Stable symptoms and conditions

IT'S OUT!!!!!!!!!!! What a mess I went through. For those who missed my prior posts, I got my Mirena in June 2008 after I got married. Even though I'm 29, I'm a medical student and not ready for a baby.. Within weeks I had oily skin, oily hair, hair loss, sore breasts, and no sex drive at all. But I never had a single period after the second month, so I was happy!

By August or September I was gaining a lot of weight (20lbs) and started feeling "brain fog" and fatigue. By December and January I was seeing neurologists for SEVERE migraines and dizziness. In April I developed symptoms like MS such as tingling/numbness in my head, face, and one foot... profound fatigue, and incapacitating dizziness.I've had every test done from thyroid workups to MRIs/MRAs and nerve conduction studies. I was on 3 different migraine prescriptions and was even getting nerve blocks in my neck for them.

In May I became withdrawn, irritable, depressed, and had anxiety attacks. I'm not ever a moody person, and never had PMS. But here I am, crying for no reason, yelling at my husband, snapping at my mother, and SO FREAKING EXHAUSTED that going to work is impossible, driving the car seems dangerous (severe brain fog.... like I'm drugged), and even just doing the dishes or feeding the pets takes all my effort (with tears) to complete. I don't feel like myself at all.

I found this website and thought perhaps all these symptoms were from the Mirena. So I found a new OBGYN who was awesome and said he'd take it out. I went to have it removed but the first a$$hole who put it in for me cut the strings too short so they could not be grabbed. The new doc tried to reach them but couldn't. I ended up having to have THE MOST PAINFUL PROCEDURE OF MY LIFE.... I had to take cervical dilation pills and then get a hysteroscopy which is where they shove a camera into your uterus to look around and find the little sucker. The cramps were unbelievable.... 10 times worse that getting it placed. (Mind you I've never had children so it was really bad). After he found the strings, he grabbed them and pulled. I thought I was going to die.... my poor cervix had a scope in it, an instrument holding it still, a dilator in place, a speculum in the hole, and then an instrument went in along side the scope and pulled the little bugger out. AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! I was in a hot sweat worse than menopause I bet!

So here I am, home, bleeding, only minor cramps. But now I wonder... how long will it be until the depression and brain fog go away? I want to be myself again. I want to be happy. I want to laugh instead of cry. I WANT TO HAVE ENERGY. My greatest fear is that I went through all the pain of putting it in, taking it out, and the cost, and the depression, fatigue, and brain fog won't go away, meaning it wasn't the Mirena to begin with. (If that was the case, I could have dealt with the weight gain, oily hair, and migraines as long as I had the nerve blocks). But I find it hard to believe that the Mirena is not the cause since so many of you women say the same thing. BUT.............. most of you had the Mirena placed after having a baby, so it's possible it was PPD?

THIS IS MY QUESTION TO ALL OF YOU OUT THERE.... did any of you WHO HAVE NEVER HAD CHILDREN have these things after getting the Mirena? Also, isn't it weird that the severe fatigue, depression, and really bad brain fog started after 9-10 months of having it and not sooner? I was on OCPs before the Mirena and did fine.... but this time I am so depressed and irritable, dizzy, and FREAKING TIRED TIRED TIRED.

:( How long until I feel better if it was the Mirena?

I have been taking welbutrin for about 4 years now. I am going to tell my exact dose and type since I am trying to figure out from other peoples comments if there is a difference in side effect in SR vs XL . I have taken 150 XL and the went down to 75 mg Sr because i was trying to decrease the dosage and come off entirely eventually. I have suffered with acne all the four years but thought it was stress (Daughter became type i diabetic and can't ever get her blood sugar stable and the my son developed a bone tumor not long after she was diagnosed). Anyway we finally got his problem resolved with good results but hers is a blood sugar nightmare everyday. So you can see why I thought the acne was from stress . Never even crossed my mind it could be wellbutrin. I noticed my skin was better for a while when my dose was just 75 mg sr. But alas the bone tumor came back again for my son and had to go back to 150xl. Skin has hundreds of little white tiny tiny white heads. Is this the type of acne other people are experiencing?

