Sanity symptoms and conditions

i'm 35 years old and started taking yaz one month ago. i have felt as if i have had PMS for one month straight! i have spotted or bled the entire month, have been extremely moody with my husband and children, my breasts have grown by a full cup size (and no, i'm not happy with this development), i've gained about 5 pounds (all i want to eat is Christmas cookies all the time!), and headaches. i have never been on the pill before and thought i might try yaz for pms and acne. my skin does look better, but it's not worth my sanity!

My 4 year old son started taking singulair when he was two. I don't think I picked up on his behavior change right away b/c I thought that he was just entering the "terrible two's". But over time, his allergist added on Nasonex (I know the docs say that it doesn't cause side-effects b/c it's a nasal spray, but I don't buy that...it's a steroid, plain and simple) and more recently zyrtec was added on for his hives. Well, the zyrtec was the straw that broke the camel's back. I mean, he has been a real "handful" since the singulair, but after zyrtec was added 5 months ago - let's just say he was completely out of my control. His meltdowns were so bad that I couldn't go ANYWHERE with him. I either got a sitter or just didn't go anywhere. He became aggressive, defiant, emotional, unhappy. And to top it off he started to have serious "autistic-like" self-stimulatory behaviors (grinding teeth, squinting eyes shut, flapping his hands, punching himself...). At this point my life had become a complete nightmare, and my poor 10 month old son was getting NO attention b/c my 4 year old was so out of control and aggressive. I was afraid for the baby's safety...oh, I could go on all night. This medication has impacted my marriage, my finances, my sanity. Shortly after he started Singulair I had to go on an antidepressant b/c it too so much out of me just to be his mommy. Anyway, a week ago I had him scheduled for a psych evaluation (thought for sure we were going to walk away with either autism or bipolar diagnosis), but two days before I decided to look up the meds he is on and BINGO! All of these posts sound like what we have been going through. I stopped all of his meds that night, cold-turkey, and he has been the most pleasant little boy I have ever met!! My husband and I have fallen in love with him over the past week - we had no idea he was such a sweet child.

Now, while I'm ecstatic that we have found the answer to our nightmare, I also feel SO STINKIN' ANGRY! We lost out on 2 years with our sweet boy, there were times when we raised our voices at him when he just couldn't help himself - he was suffering inside!! When I went to talk to the allergist about my findings this past week, he said, "well, maybe he just had a good day. I'd like to see what happens if he goes off all his meds for a week". Well, there you have it, he has been off for one week and he's an absolute angel. He has an amazing heart and is so caring!!!

Singulair is awful (and so is zyrtec). Please don't give this drug to your children. Research other alternatives (I am giving my son Nordic Naturals Fish Oil, Culturelle probiotics, vitamin c, and am changing his diet - increased magnesium and decreased dairy. I came up with this after hours of research...).

There is a woman on this site whose daughter committed suicide after 3 years on Singulair. This is no joke and the FDA needs to get with it.

BTW, I used to date a Singulair rep (I knew there was something I didn't like about that guy:)

Yeah I don't know why physicians just put us on this Aviane because its "cheaper" than Alysse. Mine told me it was basically the same thing but it's obviously not because I've been breaking out in zits like crazy ever since I went on it. I also got harsh mood swings, intense fits of anger (broken furniture can attest to this) and it comes completely randomly; one tiny thing can set me into a fit of rage. I had previously been using Alysse since I was 16 (I'm now 22) and it worked perfectly - didn't have harsh breakouts, my moods were normal, didn't gain weight. I've been taking Aviane for more than six months now and the zits (which are often huge and painful) haven't gone away :( I wash my face day and night, haven't changed my diet at all... So I can only assume it's because of hormonal changes - which only leaves Aviane.

