Sinus drainage symptoms and conditions

I've been on Advair 500/50 for about five years now. Nothing seemed to control my adult onset asthma before then. Singulair worked great but caused shin pain. I seem to tolerate the Advair well in most regards. About 3-4 years ago, I started having a productive cough. It is not all day long, but usually upon first rising and occasional bouts during the evening. I am also hoarse, but it could be due to other meds. I have had pulmonary workup which was great. I have recent cardiac workup, also great. Breathing is fine, better than ever. It is this cough that makes me sound worse than tv's Felix Unger. I am beginning to think it is caused by the Advair, as no other diagnosis is forthcoming.

First I want to say, after reading several posts, that it seems a lot of you are taking Topamax without food, which may be causing your "spaciness." My doctor suggested always taking it with food, even though it says with or without food, and I only experienced spaciness the few times I took it at bedtime without food. Once I started taking it with breakfast and dinner, that never happened again.

I am a 48 year old woman, prescribed Topamax in September of 08 for migraine associated vertigo without headaches, with facial numbness. The first thing I noticed was I immediately had headaches, which to me indicated it was dehydrating me as that is the only time I get a "normal" headache. So I knew I had to drink a lot of water. Soon after starting Topamax I developed a dry cough that lasted the entire time I was on the med. I did not relate it to the drug at the time, however. It never even occurred to me. After about two months on the drug I started having trouble breathing with extreme dryness in my airways. I was prescribed an albuterol inhaler which did not help. I was then prescribed a corticosteroid inhaler which also did not help. I thought the trouble breathing was from taking Nadolol which I was prescribed for occasional heart fluttering - the neurologist said this was a normal side effect of Topamax. I stopped taking the Nadolol but the trouble breathing continued. I also had more migraines with vertigo and facial numbness than before I started taking the drug. I hoped it would eventually stop and the drug would kick in to help the vertigo, so I stayed on the drug. I had very minor tingling in my feet, but it was tolerable. I became very stressed out, had trouble sleeping, depression, my face started breaking out in November (and still is), I lost interest in everything that I normally enjoy - reading, photography, following politics in the news (sort of an obsession of mine). In December I was so depressed that for the first time in my 11 year career I started canceling appointments and eventually took three weeks off from work to "re-group." In January the neurologist decided that we would increase the dose from 100 mg to 150 mg for one more month, and if it did not get rid of my migraines with vertigo, we would discontinue the drug. The first day on the increased dose I had a killer headache, and I drank 150 ounces of water before it went away. That night I did not have to go to the bathroom during the night, unheard of for me. That's a lot of water to drink and not have to pee. Within two days of increasing the dose, my cough became much worse, and within three days, the breathing became more difficult. Within five days, I was having trouble speaking because my airways felt so dry. I called the doctor the next morning and he said it was not the drug, but if I wanted to, stop taking it. So I went off it cold turkey, per his instructions. I had rebound migraines every day for a week or two and my heart was pounding, sometimes for three or four hours at a time. Eventually the cough and trouble breathing went away, however, I had to continue drinking lots of water or I would notice that I didn't have to urinate, sometimes not at all. Again, unheard of for me. I saw a cardiologist at the neurologist's urging and they said the heart pounding was just anxiety. I disagree, as did another doctor of mine. We both believe it was withdrawal. I have now found out (by getting copies of my medical records) that the neurologist is now attributing all of my side effects from the Topamax to "somatization." In other words, psychosomatic - not a side effect, but just a way of getting medical attention. I am seeing a few people on this board who have also experienced a dry cough and trouble breathing. Can I have the same side effects as other people and have them still be psychosomatic, even though I had no idea those side effects could occur? I don't think so.

I have a theory that Topamax interferes with hormones which causes a lot of the side effects like lack of concentration, memory loss, anxiety, depression, insomnia, acne, and hair loss - all symptoms of peri-menopause and menopause. Ask any woman in her 40's or 50's if she has these symptoms and most of them will say yes. My face has not been this broken out since high school! My hair is falling out at a rapid rate. I won't even bother mentioning these to the neurologist. He'll just say it's not the drug.

