Weird side symptoms and conditions

I'm so glad to find this website. I'm 21 years old and I've been on a dozen different BC's over the past 5 years because of my irregular cycles and PCOS. I switched to Yaz a little over a year ago because the military didn't carry my previous BC (lo-estrin24 which I liked). A few months into it, I started having these weird side effects, but just blew them off because they seemed small and I didn't want my new husband to think he just married a hypochondriac! Plus I see those lawsuit commercials about Yaz every day and I didn't want to be the type of person that freaks out when they see something like that.

The first thing I noticed was nausea on a daily basis. It's not bad enough to where I actually vomit, but enough to where I notice it and it affects my day to day routine. My cycles while being on it have been "normal", as normal as they will get for me.

However, over the past few weeks I have been getting the worst headaches/migraines, bad enough to where you can't function on a day to day basis. I thought they were because we just moved up to Alaska and the weather change was getting to me. (We've been here for almost 2 months) It's been over 3 weeks now and I still get them on a daily basis. The doctor told me they are from stress, but I've been stressed my entire life and have NEVER had a problem with headaches. I've had to resort to taking Excedrin every day (which I KNOW is NOT good for me but I can't function without it). Like others have said, I experience the vaginal dryness, lack of desire, but just assumed it was my body/lifestyle changing and that it was nothing to worry about. I also feel like I'm getting..for lack of a better word..dumber..and I can't remember anything that I did the day before, much less a week or month before. I honestly don't know if I'm any more moody than I was a year ago without asking my husband, and I don't think I actually want to know lol. My mother (who is in the medical field) swears to me that it's the BC causing all of this.

Thank you so much everyone for your postings, I will be scheduling yet another doctor's appt next week and will make sure I'm switched to another BC this time.

I am a 25 year old female who at 24 had never had any experience with birth control other than a quick prescription to a generic hormone to take care of a long period at 16 (due to stress.) Only a few pills were taken and I was fine. Now, at 25 I have been on YAZ for a year. I began taking it because I became sexually active at 24. Why? Well, I was mature both mentally and physically. I have had friends who became sexually active at a young age and who started birth control young. The side effects were pretty dramatic. I had seen a slim friend gain a whole lot of water weight. She even said it was the patch and later monthly injection causing the problem but the side effect was well worth the pregnancy prevention. I was against the use of birth control due to my preconceived notion of horrible side effects. However, once the monogamous sexual activity began I knew that I needed to take something. I had heard about YAZ and knew that it was something new and different. A different hormone used for prevention. I researched the pill and looked into any side effects. The posts I found seemed a little too ridiculous. I decided to find actual accounts and spoke to a co-worker who had been using YAZ for awhile. In fact, the majority of females I know use the product with no problem. Thus, after my yearly checkup I requested YAZ. My gyno welcomed the suggestion and even gave me several packs for free. It’s been a year without a problem. However, this morning I was hounded by my mother because there is a warning and lawsuit against YAZ and YASMIN (seen by a commercial-lawsuit.) This is due to severe side effects and death associated with blood-clots (when presented with heart disease, diabetes, etc.) I am a healthy 25 year old that frequents the gym weekly. I do not smoke. I drink every now and then. NO SIDE EFFECTS. My period starts after the 3rd pill is taken. It is quick and simple. I enjoy being able to plan things around my period. Cramps are light compared to what I use to go through. I can take one Ibuprofen the day of the third non-active pill and not feel a thing. I use to have horrible leg cramps and now I have no problem. My pre-menstrual mood has improved and I think it is because my period is no longer a strong factor in my life. I use to dread it and now I welcome it. I do not have any skin issues, no bloating, and no weight gain. Heartburn occurrence which is slim to none is similar to what I would have had before YAZ. I was appalled to find this site and to discover that people are having problems. I do not understand why people are so quick to blame this pill on everything. It seems like a lot of users who are posting on this site are extremely young. The body is still growing and maturing at 18 and even into the early 20’s. In my late teens, I was extremely moody and stressed due to college, etc. Any hormonal regulation then would have probably put me overboard! I am going for my yearly check up next month and will discuss this lawsuit with my gyno. I am concerned about this lawsuit. More importantly, I am concerned that this pill will be taken off the market. Call me a statistic but I like YAZ and would recommend it.

I started taking Loestrin24fe on Sunday June 7th. That was the first day of my peroid. It is now 13 days later and I am still on my period. I am 44 yrs old and was put on this pill because my periods were so heavy. This is defeating the purpose. I want to quit taking them. I am anemic and think this is doing more harm than good. I am going to Hawaii on July 23rd and do not want to be on my period then. If I stop now, I am wondering when I will start my period again. I am really fed up.