Depo for me is horrible. I don't even feel like the same person i use to be. My hair is coming out more then it should. I cant keep my weight stable. I have no sex drive what so ever. I have terrible mood swings. I have felt very depressed during this time. I don't honestly like the person i am now since i have been on the shot. I am getting off the shot. Im suppose to go for another dose this month but i choose not too. I rather have an unexpected pregnancy then deal with this crap.

I am a 44 year-old woman. I have been taking Topamax for 13 years! I take 100mg at bedtime (would NEVER take it during the DAY--that's ASKING for sedation). I take it along with 400mg of Wellbutrin & 30mg of Lexapro!!! I've taken various doses over the years. It was initially prescribed as a mood-stabilizer for my bi-polar II, and so happened to control my migraines. Happy Days!

When I FIRST took Topamax I remember having the strange feeling of small miscroscopic "fish" (or something) swimming under my skin, across my cheekbones and over the bridge of my nose. I never got a rash or anything. I did not feel that this passing side effect was anything I "couldn't deal with" as the medication stablized my mood without the HORRID side effects of Lithium, Depakote, Valproic Acid, etc!!!

All this time I have done very well and have NEVER had any health problems from the Topamax. I am VERY confused by folks who claim it gave them "mood swings"--as its effect is to make your mood stable!!! I don't understand how that could happen. Also this is a LOT of people having MAJOR effects from VERY low doses of the drug (50- 75mg mostly). Perhaps folks are medication sensitive OR something else is going on as well???

I have been taking Lamictal for about 2 1/2 years now. I have been taking 200 mg for two years. I have experienced very few side effect. Except vivid dreams and not sleeping well. I have always had vivid dreams but there is one I have had since the medication it was so awful that I can't stop thinking about it and it makes me feel suicidal. I have had many ups and downs in my life but never thought suicide to be a positive option. I don't think I would do it but I can't stand these awful repetitive thoughts. I have had less and less energy in the last 6 months or so. I thought it was because I was working to much. I have quit doing most the things I love. I have always been a high energy person. So I thought it must be the Lamictal. When I had complained to my doctor he said that it sounded like depression and normally they would increase the dosage but he would decrease it if I wanted. I went to 150 and then 100. I felt awful just like I used to before the drug. So I went back up to 200 and at least I didn't feel so awful. So I increased it to 250mg and I started to fell less depressed. Sometimes I have taken to much in the past because I forgot I had taken it and repeated the does. That is when I had the first bad dream that has haunted me since. Then I started to forget to take my medication off and on and that is when the depression started. Now I took the 250 and I had another haunting dream. This drug really has been a miracle for me. I have never felt this stable in my entire life! In the past I was trying to self medicate but since the Lamictal I have quit smoking pot and drinking. I don't like alcohol and drugs anymore because I don't like to feel altered anymore. Most of the symptoms everyone has described are how I felt before Lamictal and I feel better since. I will never go below 200mg or above again without a suitable alternative. I still can't get rid of the repetitive thoughts on 200mg. Typical anti-depressants have the opposite effect for me. Has anyone found a suitable alternative. I have heard that other drugs for bi-polar such as Lithium and Depakote have a sedative effect and I don't like that. I want to be my normal energetic self!

I have Antiphospholipid syndrome and can not get my INR stable, I am taking 150mg of lovenox per day and 7.5 to 15 mg of warfarin each day. Does anybody know how long this high dose of lovenox is safe.

I had the Mirena fitted in April 2005 because of bad pms and heavy periods. I thought it was great at first not to have the periods, and the pms noticeably subsided for a good 18 months. By that stage I'd put about 4 kgs on, which was starting to niggle me. I worked really hard to keep my weight stable. During the next months up till removal 2 weeks ago I experienced aching joints, particularly back and knees, loss of libido, tiredness, the return of the pms symptoms, and acne as bad as I'd had it as a teenager. When I went to see a dermatologist, it was he who pointed out that this was a major side effect of the Mirena, so when I searched on this on the internet, I was amazed how many women had got the same problems as me. I had started thinking that now I'm 42 I must be over the hill or something.
I had it removed 2 weeks ago, and although my weight hasn't changed, I feel lighter on my feet. My back ache has gone, and I feel much more energetic.
I know other women who have the Mirena and have not been affected in the slightest by these negative symptoms. I guess it's just the way your body reacts. Fortunately I didn't need to ask twice to get it removed, since I understand some gyne's seem to reject the connection between the symptoms and the Mirena. Problem is, it's difficult to find a birth control that suits me. I'm definitely leaving the hormones alone in future.