I'm very frustrated and not sure what to do at this point. The neurologist has me taking a supplement called Migrelief now, but I think it takes three months to kick in, so I have no relief at this point.

Has anyone else experienced the trouble breathing with dry cough? I don't believe for a moment that it was psychosomatic.

I went to the Doctor January 23, 2009 for sinus drainage and congestion. I received the Kenalog 40 shot not knowing what it was they were giving me I just thought it was just like any other shot that I had received. They didn't explain any side effects or anything to me. I knew when I got it that it burned more than usual. I always get a shot in my hip and it never hurt like this shot. I went to bed that night and I woke up out of a dead sleep around 2:00 a.m. and my heart was beating out of my chest. I didn't know what was going on. I then had to calm myself and then I looked up the shot on google and found all these horrible things about it. The past 2 weeks my symptoms have gotten worse. I have felt dizzy, tired, loss of appetite. I just haven't felt myself at all. I haven't been able to drive because of the dizziness. I haven't been able to work, Thank God my boss is very understanding. It just sucks and to read all of your stories it has me really thinking. I really think this shot shouldn't be given to people and it SHOULD be taken off the market.

i got a bad sinus infection for the past month after starting lisinopril, on many meds for this, i switched from avapro to lisinopril as i wanted to join the walgreens plan for cheaper drugs, the doc put me on lisinopril instead after i sent him the walgreens list of available drugs that they use, the avapro was not on the list,, ive been to my ent and allergy doc for this sinuse thing that is well over a month now and getting better, but i have spent more $ for drugs to combat this infection that r not on the walgreens list over $300 spent out of pocket but with a discount for switching to the lisinopril from the avapro that ive been on for about a yr,, it was not worth it,, BUT my cardio doctor thinks it ws just a coincidence that i got the sinus infection about the same week that i started lisinopril, he asked me to tell my ent and allergy doc about this, the ent thinks i shld go back to the avapro if ii feel that it may have started the infection with the little cough, i have not talked to my allergy doc about it yet, has anyone felt they got these symptoms with lisinopril????? i am still taking it all thru this sinus thing, MRI and 2 inhalers and antibiotics, narcotic cough med, sinus wash and musilex r doing ok and on the mend, i have no other symptoms and on the 5 mg , what do u all think? and anyone else have a sinus thing going on when starting the lisinopril??? D.

My wife has been ill and was recently diagnosed with a sinus infection, upper respiratory infection, and middle ear infection. She was prescribed Avelox, along with a combination of corticosteroids, a NSAID, and another medication.

Today was her third day, and LAST day of taking Avelox. The adverse reactions began yesterday when she began complaining of body aches and dry mouth. After waking this morning, she found that her entire neck was swollen, stiff, and sore to touch. We believed that this problem was probably glandular, caused by the sinus drainage, and we expected it to subside through the day.

As the day went on, she began to feel fatigued and the soreness continued to increase, escalating to tenderness and a physical pain response to touching her neck.

She took her third dose of Avelox at 9 p.m. and the reactions escalated from that point. Within an hour she felt her lips began to tingle with a numbing sensation, and believed that her tongue was swelling. She also began to feel the soreness and pain spread across her body, extending to her abdomen, arms, and legs.

Luckily, I have a significant amount of medical and emergency response training based on my career, and was previously a pharmacy technician. On top of that, I'm blessed with a father who is a DoctorPh. and has spent over 20 years in hospital pharmacy. I recognized the signs of these reactions and called my dad. We agreed that the Avelox was the problem and gave my wife 50mg of Benadryl.

