Worrisome symptoms and conditions

I've been on Topamax for over a year for hormonal migraines, and it's working great for the headaches. I started out at 25mg twice a day and now I'm up to 100mg twice a day. I've lost 40lb (mostly due to the drug -- but my appetite is starting to come back) and have just recently started experiencing the anxiety and tingling in the extremities. I've always felt I've had trouble concentrating and "finding the word", but I attributed it to lack of sleep because I have two small children. My most recent side effect, however, is most worrisome, which is the reason for my visit to this website. I am experiencing severe abdominal pain, almost constant, and it seems to be increasing. I had abdominal pain and diarrhea when I first started Topamax last year, but it stopped after the first month or so. I'm just wondering if maybe long term use can cause ulcers or other stomach problems. Anyone have any experience with this? I know from experience that Topamax dosages have to gradually weaned up and down, so I'm considering decreasing my dosage to see if my stomach problems will stop. I'm just in so much pain, yet my migraines have almost stopped now with 200mg a day, that I'm reluctant to change my dose.

I've been on Wellbutrin with a lot of success for almost 8 years now. It took several weeks of experimenting to find the right dose. Too much or too little had similar effects increasing my anxiety. Missed does constantly exaserbated the problem until I started XL. Shortly after starting I noticed a change in my sexual response --it just took a lot more to "get me going." That subsided somewhat after awhile, but I've also used Viagra about half the time. My mood improved but continued to fluctuate. My Dr. added a small dose of Zoloft a few years ago and I noticed a significant improvement in mood. Finally, a small dose of Ritiln had a major effect on a root ADD problem. I have felt more stable, confident and productive ever since. However, my sexual responses has decreased again in recent months. Viagra has even become unrreliable. I am going to ask the Dr about going off Zoloft, but talk of permanent effects are worrisome. PS; regarding hair--not a big problem, though it is thinner now since 1999. Never mind that i'm 52 now!

I have only used the ring for one cycle and a few weeks in there were a few days of excruciating nausea and lower intestinal pain. Otherwise, just general discomfort a couple of times a week. I removed the ring last Friday and have been having continuous nausea and abdominal discomfort since last Thursday. No pain relievers that generally do the trick are working, not even my failsafe Midol. Besides being worrisome about my health, it's wearing having to put up with all of this. I've only been married for a few weeks and it's already putting a damper on things as I have no drive.

About three or four weeks into the aciphex, i started getting strange tingly almost numbness sensations in my arms, elbows, face, around the mouth/jaw, back of the head/scalp, sometimes it feels very "whole body"ish. It feels like i'm being pricked with something with electrical current and getting a shock. It's very strange and quite worrisome! Searching the net it sounds like this is a possible side effect of the aciphex. I hope that's all it is, but I will ask my doctor if there are any other possible causes we should rule out. At this point if it turns out to be a side effect and it doesn't go away (it's been 4 days now), I'm not sure if i'd decide to stay on the aciphex or try something different. It helps the reflux but doesn't solve it.

Began taking Levaquin 1/26/07 for a sinus/ear infection. I have taken Levaquin twice in the past for the same thing and had no problems whatsoever. However, this time I experienced horrible nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. I also had some shoulder pain, though it was not debilitating. But the most worrisome side effect was that I began my menstrual cycle. I am on Depo Provera and do not cycle until I am due for my next shot, which is not until March. It has been that way since I've been on Depo (8+ years) with no fail. I have stopped taking the medication and have gradually started to feel better. The only difference between this time and the previous times I've taken Levaquin is that I've also recently started taking Cymbalta. Does anyone know if this may have suddenly caused these side effects? Should I call my doctor or is stopping the medication enough?

To All-After months of looking at this site and what has seemed to be a mix of just sorting through personal dialogues of individual conversations , it is almost the first time I have found some very helpful actual fact based research and information. So whomever is making all these posts, I truly appreciate it. Please continue.