I am on a 6 day treatment of PredniSONE 4mg for a foot injury that caused massive swelling. The swelling was gone after the first day of the treatment, but the side effects started the second day for me. I freaked out yesterday thinking that I was having a heart attack. I even asked the doctor if there were any weird side effects and told him that I have anxiety about taking medicine. He said it's harmless, and not to worry. I felt safe taking it the first day but now I've been experiencing increased heart rate, flushed face, pain in my muscles, left arm, and chest, tingling and itching, I can't sleep, when I do sleep in the morning I wake up tense and frustrated, I've lost my appetite, it's hard to go to the bathroom and I can't seem to get my thoughts together. I had an anxiety disorder before and had I known the side effects of this medicine I would not have taken it. Today I decided to skip a day by only taking three pills today and two tomorrow. I just want OFF THIS STUFF!!! and I never want to take it again. I can't believe its on the market and doctors are soo shady about it! And all this from the lowest dose... 4mg.

Oddly, I'm seeming to have the opposite experience. Omeprazole 20 mg was working great for me for two years, no acid reflux, no weird side effects. Then I ran out for a week or so and started taking Protonix 40 mg that my mother had, and I've been having upset stomach, sore throat and sharp stomach pains since. I'm stopping the Protonix and taking nothing at all until I can get some more Omeprazole, and just hoping I didn't do any permanent damage by switching back and forth between the two.

I've been taking omeprazole for years and all this time I've been getting worst from my condition, my digestive system shots down by 3pm and I don't feel better until I wake up the next day. Headaches, fatigue, joint pain, my heart feeling as if it were in my throat when I go to bed, depression, nausea, very sensitive to smells, excessive gas so bad that it makes my lower back ache, feeling like I need to use the restroom all day long but not being able to use it until my normal time in the morning and having no sex drive at all, these symptoms are part of my everyday life. 5 days ago I stop taking it but, I'm beside myself the heartburn and the reflux is worst than when I started to take it. I don't think there's a cure.

I just started my second pack of Loestrin 24 Fe two days ago. I have not had any nausea, weight gain, unusual acne, loss of libido, or crazy mood swings. I have, however, had non-stop breakthrough bleeding. In the past month, there has only been one day where I was not bleeding. I take it at the same time every morning and have not missed a day. I'm really trying to be patient and give it a couple more months...but it has gotten very annoying. I got on the pill because I recently decided to become sexually active. Having my period 24/7, though, has kept me from actually wanting to start. I was on Ortho (the original) back in high school for regularity, and it made me gain 15 pounds and have intense mood swings. Beyond the btb, I love the lack of weird side effects....has anybody made it past the first 3 months to find more regularity with no side effects?

And since taking Femcon FE it seems like my hair is falling out by the hand fulls but only in the shower is any one having this problem too?But i have been very stressed lately i don't know if stress makes your hair fall out or not?can someone please help with that?

I had the Mirena inserted in May 2008 after having my 1st baby in March 2008. I felt confident in my decision after much research as well. The insertion process was definitely painful and I had a weird sensation in my uterus for the next few days. It was like I could definitely tell where my uterus was because there was this dull pain there. That soon went away, and I thought that Mirena was cool. In November I had an episode of something that looked like the stomach flu...It came out of nowhere and felt different than any stomach flu I've ever had. No-one else in my house got this mysterious sickness, so I was curious. Then a few weeks ago, the same thing happened and I ended up in the emergency room. They told me it was stomach flu. I told them that I had Mirena and that this had happened before and I felt like it might be related. The male ER doctor looked at me like I was crazy and sent me home throwing up. I am ready to get it removed because I feel like my natural rhythm has been interrupted. I thought no period sounded great, but I feel like I am interrupting my body's natural rhythm. I am glad to know that I'm not crazy and other's are experiencing weird side effects too. I am ready to go back to the pill, which served me well for over 10 years!! One more embarrassing side effect?!?! Hemorrhoid flare up?!?! My OB told me I didn't have these after my son's birth...but in the middle of all this they all of a sudden became a HUGE problem!! Also had my 1st yeast infection in over 7 years!!

I took flagyl twice in one day and that night my eyes became very itchy and irritated, when I woke up the next day both of my upper eyelids were completely swollen. It was like I had been crying for days, what a weird side effect! But I talked to a pharmacist and they said that is one of the possible effects so....? weird!