I have an 8 year daughter who has been on singular since the age of 4. I began to notice behavior changes, but contributed it to me being a single mom, and her aneixty about school. She became very germ a phobic and these behaviors became worse when she began displaying aggression towards me and her grandmother, not wanting to go to school, inability to focus and very "worried" about getting sick and dying. She is now in the 3rd grade and was diagnosed w/ aneixty disorder and ADHD and is taking two different meds for this. It does take much to get her upset and she often describes herself as a horrible person, and she "hates" her life. This was a very happy infant, and easy going child. Now it is a struggle everyday to keep everything "under control" and her stable. I wonder. Many of the stories that i have just read are so similar to mind and I know how difficult it is. I did not give my daughter her singular as she has mild allergy induced asthma and I will be consulting my Pediatrician ASAP, to find other options.

For my bipolar mood disorder it has worked great. My life has never been this stable on any other psyche med. However, the loss of concentration and short-term memory loss, and difficulty with word-finding ability has been the impairment.

I love it. I have absolutely no adverse side effectswhatsoever -- in fact, for the first time in about 15 years of being on a contraceptive my moods are completely stable, I don't skip periods and I haven't gained an ounce . It also doesn't seem to inhibit my ability to spell (sorry ladies, but really, the spelling and grammar being used in this forum is shameful).

I had trouble with my vision, sweating more than usual, mania and then about 4 days after my dose was increased to 150mg from 75mg I I suffered from blackouts, confusion, suicidal thoughts, suicidal actions which resulted in a stand off with the police. I have been in and out of the mental hospital for the past month until I refused to take anymore anti depressants and became stable on my own. I still have some panic attacks and nightmares which I have never had before in my life. I would advise any one who is prescribed this medication to report all side effects they are experiencing to their doctor because once you start blacking out it's too late for you reach out for help. I will never take another drug that interferes with the chemicals in my brain and am seeking counsiling to deal with my social anxiety disoder rather than taking meds.

I started taking Yasmin this past sunday, so far, so good...reading all these posts worry the crap out of me...i'm only really on this because i have really BAD pms, which people i know including my boyfriend thought it could be PMDD because how "crazy" i'd get, bad cramps and my period sometimes likes to show up almost whenever even when i track it....i'm a moody person already and so far i feel pretty good, pretty stable which is nice, i guess the only complaint is that i'm kinda constipated and i'm exhausted, but i'm unsure if this has anything to do with this pill or not. i travel constantly and eat bad food since i'm away at college so sometimes i have some issues....oh my sex drive is usually pretty fine, i haven't noticed anything there yet, i still think about doing things and want to...so, my question is what should i do? shall i continue to use it and see what happens, or should i stop it or get a different pill?? i go to therapy and i am also making sure that my boyfriend and immediate friends notice if i act a little stranger than usual....
and i was on a different pill back when i was 15 and i don't remember much of it besides i don't think i had any side effects so i've had a little experience with birth control before...

I've been on Wellbutrin with a lot of success for almost 8 years now. It took several weeks of experimenting to find the right dose. Too much or too little had similar effects increasing my anxiety. Missed does constantly exaserbated the problem until I started XL. Shortly after starting I noticed a change in my sexual response --it just took a lot more to "get me going." That subsided somewhat after awhile, but I've also used Viagra about half the time. My mood improved but continued to fluctuate. My Dr. added a small dose of Zoloft a few years ago and I noticed a significant improvement in mood. Finally, a small dose of Ritiln had a major effect on a root ADD problem. I have felt more stable, confident and productive ever since. However, my sexual responses has decreased again in recent months. Viagra has even become unrreliable. I am going to ask the Dr about going off Zoloft, but talk of permanent effects are worrisome. PS; regarding hair--not a big problem, though it is thinner now since 1999. Never mind that i'm 52 now!

My mother (75) was on Lipitor for ten years (1994-2004) until I took her off cold turkey. She was off Lipitor for three years until her new doctor put her back on in March of '07 without my knowing. I am having her taken off the DRUG immediately, it is Oct. '07.

