Stiffness symptoms and conditions

I am 51 year old woman and have been on Lisinopril 5mg and Bendroflumethiazide 2.5mg for many years now, about 8 (not sure). I got the dry cough to start with and then it vanished, to be replaced with a productive cough. I get, at any time, but thankfully not all the time, a constant need t clear my throat and a wheezing in my breath. I am producing copious amounts of mucus and this is what sets it off. It most often happens after eating or after I have been sedentary for a long time so I get it a lot when in bed. I cough until it all clears away but sometimes I am sick, or I cough myself dizzy and come over all peculiar. It is not a listed side effect but I never had this before. My hair has suddenly thinned, hairdresser told me he has notice a big change in my hair (am menopausal but not through it yet, I suppose my age and meo could be cause of thinning hair). I suffer from terrible stiffness in my feet. Sometimes I can hardly walk as my legs and feet as so fatigued. I will limp upstairs one at a time. Other days I can s[rint up! No regular pattern but I have started using a walking stick often as one ankle is very weak and can give way. Could it be the Lisinopril? I had three day bout of my taste buds going haywire about four years ago but it righted itself. Now I have it again, only not quite so bad. I can taste tea and coffee and savory foodstuff mostly as normal but sweet things either are tasteless or bitter. I don't know if I should go doctors or not. Does anyone else get this constant hacking cough due to excess mucus suddenly being produced. Tenalady are making too much money out of me due to this, lol!

I took Levaquin several months ago and have had on going foot pain. I was recently diagnosed with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome following a Stress Fracure in my heel. I have had muscle aches, all ove pains, bone pain, insomnia, depression, irregular heart beat, headaches. irritability, dizziness,stiffness in my joints, stomach aches. This has all been a terrible ordeal. Do you think it is related to Levaquin. I have also taken Cipro several times for UTI and Diverticulitis. Thanks for listening.

