Understatement symptoms and conditions

I have been reading these posts for awhile now and am so glad to have found them.
I am a 25yr female with epilepsy and have been on lamictal for the past 4yrs. I changed from epilim because I was getting married and heard that lamictal was safer in case of pregnancy. Not long after I found myself getting very angry over small things and not being able to sleep. I thought this was just me so I tried to get myself together. It went on for some time before I gave up and got help. I was diagnosed with depression and given fluoxetine. This helped me get back on my feet but I did not want to be on it long term and have been of the fluoxetine 2yrs. I still struggle with my mood but is manageable which I am happy for.
I did not realize that the headaches and the memory loss I had were from the lamictal until I found this forum then it all made sense. I had always thought that I was staying up too late and hence getting headaches. As for the memory I often feel like a blithering idiot. Cant remember words and often the wrong ones come out its so embarrassing. So often I feel like I'm in a daze and life is passing me by.
After all this said I have not heard of any other drug that would be any better. I have found comfort in knowing that I am not alone in this. There are a lot of people that do not understand the effects of medication or take it seriously when I try to explain. If there is anyone out there that is keen to chat about epilepsy or lamictal I would love to talk.

I started this pill on Aug 17, I got a period one week later on Aug 24, I still have a period as I type this on Sep 4th. I was put on this pill to control irregular periods. I have called my doctor and she tells me to stick it out. I am SICK of having a period. I also suffered dizzy spells the first two weeks. I was in a bad mood, emotional, irritable and annoyed with life in general. I have acne, which I never suffer from. To say I HATE this pill would be an understatement.

My son used a nebulizer 2 to 4 times a day every day from the time he was one and a half years old. When he had just turned three his doctor prescribed Singulair. It was like a wonder drug for us! It took care of his asthma and we didn't have to use the nebulizer any more. He's been on it ever since -- he's 10 now -- he also takes zyrtec and has a rescue inhaler that he uses maybe once a week. About every other year he requires a course of steroids and a week of regular nebulizer use. Also, for the past year he has also required a daily inhaled steroid.
Now, about his mood issues. My son has always been sensitive and intense, moody. The first time I became alarmed was when he was 7, and he told me he wanted to burn his hands on the stove to punish himself for forgetting his homework. I consulted a psychologist who evaluated him and said he was not clinically depressed. Since then he has had periodic "dark" episodes -- especially in the winter. He has said he wants to die. He has had crying jags over things that are upsetting (loss of a pet was the worst) but it seems excessive for him to be saying he "just wants it all to end." He has told me that he is always unhappy and that he hates himself. He has also had problems with moody acting-out with friends. He will brood about hurt feelings until he loses his temper and screams at the friend. I have worked very hard with him on learning to manage his emotions. He hit a friend at school who was teasing him. He accepted his consequences willingly and willingly wrote letters of apology -- he told me he thinks he has anger problems and doesn't want to be this way. And his character is that he is a sweet, caring boy who can't stand to see anyone hurt, but also can't stand to be hurt.
A couple of years ago I asked his allergist if any of the meds he's on are linked with depression. He said no. We have a family history of depression, and I thought my son had gotten the worst combo of all the genes.
Recently, this all got to the point that I decided he needed to see a psychiatrist and quite possibly take medication for depression. Before I made the appointment he had a check-up with his allergist. Going down his list of meds the dr. said, recently Singulair has been linked with depression, have you noticed any moodiness or sadness? My first thought was that I have, but that he's always been like this. My 2nd thought was that he has been on Singulair for most of his life. I said yes and that I'd like to try him off of it.
My son resisted going off of it. He has had enough negative experiences with asthma that he didn't want to risk it, but I insisted. I didn't expect to see any change, but I thought it was important, as I was going to take him to a psychiatrist to consider depression meds, to see how he did off of it for a couple of months.
Less than a week later, he had been in a wonderful mood -- to the point of being silly and giddy all evening -- for 3 days in a row. The kind of mood that I don't see him in often, and when I do I think to myself, "he should be like this more often." One evening he even realized he had forgotten to bring home a homework assignment. I thought, "oh no, here we go, his evening is ruined." But he talked through his options with me, looked a little uncertain, and said, well, okay, I guess I'll have to tell my teacher I don't have it. I'll tell her I'll make it up at lunch if she wants me to. That was it! He didn't mention it again. I didn't say anything about his mood, because I really don't think I can know anything after just a few days -- it could be coincidental. The next day, he said to me that he thinks being off the Singulair is "working." He has now told me that a couple of more times.
I am tentative, but amazed. Even if my son does have a predisposition to be depressed, maybe the Singulair was making everything worse, and things really can improve for him. I am afraid to be to hopeful. At the same time, I feel guilty for giving this medicine to him for 7 years without a second thought.
As an aside, my son has periodically complained of leg pains, that I always told him were growing pains.
I would love any feedback that anyone can give me. So far (these two weeks), his asthma has been controlled with pulmacort, zyrtec and albuterol, so that aspect is okay.