I'm definitely switching back to Alysse - hell I'll pay the extra five dollars if it means a clear complexion and my/my boyfriend's sanity!!!

i had Mirena inserted on the 28th of September, i usually check my waist measurement every week since i had my baby- i lost 4 inches after delivery and exercise, i was so shocked this evening to find out i gained 2 inches on my waist in two weeks! i have been asking myself why i am so gassy these days, am always sweating, sleepless nights and i noticed my stomach looks like am pregnant. am so shocked! and the most scary part is that my baby developed skin rashes all over her body, right about the time i had mine inserted. i have tried all kinds of cream, changed her laundry detergent (mine as well), skin care products, but the rashes wont dry up. my baby`s skin was flawless before i had this mirena. i always dress her appropriately, moreover the weather is not hot for her to develop rashes. i feel so guilty that i put her through the discomfort,am getting the mirena removed to confirm my suspicion but i know already that mirena is the cause as there is no other possible reason. its unfortunate that the professionals won`t tell you the truth and i specifically asked if it will affect the baby because i am breast feeding. i am so glad i did this research to validate my sanity, even though the harm has already been done. thank you all for sharing your experience.

Hey there ladies,
Well I am on week 4 of the NuvaRing and it is out. Everything was going just great until I needed to take it out.
After taking out the NR the emotions and depression had sky rocketed!
My fiancee and will be having a discussion and he will say something that I don't like and I will end up flying off the hinges as he is there looking at me like I am flipping crazy (which I am right now). Then I will go off in my room crying and then I will start balling wondering what the hell is wrong with my head and the way that I am thinking. It almost feels like there is a monster inside of me that controls how I feel and it scares me a lot.
Before I have always been a happy go lucky person.
Not these days.
I have not had any other side effects that others have mentioned except for the weight gain.
Please, if you care about your sanity and health, don't take the NR. As I have read so far, there are so many bad things that can happen to you.

My 15year old daughter has just stopped taking Yasmin due to severe depression, anxiety attacks, uncontrollable crying, suicidal thoughts and chest pain with erratic heartbeat. I thank God that we figured out the connection to Yasmin. She has been spiraling down so quickly, I thought I was losing her. While she does not relish the return of heavy, long periods, she is so ready to have her sanity back. Her counselor and gyn confirm the strong likelihood of these being side effects of the Yasmin. I was ready to put her on Prozac and sleeping pills because the situation was so desperate! While I was on Yasmin for years with no adverse effects, there ARE people who are desperate because of this pill! The hundreds of posts are too numerous to ignore the REAL truth. Is is worth it to "just try it out" for a boob inflation? You are taking a serious risk, sweetheart!

I am so pleased i came across this site. I have been struggling with extremely bad moods, confusion and now even seeing a psychologist due to the bad thoughts I've had and can't explain. I've been paranoid with friends I've known for years distrusted and not had no reason to!! Have felt pretty mad!! I've also had a physical fight with my sister and we haven't fought since childhood (ahem, we are both in our thirties!). I can't concentrate, my memory is impaired and so slow on the uptake-my sense of humor has all but disappeared! I felt like a fattie and never had a gut and hip weight gain like this in my life. I simply don't eat enough to warrant the gain. Boobs, so sore, are now equaling the size of pammies, which if I had a sex drive to flaunt them it would be a good thing. I felt pratically asexual!! :(( No motivation, lack of drive at work..simply too much to cope with. Grinding my teeth, pain caused by doing so in my jaw.

So this is coming out pdq. I want my sanity back and not to mention my mind! I want to be ME again. :(

Okay, I don't have any side effects, but I do want to know something important!
I'm 16 years old and i REAALLLY want someone (who knows about the Yasmin pill!) to help me out with this one. Tomorrow i am going to the doctor with my mom. I have irregular menstruation. Like 2 or one week before it's supposed to come. I also get cramps, which are just enough to hold out...But the thing is, i just want to get the Yasmin pill. I heard that it clears your skin (although i don't have acne or anything) and it can make your breast bigger.. I have like a A-cup and bigger breast are nicer.
But now I read these bad experiences and I'm just scared to start it.. But still i wanna try it, 'cause I can stop right after it starts to become bad, right??
Please give me a good and useful answer!