Hi all...I've been taking 25mg. of Topamax at night for 5 days now. Unlike most of you I have not experienced the tingling in the extremities or the weird taste in the mouth or even much tiredness at all other than what has happened as a result of my weird side effect. I was prescribed Topamax by my neurologist for my migraines. I've had them since I was 12 years old. I'm 49 years old. The got worse during peri-menopause which is kinda normal given the hormonal fluctuations, but was told by my neurologist that they would very likely subside significantly when I became menopausal. Well folks, I've been menopausal for 5 years and for the past 2 years my migraines have been the most horrific of my life. I have approx. 15 to 18 migraine days a month, some of the headaches lasting 3 bloody days. So it comes to this...Topamax. In the past I have suffered some pretty rare side effects from some very benign medications so I guess I shouldn't really be surprised that this is happening to me now. The first night I took it I slept like a baby. The second night I was slightly 'hyper' but managed to get to sleep. But for the past 3 nights it's been hell. When I lie down in bed, my body feels as though there are electric currents shooting through it and coming out my right leg. I have to move my right leg or go completely bonkers. Fortunately my daughter is away at university and so I can sleep in her room. So I lie there...on my left side...with my right leg hanging over the side of the bed swinging and swinging and swinging as hard as I can just so that I don't scream. It's awful. Last night was the worst. I saw dawn this morning. I just got off the phone with my pharmacist and he told me that I had described a classic case of RLS - Restless Leg Syndrome. And guess what? Topamax is used to trest RLS!! For bleep's sake! So nice people I am suffering a completely opposite side effect to the one that seems to be the most common one...tiredness. Has anyone else heard of this? Experienced this? It seems to all focus down to my right hip and leg. I have to move it vigourously or go nuts. I am so tired today but that's because I got like 3 hours sleep. I fell asleep from sheer exhaustion after my husband left for work at 7:30am.
A side note...I also take 75mg of Effexor for panic disorder and my neurologist told me that this is a very good mix of meds for migraine prevention. My top dosage for the Topamax will be 75mg taken at night.
I'd really appreciate any feedback on my side effect. Thanks in advance.

D.

I have been on YAZ for about three weeks. This is my first BCP I've been on. Within a few days of taking it, I got headaches everyday, my moods were up and down, and I got cramps in my lower abdomen. It felt like I was getting my period because of the cramping. This may be a little TMI, but I was horny all the time! Now the thought of having sex bores me. I don't want to have sex, I feel like crap every day, and I'm over all having a bad time on this pill. I'm scared to keep going with it, because I don't want something bad to happen, but I know that with any type of pill, until your body gets used to it, your going to have some weird side effects. Can someone please give me some advice what to do? Should I keep taking it or just stop?

I get very sick when I get my period, they are long and heavy, and I have digestion problems and intense stomach pains for at least 1-2 weeks before and the week of. These symptoms disappeared for a while when I was on Apri (desogen) but after a few months, they came back, and on top of it, I became severely depressed and had such bad stomach pains, I went to the emergency room (and you pretty much have to drag me to hospitals).

This last period was so bad though that I finally decided to take the sample pack of Loestrin that my doctor gave me a month or two ago. Just a day after I started taking it, my period ended and the pain and bloating was gone. This is day 6 and I'm fine so far. On Ortho Tri-Cyclen (my first pill) I had bad side effects the first few days and gained ten pounds in two weeks.

I'm glad these forums exist, because they helped me realize that all of the depression (including suicidal thoughts), stomach pain, hair loss, etc. etc. were side effects of desogen. All of those things that contributed to the worst summer of my life disappeared as soon as I stopped taking it.

On the other hand, I have to point out that there is no "good" pill or "bad" pill. The side effects will be different for everyone. Some women need more estrogen, some need less. Some need fluctuating amounts of hormones and some need the same dosage all month. Unfortunately the only way to figure out what is right for you is to try them, note your reactions, and research the differences between pills. I realized quickly that I needed a low, stable dose of estrogen, which led me to try Loestrin. Not saying things can't go wrong from here, but now I am aware that if I fall into some depression, anxiety, weight gain, or other weird side effects, it *may* be caused by the pill I'm taking.

Is the pill worth it? Again, answers will vary depending on your lifestyle. Are your periods manageable or do they cause you not to be able to get out of bed in the morning? Are they consistent or are you praying you're no pregnant every month? Are condoms working for you or aren't they, and is the 2% chance of still becoming pregnant worth the risk?

While I've had bad experiences with some pills, I'm just grateful for this BC option in general. Until they figure out how to make birth control pills for men (pshh.. that'll be the day) then it's up to us to research and maek the best decisions for ourselves.