I am a 25 year old graduate student that began taking Topamax for migraines after I was involved in a bad car accident. I started taking Topamax in April of 2008 and by July I could barely formulate sentences, couldn't remember simple things like where I parked by car (in front of my apartment) and my family member's names, simple math was impossible, I was always tired but could never go to sleep, had numbness in hands and feet, and was very moody with suicidal ideations. I was then referred to a neuropsychologist to assess any possible brain damage from the accident since I was now having cognitive problems. They tested me for brain damage where I was diagnosed with Severe Brain Damage, I was reading on a 8th grade level, did math on a 4th grade level, needed to begin speech therapy immediately and my doctor felt I needed direct supervision at all times. I was initially told by my neurologist that the medicine would help with the migraines but would "make my thinking slow". That was a huge understatement. I was a 4.0 graduate student in the middle of my program and I suddenly couldn't perform basic daily activities. I have been doing much better since coming off the medication. I have the migraines less frequently but they are still pretty bad. I have regained most of memory, reading, and math skills back the rest is attributed to the car accident. I wouldn't recommend this medication to anyone and I think it should be taken off the market because it almost destroyed my life and had me and my family worried to death about a condition which symptoms were clearly being exacerbated by Topamax.

Ok, so I go in tomorrow morning to have my Mirena removed. Can I just say...I have been looking through endless information and posts relating to each of them in one way or another...let me put my experience out there so others can use this information to their advantage.

I got pregnant 2 years ago..and it was not the time or the person for me, so I had an abortion. (I don't recommend it but Im sure there are other forums for that chapter of my life) I was on and off oral B/C and had all the horrible side effects you are warned about so stopped taking the pill and relied on my fabulous judgment and accessible Plan B pill to remedy my stupidity...unfortunately I convinced myself there was no way it could happen at that moment. So I fouled up BIG TIME...

Anyhow, after the abortion my public health nurse recommended the Mirena. Seemed like the answer...like we all thought. I was at my lowest body weight of my adult life. Lean and loving my body. Only less thing to worry about right. So, I got it inserted...I remember thinking that the nurse's comment of "You'll feel a little discomfort" as the largest understatement of my life. It hurt like a b*tch. I suddenly felt like I felt when I woke up from the abortion procedure.

I went about my life...working my daily job. 6 months after my insertion... One day while on the job I had a fall that involved my right hip. It hurt don't get me wrong...but I walked it off and in the next weeks the pain in my hip increased to the point that no amount of vicodin helped and I could barely walk.

I visited my chiropractor 2-3 times a week with some relief. But after a couple of months with no permanent fix I visited my general doctor. Who referred me to a bone and joint specialist. Week later I went in and they suggested that it sounded like a tear of the hip joint cartilage. So the next step was a MRI. At this point I had gained an easy 20 lbs...I am unable to go to the gym anymore because of the horrible pain that is deep in the crease of my leg...like deep to the pelvic bone...and aching into the hip joint...like I imagined sand or something sprinkled on the ball joint of my hip. Radiating pain clear down to my right knee along what I can only call my siatic (sp?) nerve. I was in tears every time a doctor told me they didn't know what was wrong with me...so when it sounded like he knew I teared up with joy. ---

RESULTS OF MRI....nothing wrong with my joint, no tears in tissue...nothing. What in the HELL!!!The bone doctor refers me to the ObGYN...