Thanx!
A confused girl

I have been on Lisinopril for 3 days now, for slightly elevated BP. Doctor told me to take 20mgs, I split it in fourths, and have been only taking a fourth, and have had tingling in my hands and feet, chest pain, tiredness, severe anger and depression, I had the same reaction when I took Atenolol, (beta blocker), 12.5 mg a day for three months, Also I am going completely bald!! I know that was from the Atenolol, so this med, is just as bad, I'm not taking it anymore, I like my hair,health, happiness and sanity to much to compromise it another second, I also have suffered from depression for many years and have asthma, so I should have never been giving either one of these drugs! I will take Garlic, Omega supplements and see where it takes me, God Bless and lets try nature instead! P.S. I am a 41 yr old female. hope this helps.

I had my Mirena IUC put in last October, yes it hurt but my cycle is MUCH better. I went from full heavy for ten days to three barely using a light tampon. Now though im to the point of no period and its scaring the crap out of me. I had perigard which made my period horrible and it had to be surgically removed. Mirena us much better but for the absence of my period. I love the fact of not taking pills all of the time, and not having to deal with birth control constantly. I personally at twenty seven am not ready to have a tubal ligation. I am curious though how i can get my period back..For my own sanity of knowing im not pregnant with baby number three..

I am a 72 yrs old female. Put on Lisinopril-HCTZ 10-12.5mg 2 yrs. ago. Took Cozaar until drug provider (AARP) wouldn't pay for and told my doc to use Lisinopril. For a while I was ok...then the trouble started. Nausea, dizziness, headaches and swelling of legs and feet. All slow to happen. Then shortness of breath, cough and itching. Leg cramps got me up pacing and in agony several time nightly. Had a creepy feeling in the back of my neck, joint aches, tiredness, stomach PAIN, hot tingles in feet and toes late in the day. Slight weight gain, a runny nose and sneezing in the AM.. Hot one minute, cold the next. At some point I realized I had a feeling of ill-health, a def. loss of my usual feeling of well-being. I was edge, nervous and finally got depressed enough to call a psychologist. That's when I found this web site. Therapist told me to tell my doc and maybe get another BP med. instead of L. Ten days ago I stopped taking it and went back on the Cozaar...I will pay for it myself. I just want to feel good again. The mental anguish this drug has produced shouldn't happen to anyone. Also, I shouldn't have to find a web site that tells me I'm taking poison either. Last night I slept straight thru the night w/o awaking. First time in God knows when. Still some nausea but I can tell the effects of Lisinopril and lessening. Take hope all u people who have posted here...I think it will get better for you now that u don't take that snake juice anymore. I think it's good that we all stopped it before we started slithering through the grass of our front lawns. This too shall pass. Thanks for posting here for me so that I could finally feel good again. I owe you a huge debt for my sanity.

I was on topamax for about 2 years. I took it for frequent migraines caused by my sinus's. I had all the normal side affects but got used to it after awhile. The only one i didn't get used to was the hair loss. During this time I started allergy injections and now i'm up to my maintenance level. So i decided to ween myself slowly off the topamax. I have been off for about 2 months now and I have been fine on the headache side, but i have started to get other symptoms (i think withdrawal symptoms). They have progressively gotten higher in number as the days go by. First my hair loss has not stopped. I gained about 10-15lbs, I am edgy and climbing the walls all day. I have a really hard time relaxing. I recently developed horrible insomnia, and about a week ago i started having digestive problems including water retention, bloating, gas, irregular bowl movements, and acid reflux. And I've recently had bouts of tightness in my chest and throat which make it difficult to breath (lasts about an hour). I didn't have any of these symptoms while i was on the topamax (except the hair loss), nor did I have them before it.
I am seeing an endocrinologist in a few weeks to make sure nothing on that front is causing any of this, but i really feel it's from taking and going off the topamax. If you can find other ways to deal with your migraines, DO!