I'm a 35 yr old stay-at-home mom of two who was diagnosed with mixed connective tissue disorder over three yrs ago. But since I was 18, I've had scleroderma & rheumatoid arthritis when I was 23. I never took any drugs for either one up until May 2008. Although the worst things I've gone thru over the yrs were weight loss, stiffness and limited flexibility. The most dramatic change was my facial features. I've had old friends from high school ask me if I had plastic surgery! Other than that, I was able to get pregnant twice and have two beautiful boys. When my rheumatologist diagnosed me with MCTD in 2006, two yrs after my first child, it was very upsetting to know that lupus and sjogren's syndrome was added to the mix, literally. She wanted me to take prednisone and plaquenil. I said no way. I told her I wanted to try for another child and didn't want any drugs to ruin my chances. She assured me that I could take both even while I breastfeed! So I left and ended up with my second boy in 2007. But admittedly, both pregnancies took a toll on my body, the first one with MCTD and then the second one, I had gestional diabetes. A few months after birth, I felt the arthritic flares and the fatigue and sluggishness coming on strong. Without doing any research about either drug, I did consider taking it after I stopped nursing my second child and thought okay, two children are it for me and now it's time to take care of me. I was given prednisone at 5mg daily May 2008 for that entire month. I was very scared but I did it. I just didn't do it consistently. I would skip a day or two..or three...or four days at times before I would take it again. The rheumatologist didn't give me any warnings about side effects, skipping the dosage or tapering off. After I ran out, I decided I couldn't go back on anymore. It did ease the stiffness in my joints and gave me more energy but the mood swings, faster heartbeat and more than normal anxiety did not help. In the next two months, I experienced serious cases of heartburn and acid reflux and a series of episodes when I would gag on a bite of food and had to jump a few times to get it down. I felt a rush of such fear every time it happened that I knew it was the absolute worse feeling I ever experienced in my life. Then the worst happened last August when I fell asleep one one night after having a chocolate chip cookie. I woke up and couldn't swallow. I started drinking water but it was coming back up and out of my mouth. I panicked and screamed for my husband to do the Heimlich on me but it wasn't working. We called 911 and I started downing another glass of water. By the time they got there, I felt the cookie go down. It was something I never wanted to go through ever again. I saw a holistic chiropractor who specialized in kinesiology and other little rituals. He discovered a problem with my adrenal glands and digestive system. Soon after, I saw a gastroenterologist, had an endoscopy and Barium swallow and the diagnosis was esophagitis. It significanty showed how thin it was getting and why I had trouble swallowing. As of last November I was scheduled to have a three hour endoscopy to have a tube go down my esophagus to widen it enough to be able to swallow again. I was too scared and so it didn't happen to this day. You see I like to go the natural route but it is an expensive one at that. It really is my gut instinct that tells me that drugs like prednisone are killing more people than helping people live. But I look back to the fact that I still didn't know anything about it, not like I do now, thanks to the internet and websites like this. Then here's an absolute doozy for you! I was fine for a few months, up until a few months ago in February. My knees were in pain and stiff as a board, my arms were not happy as well. I couldn't take it anymore so I actually went back to my very first rheumatologist in March, who I saw when I was 25 yrs old. He did x-rays and then pushed for the prednisone. I broke down and decided to take it again. This time at 10mg a day. Now I know this is nothing and so was the 5mg from last yr but being only 102 lbs at the time, my body was telling me that it couldn't handle it anymore. I took it consistently this time and for almost two months. The last two weeks though I started to skip again. I also decided that the RA was too old school for me so I went to see yet another RA at the end of April, the one who diagnosed me w/MCTD three yrs ago. I figured the first one never changed so maybe she got better this time around. She took me by surprise when I told her I was taking pred and that she wants me to stop!! She specifically said, "it's an immunosuppressant, that wouldn't work for you."! What a joke!! So she just said to finish it off and start on plaquenil, another drug I dreaded to take. Again, no explanations about side effects or tapering off, I had like three pills left and just stopped. As for the plaq, talk about short-lived. I took maybe three or four and that was it too! I was angry by all the RAs and how they operate. Just take this and don't worry about nothing else. I'll see you in a few months. Then you go home and forget about it. It is highly unlikely with what came next for lil ol me. The first week of May, a pain started in my right ankle. It was more like an annoying sore pain so I tolerated it. By the end of May, I was hobbling on a cane and watched my foot go from normal every morning to an inverted position, w/ the sole facing my left foot. It was swollen, painful and I couldn't put any weight on it. After thinking I was going through an arthritic flare, I said to myself that this was no ordinary flare I've had in the past. I thought of prednisone and how it started after I stopped taking it. The plaq was not in the picture since it takes months for it to take effect. THAT'S WHEN I FINALLY SAT MY ASS DOWN AND STARTED SURFING. After a good three sleepless nights of reading pages and pages of info about withdrawal symptoms, tapering off and stories much like the ones I've read here, I flipped out and went on a mental rampage. I put two and two together about the link between my esophagus and stopping the pred last yr. I have no doubt that the pred f'd it up! Now after seeing one orthopedist (who didn't deal w/the foot/ankle but didn't know), having an MRI which showed torn tendons and ligaments and then being sent to a podiatrist surgeon (BIGGEST MISTAKE TURNED INTO A BLESSING), who decided to take the conservative approach by having my foot casted in a straight position. It was a procedure that I had to be knocked out for since I couldn't bear the pain of anyone moving my foot. That was June going into July. Removal day was the 23rd and lo and behold, hello inverted foot again. Not only did the cast feel loose but I felt my foot turning in it! The blessing was that I didn't have surgery and I didn't have it w/ this damn doctor! He then felt I needed to see a neurologist to rule out whether I may have lesions elsewhere in my body that could be the cause of my foot inversion. I said sure I will see one but I'm not coming back to you! I went to see the doctor I was supposed to see in the first place, an ortho surgeon who specializes in the foot & ankle. But boy he threw me for a loop! Not only did he roll his eyes at the idea that prednisone was involved in this injury, but that MRI don't tell the truth and so I don't have anything torn!! Based on my autoimmune history, he wants me to see a rheumatologist to rule out arthritis as the culprit. He also thinks seeing a neurologist will be a waste of time. He also mentioned the possibility having RSD/CRPS. Google it, it's not GOOD! I honestly hope that's not the case since I'm not in any pain other than the stiffness and non weight bearing pain I'm already used to. This ortho is supposed to be one of the best in the nation and I don't know if I can trust him either! All I know is the prednisone should be BANNED. BLACK BOX THIS BITCH!!! If I had the power and money to go after the makers of this drug, I would run them down for every dollar. I have my 22 month old who was just diagnosed w/PDD recently and I get angry w/the memory of that RA trying to get me to take the pred and plaq before I got pregnant again! My almost five yr old is wondering why I have to walk around in crutches every day and that I can't go outside to play with them anymore. It's been almost three months of this ordeal and it's starting to really depress me, my husband is trying his best to take care of me and the boys as well as my mother and mother-in-law. I have a great support system but I still long for leisurely walks by myself and taking the boys out on my own. I can only go outside in a wheelchair after my husband carries me down three flights of stairs in a no elevator apt. bldg. Life has changed drastically! I'm trying to stay sane everyday for my boys' sake and for my husband's. I do want to mention one last and most IMPORTANT THING. A website: ****** I started taking it two months ago and it has helped me tremendously so far, regardless of my situation. I developed an enlarged thyroid nodule back in February which needed a sono guided biopsy to see if it was cancerous and it turned out to be benign with normal thyroid function as of last month. As for my foot, I don't know what I may have if it's not arthritis related but I hope that LDN is working on it as of right now. For all autoimmune disorders and some cancers, anyone here should take a look at the website and read more about it. Thank you for letting me share my story :-).