OBGyn treats me for a possible underlying infection....and sends me for an ultrasound...which reveals a large cyst...nothing to be alarmed about but the cyst "May be putting pressure on my uterus and the pain in the hip could be effected by it also" But cysts as we all know take care of themselves normally...so they tell me to finish the antibiotics and come back in 2 weeks....

2 weeks later..cysts are normal sized...and pain is still very apparent. I always had horrible cramping...so the ongoing cramping after the Mirena insert didn't alarm me. But the ongoing...like 95% of the time cramping was getting on my last nerve coupled with my hip pain, weight pain and countless other seemingly unrelated problems.

So, all this led me kinda to a turning point...with no health insurance I couldn't keep frequently DR.s that had no answers...or didn't ever once suggest that my MIRENA could be the problem. So, I googled...found all this information...and gave up with trying to treat mystery pains and made the appointment to get it removed...LORD HELP ME if this doesn't help me get my body back pain free and back into my 6's

I had Mirena inserted 2 years ago. When I first had it fitted, I bled heavy, straight for 7 months. The cramps were almost unbearable. I went to my doctor several times during this 7 month period, which he told me that all of my symptoms were normal. I decided to wait it out.
The bleeding stopped but the cramping never really eased.
I got used to being in constant pain.
I also had severe migraines that would keep me from doing anything until the pain subsided.
My libido was non-existent (which in my opinion, is probably why this form of birth control is so effective). My relationship with my husband deteriorated partially because of this.
Fatigue is an understatement. I could never get enough sleep.
I also felt depressed most of the time and became VERY moody.

After coming to this site a few days ago, I decided to get this thing out of me. It was removed yesterday. It kind of hurt but not as bad as putting it in.
Cramps are gone. I feel energized and HAPPY today!!! I'm SO ready to get romantic with my husband again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hi, I had the Murena inserted 2-7-08 at 2 PM. I am 43 years old.I nearly passed out at the doctor's office due to the pain. I felt like like my body was trying to expel the dog-gone thing. The literature said I would experience some discomfort during the insertion. That was an understatement!! I went home and by 4:30 I was cramping very bad. I called the doctor and he said to take some more Ibuprofin and to go to bed.Said to keep an eye on it I was bleeding very badly. I had to change tampons every 2 hours and wear a pad. It was gross with large clots. I took some strong I buprofin the rest of the weekend and called the doctor again. I know he had to think I was whining. I ran a fever and felt like crap. I went in to see him and he checked to see if I was expelling it. He said no. I continued to have a period-heavy- until my 6 week follow-up visit. He said "Let your body adjust, and if you continue to have problems, we can discuss taking it out." I had a period for 3 months.With wearing tampons for so long, I was concerned about Toxic Shock Syndrome. I still have brown slimy stuff every 2 weeks ago. I just never know when it will be, no set day. I used start my period every 4th Tuesday on the dot that lasted for about 2 1/2 days. since then i have gained 18 pounds. I can't check to see if the thing is there because I have a very long vagina and can't reach it with my fingers..and it's gross. I don't really have an appetite. I have been depressed. I don't have a lot of energy. I don't want to go anywhere. I don't desire sex (no wonder you don't get pregnant!) I have started to get acne. (I haven't had acne since high school). I am thinking about getting it taken out but don't want to risk pregnancy. I was on the pill for 15 yrs off and on and have some concerns about it at my age. I thought this would last me until I hit menopause and then wouldn't need birth control. Anyway, at least I am not crazy..there are others with these issues.

Hello To All,

I too am on this med, I have been on it for 1 year as of July 2008-

35 pounds, brain fog, headaches, eye sight for reading, chest pain and fluttering heart beat. My doctor who is my friend has told me that he will up my dose... "Dear God" any more and I will go nuts. Does anyone know of any study done in a medical journal that theu could forward to me so I can show my doctor.

Please email me at ****** I would be so very thankful.

Thanks to all and be healthy.

Been taking Topamax 300 mg a day for the past 4 year. I also take 450 mg of Wellbutrin. This is to help with migraine. Although my total count of Zomig pills I took last year was 120 pills and some of those I broke in half so I wouldn't have to use a whole pill for a migraine. So that mean, with the Topamax and Wellbutrin combined, I still had at least 123 migraine this past year. Three months of migraines. That's insane. I can't stop the "Dopamax" because my doctor says it would be really bad with it. I have terrible memory loss, forgetfulness, and loss of words that is embarrassing. The nurses did not inform me of the side effects when I first started taking it and I thought I was going crazy. I started looking up ADHD on the computer thinking I had developed it as an adult. I was made at the nurse when she asked me how I was doing remembering things and and if I was stumbling for word......I wanted to slap her off her stool.........at that point it was NOT funny.