I am so glad to have found this site. I thought I was slowly losing my mind. Did late-night binge eating, house cleaning, paid bills on-line - all with no memory of it the following day. As the medication would start to work, I had a nightly "conversation" with myself about how worthless I was, how I deserved to have all kind of bad things happen, etc. I wouldn't have these kind of thoughts during the day. I haven't taken it for 5 days now after 10 months of continuous use. The first night was as if I had consumed a pot of coffee, tossing and turning, with practically no sleep. But each night it's gotten better. When I weigh the side effects against the benefits, for me it's not difficult to say I'd rather have my sanity back!

I would become a complete wreck two weeks before my period. I started noticing that it would become worse and worse as i reached 27.. I would not be able to concentrate i would feel that the world was coming to an end, i hated everyone , i took time off of work to sleep in, i hated myself. This was two weeks before my period. the other two weeks I was a happy goal oriented positive person.
I contacted my aunt whos a premed student and asked her what was wrong with me. I knew it wasn't PMS because my symptoms were so overpowering. She told me that I probably had PMDD and to take YAZ (birth control) .
Its my third month on it and I can not begin to tell you how happy i am she recommended this pill to me. Only side effects I ve had have been a little bloating and back pain... all worth having my sanity back.

This site has been a god send. I had mine placed 2 weeks ago and its been horrible. I've been telling myself that everything is going to be fine, but its hard to believe that. Getting it put in put me in tremendous pain. I could barely walk and i had to work a 10 hour shift an hour later. After 2 days the pain went away but i started to notice random bouts of depression. Ive been a totally different person, Im happy and laughing one minute and the next im in tears over nothing! What made things worse was I was starting to feel nervous and shaky on top of wanting to cry all the time. I figured it had to do with Mirena because ive felt this way once before and that was when i tried the depo shot. Within the last few days ive noticed an unusual discharge and itching. Ive been thinking it might be a yeast infection but i have never had one. Its just one more thing im contributing to Mirena. I dont want to get it removed because its nice not worrying about pills or condoms but at the same time I think Mirena is making me crazy. Reading these posts really helped me regain some of my sanity. Ive also heard from many people who used to have an IUD that as soon as they had theirs removed they got pregnant. I know to use condoms but i dont trust them, accidents happen.

What a Godsend this website is. I am a 48 year old female, and I have been taking Advair (the lowest dose) for about 2 months now, with steadily worstening side effects. Although I have to admit, my first dose of Advair was like a much need "breath of fresh air", the side effects are not worth it. In fact, I just got off the phone with my doctor, telling her I will no longer be taking the Advair. These were the side effects I have experienced: rapid heartbeat, rib pain, joint pain in my legs and fingers, loose bowels, and a noticeable change in weight / body shape. I have always been complimented on my tiny waist and flat stomach, but as of late I have noticed my waist size increasing, despite my usual exercise. In addition, the most serious and most disturbing side effects are insomnia and the onset of severe depression / anxiety / paranoia. I had issues with depression as a young woman in my 20's with anorexia, with no relapse until I began this medication. Yesterday, I had to pull over to a store parking lot to cry for no reason! If it were not for this website, I would have blamed myself for some sort of mental weakness or unhealthy thinking. Also, I have never experienced anxiety in my life, and while on this medication I have had several episodes of intense panic, where I was convinced I should immediately draft a last will and testament. My vision has been blurring in and out considerably, my voice sounds as if I have larynxitis daily, and I have also experienced profoundly increased thirst and urination. I have not had my blood pressure checked, but I feel like what must be an increase in this, as well. Lastly, the past few days I have noticed severe hair loss, which, until I read this website, I attributed to my recent dieting. (I have been desperately dieting and increasing exercise to try to regain my figure that this medication is apparently ruining. Until this time, I have weighed the same and had the same or stronger body than high school school (5'4'', 115 - 120 lbs.) God bless everyone who has contributed to this website to educate others about the horrors of this medication. My doctor wants to see me to "give me something else", but I am going look into alternative therapies (yoga, breathing exercises, teas, etc.) The comment that made the most sense on this website was the person who wrote "break up with your asthma...begin by taking a deep breath and telling yourself you no longer have asthma." Also, I have seen that God / Jesus can heal anything, so I am going to turn to Him in prayer instead of the doctors. After all, Who created our bodies to begin with? I will add you all to my prayers, and that God will help us all heal from this... both the asthma and the suffering created by Advair.

