Sleepiness symptoms and conditions

I had my Mirena put in nearly 6 weeks ago- and they side effects now seem to be compiling. At first, I had pretty much only pain - sharp, cramps pains in my lower abdomen- and light bleeding (everyday since insertion). But now I've realized the mood swings, the acne (which is impossible!), depression, the sleepiness... I just don't feel like myself at all. Only 6 weeks in, and I can't wait to get this thing out of me. Not to mention, I'm backpacking in Australia and now need to find a clinic here to help...

I have noticed that a lot of you are not utilizing Planned Parenthood's services, however. One woman mentioned spending nearly $1000 to have Mirena inserted. Planned Parenthood, although a lot of women have many misconceptions, is a wonderful option for women. Their services are available to anyone, any age, any situation. The clinics are always very professional, clean, and the staff always helpful and knowledgeable. I was unemployed at the time I had my Mirena inserted, and had to pay nothing. They depend on donations as many of you know. The counseling services have helped me through a few rough spots, and even if you need to only discuss your side effects and other possible options, I've learned they'll never let me down. (1-800-230-PLAN)

I have itching,burning,discharge,cramping that makes me wanna scream....and the itching is so bad i want to peel my skin off.i have severe sleepiness even after a nights rest an i will get tired an fall asleep any where but that could be my severe anemia but the pill makes me too sick and depo is toooooo much weight gain and the patch is discontinued up here but i need something for my heavy uncontrollable periods what should i do?.....J.

Just started taking Lisinopril about 4 days ago - only 10mg. I take it appx. 8:00 pm - 8:30 pm. I've found myself being woken up by the alarm at 5:10 each morning - I'm generally awake around 4:00 am. I'm groggy, have a slight headache, and all day long I'm falling asleep. I'll be typing, my lids close and I wake myself up nodding to one side. Headache isn't bad, but the sleepiness is terrible. I know people who take 40mgs and they don't have the sleepiness. Plus, people say I act hyper, giddy, etc.

L.

**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.

Wow, wish I had read this a long time ago. I have been on Vytorin 10/10 for 2+ years. Have many of the same complications as posted by others. Numbness in the hands and arms and severe joint pain in my elbows(I am not a tennis player, or anything remotely close to that) has just started to increase over the last month. Never made the connection until now. And the sleepiness!...I just feel like I could sleep all day everyday!...Now, this is one that I haven't seen in other posts, and am curious if anyone else has noticed capsule shaped things in your stool? They are almost a yellowish color and I would say about the size of a ring finger tip from the top joint to the tip of your finger? Part of me just assumed it was the Vytorin taking the cholesterol out of my system, but now I am worrying it could be something more. Any replies are appreciated, and last night, I took my last dose of Vytorin!

Wow, it amazes me how many negative reviews this BC (birth control) received after doing a Google search and yet this RING FROM HELL is STILL on the market. And even worse, doctors who are prescribing it are CLUELESS. They don't give you the full extent of the side effects when you ask them about it. And when you don't ask them, they don't even tell you anything!

My first experience with NuvaRing was a positive one, or so I thought. I was on it for about 1 1/2 years, if I remember correctly. It cleared up my skin, made me gain weight (which is actually a good thing, considering I was always so rail-thin), breasts got bigger, didn't affect my sex drive...it basically took care of all the problems I was having before. However, looking back, I do remember gradually losing my mind, having dizzy spells, and depression. I don't remember why exactly I took the ring out, but I think it was because I didn't have insurance anymore to cover it. The experience of going off the ring wasn't too bad at all, from what I can remember.