I've been having what seem to be growing chest pains, most pronounced just before my period to the point it is almost unbearable. Have other women experienced this? It started two years into taking Yasmin but I've now been off for several months and it seems to be getting worse? Does anyone know what this is or could be attributed to? I've already been to the doctor who after an EKG said that it was normal but that I had developed a heart murmur? I've also noticed palpitations and irregularity of how my heart beats during these times. I would greatly appreciate some help/information.....Its becoming quite worrisome.

Thank you

Flowerbabies-

I lost alot of weight on the Yasmin. 15 lbs in 2.5 years. Since I went off of it, almost 3 months ago, I gained 8 lbs. :( Big bummer. And worrisome.

voicesi:

What symptoms did you experience?

I learn something new every time I visit this site. I thank you all for sharing your stories here-I think I would be insane if I hadn't found this forum and from your posts know that I am not alone.
I have these horrid symptoms for ten months now! Without relief. The most worrisome one being the chest pain when I move (or stop moving for that matter) and leg pains and heavy prolonged bleeding during my period. (14 days and counting with my current one..ugh)
Has anyone found a way to relieve these symptoms? Do they ever stop? I took yasmin for over 3 years..I've been off for ten months. If anyone can give me a clue of how to get better or how long it takes to ride it out I would be grateful. None of the gazillion doctors have come up with anything..please respond if you can. thank you again.

Palpitations, insomnia and shortness of breath and hot flashes and stressed out. Perhaps my levels are too high? I take 100 mcg daily 5x week and 50 mcg 2x week.

Labs last checked about 6 weeks ago and TSH was around 1.0

I haven't taken my Synthroid for a couple of days and then I am going to decrease dosage to about half the prescribed dose until I can get in touch with my M.D.

The palpitations are worrisome so I certainly don't want to aggravate those.

Topamax has completely altered my life. I had a year and a half of daily migraines, with only a day or two of let-up each month -- my migraines are "common", not "classical", just to clarify, and my symptoms are more like that of a stroke victim's.
Now I only have bad premenstrual migraines (no solution to that yet). I still have migraines with Topamax, but it is like they have been pushed way down.....
I'm on 200 mg/day.
Side effects of Topamax: Mostly marvellous! The sexual side effects I really want to say something about, because I couldn't find anything about this when I first had them. Please allow me, and forgive me for graphically saying this -- this is about anatomy, and I needed to know I wasn't alone when I first experienced this: I experience marvellous spasms in my anus and vaginal walls sometimes, especially during sex, and I've had spontaneous near-orgasms a few times (though once in a grocery store, which was NOT NOT NOT pleasant). My libido has skyrocketed. It's been wonderful. It's been beautiful.
Sometimes I get a definite "Topamax buzz", especially in the afternoon. I sleep much better, and with a migraine can actually push myself, whereas before it was the end of the world. I can push myself, period. That used to be an impossibility.
Definitely, Topamax impairs my ability to speak sometimes. But my ability to think? It's improved 100%. I used to be a writer, and have now returned to this. It would have been unthinkable before Topamax.
I have intense tingling in my extremities, which can be awful at times. I find the negative side effects most unpleasant some days, like the facial twitches -- mostly the left side of my mouth, and sometimes both of my eyelids (like right at this moment). The fatigue, blech.
But honestly, compared to the migraines symptoms, these side effects are a dream. .....And the weight loss is a bit worrisome at times -- though my body looks great I always have to worry that I'm eating enough. I am getting my life back now. Topamax has some wretched side effects, but some beautiful ones too -- it re-opened my mind, gave me focus again.... and the migraines were hell. I am so very very grateful for Topamax.

Hi,

Just checking in after a long time... I was on Yasmin for 8 months, and have been off of it for 6 months now.