It is now 1:40 a.m., and the effects are still ongoing, however they appear to be subsiding. In total, my wife experienced: muscle and joint pain, stiffness, numbness and tingling of the entire body, swelling of the tongue and neck, gastrointestinal pain, nausea, body chills including uncontrollable chattering of the teeth, an epidermal pain response to any physical stimulus (even the slightest touch), and also another reaction that I have not seen listed anywhere else -- her entire lyphatic system seems swollen and tender. You can actually feel the swollen nodes across her body (neck, arms, legs, etc.).

I am very thankful to have found this sight. I am sorry that so many people have experienced similar effects, however their stories have assisted me and my wife extremely. Our physicians office will definitely be receiving a complete and detailed account of the experience with this drug. Thank you again!

I have been on Singular for 3 years, the Dr prescribed
this for allergies. This past year I have noticed an increase in
sinus drainage constantly and a cough. Also some wheezing when I
lay down. A nurse told me today about
the write up on Singular and coughing because of Lisinopril.
Well coincidentally just last week I decided to stop the Singular and
no more sinus. drainage. NO MORE SINGULAR FOR ME and I am also telling my friends about it.
Signed Relieved and no more cough

45 year old female - 10mg per day taken at night for kidney protection. CONSTANT cough to the point I sometimes gag and get a pounding headache. Sinus drainage, leg cramps at night, itching red skin, can't sleep at night, very irritable. I actually thought I had a bad cold for the last 3 months with some allergies kicking in - BS - it is the Lisinopril - I know that now after reading hundreds of people saying the same thing...I e-mailed my doctor today and told her I want off this horrible drug!

my brother is taking advair for COPD. he is also on blood pressure medicine
and a medicine to stop smoking. he has been having terrible insomnia for many months now. also. several times when he's driving, he's suddenly become so tired, he has to pull over. it happened again recently in the middle of the afternoon and he had an accident. he says just before the wave of fatigue comes over him, he seems to have some severe allergic reaction with sinus drainage. has anyone else ever had any of these experiences? this seems incredibly scary.

I started taking Lisinopril and notice that I have been coughing. I cough so much until I have to throw up. I have so much sinus drainage and it is affecting my sleep. As soon as I try sleeping the drainage interfere with my sleep. I have cough so much until it cause me to throw up. I cough, non-stop all during the night, I cough during the day. The Cough is so severe with the drainage until I have to sleep sitting up. I notice I have stomach problem nausea a lot and it is hard to get to sleep insomnia. When I finally sleep it is interrupt from the cough and the drainage. I have so much drainage from my sinus. It is
a lot. I have a lot of red mark over my body; I also had a red rash. I have pain in my joint often.
Since I finally found out the source of the problem, what can I do to get this medication out of my system fast? If anybody have any suggestion so that I can get some relief from the cough and the drainage please advise.

Gloria A

I am 65 years old. Started Lisinopril HCTZ in November. Shortly thereafter began having a persistent tickle in my throat which caused me to to have a very dry hacking cough which then caused my sinus to drain and a lot of mucus to build up in my throat. The tickle and cough would pop up several times a day and night. After a couple of weeks I stopped the medication. The symptoms persisted for over a month. When they finally subsided I tried the Lisinopril one more time. Within one day the tickle & cough came back with a vengeance. I have now been off the medication for over 3 weeks and still have the tickle, cough and sinus drainage. It is now affecting my sleep and eating. I never know when the tickle is going to hit, but now every time I eat the food causes me to start coughing. My doctor took me off the medication and put me on Toprol which is a totally different class of medication. I am also trying Nasonex and Chloraseptic Spray and lozenges. I am considering going to an ENT doctor.

I've been taking Singulair for about a week now. I have been having headaches every day and dizziness upon waking. My sinuses feel irritated and I am experiencing sinus drainage. The only change in medication has been the addition of the Singulair. I started getting allergy shots a little over a month ago, and had noticed a considerable improvement in my allergies and asthma. My doctor just added the Singulair, and I feel as though all my progress has gone out the window. I want to stress that I was feeling MUCH BETTER just getting allergy shots each week, but once I started taking Singulair, I started feeling ill again. The headaches are most problematic, causing particular impairment. I plan to stick it out for a while in an attempt to rule out any other potential confounding variables (weather, hormonal fluctuation, pollen hot spots, etc), but I fear that this may not be the medication for me.