NOW, just recently, approx. 9 weeks ago, I decided to give this thing a whirl for a second time because I mostly remembered the high points and I was dealing with acne breakouts on my cheeks when I turned 22 (which I never had before). I remembered how well it cleared up my skin last time, when I was dealing with mild teenage acne. Unfortunately, this time around, being on it for roughly 2 months, I didn't have such a great experience. Side effects came on strong immediately, and the worst I've felt. Like this one time, I was getting ready to sleep when suddenly, I felt like my chest was being sat on, like a sensation of heaviness or pressure on my chest and I could not inhale fully. I couldn't catch my breath if that makes sense. It lasted until I finally passed out from sleepiness. It was scary...also; I started to have acne breakouts as well, and developed rash acne AND 2 deep pimples that were large in size. This made me quickly remove the ring on the spot, even though I had just inserted 3 days ago. Other side effects included painful bloating, constipation, very bad cramps, negative mood, low sex drive, vaginal burning and dryness, occasional chest pinch or pressure, and zero motivation.

Also, quick question, has anyone experienced moments of complete stiffness or dazedness or whatever? For example, I remember I was eating a great meal and watching TV with my fiance when suddenly, I just started to slow down in movement. I just put my utensils down and placed my arms on my side, and my vision became out of whack. It went from blurry to clear, blurry to clear and I felt out of it and that something was very wrong with me. Like, I was spacing out hardcore. It was like being catatonic, but not fully. Not sure if this was directly related to the BC, but I've never experienced this before until I was on the NuvaRing...hmmm

Anyway, after taking the ring out about 4 days ago, I have experienced what seems to be yet a second withdrawal period (as well as headaches). And I just ended my "period" last week. Only had the damn ring back in for 3 days?? Now I'm concerned because I've read you can have side effects even while trying to GET OFF the ring? Such as hair loss, unrecovered sex drive, acne, and withdrawal bleeding which lasts for days to weeks. And I was only on the ring this time around for 9 weeks. I will keep you all posted on how long my withdrawal effects take to subside….

This is my personal experience with it and I think that the idea to directly penetrate hormones into our bloodstream with third generation hormones is just too much for us women to handle. Why is it that we women have to suffer through all this? Why don't men create a birth control for THEMSELVES and deal with it! After all, we can't get pregnant without a sperm so men should be on BC, not us! Grrrrrr…Sorry, another withdrawal side effect from getting off the ring (crankiness).

Good luck to all,
L.A.

this is insane! I have been diagnosed with hypothyroidism and have been taking the synthroid for four years; starting at sixteen after gaining weight and losing energy- which probably resulted in teenage move- and introduction to alcohol and reefer for social acceptance. I noticed the synthroid helped with my sleepiness, but now im crying bc ive realized ive been slowly killing myself by doing what ive been told and keeping my mouth shut. I used to be more outgoing, and embraced my creativity when alone, now to find myself in a never ending cycle of anxiety, and depression triggered when solo and am def. more of a sociophobic hermit with drunk friends i see once every 2 weeks. I have noticed the hair loss, and have been getting progressively worse over the years and feel ancient. After reading this i am willing to sacrifice my energy for any extra feeling i can get out of this numb lifeless being ive digressed into to- i need to find a more natural solution for this hypothyroidism- any suggestions- we need a revolution on this, fuck synthroid!

I took Zoloft in varying strengths (50 - 150 mg) for four years and recently quit taking it cold-turkey. This is the second time I have tried this approach (not for any bad reason, just didn't feel like I needed the med anymore). Both times I have had symptoms return around the 3 month mark of not taking the medication. I never had any big side effects except sleepiness during the first few months of taking it. I've been fine since and think it was a very helpful medication but that it should be tapered off if at all possible.

I started the nuvaring three years ago because of a hormone in-balance causing me to go off the wall with anger, a blood condition that had me bleeding for 7-11 days losing a lot of blood, and the fact that I was having serious relations with men. Since I started the ring, my outgoing, enthusiastic attitude disappeared, I became a blah to society. My anger went through the roof where I would be in violent moods, and my mood swings were to the extremes. I was emotional almost all the time, and had depression like nothing before. Thoughts and actions went across my mind that I would have never thought in a million years would occur. The sex in my life went down the tube, and it caused my to break up with my boyfriend at least two to three times a week just because I became irritated with him for absolutely no reason. I also wanted to sleep all the time and awoke with many headaches. Along with painful headaches, around the middle of each month, my breasts began to hurt or my side felt like it was being pierced.