Like alot of other women have said before, It all started out o.k. After the third shot I went to see my doctor who said that the results of treating endometriosis for 6 months with the monthly lupron injections had better data than after 3 months for putting the endo into some kind of remission so that I could be pain free. Was told the usual side effects list of hot flashes/night sweats, mood changes. Never heard about "the others". About three weeks ago I started having back pain. I have a three year old that I still pick up some times, so I thought I just pulled a muscle. But then I could move very well and was laying flat on my back for about two days. Went to m.d. and he gave me steroid and muscle relaxer - Didn't really seem to help, but got better over about 5 to 6 days. As soon as the back pain went away a headache came on - no thats an understatement a migraine on steroids - I couldn't stand any light or noise and the base of the back of my head just throbbed. Memory loss has been off the charts for conversations I had just the day before. I have deep pain in my hips, legs, and especially my right foot. When I stand up I have to wait a second because my foot tingles and I can't really feel if I'm walking on it, Then it wakes up and I go on. I have appointment with doctor again on October 5 o6, but also have phone call in to her to call me back about symptoms. This is really scaring me after reading some of these statements. Can anyone give any new advice - anyone been on this for 4 months or more and had these symptoms and stopped the shots and feels better. I don't care if the endo comes back, that pain was bad, put me in the emergency room 4 times, but not like this. Have I gone to far to come back? I hope the mother didn't let her daughter have the shot for an early period? May God help us all!

I have been taking it for a severe allegectic reaction to who knows what. Broke out in red seepy rash. It seems everytime I take it I have trouble breathing for most of the day. Than goodness today was my last dose.Has anyone else had this problem? JC

to guest:

Sorry, but I'm VERY ANGRY about such an understatement, that you did in your post here!!!! And I think many of the other women, who were or are still going through the same TORTURE (AND I MEAN T O R T U R E!!!!") as me know what I mean!!!

It's definitely not right that we only "have been FRUSTRATED" about these side effects. If you had read more of the posts below you should know, that this pill was about to ruine some of the womens (including mine!!!) LIFES!!!!!!!!!! And I'm not exaggerating AT ALL!!!!!!!! Several times I was pulled near to suicide because of all the symptoms that were happening to me over 7 MONTHS and longer and every day I got weaker and weaker and thought I would never get through this any longer!!!!!!!!!

You should'nt talk that way about things, you did (and you should thank god for that a thousand times a day!!!) NOT experience.

I have been doing fine with Yasmin for nearly 4 years, too and then everything happend nearly "AT ONCE" and overnights at about 5 years after starting it!!!

Sorry, but I'm nearly exploding about such posts. Perhaps you should think twice before talking that way in the future. It really hurts someone like me (and I'm not healthy, yet AT ALL and had thousands of tests done without any result or help!!!) to hear after this REAL TORTURE that I obviousely in your mind just had been "FRUSTRATED" about that pill!!!

All the best wishes go out to every woman who still has to fight against side effects and especially the withdrawal effects caused by this "wonder drug".

I hope and believe (and pray !!) that we will be feeling better soon!!!

This past November I got the flu, as did my husband and daugther. The day after Thanksgiving I started to have some difficulty breathing. I went to the doctor and they prescribed an inhaler for me, which did nothing. I went back to the dr. again and she prescribed an anxiety medication and combivent and told me that it was just anxiety. Why would she prescribed combivent (which is strictly used for COPD) if I supposedly just had anxiety? I went to another doctor and he informed me that I had pneumonia and broken ribs. He prescribed prednisone and Advair. Since taking Advair the quality of my life has gone downhill tremendously. I have gained upwards of 30 pounds, have a swollen (and painful) stomach, have lost my voice (I cannot speak above a whisper), I'm having excruciating pain in my right hip joint, it hurts if I put any weight on the heels of my feel, and my back is killing me. Advair has not helped me in ANY way. It has not helped my breathing, in fact, it's made it worse.