While it is true that all these comments are "anecdotal", the potential side effects listed in the Singulair booklet include headaches, stomach ache, aggression, anxiety, etc. Individuals with allergies tend to be hypersensitive to chemicals, which may explain a higher incidence of sensitivities to medications. No one posting on this site is a hypochondriac, contrary to the uneducated and caustic comment posted on August 19th. This is merely a forum for the free exchange of information, enabling all of us to be more educated consumers and patients. I am curious as to why “Foxmulder” was even perusing this web site - if he or she has not been experiencing any side effects, then why bother reading the rest of our struggles with the drug? I’m guessing that our friend is a tad more damaged than he cares to admit.

Furthermore, the accounts of young children and adolescents reporting problems and then finding relief once being removed from Singulair proves to me a need for more research into this medication. Surely these young children are not reading the website postings and then mysteriously manifesting symptoms after the fact, as cynics like Foxmulder would have us believe. Having studied psychology and having worked with bipolar children, I know all too well the dangers that medication can have on young, developing bodies and minds.

All medications should be approached with caution, and a good doctor will be willing to listen to his or her patient’s feedback and adjust dose or prescription accordingly to find the right balance for each individual.

After experiencing a horrible cough with sinus drainage for almost five month while taking 5 mg of Lisinopril I stopped the medicine and after a few days the cough almost disappeared. It has been a week now and I only cough short coughs a few times a day. I can FINALLY sleep and go out in public now without hacking all night and day. I was beginning to think that I should wear a bag over my head the cough was so embarrassing. Good luck to all of you who are experiencing side effects.

I take 5 mcg of cytomel a day. I have symptons like "hayfever". Sneezing,runny nose, sinus drainage, my eyes are sometimes itchy,burning, watery. The glands around my neck swell a little, my jaws hurt, and the inside of my ears itch. The PA in my doctors office said to contiue to try and take it for 2 weeks to see if the symptons ease off. I have started taking cytomel 3 different times and stopped because of the above symptons. I just can't see being this miserable for 2 weeks. I also take 150 mcg of syntroid once a day. I had diagnosed with graves disease in 1994 they gave me radiactive iodine to stop my thyroid from functioning.

I have just called my dr. for an appt. I was not researching Lisinopril I was looking for info to email someone - happened to spot the first post...I nearly fell over! I now know I am not losing my mind, because that's how I've been feeling - the cough, the weary feeling, palps, my anxiety increase, etc. etc. Low readings that I'm wondering if I'm still alive, and this head detached from my body,, feeling, sort of walking like a well in control drunk, if that makes sense to anyone, a feeling like "iI'm gonna have a stroke" feeling in my head...it feels "tights". I started this med. last year, and feel this has been a gradual on-coming train! I have anxiety, and try to keep it under control myself, since I took prosac for about a week, talk about looney - look up another charming side affect - akethesia - nasty. For one poster who said we're all overweight nuts, I am 103lbs, I do a mile every evening, and eat very healthy, thank you.

My 3 year old son has had many sinus problems over the past two years. He had his tonsils out last August along with tubes in his ears and removal of his adenoids. He still has constant drainage from his eyes and nose so he has been on Zyrtec for about a year without any side effects. About 3 weeks ago his ENT suggested singulair to help with all the sinus drainage that just won't go away. I just related it to a number of problems he has experienced in the past 3 weeks. My son has delayed speach and does not communicate well. He kept complaining of a tummy ache and we went to our family practitioner and "it's just a stomach bug". I also noticed that he has been waking up during the night and getting into bed with us. I know he has been having more dreams, but He is not able to tell us if they are nightmares. Just tonight when I was putting him in the bathI noticed a rash around the base of his penis and he would scream if we tried to examine him. I am sure that it is Candida Albicans and that is when I googled Singulair and Candidiasis and found all the other side affects that are on this site and others.