Her experiences have been more mental than physical. Depression, irritableness, MEMORY loss, can't put words to thoughts very well and as a result she has been diagnosed with dimentia. Her condition worsened in the 6 months she has been back on the DRUG which made me check into her drug formula at the adult family home she is staying in.

The doctor informed me that there is a price to pay fo everythiing, even aspirin. She feels the positives of preventing a heart attack outweighs the side effects. This is a quality of life question -- should a person be asked to suffer through these numerous side effects jsut to saty alive; and where is it proven that Lipitor has prevented ANY heart attacks?

I look forward to having a mother that is more lucid and more pleasant to be around; AND more emotionally stable!

I started taking Geodon only 2 weeks ago and I feel SOOOO much better.
I was going off the deep end for about a month I have BP and depression.
It took only 3 days for me to stable out once I started Geodon. I am up to 80mgs 2 x a day. So far So good.

I'm 25 and have never had great skin, but I've found that minocycline will clear up my acne right away. That is, it used to, until I started with lamictal. Even with the minocycline plus tazorac and an antibiotic cream, my skin is breaking out on my face, especially at the jawline and outside of my face. But the really weird thing is that my back and chest are breaking out. That has NEVER happened before and it's not the infamous rash.

Other things I've noticed: sensitivity to computer screens and TVs, probably because my vision is getting worse, but so I get headaches; brutal periods with extreme breast tenderness; slurred speech and short-term memory loss at first, but not any more; occasional feelings of just being "out of it;" a bit of weight gain and I've always been superthin, but even with diet and exercise am having trouble maintaining my weight. Oh, also the nausea mentioned above, in the mornings; it was so bad I thought I was pregnant.

I'm only on 75mg/day at night for mood stabilization, but mostly because I take wellbutrin and had a seizure on it last year, though I'm not epileptic. I've always been sensitive to medications, and I have to say I've felt extremely "stable" on lamictal, but almost too stable. It's been a bit disorienting and I've felt my creativity diminish (I'm a writer). When I first started the lamictal I had also started a new job. This was a really bad idea as I couldn't remember any of the things my boss was telling me and my speech was messed up; I even stuttered a bit, which was scary.

I, too have been losing my hair. I always said to myself, "I may not have much going for me but I do have good hair and good teeth." Now my scalp is showing, and I'm pretty bummed out about it. I'm also having nausea during the morning hours, and then headaches that wake me up from my sleep.

How interesting...

I've been on the Nuva Ring for probably a year and a half. Started on it a few months into my engagement to my now-husband. Before the ring, I used to want to just attack my husband all the time in the bedroom -- I had a killer sex drive. After the ring, I noticed a decreased sex-drive, and increased anxiety-- I chalked it up to planning a wedding. I also have discharge ALL the time, and sex is often painful. I thought this was all stress too. My periods were frequent (which is off for me b/c I'm so active), they were light, and my mood were stable-- which they had not been on the pill.

Well now we've been married almost a year, I now describe myself as an "anxious person" (which is new) and my sex drive is sad (for a newly wed?!?) The damn thing just fell out in the last few days (which I don't understand, this has never happened before... is it possible it's lost inside of me somehow?!) and I've noticed my sex drive has increased in the interum.

I used to say "I preach the good news of the Nuva Ring" b/c I found it INCREDIBLY helpful to not have to think about a pill while planning a wedding. I'm also very active (surf most mornings) and it seemed to hold up to that. I don't understand why it fell out in the past few days (very odd-- I can't find it) but the loss o' the ring had me searching the internet for solutions, and I think now that it is not my permanent contraceptive solution.

If you're planning a wedding, however, I'd use it. I didn't experience any "first three month" craziness like I do on the pills-- the first 3 months always make me an emotion wreck. It was perfection to have my moods stable.

But I need a change. The emotional rollercoaster of finding a new solution is daunting... but I think it's time.

I am 27 year old female I lived a very active life went to the gym 5 times a week for 2hrs.I been on coumadin Since Feb. I gained so much weight. almost 50lbs.I had a disection of my right artery (one of the main veins in your head). I have no idea what caused it the doctors in Houston have no idea. I had 2 strokes.I take 15 Mg of coumadin my INR is never stable I range from 13-15 Mg of coumadin. If any one can help please let me know Im tired of being fat.