Cholesterol slightly elevated Dr. recommended 10mg dosage. Began experiencing neck and shoulder pain, dizziness, nausea, foot stiffness and leg numbness up to the lower thigh. Voluntarily stopped the medication after four months. All noticed side effects disappeared except for the foot stiffness and leg numbness. It has been 2 1/2 years and these remaining side effects are constant. Not optimistic for recovery. Anyone else with similar symptoms?

July 8, 2009
I took Lisinopril for 2 months and began noticing soreness and stiffness cramping in my legs. Joint pain and general muscle weakness. Biggest indicator was my inability to ride road bikes (bicycle) nearly as much as normal. I did not have the muscle strength or stamina to ride like before. On one ride I had such sever cramping I had to get pick up, first time in 18 yrs of bicycling. It also states to not use sodium or potassium supplement while on this medicine, which I was doing for cramping. Also because I was borderline hypertension I did not notice any decrease in BP while on this. I have stopped taking this medicine. nn

I just turned 60 and thought all my aches and pains and cramps were due to age, but having read these posts, I believe it is the Januvia that is causing my problems.I am a type II diabetic. After taking Januvia for less than a month, I have been having trouble sleeping more than 4 hours per night. The back of my neck is stiff and hurting. Both my hands and in particular, my fingers are numb and tingling. I'm experiencing cramps in both legs and stiffness all over. I've had to force myself to stand up and walk. I have severe heartburn (something I've never suffered with). I, too, have absolutely no sexual desire.About two weeks ago, a lump about the size of a dime has formed on the cartilage on the front of my neck, just below my chin. My doctor says, "We'll just watch it." I just feel rotten! I am stopping this medicine today. I hope these side effects have not done any permanent damage to me. I'm sick of these doctor's using their patients as test subjects for new drugs! I'm definitely changing my internist because this is one of many instances where the drugs I have been prescribed have caused me extremely miserable side effects. Where in the world is a doctor that believes in improving his patient's health or curing the illness rather than "PRACTICING" Medicine and pushing drugs!

Hello Ladies!

I had my Mirena put in on 6/2008 after giving birth to my second kid on March 2008. Since then I was diagnosed with post-partum depression. Which came as a surprise to me since I didn't get this with my first baby. Doctors do say all pregnancies are different, therefor I figured my doctor was right. FOR A REASON HE'S A DOCTOR! But then I started getting severe head-aches, I have lost most of my hair, mood swings (which are the worst) and this stiffness on my upper back that won't go away even with 10 Excedrins. I have tried everything to get ride of this pain but everything is just temporary. I have had a dozen anxiety attacks. Like many of you ladies out there I blamed my job for stress, my husband for mood swings, and my kids for headaches. I had suicidal thoughts for no apparent reason. My life is great. No money problems, my husband and I have been together for 5 years and I have a great paying job but I am still not happy and I am on depression pills. I also had memory lost and I am only 26 years old. I was uninterested in hanging out with friends, having drinks, talking to anyone or going out at all. last but not least I have been wearing prescription glasses for a whole year straight because my sight is foggy. THAT' IS NOT A COINCIDENCE! After reading your comments, I have decided to have this monster taken out. I had to beg my doctor to do it since he insisted I was wrong about the mirena and that I am only depressed. Well, I know my body better then anyone else and I know for a fact it was THE MONSTER making me feel like this. I finally had it removed today and I already feel a little better. I am getting cramps but nothing major. I forgot to tell you I also gained 15 pounds out of nowhere because I eat like I did before my pregnancy and after dieting and exercising I couldn't loose the weight. I am hoping this will help you all and I will post my post-mirena symptoms in 2 weeks.