The NuvaRing both had positive side effects and negative effects. Besides the negative effects of boosting my emotional self, mood swings, and anger, it also caused a poor sex drive, itchiness cause from yeast infections(which were constant), burning during sex, sleepiness, and all and all blahness. The positive, my 7-11 day period where I was in bed went down to 2-3 days of a light period which I thoroughly enjoy. I also didn't have to remember to take a pill, a godsend.

I stopped using the nuvaring a few days ago because my anger finally got out of control to the point I was almost arrested, and I feel better and more active for life than before. I was always like this before I started, looks like I'm going to need a different BC with either a lower dosage of the hormone in the NuvaRing or another hormone that does what it does best for me.

I hope this helps anyone looking for side effects of this form of birth control. It wasn't the best for me, but it may be for others.

I started taking Zoloft in Aug 2007 because I could not get sleep at night...tossing and turning - thinking about all the stuff I had to do the next day. Within a few weeks - that was so much better - my moods were better - and my performance at my profession was better because I could actually relax at night. I had lost all the anxiety that I have had all my life - and couldn't believe that there was something out there that could help me so much. I, at the time, would never in a million years think about stopping this medication. HOWEVER, fast forward to Nov 2008 - the zoloft is still working great - but my sex life with my husband is so bad that it is more like work for both of us...and reaching orgasm was almost nearly impossible. I just didn't desire sex...which is highly unusual for me. These affects of the med increased over time - and I was willing to deal with them - but the thing that changed my mind about it all was my weight gain. I chose to take Zoloft because it had the least chance of weight gain...or so I thought. I had gained 30 pounds since I started taking it. I wasn't working out as much - and so I thought that was it...but when the scale hit 200 - and then 210...on a frame that should be no more than 140 (I was a bit overweight when I started it) I freaked out. I had been working out and eating really well for three months, no alcohol - no extra hidden calories - to the 210 mark - and I had gained weight during that time. I was talking to my doctor one day and out of the blue complained that I had gained so much weight and it was really starting to bother me. He said, "oh yeah, that can happen on ssri's - in some people they can pretty much almost shut down your metabolism". I was in shock...he knew my struggle with weight to begin with - and here - now a year and some later told me this. Needless to say - I felt betrayed, but was then determined to get off zoloft. And so I have been with his help..and it has been one of the hardest things I have ever done...and I am still working on it. It has been two months and I am slowly weening off. I was on 100mg per day - and dropped to 50mg, and now I am taking 25...I get dizzy, the mood swings are awful...AWFUL - but I am doing it...and I will not ever take zoloft again. I never realized how addictive this med was - and just how much it affected me until getting off of it. However, the one thing that I have found to help with the withdrawal symptoms - even the dizziness is working out. It has been my saviour.
Just thought I would pass this along. The honeymoon period is great with Zoloft - it is when you see your body out of control that puts it all into perspective. Every person's body is different, but if you notice that you are gaining weight for no reason - and can't seem to lose it - tell your doctor. There are other drugs out there to help with symptoms that zoloft relieves that do not cause all these side effects...the ssri's just tend to work more efficiently. For all those with decreased sex drive - wellbutrin does not affect this or weight...but isn't as good about sleep.

I've been on Welbutrin for about six months, along with Zoloft. I had tried it because of the lack of motivation and the lithergy I was feeling (I suspect) as a result of the Zoloft. I came across this site after a search for memory loss connected with Welbutrin. I believe I'm having that problem. I don't seem to have the quick grasp of words I did. In a phone conversation today, I could not remember a certain medical term that I have been using rather frequently over the past six months. There are some other cases, but that incident put me on the trail of memory loss research. I actually suspected that it was the Ambien I had been taking for sleep (I have not completely ruled that drug out). But all the posts here seem to indicate that the welbutrin could be at fault.