I have been using Advair recently for coughing from sinus drainage. I only have a very mild case of asthma. Two sinus surgeries have helped. Yesterday after using it in the AM my lips and mouth area tingled. I became very warm and then cold to the point where it was dripping off my forehead. I had a hard time breathing and had a panic feeling. Then my feet and legs began to ITCH. It moved to my arms, back and down the body. Later my whole body ached which lasted 24 hours. I immediately called the doctor and went on Benedryl. He also phoned in medication for the itch. After reading some of the posts, I now know where my weight gain is coming from. Never will use it again.

I am using Advair temporaily. It provides relief when I have a lot of sinus drainage and can't breath well. I am also reading Sally Fallons Nourishing Traditions and cutting out wheat, corn and most dairy. Also, all unnatural food additivesand processing including pesticides. Go to mercola.com to search for info on health and what's in the food we eat. I had no idea what was in stuff I was eating. I was shocked. I am hoping that I can get to a place where I won't need the medicine.

I have been taking Advair for about 4 months. I have a lot of sinus drainage,so when it's bad I use Advair 2x a day so I don't end up getting sick. However, this last time I ended up getting an earache. I was wondering if that was related to the drug. Before the ear pain I had a sore throat for about a week and sinus drainage. If I leaned to one side or layed on one side I would have pain on that side of my throat and ear then if I switched sides the other side would be sore. Finally it stayed in one ear and I am going to see my Doc tom. I don't usually get ear infections. I wondered if anyone else experienced increased ear pain. It's almost like instead of drainig it just stayed up in my throat and ears.

My dr prescribed me Guaifenex PSE 600/60 and Z-pack antiobiotics for my tonsillitis. I must say the Guaifenex really helps my sinus drainage but I cannot sleep at all. Here it is 3am and I am not one bit tired. Also, it seemed to trigger panic attacks. Overall, seems to work well but the side effects are killin me.

I have a 9 year old daughter that was sick on a monthly basis since she started school. We did the round of antibotics every month. Finally we went the route of having the tonsils out. That didn't seem to help the constant throat ,sinus drainage and constant barking coughing. Then we went through allergy testing discovered that she has no food allergies,but had a lot of environmental allergies and exercise induced asthma. The doctor prescribed Singulair in Feb of 06. My daughter has not been sick since. She has not been to the Doctor since Feb of 06. The cough has disappeared as well as the constant throat drainage. The medication has helped her symtoms,but now I am concerned as to what I am reading on this forum. She has not compalined about nightmares,or hallunications,but she has changed in her behavior some. She has become so confrontational with us. She at times does not have appropraite reactions to situations.She becomes easily angered and upset. She is a straight A student and has no problems with her behavior at school. Was recommended for the Excel program for gifted students.She does complain about joint discomfort l. She takes 5mg every day. I was wondering what mgs that others are taking that would cause all these horrible side effects? I am really scared to hear about the seizures. Of course her Doctor told us that the side effects were near to nothing almost like candy as he described it. I am worried about long term side effects. I did cut her dosage back to half during the summer months and she was fine.

I have taken Zpak three different times over the past two years and have not had a single side effect. I would croak of sinus drainage and coughing without this stuff. It is great.

