Voicemail symptoms and conditions

I'm a very healthy 53-year-old woman, with the exception of a recent onset of borderline hypertension. I've been on Lisinopril for approx. 2 months now; first 5 mg/day, then was advised by my doc to increase to 10 mg/day when BP didn't stay down. At first I just felt woozie and sleepy (on the 5 mg), but soon after I began to have a feeling of "fullness" and throbbing in my temple areas. Often times, a migraine would follow. These symptoms only worsened when the dosage was increased to 10 mg. Then, about 5-6 weeks into treatment, I began to have heartburn (which I've NEVER had in my life!), and a burning sensation in both upper arms. I treated with Tums, which seemed to help the heartburn, but the odd, burning feeling in my arms remained. It never occurred to me until now that the Lisinopril could be causing ALL of these symptoms. Since my hypertension is borderline, and I know it's most likely related to a recent weight gain (due to menopausal hormones, ughhh), I am going to wean myself off of this horrible drug and just commit to losing the 5-10 lbs. I need to lose. I will monitor my BP carefully in the interim, but having never been on any medication other than biodentical hormone replacement therapy this past year, I don't see the need to start now. I see now how easily people can innocently start out with one, simple issue and a prescription, and end up in worse condition and taking MORE medication to treat all the resulting side-effects! It becomes a vicious cycle.

I took Ambien CR for about 2 years and have experienced not only memory loss of the time while on the medication, but also longer term memory loss as well. Even now I find it hard to remember significant things from years ago that I would normally be able to remember easily, and I am only 24. No reason for memory loss and it all started with the Ambien CR. I have done the drive and not remember thing, the cleaning with no recollection of it the next day, the wondering who ate all the food, etc. At one point I actually called my employer at 3AM to explain what I was still doing awake. I worked day shift and had off the next day anyway! I woke up to a voice mail from the supervisor and found out I was fired. I had zero memory of the incident and thought I was being set up by someone until I checked my cell phone records and found it to be true. Friends have also questioned me about late night calls and visits, some I somewhat remember after being "reminded," some I did not. When I was first prescribed this medication I was having these crazy nightmares before I actually fell asleep and would act them out or run from them. One was a young girl playing ball in the road and my boyfriend said I actually ran out in the street at to save her and fought him when he tried to bring me back inside. Obviously no one was actually playing in the road. Even towards the end of using the drug at times I will go through the first few hours of the day with the same forgetful effect that I would have had the night before. I have also gained 20 pounds, not sure if it's from the excessive night eating or the sluggish feeling I got the next day. Once the pill kicked in for me at night I would feel a sudden urge to finish up household chores, or get what some people call "the creative phase" of Ambien CR. I would write poetry (illegibly), cook (usually starting small fires), draw (not well), redecorate, and talk philosophically, none of which I remember. The pill works wonderfully as long as you go straight to bed. After using it awhile you may recognize the energized feeling as actually being the reverse, the pill taking effect, and I could go to bed and fall right to sleep. But I had quite a few dangerous situations and I wouldn’t be able to take it when I was home alone, just in case I missed that "deadline." I agree it is a very risky drug, but then again most drugs are. I do not suggest taking this if you are alone at least until you experience the way you react to it. If these symptoms are an issue for you as well you can always try Lunesta. That worked quite well for me, with none of these weird side effects. The worst I got was a weird taste in the morning, which subsided with breakfast.