I took YAZ for 9 months. Within those 9 months I have noticed that my mood was completely different from my mood when I was on Loestro 24. By the end of 9 months I was depressed, worried about everything (especially right before my period) crying all the time, and down right crazy! I don't have PMDD, and I don't think it is good to take this pill unless you know that you have it. This pill emotionally made me crazy and caused me a lot of depression which is something that I am not used to. I switched back to Loestro24.. and felt 1000 times better the next month, my only issues with that pill is that after a long period of time of taking this pill, I get acne all over my legs, which is weird. I recently tried to switch to Femcon FE... and that was terrible, I was really sick from that pill. I don't know that birth control pills are the answer, they all have some kind of weird side effects, but I do know that I would not recommend YAZ to anyone who doesn't want to cry every month. This pill made me crazy!

(EVERYONE SHOULD READ THIS) I started taking YAZ two and half months ago and everything started out O.K. Then after missing one pill, I started having the worst cramps I've ever had in my entire life. I kept taking my pills on time in hopes of stopping the period and cramps but instead while I was bathing a Huge Fleshy Mass came out of me followed by several blood clots. My husband immediately put the mass in a sealed bag and put it in the refrigerator. I took it it in to see a specialist which claimed it probably was some weird side effect to YAZ causing my Uterine Wall to shed. He also admitted the pill hasn't been out long enough to study all the potential side effects. He suggested I finish out my supply and switch to another type of birth control pill. Yesterday I just started my period again, prematurely, and my cramps are again unbearable...I'm dead tired and moody and hope I'm not passing another mass...and I've made it up in my mind to throw away this year supply of YAZ and suggest anyone taking it with harsh side effects to do the same. REMEMBER LADIES THE RECALL ON THE PATCH THAT MADE SO MANY WOMEN VERY SICK??? DON'T BE A GUINEA PIG AND END UP NOT BEING ABLE TO GET PREGNANT. I wish you all the best in finding the right form of birth control...Take Care!!!

I've been taking Doxycycline for two days now. I have a severs case of insomnia. I have not slept in over 36 hours, which is very unusual for me. I am experiencing shortness of breath, extremely exhausted (but can't sleep), nausea, dizziness, feeling of something in my throat, and weird weird moods (getting mad for no reason, which isn't usually me and people are noticing that something is different).
I'm supposed to be taking it for another 5 days for an infection. Any advice on what I should do? This whole no sleeping thing just isn't working for me.

Hello I also have had many weird side effects since starting this pill. I
have been incredibly moody and it seems like I am always on my period. I am now on my second pack and am bloated all the time and I am breaking out all over my face! I didn't know that the sex drive too was also an issue until I started to read other post. I gained about 10 pounds since being on the pill. Anyone else have any suggestions what to go on? I am stuck and don't know any other options out there. I have 3 boys and don't intend on having anymore anytime soon!
Thanks. :)

ive also experienced some weird discharge and got tests done that all came back negative..its been really bothersome and now that someone else thinks this could be from Loestrin24 im most likely going to switch pills. anyone have any suggestions on a good pill to try?

I decided today that Mirena is coming out, asap. I had it inserted Jan...2008.
After having an ablation in 2007 that did not seem to work I thought Mirena would be a good b/c alternative...it has helped with the break through bleeding. Virtually, not period or bleeding. But that is about it. I have experienced some weird side effects...to include face and back acne; extremely oily skin; always tired and sleepy; bloating and weight gain...12lbs so far in just a few months; dizziness; cramping; and breast swelling. I dont even feel or look like myself anymore. I've been working out; cutting calories and bad carbs. And yet I gain. Whats up with that.
Thank goodness I can still have orgasms or life would be over. Although, my hubbie can feel the string. And the friction is not pleasant.
But after seeing my regular md today and seeing that I gained 12lbs in just a few months...the red flag went up. I love looking beautiful and in shape being nearly 35. Everyone thinks that I am 25. And thats the last thing I feel right now. I would rather have the bleeding than these weird effects. At least my weight was good. This is too, much to deal with right now. Going to have try something different. Any suggestions? Did anyone else out there have an ablation? Please comment.

I was on Ortho Evra for 3months...and it sucked I had bad headaches, cramps, mood swings...and it made me sick to my stomach....and it ultimately caused me to get numbness in my fingers and weird side pain...so i stopped it...I started it a few days ago and the next day i was sick to my stomach and miserable....so no more patches for me...I don't take pills they make me very naseous and i can't swallow them...so I'm not too sure what type of bc I'm going to start now...my bf comes home in 9 days and I'm not sure what to do we are going to use condoms...but as for bc..I'm not too sure anymore.....ELISE

I've taken Zoloft on and off for three years for anxiety, panic attacks and agoraphobia. I started with 25 mg and have gone up to 75 mg/day. I am now on 25 mg/day, which my physician calls a "placebo" level. Initially, I considered Zoloft a miracle drug; I was able to get out of my house and was no longer suffering debilitating panic attacks.