When I informed my doctor of this he acted like I was crazy. He said it was completely safe and that I had nothing to worry about. So, I went to a pulmonologist...and he told me to stay on the Advair also! Even though they're aware of the fact that it hasn't helped me! I found it ironic that someone stated on here that they thought the dr.'s might be getting a kickback for prescribing it, because I thought the exact same thing!

I have been off of Advair for 4 days now and there has been no improvment. I called the company that makes Advair and the woman I spoke with said she was "in shock" that the dr.'s kept me on that medication with the side effects I'm having. According to her, 5% of people using Advair will experience "hoarsness," which is a grand understatement...it's more like loss of voice. She said she was filing a report with the FDA and we would receive a copy of it. When I asked her if this could have caused permanent damage, she was honest with me. According to her there is now a study for people who have been on Advair for 2 years, then off of it for a year, and they still have their symptoms. She also said that the study stated that there was no difference between long-term use and short-term use. Which basically means that it doesn't matter if you've been on it for 2 months or 2 years, if you're going to have a reaction...you'll have it.

I'm praying this isn't permanent. I'm only 37 and this is miserable to have to deal with while running my business and taking care of my family.

HAIR LOSS - that's an understatement. Mine has been coming out in handfuls. I've always had thick, wavy, long hair and now I can see my scalp like an old lady - I'm only 35 ! I had no idea what was wrong. Stay away from this stuff unless you want to look like a billards ball ! Even at $100+ a bottle, mine's in the trash. There should be a warning on this !

I started this pill almost 3 weeks ago, and could not even take it the first full month. I wanted to give it a try for PCOS, to help get rid of excess facial hair, regulate hormones etc.

When i say my body has been ravaged by this pill, that is an understatement! Immediately, the frequent urination began, but i can deal with that. Not a biggie. I started taking them like the 2nd day of my period, a Sunday, to get that nice effect of no period on the weekend sort of thing. I have been bleeding ever since. Heavy, clotty bleeding for 3 weeks! I have never bled like this. Cramps like I haven't experienced since I was about 16. Then the UTI came, then the abdominal pain. I am so bloated, my belly is so hard, it's ridiculous. I guess i have a lot of gas, but can only burp if i force myself to, or drink a big coke or something. I feel like if i was poked with a pin, I would POP! I have been constipated, and I never experienced this, even when I was pregnant and taking all that extra iron. The abdominal pain is the most excruciating part, though. It started out in my lower abdomen as soreness, but i had just gotten over a stomach virus, so thought i was just sore from vomiting. Then the pain started rising, to the point that now its in my ribcage. I cant even yawn without wanting to scream. No deep breaths or anything. I can barely get in and out of my car. The only way i make it through the night is with Darvocet, because i get low grade fever and the pain is worse at night. My Gyno thought it may be gall bladder trouble, so I had full bloodwork 2 days ago, which i wont get the results for a few days, and today I had an ultrasound, so they could pinpoint and schedule for surgery. Surprise, no gall bladder trouble on the ultra sound. I have also had severe joint pain, to the point of crying. I havent taken a pill for 2 days, just couldnt take it anymore, so hopefully when this stuff leaves my system, I can get back to normal. Sorry for the long vent but i'm sick of being in pain. Never had any health troubles prior to this. Beware for anyone in the future.

I have just started taking Lamictal and typically have sensitivity to meds. I take it for mood stabalization along with effexor xr 150 mg. Moy dose of Lamictal is only 75mg right now. But I have been getting acne again which I haven't had to deal with in over a year and a half. I go my occassional pms pimple or two even but now I am constinantly fighting the blemishes, including a couple of new ones on my back which I haven't gotten in probably 7 years. Frustrated is an understatement. But it is good to hear others are experiencing similar systems and I am not as confused finding the cause for this. Memory loss, lack of focus, disorientation,confusion are also the scarier of the side effects I have been experiencing. Today something new and very scary happened. For a split second I had to grab my desk at work cause I literally felt like the room was spinning. Not see swirls or anything but like when your on the til-a whirl at the amusement part. Does anyone have any idea what that could have been? I have been feeling a bit dizzy since also. Anything neurological really scares me. Does anyone also know what other mood stabilizers if they have taken any have little side effects from their experience?