Lanoxin 0.5MG, the highest dose allowed. The cardiologist took me off of the Cardizem right away because he said that is was too stressful for the heart to be on that much heart medicine. I went though several tests & was told by the cardiologist that I didn't have SVT & that this was actually Postural Tachycardia (POTS) & Neurocardiogenic Syncope. I was taken off of Lanoxin, but kept on Toprol XL 100 MG. He put me on lots of salt & water to increase my blood volume which would help my blood pressure when standing. That was in June of 2007. All went pretty good, I thought, until January 18, 2008 when I was working. My heart rate went up to 136 just standing or walking across a room. I called the doctor & talked to a nurse who suggested that I take another 1/2 of a Toprol. I did that & felt better for awhile, but it was short lived. I had been having chest pain, rapid heart rate, fatigue, muscle pain, joint pain, headaches, nausea, vomiting, short term memory problems, rapid weight gain, hair loss, cold extremities, & other things I can't think of right now for what seemed like forever. My gynecologist & my cardiologist first thought that I had thyroid problems, but all tests have come back negative. They then thought that maybe it was from the birth control pills that I had been on for the ovarian cysts. I was changed from one medicine to another & at first I thought that was what was wrong. I am now certain that all of the problems that I have been having were & are a result of the Toprol XL. I was even told that all the problems were "psychiatric in nature". I know that that isn't it at all! I have never had anxiety problems & the GP now thinks that's all that is wrong with me & wants me to go on Zoloft. I tried it, but became so ill that after one pill, I quit. I now plan on weaning myself off of the Toprol XL without the GP's knowledge or consent. The cardiologist was planning on weaning me off at some time in the future, but I am starting without him knowing it at the time. I'll just tell him when I see him next month. Thanks everyone for alerting me to the facts about this medicine. If I had known then what I do now, I'd have never consented to starting it in the first place. My only question is, are some of the "side effects" going to be a permanent thing for me or will they eventually go away? Any advice would be welcome! Thanks again!
-- By micheledelp | Reply | (7) replies | Private Message me
September 6th
2007
8:09 AM
I am a 46 year old male prescribed Lipitor by my doctor for cholesterol above 300 and high triglycerides. 10 mgs for approx 5 months. During this time have developed muscle pain and weakness. Thought I was just getting older. Left shoulder pain started, I have never had shoulder pain in my life (avid weight lifter). Strength and muscle deteriorated rapidly, wasting of shoulder and upper arm. Got extremely tired and confused. Started having short term memory problems, could hardly get out of bed in the morning to come to work...became depressed and despondant. Took myself off two days ago, no improvement yet. Right hip has been aching badly, have been walking with a limp. Just a miserable experience, wish i had known about all this ahead of time, never would have agreed to take it. This has been a humbling and dibilitating experience, feel the life just being sucked out of you. Look forward to relief at some point. If anyone is thinking about taking it....dont!
-- By brian1961 | Reply | (1) replies | Private Message me
August 10th
2007
1:59 PM
Are side effects reversible after you stop taking Lipitor?
Has anyone that was experiencing fatigue, concentration, and short term memory problems that was taking Lipitor and has stopped taking it seen these problems go away? Are they reversible?
August 5th
2007
9:25 PM
OnLamictal for 4 weeks for mood stabalization. Noticed with increasing alarm, any thing from short term memory problems to blanking out a phone message I left a friend, and then next day, apparently left same message. Serious memory deficites, I would liken to early stage Altzheimer's disease. Had graduated up to 50mg per day. In hind site, mental disturbance must have started while still on 25mg. Very frightening and humiliating experience. Had serious affects on my daily life and job. Off med. now, and was told it would take 10 plus days for side affects to diminish.
-- By haleigh | Reply | Private Message me
August 3th
2006
7:20 AM
Admitted to the hospital for diverticulitis. Was put on an IV of Levaquin. When I reminded the dr and nurse that I'm sensitive to meds I asked what side effects might come along with it. I was told that "it's just an antibiotic" and the most I could expect was nausea. That night I couldn't sleep and by morning the elbow tendons in my right arm were in severe pain but was told that it was most likely due to the IV entry point.
Was sent home with 7 days oral dosage. I began to experience spaciness, confusion, short term memory problems, burning and tingling in my feet and hands, pain in my wrist, my right arm was no longer usable having no grip strength and weakened muscles. A general feeling of exhaustion came along with it all. I stopped the meds on the 3rd day after reading the stories of others who experienced similar madness.
My GP was reluctant to agree that it could be Levaquin but I feel fortunate that she did indeed refer me to a neurologist. Tomorrow will be the full workup and blood tests for liver functions.
I would very much like to be involved in any project, legal action or otherwise, that is focused on bringing to light the dangers of this family of medicines. You can contact me at VFrancis@southbuffalo.net Good luck to everyone!
-- By vfrancis | Reply | (1) replies | Private Message me
July 14th
2005
7:02 PM
My asthma started with my first pregnancy, 9 years ago. I've tried every drug on the market with no results. I can easily exhaust a 200 inhalation rescue inhaler in 2 to 3 days. I've been on Advair for almost 2 years. It was like a miracle at first! I thought my troubles were over! Lately, the Advair is not helping. I sleep with an inhaler under my pillow at night because I wake up 8 to 10 times a night gasping for breath. It takes 10 to 12 puffs to recover. Anyway, I was hospitalized recently for extreme stomach discomfort. The doctors thought it was my gall bladder, intestinal blockage, blah blah blah...they couldn't diagnose my severe bloating, burning and discomfort. THANKS to all of you who took the time to post symptoms. I thought I had stomach cancer or something. Now I'm sure its the Advair. Also, I have terrible short term memory problems, mood swings, weight gain, and no sense of smell. I'm 33 and my OB/GYN put me on hormone therapy for menapause. After what I've read tonight...I'm convinced the Advair is the culprit. I'm terrified that if I stop taking it, I will die from the Asthma. Any suggesstions?
-- By monicac | Reply | Private Message me
April 20th
2005
8:54 AM
after taking 175 synthroid for 6 months - my thyroid was so out of whack i could sleep and was a complete mess. my doctor has the staff from heck and i by the time i got to see him i was a complete wreck.
anyway - he put me on 25 of cytomel along with reducing the sythroid to 150.
i have to tell you i slept better right away. BUT! i was a wide eyed nut job for the next 3 days! and unfortunatly i had a disability hearing that monday!
i am so upset, because my main complaint was that i was soooo tired. (i have terrible short term memory problems, and cognitive diffuculties) but since my last two weeks were filled with sleepless nights and tired days all i could think of was the need to stay in bed!
back to cytomel. that was Feb 14. its now april 20th. there are days when my hands shake. but i cant be sure what its from. i have many other problems. (not that this shrink beleived me) heck i was wide awake!
but all in all i feeling better now. just have to get my doctor to verify that cytomel caused my spurt of energy. ugh.
oh well nothing is easy.
-- By roe325 | Reply | Private Message me
Lipitor (2) Advair HFA (2) Remicade (1) Lamictal (1) Levaquin (1) Cytomel (1) Toprol-XL (1) Paxil (1) Effexor XR (1)
June 3th
2009
1:42 PM
The fatigue seems to be the worst. I never knew about the short-term memory problems, I can't remember things in a conversation and actually went to psychologist to see what was wrong. I've been on remicade about 2 years, never had such fatigue or memory loss before. The remicade did make a tremendous difference in the two fistulas clearing them up. But my life is not like it was before. I would like to get off the remicade, but can anyone tell me how?
R.36426
-- By rosie36426 | Reply | Private Message me