I went off Zoloft when I became pregnant and resumed taking 25/mg the day I delivered my baby two years ago. I had suffered from postpartum depression and anxiety with two other babies and decided to be proactive. It worked; I did not develop PPD.

I "ramped up" my Zoloft to 50/mg day when my baby was one year and that's when the weird side effects began. An especially verbal person, I was having trouble coming up with the right words when speaking. I'd feel a weird shortness of breath which seemed to come and go and seemed to have nothing to do with exertion. In an odd way, it seemed like a blunted panic attack and I'd feel this sensation when I was not active or engaged in an activity.

I've never taken/done recreational drugs, but I do feel a bit "off", fuzzy and sometimes dizzy, like I'm on something. I decided to go to a lower dose and nearly all oft these odd symptoms disappeared...I'm back to 25/mg.

I'm afraid to wean off Zoloft completely, so I'll stay at 25 for now. I'm a tiny person, so I think we have to find the levels that work best for us; I've always been sensitive to meds and find that the "usual" amount, even OTC's dosages are too much for me.

I'm a 26 year old female and I've been on Topamax since March 2007. It has completely gotten rid of the debilitating headaches I experienced 3-6 times a week. It also got rid of my anxiety. I got my life back, my antidepressant kicked in at the same time. I experienced all the usual side-effects, tingling hands and feet, forgetting words, memory problems, loss of appetite, but was COMPLETELY pain-free. I still am. However, I never remember anything now, forget whether or not I did something, paid my bills, etc, lose things constantly, and I have lost about 20 lbs. Not good. I look anorexic. I have bones sticking out. Eating is hard. I forget to eat and drink all day and food is just unappealing. I feel fuzzy and stupid and slow. Not sharp like I used to be. It has killed my confidence and self-esteem. But I was wondering if any women out there got yeast infections while they were on Topamax. I've had one monthly since I started it, and my doc said it's a rare side effect. Oh yeah, I've had mild hair loss and mild to moderate acne now. This drug, it is such a 50-50. Living with chronic pain, those headaches were awful. But doubting yourself is awful too. Anyone have similar experiences?

I've been on Topamax (150mg/a day) for 4 years for migraines. At the start I had some of the common side effects: dropping things, memory loss, mood swings, weight loss. The weight loss evened out in the first year or so, and the other side effects went away in the first few months-mainly after my Dr. had me take it as one dose only at night, and increase the amt. of water I drink. I am still on it, and they just increased my does to 300mg/ a day for chronic pain. So far, no weird side effects, but I'll wait and see. I'm sure anything is possible. But after trying everything before for migraines, this was the only thing that worked, and was worth riding out a few months of side effects. I was honest with family and coworkers when I did dumb stuff, or had off the wall mood swings and got through it. Guess I may have to do the same thing again. Reading on her some many bad experiences, I hope some of the people starting it or thinking about, will give it a chance to work. I was desperate and so out of options, I am so glad that I did.

I started Yasmin about 5 months ago and thought I had no side effects. Did not gain a single pound and didnt really think my mood changed. The only weird side effect i did have is gas and bloating. Now at first I didnt think it was due to Yasmin so I went through an array of tests for gastro-intestinal problems and finally made the connection because I took yasmin at night and only had those problems at night. Never ever during the day. Oh yeah and the migraines. I would get them for about 5 days straight. It was really annoying to have to deal with. Now I will definitely switch to Alesse although I am questioning that alternative as it may be just better for me to not be on any birth control. And I do want to say that not everyone will have these random side effects. A few of my friends are using Yasmin and are absolutely satisfied. (their side effects: no weight gain and breast enlargement...what more could you want!! :) )

I am 28 and have lupus, I was put on 10 mg of methotrexate last week weekly. Im expierencing some really weird side effects, atleast I think there side effects. My lower abdomen became very sensitive, I couldnt even touch the area where my uterus is, and now my breast have enlarged by a whole cup size and become very, VERY sore. Like the sore you get when you first get pregnant but I had a tubal ligation 6 years ago so pregnancy is out of the question. My heart beat is irregular and caffene seems to realy make it worse. I am soooo tired too, omg. I can't believe how tired I have become. And my hair is falling out, every time I shower it falls out in handfulls. Has anyone else experienced any of these symptoms? If so please share!