I was on 40 mg of simvastatin for 4 months with seemingly no side effects when my doctor said my cholesterol wasn't coming down quickly enough to suit him, so he added lovaza - had me taking both at the same time. Within 2 months I was noticing sore muscles but didn't relate it to the meds. After about another 2 months I was so bad I could hardly walk - extreme muscle and joint pain over my entire body, severe weakness, shortness of breath. Then I found out that both of those drugs can cause these side effects. I wish I had tied it together sooner. I have been completely off of them both for about 3 months and still have some pain in my feet, shoulders and elbows, along with severe pain in my hands, and I am still weak and short of breath. I don't know how long this is going to hang on, but I certainly hope it isn't permanent. I can't stand to think that I might have to live with this pain for the rest of my life. My hands are so close to useless, and I am so weak, that it's about all I can do to take care of my job and make a living. I haven't been able to work around the house for months. I want to work on my cars (my hobby). I have 2 antique cars that I enjoy working on and driving, but I don't think I'm going to be able to do very much with them this summer. My hands just won't let me. And the beauty of it all? My cholesterol numbers did not come down any great amount. Since I stopped taking the meds I have brought the numbers down by changing my diet - eggbeaters instead of whole eggs, less beef (venison is very low in cholesterol) more chicken & fish, oatmeal, plus I'm taking vitamin C, D3, garlic and cinammon for cholesterol and B complex for muscles, msm and glucosamine for joints. I also bought a hot tub, which helps with the pain and stiffness. This has definitely not been a fun thing. I just hope it goes away some time soon.

My fibromyalgia has totally flared since I had Mirena put in about 2 months ago. The fibro always was better when I was pregnant and since Mirena has increased progesterone (like pregnancy) that it wouldn't make it worse - maybe even better like pregnancy. But it's definitely worse and I'm really thinking it's because of the difference in hormones. When you are pregnant - estrogen is increased as well so maybe that difference is to blame. Who knows. I have also had more breakouts. No hair loss yet but major fibro problems (aches and pains, memory/cognitive problems, sensation of swelling/stiffness etc...). I am hoping if I have it out the flare will subside a bit. If I am still majorly flaring in a few weeks - I think I will have it out.

I have polymyalgia and the rheumatologist put me on 15 mg prednisone a day for one month then 12 1/2 mg 2 weeks then 10 for two weeks and now 7 1/2 for a month then down to 5 mg next month til next doctor visit. The only side effect I feel I am experiencing is not being able to loss weight. I have not gained any in the 3 month on the meds, but have been really watching my weight and can't seem to lose any. I do at times get a hot flash, not at night but in the daytime, but compared to the pain and stiffness from the polymyalgia.. I'm a happy camper. Before I couldn't get in or out of the tub or car the pain was so bad! Mornings were unbearable. I am 150 pound 54 year old female.
Does anyone else feel good about this drug and have had success with it. My doctor wants me off it in a year.

Hi, I am a mother of two very young children. I am also a stay-at-home mom. Prior to December 2008 I had been feeling possible peri-menopause symptoms such as (night sweats, memory loss, some what crazy period) and decided to go to my obgyn and get a checkup. She decided to put me on Yaz for the hormone replacement thinking that would help me. I have been on Yaz since December and my life has been horrible as well for my family. I have not been myself and have been progressively getting worse. I think this medicine should be taken off the market because it could severely cause someone to harm themselves. Here are my side effects using this drug:
1. severe headaches coming from the spine up the neck
2. severe mood swings (felt as though something terrible/irritating under the skin) - my children have taken the brunt of my terrible moods, so badly so at times they hid from me
3. severe loss of sleep (forget sleeping can't shut the brain down)
4. severe joint pain (stiffness and ache's in the knees, elbows, back and neck)
5. feeling as though I had a cold
6. severe mental cloudiness (i would get to the grocery store and forget half of the things on my list)
7. severe gas
8. blurred vision
9. overall tiredness and loss of enthusiasm for life (no joy or peace)
10. total loss for sex (my poor husband has been such a trooper through all of this)
I am sure of more side effects, but these are what really are coming to me at the moment. Look I have been praying for a sign as to why I was feeling so terrible these last few months. I have quit taking this medicine as of yesterday. I still feel the effects but have the faith that I am going to get better. Please if you are reading this and think maybe you are crazy, you are not. Yaz is the cause of your problems. Think about it, pray about it, consider getting off. It just might save your life.