Still battling 2 side effects that I know of - heart racing episodes and heart palpitations. I used to be "prone" to heart racing episodes, if you can say that, meaning that I have had 0 - 3 episodes per year since my teens (I am 40 years old currently.) While on Yasmin, I had them a couple of times per month, including one the last week I was on the medication that lasted 2 1/2 hours (!) I am still having them since being on Yasmin at approximately the same frequency. I have never had heart palpitations before Yasmin, but do continue to have them now fairly frequently even though I have been off Yasmin for 6 months now. I would like to hear from other women dealing with heart racing episodes/palps, especially how long it is taking for them to go away. I don't know what my blood pressure is or has been, but I hope to find that out among other things at a complete physical in a couple of weeks.

Other worrisome side effects went away very quickly after quitting Yasmin: general exhaustion, sleepless nights owing to having to get up 5 times per night to go #1, missing libido, daily intense headaches, depression, tired legs, episodes of blurry vision, other vision problems, massive hair loss, you name it.

This past weekend, I got my very long hair cut for the first time in a year. The hairdresser found many patches and areas of hair on my head that were all the same 3" long. She was able to show me a 3" long bunch on the back of my head with the hand mirror, and it was very shocking to see. She confirmed this corresponded to about 6 months of growth, which matched up with about the same time I quit Yasmin. My hair loss accellerated and got worse over time from when I started the pill, so that by the time I quit, I was estimating losing about 250 hairs every shampoo. Apparently my hair loss was not all over while on the pill, but in patches here and there on my scalp. A very disturbing physical reminder of how Yasmin affected me, but I was encouraged to see that it appears my hair started growing back in force as soon as I quit taking the pill, which I hope will provide some encouragement for any of you dealing with recovery from hair loss.

Thanks to all for sharing and providing side effect recovery updates.

My Cardio perscribed Lipator four years ago. It did lower my cholesterol 30 points but I noticed some of the classic Lipator side effects. Intermittant dizziness, headaches and memory loss that could have been due to high bp, bp meds, internal chemical unbalance, anxiety, etc. No conclusion.

After six months or so I started having muscle spasms and then loss of strength. After about year I couldn't raise my arms level or sleep in a bed. Anti-inflamatories and analgesics helped but not enough. After several months of sleeping in a high backed chair, I was desperate. My research found the cause could have been the statin Lipator, so I went off of them. The symtoms were relieved and within two weeks they were mostly gone, except for weakened muscles which have never fully recovered.

So far that's classified as anecdotal.

After a few weeks of relief, I went back on Lipator as a test. The symptoms returned immediately. When I stopped, they were relieved again. Now that's close to proof.

Doc perscribed another statin, Pravocol. It worked and I thought we might have the answer. Several months later I developed tight muscles in my neck which I did not relate to the statins. It was a totally different muscle group. After a month or two of barely controllable headaches and neck muscle pain, I tried going off the Pravocol. Relief!

Another on/off test gave me all the proof I needed. I wrote my two doctors and told them I was off stains - permanently. After the government issued the new overly agressive guidelines of "cholesterol under 100", they wanted me to try low dose Crestor every other day. After a while I started getting similar symptoms and stopped statins forever.

What is most worrisome about all of this is the way the medical community is not recognizing the seriousness of the statin problem. When I canllenged my cardio to report it to the FDA, he refused. "It's not clinically proven." Otherwise he's a good doctor, although I've had to lecture him on the trade off between living longer at any cost and the quality of that life.

I turned 70 two months ago and lead an active life.

Hi everyone - thank you so much for all your info regarding Yasmin. I had a bad experience 15 years ago on another BCP but now have been having trouble with recurrent ovarian cysts...so my OB suggested Yasmin. He claimed it was one of the ones that you don't bloat with, so I figured I'd give it a try. I had many of the symptoms everyone has complained of - severe headaches out of the blue at about week 3, wicked PMS and I never am affected, frequent palpitations, and the night before I decided to stop mid pack, I awoke out of a sound sleep with a gasp of air, as if I couldn't breath. That same week I also complained to my PCP about severe pain in my left calf and a feeling like it was dead and heavy. I am an RN and insisted they do a scan for DVT - it was negative thank goodness, but still all of this was a little worrisome. I made up my mind that I would never take this pill again. Only one month off the pill and my cyst symptoms are back. Oh well. Good luck to you all. I will be calling the number to report side effects and tell my OB.