I'm on 150mg, twice daily. However, in the morning, I will actually take one and a half pills (225mg) to get me going. I have noticed CONSIDERABLE jitters, hand tremors, enough that if I'm doing delicate work of some type, I have difficulty continuing ti complete the task. At the 225mg, I do seem to become over amped a bit, but it improves my motivation. A St. Johns Wart capsule will usually calm that, but you see the problem of one drug, helping one problem, but causing another, so you take a third! I have tried numerous other antidepressants and they all caused more side effects than they were worth.
Celexa cause an eventual complete lack of ANY motivation! Plus SERIOUS sexual side effects. Zoloft has been the best with the least side effects and I have always returned to it. But the sleepiness can just be extreme with me.

I have run out of Welbutrin and the result is return of the lithergy. I also believe that the Welbutrin may be causing my occasional up tick in anger. Possibly spreading the dosage will help. Not mixing it with caffiene may also help because caffiene can make me explosive if I don't limit my intake to about a cup of coffee. Most of you know that Zoloft, Prozac and the like increase the available seritonin in your brain, a calming neurotransmitter. Welbutrin increases the available norepinephrine, a stimulating neurotransmitter, akin to adrenalin. (Research for yourselves those facts, remember, I posting this because of a problem with MEMORY! :) So it makes perfect sense that people can become overstimulated with Welbutrin. The memory aspects of it, I don't yet understand. I'm going to experiment with dosage reduction and possibly replacing the Welbutrin with the amino acid L-phenylalanine. I hope this little post can help some of you as much as the other posts here have helped me!

Burt

My baby (1 yr) was just prescribed Singulair from a CHOP doctor. I am so thankful that I found this website. I certainly will not fill the prescription. I was hesitant at first anyway because he only had one fluke "asthmatic" insident that sent him to the ER (but has many food allergies and dog allergy). Anyone have any advice on where I should go from here? Honestly, I am afraid to go back to that doctor and they told me it would be very difficult to switch doctors at CHOP. Everyone knows CHOP is one of the best. It is so hard to get honest advice. Every doctor thinks you will sue. Or they're out to use you for their research. He thinks this was the beginning of asthma and it will get worse. It was a scary episode...first time I ever called 911 for one of my children. Breathing is obviously very important, but he never has any problems breathing otherwise (running, laughing, playing) Just got a cold that turned bad quickly. Should I prevent with meds.? My thought is to just keep the neb. and Albuterol handy. I hate giving daily meds. to a developing baby. My gut says to let God develops his immune system naturally. (Not against periodic meds. - So thankful for Benadryl!) Please help! Mommy of 4

I was on Minocycline (a cousin to Doxycycline Hyclate) for years. I’m not sure how long exactly as I didn’t write down the date that I started, but I believe I have been on it around 3-4+ years. Well I went to a dermatologist and he instantly looked at the outer area of my arms (just above the elbow) and recognized I am suffering from skin discoloration, and prescribed Doxycycline, and told me to stop taking Minocycline right away. I also have this blue-gray skin discoloration on my back near my shoulder blades. I took my Minocycline for the next two weeks till the Doxycycline came in then stopped the minocycline, and started Doxycycline on Sunday. I take a 100mg pill twice daily with a meal, and thus far have had no issues. Keep in mind that I have been on Minocycline for the past 4 years or so and maybe I’ve been suffering similar side effects on that drug, thus I would be unable to see the difference with Minocycline’s cousin Doxycycline. I am pretty sure the first year or two that I was on Minocycline I was depressed (other things in life may have contributed to this depression, but now that I see all of these people saying they have had mood swings, I must state that I have had many more mood swings in recent years then I ever remember before being on these meds). I have also been extremely sleepy the past few years. I used to NEVER be able to fall asleep in public, but (I believe about the same time I started Minocycline) I gained the ability to sleep anywhere. Now I mean, anywhere. I can sleep even after I get anywhere between 6 and 14 hours of sleep. I have had approx 7-9 hours of sleep on average for the past 6 months, yet am always tired. I can’t remember the last time I haven’t been sleepy, and have had many doctor visits to attempt to discover the reason for this, but hadn’t read the side effects of Minocycline. I’ve still been pretty sleepy since Sunday, but I’ll hope that this Doxycycline isn’t as bad. Anyone else have a similar issue, where you used to be awake, but now you are always sleepy (wake up in the mornings a bit dizzy and confused), and have a hard time concentrating on one thing at a time?