I got a positive culture back for bacterial vaginosis which is quite common, and was prescribed bactrim DS (was given septra ds which is the same thing). that are only 160 mg tabs for 10 days 2 times a day. I was fine for about 3 days, on the 4th day I had decreased energy, pain in my left calf, and I was very irritable and felt nauseated and dizzy after taking the pill, I also felt cramping in my lower back and sides. On the 5th day, I had the same symptoms, on the 6th day I started to have stiffness in my neck, and I was nauseated and came close to vomiting. On what would be the 7th day my neck was stiff but wasn't worrying me too much not enough to make me think something was wrong, and I went to the doctor to find out if I was pregnant or not and sure enough I am! So I asked her then, could I be having an allergic reaction to the bactrim? My nurse said no, its probably related to my pregnancy. Now, I've been pregnant before and NEVER have I experienced neck pain at 4 weeks pregnant.. And most people will say "irritability, nausea, pregnancy related!" This is irregular. because when I don't take it, I am perfectly fine. after I got home the pain got progressively worse as the night went on. So I didn't take the evening dose. I went into the doctor on what would be the 8th day with so much neck pain I could hardly drive myself there, they told me nothing was wrong and told them I am positive that I am having a reaction to the bactrim. they said its probably just a cold. That if i were to have a reaction it would have been only in the first few days. They told me to continue use with the bactrim and relieve the pain with Tylenol, cold/hot compresses yadda yadda. Mind YOU as they are saying I can not move my neck even to look at the doctor to my right. I had to ask him to move in front of me, so I could see him! I know my body. While having it out of my system for the short time, i took Tylenol and felt amazing, i could turn my head, was making enchiladas! but since I took the morning dose, by the evening I was in agony. The pain is predominantly on the left side on the back of my neck, from the nape and base of my skull spreading down to my shoulders and back. It has also spread to behind my ears and on the left side of my skull. the Right side is not nearly as painful, I'm wondering if it might have something to do with being left handed. And I know I shouldn't have continued using that antibiotic, but I did. Doctors orders aren't always good orders. NOW I AM IN SO MUCH PAIN... I took it again this morning, thinking "my doctor would only prescribe this if he thought the risk of the side effects is worth the cure." And its gotten much worse. nothing has helped. I can only take Tylenol every 4-6 hours, and it only lasts about one hour if even that. I am exhausted, and the pain when i woke up made me nauseated, trust me I KNOW what morning sickness feels like. I was dizzy and nauseated from the sheer pain, and I have been so restless from the pain. I'm done using it, and I will tell my doctor that I refuse to use antibiotics in the future as well. I'm really upset, I know my body. I know what I am feeling, and it literally feels like there is an attack on my neck from the bactrim, and its spreading.

I ran across this post as when I got really sick renovating a house I ended up a neurologist who recommended lamictal and that I was bipolar. My symptoms were bad neurological defect inability to concentrate intense burning headache, muscle aches, neurological pain in my arms and general stiffness and fatigue with twitching muscles, heart arrhythmia and anxiety. I couldn't understand how all of a sudden I had become bipolar however was under an extreme amount of stress (living in a half torn apart moldy house with no heat while serving as my own contractor under 300K of debt with no job as my arm pain interfered with my computer consulting practice ). I tried taking anti-depressants. My headaches got much worse and I turned a pale whitish yellow and developed fatty lumps under my skin called lypomas (wellbutrin) my friends (later) said I look like a cadaver. I felt like my symptoms did not match what was generally diagnosed as depression or bipolar but my regular doctor and neurologist insisted that I was depressed in some form or another. After another year or so of being really ill and trying different AD meds and finding no way out I was getting pretty desperate. I heard of a plce in Hawaii that a friend recommended cleans and unbllocks your interal organs using nothing but water. As a scientist and engineer and builder I was skeptical but felt like something like that might be the best path - it was a shot in the dark. I sold the house and dropped $5K on the treatment and trip to the big island It was like being let out of a cage my body turned from yellowish white to pink and healthy looking in less than 5 days. I dropped 20 lbs of the unrecognizable stuff out of my colon and liver. I believe I had a problem with cholestasis - stagnant liver bile that solidifies when you work too hard without drinking enough water causing bad digestion and absorption of nutrients leading to all sorts of problems incldung toxic liver and portal hypertension and jaundice. It's now two years later. The only thing that is wrong with me now is a small amount of fatigue and irritation in my frontal lobe when I work long hours at the computer. I continue the cleasing process and may go back. Contact me if you might be interested in the details. Drugs may be helpful to some and I may try an antidepressant to get me over the top but if you start medicating while your organs are not working well due to a lifetime of bad eating and lack of exercise ( or in my case working physically to exhaustion and then ordering out pizza and eating on the run for months on end) you might want to try another way. Oh and I'm not bipolar. Lamictal taken in the state of health I was in would probably have killed me. I'm now 41 and have a new life to look forward to and a whole lot wiser. There's a book called the amazing liver and gallbladder flush. It's the real deal.