i was in the ER for what we thought was appendicitis. They hooked me up to the IV and within 2 minutes of the Reglan going into my body I started having a feeling of panic and terror I've never felt before in my life. I quick called my husband on the cell saying he need to come get me NOW! and I was so close to ripping the IV out of my arm, they had this blood pressure thing on my finger and the feeling of clautrophobia I had just from that and the IV being attached t ome was the most overwhelming paniced feeling I ever felt. Then, my whole body started uncontrollably convulsing. You can imagine how scary this was for both me and my husband, neither of us understood what was going on. The nurse gave me benadryl and the effects starting going away after about 10 minutes, at that point, my sanity started coming back and i literally could not stop smiling due to the relief I felt just coming back to normal. I still have panic feelings thinking back and remembering the experience. i can truly say it was horrific.

I am 29 year old type 1 Diabetic. I am healthy and regularly exercise. I recently moved to the east side of London from West London. My new GP would not prescribe Lipostatins that I was on (10mg) and chose to put me on 40mg Simvastatin. I finished my course of Lipostatins and started on Sims' about a month ago. I have only just clocked a relation to the change in drugs to why I feel so exhausted, depressed (nearly finished my relationship because of feeling so low), have pains in my hands and my ankles feel weak (I play football and really my ankles feel weak in comparison to last month).
My GP did not even give me any side effect warnings. I am stopping these drugs immediately for my sanity and the people around me.

Hey every1,

I just started to take Yaz this past Sunday July 6th '08 and it is now July 10th. I started to get on the 2nd day these weird hot flashes, feeling sweaty, anxious (more than I normally get) and developed this weird calf and Left side leg pain, also my whole left side like my whole arm and I feel crazy about this pain b/c only a year ago i was in a bad car accident and was hit on my driver side as a head on collision to me, so now i feel confused as if i don't know how to distinguish whether it's my accident pain (that will never go away like arthritis) or if it is this Yaz pill. I am very concerned, and being that I am like a hypochondriac (a nervous mess; a disorder characterized by a preoccupation with body functions and the interpretation of normal body sensations, also a constant worrier and negative thinker) I feel much concern for this issue. I even feel like going to the hospital just to make sure and for my sanity.. Help!

I have been on Lexapro for a few years now but just until recently have I experienced these side effects that I thought was something serious. But after reading all these comments I feel reassured that its caused from the Lexapro.Head rushes that make me dizzy, and making me sick to my stomach(causing major anxiety) . Another term I have read it head zaps, also true. Hot flashes one time while at work and Im only 30 years old. Major hunger all the time. I rally think my coworkers think Im crazy but not knowing what is making you feel crazy will cause you to panic. My husband has always told me that antidepressants were bad but haven't really notices until now. Im going to try and wein myself off of Lexapro and replace it with exercise. Has anyone else tried to do this?

I posted this as a reply in another discussion group, but thought I'd share here too due to the very serious and potentiall deadly side effect (I think may be a result of taking Yasmin):

I suffered a Pulmonary Embolism on 6/4/08 - was not on Yasmin at the time, but had been for about 2 years (was switched about 3 months before my PE). I am 36 years old, otherwise healthy (am very active and have no other underlying risk factors), and have been on other forms of the pill (on & off, but mostly on) since I was 18 - with no side effects. The more I am reading, the more I'm mad about not being appropriately warned! People seem to keep dismissing the risks of this pill. Yes, millions of women are fine on the pill, but from what I'm reading hundreds of thousands are not. PEs are terrifying and potentially deadly. In case anyone needs it, there is a great on-line support group called ***** and there is a PE suport group on there I found last week - they are wonderful people and have saved me from losing my sanity (lots of panic & anxiety). Recovery from PE is a long, painful and bumpy road, and these people are of immense support. Good luck and good health to all!

