Snake symptoms and conditions

I have been having recurring UTIs and I had taken Cipro which did not clear up the first infection. My doctor prescribed Bactrim and wanted me on it for two weeks.

During the first week, I would feel dizzy for 2-3 hours after taking a dose. I had body aches as well, but thought I was getting the flu.

At the beginning of the second week, I broke out in hives. I have very sensitive skin and figured I had touched something that irritated my skin. I took benadryl and the symptoms went away.

The next day I broke out again, this time worse, and I noticed I had hives all over my body including on my feet and on my head- (which alarmed me, because I now realized it was coming from something inside). I thought it was something I ate. I took benadryl when I got home from work and they went away.

The day after that, I broke out again, and a co-worker mentioned that she had an allergic reaction from Bactrim and I should check online. Her reaction was dizziness and feeling sick to her stomach, but I looked anyway. When I saw that hives a side effect I called my doctor. They told me to stop taking the Bactrim and that I was allergic to it.

It will be a week tomorrow that I stopped taking Bactrim, and I still have hives everywhere. Last night, my entire back was covered with a red sunburn-looking rash with long snake-like hives. My boyfriend says the hives look like worms under my skin.

I would suggest to anyone that has any kind of reaction (dizziness, headache, body ache, rash, hives, etc.) to call their doctor ASAP. I should have know to call when they were making me dizzy in the first week, but sometimes you don't realize what is going on until you have severe symptoms. Doctors should tell people about the possible side effects when they prescribe this stuff.

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!

I'm 23 years old and really overweight. Going to see my doctor today because, I have constant itchy feeling in my throat like something is there but its not. I feel like gagging/throwing up all the time now, at first I thought it was just asthma, but talked to someone else taking lisinopril told me about the dry cough, so im pretty sure this is the problem. I don't see how anyone could keep taking this once you get these side effects. It's just a constant battle trying ignore the feeling in my throat, and trying to sleep is rough now,I wake up sometimes feeling like im choking.

itchy throat,nausea,dry cough,hard time sleeping and gagging.

Thanks for all of your input really helps, so I figured I'd let you in on how its making me feel, or so I hope its the problem lol

I have been having a terrible itching on left side gland,i do think its from that Lisinopril plus feel agony on right side of stomach rib cage,am getting off of this stuff now after i read these messages before i crack up with more pains else where.om toplax and potassium and water pills so thank that's enough for now,,love to get rid of it all,

I have been on Lisinopril and a diuretic for about 1.5 years -- started with 5mg of lisinopril. At first had a slight cough, but went away. In Feb 2008 routine blood tests were done and my ALT - liver enzyme was slightly elevated to 36. ( last test in 2003 was normal) --- had the test repeated in Aug 2008 and the ALT was up to 41. Doctor was not too worried, not very elevated - but I persisted as to why and she sent me for an ultrasound that showed all was normal for my liver, spleen, gallbladder, kidneys. My pressure was up a bit at the Aug appt - so she increased my Lisinopril to 10mg. I had another liver enzyme test done beg of Oct 2008 and now the ALT is up to 66. I told her the only difference is increasing my Lisinopril and that must be the cause for elevated ALT levels. She is not sure -- I am now being referred to a specialist -- but told to stop taking the Lisinopril for 3 weeks and they will see what the levels are. Have only seen a few mentions of elevated liver enzymes as a side effect -- has anyone else experienced?? My AST levels are normal.

Hi
My husband has been prescribed 2 different blood pressure meds Lisionpril and metoprolol back in June. Come mid July he started to have trouble sleeping and slight tingling in hands and feet. Then it progressed to the arms and legs and then the face and chest. We have seen cardiologist, neurologist, sleep apnea doctors, Had EKG, MRI, Heart sonograms, Nerve test done due to the symptoms. Everything came back normal. He is miserable. The burning and pain is unbearable to wear he wants to cut his feet off and the only thing we keep hearing is well LETS DO ANOTHER TEST or TRY THIS MED. So now he is taking a a sleep med for insomnia and some seizure med for the nerve pain, thinking he may have neuropathy. This is going on 2 months now of trial and error and after reading 20 minutes of experiences, I THINK ITS THE MED!!!!!!!
What do we do then? He had high blood pressure so what meds are good with no side affects of burning or insomnia? Any suggestions or help would be of great appreciation. Thank you!!!

Update on my experience with Lisinopril.
After 3 ER visits & 2 hospital stays the palpitations quit when the HCTZ (diuretic) was removed. Adjustment of dosage got the B/P readings down to acceptable levels but some side effects remain after 2 weeks. Dry-eye syndrome and over-the-counter drops do not help. I'm up most of the night-time.
However in the daytime after I exercise I feel sleepy and can sleep for a couple hours time.
Wondering if this side effect will go away or what. Anyone with the experience ?