I am a 62 year old healthy male. About two months ago I was prescribed 500 mg. Levaquin by my urologist for a suspected prostate infection. Within the first 24 hours I experienced strange visual effects and extreme fatigue. By the third day on the medication I began to notice motor coordination problems. On the fourth day I awoke with chills, major hand tremors, and extreme motor coordination difficulties in my hands (I was unable to pick up a coffee cup with only one hand). I stopped taking it at this point, of course, and the symptoms gradually declined. It was a terrifying experience.

About one month later I had a relapse of the original symptoms and immediately arranged an appointment with my regular physician, who ordered a brain MRI and a prescription for a beta blocker to relieve the tremors. The MRI was negative. My symptoms improved markedly, almost immediately, and have not returned, even though I am no longer taking the beta blocker (after one month of regular dosage). I have my fingers crossed for the future.

I learned that my sister had similar reactions to Levaqui, suggesting that there might be a genetic predisposition to such an extreme reaction. From now on I will indicate to medical personnel that I cannot tolerate any member of the fluoroquinalone family of antibiotics.

As a side note, it turned out that I did not have a prostate infection after all but rather that a sudden upward jump in a PSA reading led the urologist to suspect the infection. A retest showed that the reading was anomalous, completely out of line with my history of lab tests for PSA. The worrisome part of this experience is the physician's willingness to prescribe such a powerful drug without clear indication of an infection.

Hello,

Geedub here. I told you all that I'd keep in touch. I don't know about the rest of you guys, but I'm having difficulty logging in with the password I was given. I've entered it correctly like 25 times and it still says I'm doing it wrong! I've sent emails about this error message to the moderator this last week...to no avail. No answers and no "login". Hmmmm? Oh, well.....I guess I'll just be a "numbered guest".

At any rate, I'm a little over a week without Lipitor now and doing much better with the numbness, bone pain, random shooting pains, blurred vision, and dizziness. I told my doctor, as a courtesy to him, that I've taken myself off of the statin drug. His nurse/secretary gal called me back and tried to "straighten me out" on how I need to be on it, and warned me of the dangers of my cholesterol. However, I reminded her that the LDLs were not that big of a problem. It's my LOW HDLs that are worrisome to me and everybody else. I also reminded them of their OWN LITERATURE they gave me with the medicine...that "lifestyle changes should be tried BEFORE administering the statin drugs". Besides, Niaspan I can take and it's what is helping me raise my HDLs.

So...I basically reminded them that I was just calling as a courtesy to them that I was off of it because of bad side effects, and would keep them informed of my progress. Anywho, she was trying to be difficult and "ms. smartypants" and my cardiologist was totally understanding about it stating that it was ultimately my decision to take the meds or not. And he sort of, basically agreed with where I was coming from.

So far so good.

-Geary

I have been taking Zoloft for about six months now, and for the past six months I haven't had one menstrual period (this isn't unpleasant, but a little worrisome in its strangeness).

I am sixteen years old and I weigh 130 pounds. I take 200 mg of Zoloft (sertraline) every morning for depression. I am constantly in emotional turmoil internally, but I rarely have the motivation to express any of it, which leaves me a bottled-up mess.

I have gained about five pounds on Zoloft, and I exercise frequently and watch my diet in an attempt to avoid more gain. My emotions, ideals, thought patterns, and self image are all extremely volatile and they change constantly.

If I don't take Zoloft for one day, I feel slightly more energetic and I always have detailed, vivid dreams that night. If I don't take Zoloft for two days, I get a splitting headache, I am aggressive and histrionic, and I feel tense and hopeless. These disturbances are only slightly more unpleasant than how I feel when I take the medication; hence, I usually take it. However, if I gain one more pound while taking this, regardless of withdrawal effects, I will discontinue the Zoloft.