Lotrel and doctors

After being on Lotrel for several years and doctors adding a pill for every side effect I got (14 prescription pills a day), I had to retire from construction at 47 yrs old due to muscle damage and weakness. After witting lotrel and getting on a different blood pressure pill I've been able to quit 10 other pills including arrhythmia pills for my heart! I'm 53 now and can't sit upright, stand, or walk comfortably for more than 1/2 an hour. I wish I had figured it out sooner. I used to b e able to lift 300 lbs and now can't lift more than 20 :

My side effects: slow but severe muscle loss, lethargy, severe coughing particularly at night to the point of separating ribs, muscle cramps, difficulty swallowing/choking, severe tachyarrhythmia. It is a dangerous drug, fortunately I figured it out before it killed me! I was on it for eight years and and my health deteriorated. I had to quit working 4/2003. I had gotten so bad that I qualified for Social Security 6/2006. After testing with neurologists and against my doctors recommendation, I quit the Lotrel 9/2005. I appear to have permanent muscle damage, but my energy level has increased with some increased strength, coughing/choking stopped, arrythmia is almost completely gone (was able to quit two dosages per day of Rythmol for arrhythmia, muscle relaxants, pain killers), and the swallowing/choking problem is completely gone. The side effects came along over a period of 8 years and have devastated my health. Doctors kept prescribing pills for every side effect not realizing they were caused by Lotrel. I was at a point where I spent at least 20 hours a day laying down or asleep. Now, although I have lost 90% of muscle strength, I am fairly active most of the day.

I HAD BEEN TAKING LOTREL FOR OVER A YEAR AND DIDN'T KNOW THE SIDE AFFECTS. MY LEGS BECAME SO SWOLLEN THAT THEY STARTED TO WEEP WATER WHICH EVEN RAN DOWN MY LEGS INTO MY SHOES. MY DOCTOR NEVER EVEN THOUGHT TO APPLY THIS SIDE AFFECT TO THE LOTREL. I GAINED WEIGHT AND FELT AND LOOKED TERRIBLE. FINALLY, I STOPPED TAKING IT AND RETURNED TO MY NORMAL SELF. WHAT A RELIEF. AS I SAID BEFORE, DOCTORS NEED TO BE AWARE OF THESE SERIOUS SIDE AFFECTS HAPPENING TO THEIR PATIENTS. ZINGY