Hi neverybody,
I was on day 4 of this antibiotic for sinusitis when I woke with severe neck stiffness, (unable to do chin to chest). This progressed to headache and I remembered then that I had pain in my eye the night before. I also had profound sleepiness on night 4. I work nights and this was affecting my judgement. I felt very low on night four and emotionally labile.crying came easy but for no real reason.
My shoulders are sore and my neck still aches but it is not as bad. i did not contact dr. Should I? I stopped before finishing the course on day 5.

Good luck to everyone and I hope your are all well soon,
Lou ,
Ireland

My daughter has been taking Singulair for almost 2 years now. She's 71/2 years old now. It seems like she's very hard to wake in the mornings and complains that she's still sleepy despite 10 hours of sleep. Also she makes a very strange sound during the night like she's scratching her throat and complains of sore throat in the mornings. Has anyone else had this experience with Singulair? I want to take her off. Is it safe to stop this drug without weaning it?

I have been on Vytorin for several months. I had issues, but didn't think it was the drug, like tennis elbow. Now two days ago, I have had severe muscle pain from my lower back to the tops of my feet. I've had to take vicodin for the pain so I can sleep at night. I stopped taking Vytorin and only pray that the pain will go away. I have read many websites that say the pain may never go away due to damage to the muscles. I can't believe this. I am suppose to have surgery to have my ovaries removed due to pain in my pelvic region, now I am wondering if it's Vytorin causing the pain. I have also experienced headaches for days, blurred vision, severe sleepiness all day, painful hip joints, irritable to name a few.

Geodon has been wonderful for me!! I have been on it for 2 years (I think). My dose was just increased due to some depression. I am on 40 mg in the AM and 40 mg in the PM. I take it at 7 am and 5:30-6 pm. I think it helps to have the even doses throughout the day. I am also on Lamictal (awesome drug!) and Wellbutrin. My medley works great for me. The only side effect I had when my dose was recently increased was a little sleepiness in the AM. Now, 5 days into it, no more tiredness. Actually energy because I am no longer depressed. Best of luck to y'all. I am bipolar, and it sucks to have to take medicine for the rest of my life, but I feel great and I certainly don't want to go back to the depression and mania I felt off the drugs.

I am not sure if the Diltia XT is the problem. I have experienced fatigue - not sleepiness, just tiredness for no reason and also some slight anxiety.

I was prescribed to take Meprozine after knee surgery. Side effects were very mild compared to other pain medications I have taken in the past. The sleepiness helped me through several days of pain and I think the rest actually helped with healing. I had been taking Hydrocodone for knee pain. Hydrocodone seems to keep me awake, so I was glad for the opportunity to sleep. I felt a little jittery the first day or two but the jitters wore off after the 8 hours of drug effects wore off. I would take Meprozine again but after reading these accounts from others I would be more aware of how it seems to affect me.

I started Nuvaring in March 2007 after a hospital stint due to my IUD. I had the IUD for several years after the birth of my last child and then I developed PID and it had to be removed. I had always been against hormonal birth control for a few reasons. 1. My mother died of breast cancer and 2. I had a strong reaction to the Pill. But, feeling desperate for a reliable form of birth control left me with very little to choose from. My family was complete so Nuvaring was the next best thing to the IUD. Big Mistake! I should have followed my instinct because for the 6 months on it, my life was a nightmare. I had terrible mood swings, nausea, breast tenderness, pain in my pelvic region, numbness and tingling in my arms and legs, zero sex drive, headaches, sleeplessnes, cold sweats, hypertension, elevated pulse, sleepiness, and 15 lbs of weight gain. There are more side effects, but these were the most dominant and I had had enough. I took it out 2 weeks ago, before my period was scheduled to start, but I just couldn't take how I felt anymore. I am starting to feel more like myself again but I am really frustrated about the weight gain and wonder if it will drop off or if I am going to have to work twice as hard as before to watch my weight. I would love to hear anyone else's experiences once off of Nuvaring. All I can say is 6 months was much too long. It just wasn't worth the side effects.