If you are taking this medicine, STOP! I took this medicine for about three months. I started to feel like I had a congestion. I cough lightly at first then into a hard cough which progressed into a hacking. My wife thought I was critically ill. I was spitting up clear congestion at work into my garbage can. This stuff is bad, I found this site and stopped taking the medicine. It took 3 week for the cough to subside. It’s been about 4 months, and I would say I am only about 98 percent back to where I started . About every 3 weeks I out of the blue start to slightly hack. I know one thing this is not a good medicine. When I started my BP was 138/109. My doctor told me to try this. Because of this medicine I could not do my job and my doctor never told me it was the medicine. When I told him he told me he didn’t think it was the medicine and prescribe some cold medicine

I didn't seem to have any side effects until the doctor upped my dose to 20 mg of lisinopril after 7 weeks at 10 mg.Then the gastro-intestinal effects started with gas,constipation and severe cramping for about 2 hours every night.I finally was told to quit the lisinopril and wait until side effects subside to try another approach.I would be interested in find a more natural way to control my HBP other than a drug derived from a pit viper's venom.

Approximateley 1 year ago, I went to the emergency room and was treated with lisinopril for hbp. The following day I woke up with a terrefic migraine and cramping in both legs. I learned via internet that it contains the venom of a Brazilian Piper snake. Now, one year later, I am still having the cramps. Patients should be told what is in the products that we are being given. I only had two pills but it has changed my life. I am still suffering with leg cramps. They are poisoning all of us.

I am a 29 yr. old male and took one single 20mg dose. 5 to 6 hrs. later I noticed my jaw getting tired when eating and then pain and fatigue with my arms, shoulders,and neck. About 45 mins. after that the pain and fatigue got severe. My eyes started to hurt and I couldn't urinate. The morning after I had nausea, and severe stomach pains. I vomited yellow byle that looked like poison. This drug is vey dangerious with it's effects. It has been 72 hrs. and I still feel very bad and can't urinate. It lowers your Potassium alot. I FEEL LIKE I'M DYEING. I am not on any other meds. but Lasix. I contacted My Dr. and he said stop immediatly and I contacted the Pharmacy also. This drug was developed from the Venom of a Poisonous Bazillian Snake. The Venom can kill a Ox in five minutes and the effects are like mine. BEWARE! SEARCH ON GOOGLE!

I have been taking Lisinopril for several years. I am 52 years old. I have had terrible scratchiness and coughing at night. As soon as I lay down it starts. I am sweating terribly for no reason. I worked with a personal trainer all last year but could not lose any weight. I have gained weighed and very large waist. After reading this column I feel that all of these side effects are coming from taking this pill. I am also taking Zocor so that is what I am looking up next. Have a dr. appt. this week and I am getting off all of this..... I am so excited to think that there is a reason why I couldn't lose any weight and only gain. My stomach also looks bloated quite a bit. Does the sweating relate to anyone else out there? I didn't hear too much on that from other writers. Please let me know!

My husband went on Lisinopril in Feb 07, his bp went down and was regulated his headaches almost left but then he had sinus surgery in mar or apr. He has now developed muscle twitching and now the "doctors" say he has Motor Neuron Disease.... I refuse to believe after reading everyone's side affects that this 41 year old with no family history of this other than 1/2 siblings with high bp that he has this disease. He has experienced neck stiffness like it is broken (had MRI) no broken bones or slipped disc, he has had the chills, hw has vision blurred issues, heaviness in his legs, left side of his body more prominent than the right, he has crazy dreams and thoughts, he feels like he is dying, he doesn't however have any coughs, he has anxiety which they put him on anti depressant. After reading others comment I researched this med, it was developed by venom in a poisonous Brazilian snake. My husband as a child would get bitten by wasps, fire ants etc.. they would rush him to ER for meds and he used to take shots if stung, swells up like a balloon. So in my theory this med has the snake bite affects and I believe this has caused him to have this neuron disease but I can't prove it. His muscles twitch all the time. I believe this drug has been slowly poisoning him to a eventually paralysis to death. I have begged the doctor to take him off. He has but now he is on Atenolol, which is not much better but has no snake venom or ACE inhibitors. Please people email me. I am desperate we need to band together.
Thanks you Joann

Hey it's me again. Just wanted to add something else too. I know that we're not idiots here or anything like that. Of course we know there are going to be side effects. I've worked in a pharmacy for 7 years and some of the stuff I wouldn't give a snake! We have to remember that this is a DRUG- meaning that a foreign body, a chemical, so our body has to adjust and/or reject it. Some of us can take it or simply cannot take it at all. I know for a fact a lot of Dr's get perks from Drug companies for promoting certain meds...such as topamax; topamax is a calming inhibitor, we're supposed to feel more sedated, so there in turn they throw in the line, "well if you start to feel depressed let me know". I'm going to try and do the best i can on just topamax for now. i've heard too many people complain about reactions with effexor/zoloft and topamax. Also I want to say the my side effects are subsiding with time, as they usually do. Because I have epilepsy I feel I have to be on this, but i hope everyone out there doesn't.

Mood swings, depression, facial hair growth, hips and knees ache while sleeping (when I can get to sleep) weight gain, constant hunger, skin peels off like a snake, purple bruising appears for no reason on hands and arms, find it hard to chew because teeth hurt - was on this marvelous drug for 3 x 10 day sessions over 3 months ago for COPD exasperation and still have the side effects. Will they ever go away?????????