My husband has been on Lamictal for about 5 weeks now. He was taking Lamictal in combination with Abilify. He feels lousy. He has headaches, stiffness in his neck and a as he puts it "his eyes feel like they are constantly in the staring or bugged out position" His doctor first took him off Lamictal and lowered his Abilify but he still felt lousy and tired. His doctor then took him off Abilify and back on Lamictal. He felt better for about one day. He also says that he feels more anxiety and tension since being on these meds. Does anyone have any suggestions?

Please, is the anyone who knows of a way to treat the dibilating muscle/joint pain experienced as a result of taking the antibiotic, levaquin?

I took 4 500 mg doses of Levaquin for a sinus infection on Aug 19-22 2008. I am now almost 5 months out. I suffered multiple adverse reactions and have been waiting to post to see how things resolved. I am 39 years old and in excellent health. I rarely see doctors and have never had anything chronic. This is what I experienced: extreme fatigue, all over muscle soreness/stiffness, severe headaches, tingling/numbness in hands/feets, serious shoulder problems requiring ortho, physical therapy and chiropractor, irregular heart rhythm, irregular kidney function, constant ringing in my ears, impaired vision. Currently most of these are resolved except irregular kidney function (although this has improved), shoulder issues (not normal yet) and ringing in my ears.

You can't judge the full scope of your reaction by your body's initial reaction. As time unfolds you will get the big picture of how this drug harms the various systems of the body.

I can not begin to explain how taking this drug has impacted my life and my family. I have 3 children to take care of. I thank God that I am healing and have now resumed almost all of my daily activities. I pray that I will soon be back to full health. This is absolute madness. I am so sorry that so many of us have been injury in such a way.

Well, let's see, I am 37, I just had my third child a year ago. When I had my first child at 19, I entered the world of Rhumatoid Arthritis, I did not take anything for it, it just seemed to go away by itself. After the second child it flared up but not long enough or hard enough to remember. After the third child at 36, wow did it get bad, so bad i couldn't get her out of her crib. That was the day I started 10mg of pred a day,,it made all the symptoms of the RA almost disappear...almost...which was a miracle,,,but it made all the side effects of the med start,,,,weight gain BIG TIME, bad moods, maybe 2 hours of sleep @ night,,,hair loss which scares me the most, blurred vision, buffalo hump looks like I'm looking for something on the floor all the time,,a wonderful neck that looks like i swallowed a couple bananas whole,,hmmmm,,,,let's seeeeee,,what else, easy bruising thankfully I like the color purple, oh, and me and mr. potty have become well friends. At first, the doc thought it was hypothyroidism because I also had 2 periods a month, but a blood test told threw that theory out. I just want to say,,,,I like that my RA is better because of it,,,but I am as of yesterday taking myself off of good ol prednisone, and sticking to a high dose of IB or Tylenol. It's just not worth it.

This is painful for me to type due to the pain in my hands & fingers. I had ankle surgery to fix a torn ligament and an ankle scope on Oct. 30, 2008. I was put on 500 mg of Levaquin to prevent infection. On Nov 4th, my entire body felt like it was beat up. I could barely get up off of the couch. I also developed severe pain and burning in my foot. I couldn’t support my weight on crutches due to pain in my arms & wrists. I took this dose for 10 days. On Nov 24th, I couldn’t take the pain anymore. I ended up being hospitalized for 10 days. I had severe swelling in my ankle and bruising up to & including my toes. The doc thought it was an infection so I was started on 2 types of IV antibiotics. Didn’t get any better. On Nov 26th, the doc tried to aspirate it and only dried blood came out. It was sent for a culture and came back negative. He asked me how my pain was and I told him the back of my ankle hurt really bad. He said “the MRI that was done on Nov 25th showed I developed tendinitis in the Achilles tendon. I asked him how that happened since I haven’t walked on that foot since my injury date of August 23rd. He said he wasn’t sure. I had 2 previous MRIs (Sept & Oct) which did not show tendinitis at all! On Dec. 1st I went back to the operating room so the doctor could cut open the golf ball size hematoma on the outside of my ankle. He got a lot of jelly-like blood from the back part of my ankle. He left the drain in overnight and then removed it. I was released on Dec 3rd with a script for 750 mg of Levaquin for 7 days (which I finished yesterday). The swelling is down about 25% and I have been out of the hospital for 8 days now. The pain in my body was so horrible today that I went to my family doctor. She did a thorough exam of my joints-which was complete agony!!!! She explained that she was going to run some tests to see what is wrong. She explained to me that she thinks this is a reaction to the Levaquin & she has had patients who have had ruptured tendons from this medication. She sent me for bloodwork and gave me a script for morphine (Avinza) to control the pain, which 750 mg of ES Vicodin and 800 mg of Ibuprofen didn’t make it any better. I feel helpless as my 9 year old has to do everything for me because I simply cannot get up. I hope my doctor figures this out real soon! This is unreal to have to suffer like this. I will keep everyone on this page in my prayers! Good Luck to everyone!

