Taking time symptoms and conditions

I am a 70 year old woman, I have been on 20mg Lipitor for high cholesterol, 200 total and 25mg of Spironolactone for a not so high blood pressure, for 3 1/2 yrs. Oh, my God, the Spironolactone is a potassium sparing diuretic that is very dangerous and has many uses I didn't know about or the terrible side effects, it causes breast cancer. It's also used to treat women who have an over growth of hairiness, or on a higher dose to treat hair loss and I've gone bald on the top of my head! Plus all of the good foods we're supposed to eat for high cholesterol, fruit & veggies one isn't to eat on this drug, because of lot's of potassium, what a huge contradiction. And muscle pains, and rashes, (eczema, atopic dermatitis) that I've suffered from both.
Anyway, Lipitor, had know idea about the side effects until I looked it up on the internet and read these posts on here.
I stopped taking Lipitor last week and Spironolactone 2 days ago.
I had cholesterol test last week too and saw my dr. Wednesday. He said it was okay that I stopped the Lipitor, but not the other one, why not the other one worse then Lipitor and why am I on this strong drug, geez.
The pain and burning started in my hip for no reason, then my ankles with eczema which started soon after Lipitor, then my fingers, numbness, can't pick things up, tingling, burning. Then my feet, yes, just like all of you I have these same problems. This is not just coincidental, this is from the drug Lipitor. I get severe joint cramps in my legs, feet and fingers.
For now on before I take any drug I've prescribed I will thoroughly check for side effects and not take it if they're seriously impairing like Lipitor. I feel like a cripple and older then I should feel, I almost just felt like why live anymore if this is how it's going to be.
Since I've stopped Lipitor I feel a little better, I read that it causes permanent muscle and nerve damage though, oh I hope not, I can barely walk anymore or get up out of my chair. This is all drug induced toxicity of my system. Thanks so much everyone who posted for sharing and enlightening all of us who are suffering from this drug and others.
It should be banned along with Baycol, (a statin) which was banned a few months ago because of these same side effects. With the studies that it only helps maybe to prevent heart attack, well I'd rather be able to walk again and hopefully all this will go away, the rash, etc.

So glad I found this site.
My doctor is trying to convince me to having the Mirena fitted as I'm having very heavy periods every 2 weeks that last approx 8 days. I initially said "no", but was still given information regarding Mirena to take home & read. I was beginning to reconsider but after reading through these postings I will be sticking to my guns & will NOT have it fitted.
Thank you for taking time to share your experiences as it has helped me to make a more informed choice.

Well on 2-15-09 my sister in law died just shy of turning 39. She had severe depression, As of three years ago she began starving herself. She would go weeks without eating or drinking anything. She was in and out of the hospital through out the years. She started taking Lamictal six days prior to 2-15-09. The Dr. said she had made a mistake and wrote 100mg where it should had been 25mg. The doctor's later stated it didn't matter if they wrote 1mg it would have happened eventually.

Now we had called her on her birthday three days prior to 2-15-09, and she said the medication made her feel weird. That night she fell to sleep and did not wake up but for only a brief minute in the hospital. After being asleep for a day she was rushed to the hospital were a battery of test were run. She had begun to have liver failure and sepsis. The doctor's had her airlifted to a hospital four hours away where liver specialist were available. She arrived there and withing a few hours her lungs collapsed, her kidneys began to fail, and she had two heart attacks where she finally died at 11:10 pm on 2-15-09.

So I am here to make you aware. This is the side affect no one has talked about yet. Now she had no rash. She had weekend her system by not eating. Other than her depression she was OK. The doctor's don't know if she had an allergic reaction or not. The autopsy will be arrive in 40 days. With just some fatigue and weird feelings she continued to take the medication for the six days. I read on and on and I see so many symptoms, this would be a great time to evaluate with a profession because lets face it we really don't know the long term affects. It could be doing damage to your internal organs, or not. I feel if your body is showing you signs that are not normal than it is a good indication that your body is telling you that is cant tolerating it to well. So at least your getting the signs you might want to see what else is out there. As God is my witness we wanted her healthy and to not suffer so I really do have only good intentions for you all.

The funeral is today.

Hi, had my mirena coil fitted in Nov '08 and have just had it removed Feb '09. Mine had dislodged apparently and was caused me severe abdominal cramps but three days after removal, still getting bad cramps, taking time off work, when will it end?? Not recommended ! I have to say my side effects were spotty face, bloated tummy and stabbing pains in my bottom area and upper back, tearful, bloated tummy, severe lower back pain for about 2 months which stopped me going to the gym, can't comment about the weight really as I gave up smoking at the same time, so it could be a combination of both. Rest assured the removal of the coil didn't hurt, but just wish this pain would end!

I started taking Lipitor in 2004 and by 2008 was taking 40mg daily. I'm not sure exactly when certain symptoms manifested themselves, as looking back they now seem insidious, but I do know they became bad enough in 2008 I went off the drug myself, especially after reading postings like those at this website. After being off the drug for a month, it was clear to me the most of the symptoms dissipated, but it did have a residual affect. I realized I had suffered a loss of range of motion (ROM) in my left arm (frozen shoulder) and have been in physical therapy for over a month to restored 80% of it. I could not have done this while staying on Lipitor as I was experiencing “deep” muscle pain and weakness. I still have some weakness and pain in my left arm and shoulder and don’t know if it is permanent.