CHANGE OF MOOD AND PERSONALITY CHANGE DEPRESSION SLEEPINESS, FACE SWELLING.

I was on Nuvaring for just the 3 weeks and I took it out for the last week to get my period but I never got my period for that week. That week was a week earlier than I normally get my period so I put the ring back in for 3 days and I took it out for good. It's been almost a month since I took it out and still haven't gotten my period. I tood 2 pg tests and both said NEG! I had nausea, sleepiness, my allergies are worst, runny nose, sneezing, stuffy nose. I just haven't been the same. I have acne and my skin is oily. All these side effects and I'm off of the ring. It seemed like every time I put it in, I would catch some kind of cold.

I have been happy with the pills because they have taken away my migraines! I began on Topamax this May 2007 at 100mg per day until this Aug when I starting to have migraines again and my doc increase my dosage to 150mg a day.However, I think the increase in dosage has caused me to have nose bleeds. I was awakened by nose bleeding on two nights this past week. I see my doctor tomorrow to see if there might be another reason for the nose bleeds. The sleepiness was only a problem in the beginning, until I got use to the pills. The weight loss side effect is one I could use. However I have only lost 1 pound since I have started taking Topamax. Tingling in toes and heels, thirsty, taste change, upset stomach (must take a anti-acid with pill). No hair loss that I have notice. I am a bit depressed and right now don't want to have much to do with hubby. But he has gotten us into some serious trouble with the IRS. Which would cause depression, weight loss, anger, & loss of sex drive all of the things mentioned as Topamax side effects. I'll wait to see if any of these things increase before I stop the Topamax. Good luck to all!

It is 2:00 a.m. and i am up writing about the seriousnes of this drug after reading all other postings.This is my third nightof taking levaquin and I am just coming down from a major aniexty attack tonight. I had a major one the first night of taking this medicine but i thought it was stress related. I realize now it was not. I cannot sleep without having crazy dreams and wake up feeling like the world is crashing down on me. I can't breathe and feel like my heart is racing fast. Earlier i was walking in the mall and actually felt so much pain and weakness in my legs that i was afraid i was not going to be able to walk out. that never happened to me before. I was at work earlier today and felt an overwhelming sleepiness. I notice that the joints in my hands and knees hurt. I cannot believe a madicine can cause so many problems!! I felt like calling an ambulance from the panic attack i just had. This drug should be removed from the market and people should get together to protest this drug and file a class action suit. How do we go about it? Anybody know steps we can take?

I've been on topamax for 3 1/2 months & was on 25 mg & then was pushed up to 100 mg when I started to have more severe migraines & "seizing" in my arms & legs. Here are a list of my symptoms: increased sleepiness, gait problems, word recall, more difficulty w/dysgraphia, increased ADD problems, increased lability, increased hypersensitivity to stimuli (seizing in limbs increased), pins & needles, metallic taste in mouth, asthma worsened, sleep became more disrupted, lost weight (already skinny), increased facial hair, strange menstrual symptoms, basilar migraines worsened, hemiplegic migraines started occuring at increased rate, suspicious that it may cause or excacerbate pre-existing sleep apnea (haven't been evaluated yet), feel like a stroke patient, weakness on right side of body, can't drink soda, increased impulsiveness, confusion, increased speech problems, increased GERD...this has really messed me up.

you really should be careful giving this to patients who may have a sleep disorder, previous head injury or breathing issues...Is this safe for people w/ asthma, sleep apnea, cerebral palsy, sleep disorders, etc.? Will these side affects wear off or is permanent?

I have nothing to thank Topamax for.