Oh my God, where to start. The past few months I have gone through some crazy things from prostitis to having 2 cystoscopy's performed. This past weekend the scab came off the biopsy location in my bladder and blad pretty badly. It caused a large clot to block off my bladder and I could not urinate. In the ER they found a lot of bacteria in my urine and prescribed Bactrim.

Let me just say the past few months have been NOTHING last the past few days on Bactrim. First it was the crazy dreaming. Dreams that were so outlandish, yet so real it was quite frightening.

On day 2 of taking Bactrim I started to itch. It has been quite cold here in Jersey so I chalked it up to the usual dry winter skin. On day 3 I woke up (after minimal sleep) with a sore throat and chest congestion. I then found that the itching grew immensely in intensity and now was adorned with red bumps.

This rash was mainly on my upper arms and lower legs. I scratched at it so badly I drew blood, I have never felt itchy like this. This is ITCHY....EVIL ITCHY!

I woke up on day 4 the same, took another dose of Bactrim (dose #8). As I swallowed the pill something told me "Hey, I bet this pill is causing all your problems." After some research, viola! I found information online that pretty much assured me I was correct.

I went to the doc today and he advised me to take 1 Zyrtec a day and prescribed me Prednisone. I just hope this itching stops soon because I am making a mess of myself with all this scratching.

How could a pill like this be on the market and be utilized as much as it is. The testaments on this site are amazing and stunningly all similar.

Bactrim is undoubtedly the worst prescription I have ever taken or have read up on. To whoever reads this, if you are prescribed Bactrim use one of the rubber test gloves in your doctors office and slap him/her across the face with it. Dealing with the pending lawsuit would be better on you than dealing with the side effects of this drug.

I was on Femcon FE for 6 months just for hormone replacement I have been on BC for 10 years never had the problems like I have with this drug. Severe arm muscle aches but worst of all lower back muscle cramping at night so bad I could barley get out of bed in the morning. I was starting to think I had arthritis, numbness in fingers and arms at night as well as stiffness in my fingers joint pain in my knees very bad. All this was a constant and the back cramping was getting worse with every night. I have stopped taking this drug 1 week ago and already see big improvement in mood, numbness is gone and the back stiffening and cramping has greatly improved, the muscle aches are almost gone Thank god I figured out it was this horrible drug.

I've been on Levaquin for three days to clear up severe congestion, possible bronchitis. The doctor at the walk-in clinic didn't like what he heard in my lungs, so prescribed this drug (It was a Friday and I needed something before the weekend due to my asthma). My fever has continued to spike, I have cried at the drop of the hat--exhaustion, fatigue, mood swings, and a cough that persists even after three days. Pain in shoulder joint, raw throat (certain foods seem to burn it), and a REALLY bad headache, and stiffness in my neck. I go to my general doctor tomorrow (Monday), and he will hear about this medicine, trust me. It has been a weekend from hell!

i was prescribed cipro on may 9th, 2008. It is now September 27th 2008. i have not had a really good day between these dates. have been hospitalized. lost lots of body fluids. pain, weakness, depression, emotional problems,no appetite, no energy, agitated constantly, lost 15 lbs.,so far. have seen specialists because i have diminished eye sight and hearing loss. no patience with family. i haven't moved my bowels on my own since first dose. have to take laxatives every week to empty my bowels. i live with full body pain and stiffness every single day, all day. lost interest in my life. i am forgetting the happy, active strong, energetic positive 48 yr old woman I used to be. i know it's the cipro that's killing me. i think my dr. believes me. the other dr.s think i should either that's where I discovered what was hurting me so badly]. I looked up cipro on the computer after i saw a warning about taking cipro and found the truth of why i was so sick. accidentally found out. no symptoms, no pain. Most doctors don't want to believe me. I've told several drs., nurses, and anybody who would listen. I'd tell you more but I can't remember right now. cipro stole my memory too. May God be with us. Betty M.