My son is 15 months. He has been on Omnicef 2 times prior to this with only great results. Where other drugs had failed to cure his infections, omnicef wiped it out. Yet this time I have a different story. I am an RN and have enough education to know that the problem may not be omnicef at all but yeasterday I swore I knew it was. Four days ago my son begain running a temp (102/103). I don't like to rush to antibiotics everytime he gets sick so I decided to wait a while to see what happens (because this was really the only symptom he had). After about a day and a half I noticed a little sinus drainage. My sister in law who is a Family Nurse Practitioner took a look at him and said he has a bit of an ear infection and inflammed throat so she decided to put him on omnicef. The next day his fever broke and seemed to be feeling better. Of course I noticed the usual reddish colored stools but this is normal (as well as some abdominal discomfort and runny stools). Anyways after about 3 doses of omnicef he began to develop a rash on his trunk. This same rash had appeared the last time he had augmentin and thus his Drs weren't sure if he was allergic or not. The rash isn't hives or the type of rash associated with allergies so it was a bit confusing. But, after his 4th dose the rash got 10 times worse. Naturally I started to freak out but this morning I took him to his pediatrician and he thinks its roseola. After reading more about Roseola I am fairly certain this is it but I'm still quite confused about the coincidence with this rash appearing after augmentin and now omnicef. I know that there is cross-sensitivity between penecillins (augmentin) and cephlasporins (omnicef) and so I was really convinced he was having some sort of mild allergic reaction to both. After educating myself more on the signs and symptoms of roseola, I am 99% sure that it is the real culpret. I do wonder however if antibiotics such as the ones I mentioned can aggrivate it??? Anyone else out there have any similar experiences??? By the way, because I am a mother and a nurse, I find it hard to discredit other parents beliefs when it comes to things like this, but you must always stop and ask yourselves if some of these strange "behaviors" aren't due to the fact that your kids are already ill? My son kept me up all night long too and I admit it is tempting to blame the drug but who really knows. My advice is to take the severity of the situation into strong consideration. Like I said, I have had wonderful results with omnicef in the past. but just because a drug works, doesn't mean it doesn't have consequences. Its when the risks outwiegh the benefits that another option should be sought after.

I have had terrible sinus drainage and coughing all of my life. I have recently been prescribed Singulair and although I've only been taking it a short time, I've noticed immediate results for the better! My cough has stopped and my drainage is gone. This is the ONLY medicine that has helped me and I've tried everything. I'm very greatful for it and highly recommend to anyone having similar problems.

Same with ticklish throat and hacking cough two or three times daily, drainage of sinuses--worse at night. Turned into bronchiatis with low fever. Cough stopped when discontinued all blood pressure medicine. Also tried beta blocker and added this ace again. Same thing happened. Drs think I am making it up because cough is suppose to be dry. Now on web dry cough means no yellow or brown, or green mucous, clear mucuous is still considered dry cough. Unbelievable. Drs. think dry cough means dry- like clearing throat. Norvasc is only thing with least effects. Even better with water pill especially if you have sinus drainage and allergy. It actually drys sinuses while you sleep. Acts like antihistamine. No doctor figured that one out. Going to neuprologist now. He is at least checking out all kidney and adrenal functions. Suspects genetically passed down chronic High blood pressure since young age. I am not overweight and I am very active, walking, yoga,hiking and aerobics all year long. More active at 60 than 30. Blood pressure was always since I can remember in 130's over 85 range. Never 120 over 70 range even as child. At that time 130's over 80's was normal. They are dropping the standards on everything, including weight and cholesteral. None of the medicines brings my bp to the standard. When it gets to low, body automatically forces it back up. My energy is only high when the bp is over 135. I would be happy if it would stay in the 140's/ 80's or 90's. Ace will not drop it that low. Only beta blocker drops the bottom below to 70, but top stays 150. Pulse goes to 40. Really tired.

Went to doctor because of burning in throat and chest and nausea. Friend had the flu and I was starting to feel the same.

Doc diagnosed fluid on ear and swollen lymph nodes. First two days os zpak diarhea set in; next day chest in severe pain; next day feeling weak and spacey; today nauseous all day - breathing bad and throat tight and headachey.

This has done nothing for the nauseousness which doc said was due to sinus drainage. Sinus got worse with white yeast material getting spit out. Yeast of course is fungus----so appears that the zpak has created yeast in the upper respiratory area rather than curing the fluid it is now congealed into white stuff.

One more pill to take. Do I take or not?

Also, told ht edoc I was allergic to erythymycin----so she prescribed zpak---------is this not the same as erythromycin?

If this is the same then I am not surprised that I am feeling bad on this medication.

Never again on z pak.