I am Hypothyroid and take Synthroid and am currently going through menopause and am on partial HRT. I took no other meds other than the Lipitor. At one point, I thought my symptoms were stress related, but realized my symptoms were causing the stress. Aside from the muscle pain, spasms, tingling and numbness experienced in my left extremities, I experienced gastro intestinal disturbances, occasional vertigo, some lower back problems and other aching in other extremities (like that of flu symptoms). I also suffered recurrent mental fogs, which I initially attributed to some lack of regular exercise (although I lead a relatively an active life), but that was not the case, as even after aerobic activity the tingling and pain would resume.

When I told my physician I had stopped taking the Lipitor (at that time for nearly a month), he didn't blink an eye. I agree with previous blog; the idea of statins are to lengthen your life, but what kind of life is it when you are in misery and nothing short of ceasing the medication brings relief?

I'm not advocating everyone "doctor themselves. Listen to your physician, but most importantly listen to your body and trust your instincts when it comes to these types of medications. Symptoms listed about scripts described as "rare" are usually not that rare at all. You are not crazy.

I had Implanon inserted in June 2008, I just had it removed Sept 17 2008. The first side effect was that I gained weight. My appetite increased and I felt like I was constantly hungry. Within the first month I got an Urinary Tract Infection, the infection was so bad that it transferred to my boyfriend through sex.. After a month I started bleeding and it lasted 4 weeks, not spotting just bleeding. I lost my drive for sex, I felt bloated and was too tired ALL THE TIME!!! I was crying over everything, I felt depressed and stressed about everything, my head hurt all the time. My whole body just felt off. I wasn't myself at all. One morning I woke up with a horrible sore throat. I went in for strep test and tested negative. They said it was just a viral infection. A few days after that my muscles started to hurt. My left knee and hip joint began hurting so bad that it was hard to walk and get up out of bed in the morning.(The Implanon was inserted in my LEFT arm). Occasionally I felt tingling in my left arm and fingers. I then notice my left ankle was getting swollen and at that point my whole body felt like it was shutting down.I started to run fevers and thats when I looked up the "possible side effects of Implanon" online. As I read I realized that I had every single side effect even the uncommon more severe ones, but it seemed like my symptoms were multiplied by 100. I called my doctor and she immediately had me come in to have the implanon removed. Today is Sept 22. I have been on bed rest since the implanon was removed. It turns out that my body had rejected the Implanon, treated it like was a foreign object.

Checking in again. Been off the lipitor 3 weeks now. It feels good to feel better. I feel my old self coming back. I laugh sometimes. HOORAH!!! Pain in my legs 50% gone. Hips still troubling. Legs are still weak. I don't know if its from not using them much over the past 8 mo. or the poison lipitor. Still sapping life forces from my body. My life is a wreck . I can tell life is starting to get better. The only thing different, is off the lipitor. Lets get this stuff off the market. It is debilitating, painful, causes depression, to the point you are thought of as lazy, unmotivated. The pain and ache is all you can muster to deal with on a day to day basis. it is indescribable agony. I want to kick something. For the months that I have lost of happiness. Something has got to be done. There was a move awhile back to sell this stuff over the counter. What will they think of next. I am just thankful that I am feeling better. moonman

I have six year old twins who have been on Singulair since August. Things have been so bad I have considered putting them in counseling. The physical symptoms they have is dry, red eyes, stomach aches, stuffy nose, sore throat, cough, night sweats, body aches, itchy skin, cherry red cheeks and ears, and excessive weight gain. The other symptoms they suffer from are night terrors, sleep walking and reaching for things that are not there. Also anger, depression, very, very irritable they will cry over the least little things. They are doing well in school, but are crying every day they hate school and they basically hate everything. The teacher also tells me they can't pay attention. They have become very aggressive hitting each other and there brother and sister. Screaming and crying for long periods of time. I really started to worry when one of them said he wished he were dead. That is something a six year old should not even think of. I have four kids and I just thought it was family stress and it was because I couldn't devote enough attention to them. I had begun to think that I was the worst mother on the planet. With all these crazy things going on I never dreamed that they were connected. I really don't know why I goggled Singulair side effects, but I am so glad I did. It cannot be a coincidence that so many children and adults have the same symptoms and they all take Singulair. My children have taken their last dose tonight and I pray they will start feeling better. It is such a relief to know that there is a reason for their behavior it was so out of character for them. I usually do not reply to any posts but I feel it is important to let everyone know about this. I will also let my pediatrician know.

I took Doxycycline for pneumonia that would not go away 100 mg per day. After 4 doses I was struck suddenly with severe chest pain on the left hand side of my chest at the front, down the middle of my chest and on the left hand side of my back and under my shoulder blade. I was admitted to hospital for suspected heart problem. However, after ECG, XRay, blood tests no evidence of a heart problem was found. On release from hospital I checked the patient information leaflet that was supplied with the Doxycyline and it list chest pain as an allergic reaction to the drug. I also experienced a swollen and sore tongue and breathing difficulty which is taking time to go.

I had a heart attack a little over 15months ago & am now on several different meds. For the past 10 months I have been coughing& I mean coughing, can hardly breathe. The cough wakes me up at night, I feel as though I am short of oxygen & have to tell myself to be calm, take a slow deep breath .I am starting to resemble a fish that is out of water. I have told my doctor on many occasions but to no avail. I have also put on 15 lbs on weight . I am too afraid to come off the Lisinopril as I don't want another heart attack. I can't afford another med as i am self pay & can't afford another expense.....I am trying to tell myself that i can live like this, but now the coughing is annoying my work collegues...Also having vivid dreams, am out of breath with any exertion, blah, blah, blah...Anybody got any ideas??? Or should I just stop the meds & die??? Sorry, that was a little dramatic, I am just very tired. Thanks for taking time to read this. Good luck to those of you in the same boat.