i started taking yaz a couple months ago and developed a blood clot in my lung, a pulmonary embolism. i was hospitalized for a week in may of this year. i have visited many websites to see if other women have developed blood clots due to yaz and i have found a startling number of women that have developed blood clots, and a couple girls who even lost their lives. the side effects of birth control are explained to us before we start taking them, and it is expected that some women will experience the side effects, and this is normal. however, when a disproportionately large number of women start having serious health problems due to yaz, then something is not wrong with us, something is wrong with yaz. i have seen many women express an interest in starting a class action lawsuit and i am trying to do so. i have worked in a personal injury law office for the past 2 years and know an excellent lawyer looking to take on a case of this nature and magnitude. if you or your loved one has developed a blood clot, lost their life, or have developed another serious health problem due to yaz than please email me at ****** with your name and an email address i can reach you at. A class action lawsuit requires a large number of plaintiffs. I have already gotten a few emails but need many more before we can make this happen. please email me... help me and yourself.

I have been scheduled for an overnite sleep test at the hospital and was told I'd have to be off of Paxil for 3 weeks prior to the test. I tapered it down myself (now I know better) in what I thought was a reasonable period of 2 weeks. After reading all of the comments here I now know that I should have done this over months not days. I've been experiencing the "brain jolts" accompanied by the rapid distortion of vision for years and just assumed that it was another weird MS related symptom. Now I'm wondering if Paxil may have played a part in this all this time.
This morning I felt so much better about myself after reading all of the comments here. I was saying yes to all of the symptoms I've been having including dizzyness, extremes in emotions, nausea, less appetite, cold sweats, hot flashes, inability to concentrate, some paranoia, slurred speech, tinnitus, disorganized thoughts and disorganized physical space. I had no idea that Paxil was the cause of all of this. Not one clue.
Along with having less appetite I've noticed a change in tastes/flavors. I can taste really salty or really sweet and anything in the middle has almost no flavor. I also get a craving for something and finally make it, eat a bite and throw the rest away. The other thing going along with the LOUD tinnitus is that all sounds seem amplified. I don't know if anyone else has experienced these things. Thanks to all who have written because if not for this I would have continued to think I was losing my sanity.
I am supposed to go back on Paxil after the sleep test but have absolutely no intention of putting myself through this again. I haven't been able to work do to the crying at ever "Kodak moment" and really can't afford to miss this kind of time again. If only the doctor had told me what the withdrawal could be like at the time of prescribing it!

I have a 15 yr old son, that has been on Singulair for 4 years. He used to complain to me about not being able to sleep through the night, he couldn't concentrate at school. He was an honor roll student. Then he became short tempered. He also isolated himself, and no motivation. He would not want to do anything. He was depressed. Does not want to shower or anything. He has absolutely no self worth. He would talk about having these problems and I would just say to him that maybe it was just the changes going on. New school, changes to his body, it's just those times where changes and expectations are harder. Some handle it better than others. Than everything just continued to go down hill. My son is very intelligent, so when mom did not listen, he decided to self medicate. Went online to try find out what was going on. Tried to find what would help him. He learned quite alot about pharmacology(spelling???) at any rate he then started experimenting with other drugs. Prescriptions drugs. He just wanted desperately to be happy. I found out about this. He was getting into trouble at school, grades fell. So we then sought counceling and then a psychiatrist. They put him on all kinds of meds. Prozac, Ridilin anti pshychotic drugs. You name it my son has probably done it. Now my son is an addict. I now hear all these things about Singulair don't know what to think.??????? I have had him a drug treatment program of which he was kicked out for overdosing. Then, the hospital of which just put him on more drugs. I don't know what to do. He has asthma, when he does not take his Singulair the asthma really kicks in. I know this we are going to look for something else to treat his asthma. I need input. My thoughts are simple. I believe that it is possible that the problems my have started with Singulair but then my son took a step further. I think to try to survive. But in the mean time he is now an addict and I'm scared of whatever permanent damage that may have occured over the years. Are there any other parents out there, that think their teenager might be going through the same problems? If so PLEASE reply to this message.