Hello, I was prescribed Avelox 400 mg by my doctor. I am a healthy male, 34 yrs old, athletic, work out regularly and in lean condition. I had a sinus infection, started using Avelox and on the second day, after a light tricep workout experience wicked pain/ultra rapid swelling in my left elbow approx. 30 mins after exercising. I could barely move the limb and the swelling went down after packing it with ice. I called TeleHealth and they told me not to stop taking it and see a doctor. I went to a walk in clinic, showed the injury to the doctor on shift and he told me I must of over exerted myself during exercising. I was told to continue taking Avelox. I decided it was in my best interest to stop any weight lifting exercises. I decided to do a light cardio workout on the fifth day, 20 minutes at a lower speed than usual ( 2.8 ) and after completing the work out experienced some stiffness in my left knee. Approx. 30 mins later, I experienced the same wicked pain/ultra rapid swelling in my knee. I could not walk and had to crawl to a phone to call for assistance. This was approx. one month ago, now I have pain in both elbows, knees, right shoulder, both forearms close to the elbows, and tennis elbow in the left forearm. I have not exercised since then and my doctor told me to discontinue the med. His advice was to take anti inflammatories and rest. The left knee and elbow swell when I walk or just hold the phone to my ear for an extended period of time. I would like to know what you found during R&D of this med. and how long I am expected to be like this. This is now affecting my social life and restricting me from doing what I enjoy in life and affecting my performance at work.

I'm 42 and have 2 children. I had Mirena fitted end April 08 after a recommendation from a friend. A month later I noticed joint pain in my left thumb which over the weeks and months spread to all my fingers, then my hips and finally general stiffness all over. I was training for a 5K at the time and just put this down to post running achiness. I didn't initially connect this to Mirena, I just worried that I was showing signs of arthritis and went to see my GP. No mention of Mirena from her but she just did some tests to see if it could be viral or some form of rheumatism. All results came back negative which was a relief but nothing more was suggested as to why I was having these problems. (which for someone who rarely visits a doctor made me feel as if I was going mad and imagining things) It didn't improve - I was also getting palpitations from time to time so after googling mirena and joint pain I was surprised (and a bit relieved) to find many blogs about this problem, mainly in the US (I live in the UK). Went back to doctor at local family planning clinic who told me yes mirena could cause some arthritic symptoms but she was noticeably reluctant to concede that this was causing my problems. I was urged to keep the Mirena and see a rheumatologist first.

I got the distinct impression that the professionals I spoke to are going to extreme lengths not to say for certain that this device can cause serious and debilitating arthritic pain in many cases.

I have an appointment to see a rheumatologist and I decided to have the mirena removed 5 days ago. I'm hoping the joint pain will go. But am worried this IUS may have triggered something in my system that may not go away.

I had mine inserted the first week of July. Yes, it was freaking uncomfortable getting it done and I had cramping the rest of the day, but my OB warned me of that and I made the decision to go ahead. I'm not in a position to complain about it now.
I bled/spot for 2-3 weeks after insertion. Only heavy enough to require a tampon for the first week, but I had it inserted when I was supposed to be starting my period anyway. Again my OB suggested this and warned me about the possibility of bleeding for up to 6 months. Again my decision to go forward!
Since then I have had cramping once a month like I'm going to start my period and never do. Within the last few weeks I've started getting the acne and an oily scalp. It's all over my back and not poppable. I'm hoping it will eventually subside when my body gets used to the new hormone level I'm giving it. If you think about it, it's the same thing in puberty (ie change in hormones) that kicks off the acne so it doesn't surprise me that this is a side effect. If it doesn't subside I'll make a decision then whether or not to have it out.
I have not had any of the other side effects. In fact I had terrible headaches and neck pain before I got this and those have gotten much better.

I was on the pill for 15 years before getting mirena and I had much worse side effects with that (extreme moodiness, loss of sexual desire, bad cramps, long periods, etc). I tried multiple brands of pills and never found one I was 100% happy with. But I dealt with it because I made the decision to go on B/C.
I'll take the acne over those any day! (not to mention I got pregnant on the pill!!!)

I understand that these side effects suck, but you act like it's the company's fault. They specifically list the common side effects and the majority of the ones you're complaining about are listed in plain site Taken directly from their website:
Menstrual changes
Lower abdominal pain (cramps)
Acne or other skin problems
Back pain
Breast tenderness
Headache
Mood changes
Nausea
Ovarian cysts have been diagnosed in about 12% of Mirena® users. In most cases, the enlarged follicles disappeared spontaneously during two to three months of observation.

Did you think that's just for show? Did you ever stop to consider (before getting the product) you might actually get those side effects and what you would do if you did? It is your body... YOU are the only one responsible for what goes inside it. No one held you down and forced you to do this. Mirena didn't hide anything from you or trick you into it. Take some responsibility for your actions! Quit blaming others. This is a great example of what is wrong with our society today!

Take responsibility! Do your research! Make your own decisions and deal with the consequences of them without blaming others!

If you look at the mirena website it gives you the FDA number to call to report side effects. If you're having major ones call the FDA and report it so that more than just people that stumble upon this forum know about it!