I have been on Coumadin for about 2 months now after surviving a cerebral sinus venous thrombosis (blood clot on my brain - akin to a stroke). I am s 34 yo female who races triathlons and leads a very active healthy lifestyle. My side effects seem to be mild compared to what I read of others. I am on 5mg/day, except 1 day a week I take 10mg. My INR has been pretty stable. The side effects I notice are mild forgetfulness which I am hoping goes away as I start my 3rd year of law school next week! I also had some weird skin peeling on my hands, but that has subsided. I seem to urinate more often than normal and soda pop tastes weird to me now. Anyone else experience the frequent urination and/or taste issues?
Thanks!
Dana :)

I have been taking Wellbutrin SR, 150 mg., once a day for about 5 years now and I love it! I have always been very active my whole life until I had to deal with some very hard family problems. Well, I started getting to where I didn't want to get out of bed in the morning and to fix a meal was more than I could handle. I tried Prozac and just wanted to sleep, so my doctor prescribed Wellbutrin for me. I started feeling like my old self again. My doctor said depression medication should make you feel normal, not out of it or anything like that. Well, I feel normal. You have to listen to your body though. I had a hard time sleeping for the first couple of weeks but that went away. I also notice that if I am starting to feel overwhelmed, I just take an extra one. I'm supposed to take 2 a day, but I only take one in the morning. Every now and then I will take one at noon also. This helps if I'm feeling overwhelmed. You just have to pay attention to your body. If you get headaches, reduce your dose or only take it every other day. I tried the XL and didn't like it. I felt more tired. I really like the SR. It seems just right for me.

I have been taking Lipitor for about 5 years now and have had numerous things happen to me. Just trying to find out if they relate to the Lipitor or not. Have developed extreme fatigue and depression over the years. Always seems like I am in a fog. Have tried numerous anti-depressants trying to conquer this. Nothing seems to work and the problems continue. I was thinking that I just have to live with it and then I thought about the Lipitor. Has anybody experienced any of these symptoms too? I am on 20mg.

I have been on topamax for almost a year now. I had been having a nearly constant migraine cycle for three months which had to be broken with migranol nasal spray. I then started on escalating dosages of topamax. By 100mg I realized that life was wonderful but that I couldn't retain much information which was a problem as I had just gone back to school for an advanced degree. Upon consultation with my doctor, we reduced my dosage to 50mg and things improved dramatically.

I have experienced some fingertip and toe tingling which have been completely tolerable. I take the medication right before bed so that I don't have problems with fatigue during the day. I do get out of breath easily when I exert myself and carbonated beverages taste horrible. But my migraines are under control.

I have a Ph.D. in molecular biology and a few years of neuroscience research under my belt. I would like to say that it is EXTREMELY important for people to understand that no medication is going to work identically for any two people. What works for one person, may not work for everyone. I know people who swear by imitrex but this medication does absolutely nothing for me. You have to be your own advocate when it comes to medications and treatments. Your genetics will also determine how well, if at all, you respond to any medication. For some topamax is a life saver, for others it will be the bane of their existence. This will always be the case for any medication. Be tolerant of others' experiences and understanding of each others' pain and progress will be made.

Sy husband started on Toprol 2 months ago. He is 72 & has had high BP for many years. When the cardiologist thought that he may be having heart problems he immediately changed him from Micardis, which was working fine, to Toprol 25mg. At first it seemed to help his high BP remain more stable, but now he is having other problems. His heart rate is usually in the 50's, he's very tired all the time now & has much more trouble remembering things than before. He's also begun having very vivid nightmares. Three days ago he started having diarrhea too. Also for the first time in 30 years we were unable to make love. He also loved working in the yard in the summer but now the heat is just too much for him. He directly attributes these effects to the toprol since that's the only new medication he has been prescribed in the last year. After reading other posts on this site he has decided to wean himself off of it & go back to his previous BP medication. Thanks to all of you who have posted because now he feels more secure in his idea that these problems are from the Toprol.

I have only been on Toporal for about a month, 50mg/day. My B/P is now stable, but I am having intermittant chest pain that travels down my arm and into my jaw. I am a 50 yr old female in good shape. I can say that I feel some anxiety daily and that is not normal for me. I have not noticed a weight gain, yet my doctor called today to tell me my potassium levels are too high. Has anyone else experienced this from this drug?