Questions about medicine

[Glenda]

I have been so under the weather here lately. The doctor started me on Neurontin for my neurophy and then Lipitor for my high cholesterol last month. Just recently I started having terrible leg and muscle cramps. Sometimes I can hardly walk. Has anyone else had trouble with any of these medicines. Also a couple of nights last week I was sitting watching television, my husband had already gone to bed and all of a sudden I couldn't swallow. Talk about a terrible feeling. I could drink water by putting my head down toward my chest but I couldn't swallow my saliva. (spelling?) I woke up my husband and he wanted to run me to ER but after about an hour I started swallowing again. He said he laid awake listening to me as I slept to make sure that I was breathing okay. The same thing happened again at church last Sunday. I started chewing some gum and it stopped. I'm wondering with all the extra Lasix and these new medicines, if the combination is really causing me some major problems. Any ideas?

 

[geebee]

Glenda,

I tried Lipitor and it gave me such bad muscle cramps that I decided I would take my chances with the high cholesterol. I tried one other statin drug whose name I cannot remember and had the same problem.

I also get muscle cramps if my potassium is low. If your Lasix was increased you might be having problems with low potassium. I have had issues with swallowing, arm and leg cramps and abdomenal cramps. If I take extra potassium or drink juice or something with high potassium content, the cramping goes away.

 

[Maureen]

Hi Glenda....sorry to hear you're not feeling well. I have never taken Lipitor but I was given Neurontin after I had my angiogram 18 months ago. I suffered from dreadful nerve pain in the leg they used for access. Dr reckons the Cardio nicked a nerve during the procedure. Anyway, the Neurontin took away the pain completely...but also took my brain as well I used to take a tablet at breakfast and by lunch I had difficulty remembering my own name and I'm not exaggerating here....when I think back, there were days that I drove the car and it felt that there was an extra layer of tyre rubber between me and the road, sort of like I was floating along and not really connected to anything. Of course the Dr who prescribed them said keep taking them as they are good for the pain, but after about a month I took myself off them. Thankfully the pain gradually subsided and now I only get a twinge if I'm sitting in one position too long, like a long car journey.

It doesn't sound like the Neurontin is the problem in your case though. I hope that you are able to get this sorted. Not being able to swallow sounds very scary. Best Wishes....

Maureen

 

[Emma]

Hi Glenda, I don't know if this will be of any help at all as my aunt has a different medical condition completely (she has lupus/myelitis) but she has had the same problem you described with swallowing and it turned out it was down to low muscle tone and the muscles cramping up in her throat so much that they just wouldn't allow her to swallow at times (pretty sure it was caused by one/some of her meds).
They put her on another med to combat this - I could ask her what it was if it's of any use. Just thought I'd let you know that her problem was all down to cramping and muscles and wondered if yours could be too?

Hope you get it sorted very soon
Love Emma
xxx

 

[Phyllis]

Hi Glenda,
So sorry to hear that you are having these problems. There are lots of posts here on the side effects of the statins that include leg cramps. It sounds like the medications or a combination thereof are causing your troubles. Hope you contact the prescribing doctor and get this straightened out soon. Best wishes,
Phyllis

 

[Mary]

Morning, Glenda.
I hope you've made a call to the doctor this morning and reported what you've been experiencing. It sounds like your medicines are causing your symptoms, and you don't need to be undergoing any extra complications.

I was thinking about you last night, wondering why you hadn't been posting the last week, now I know why!
Please call your doctor.
Hugs,
Mary

 

[Karlynn]

I get occasional cramps in feet and legs from Lipitor and I have a friend who got horrible cramping from it. I'm still on it, my friend was taken off.

Let us know what the doctor has to say. You certainly don't need your medication adding to your problems.

 

[Glenda]

Thanks for the advice. I will call the doctor this morning as soon as he opens. I didn't take my pills last night or this morning. This isn't once in a while pain, it's a constant pain and I'm so uncomfortable that I haven't been sleeping well at night and that's with taking Ambein. Usually I can get a couple of hours with Ambein but I just can't find a way to lay that doesn't just kill my knees, legs and joints. What's a person to do? I had also been walking about two miles every day and also going to Curves but I couldn't go last week because I hurt so bad and my pain tolerance is very high. I can take an awful lot before I give up. I wonder if I should see my massage therapist. She sure helped me after I had the AVR and just recently when I did something to my hip. Her brother is a chiropractor so they both give me a going over. I'll call my regular PC doctor first and then the chiropractor and the massage therapist. Just maybe I can get in today. Thanks again guys. You all are such great friends!

 

[Teacher]

I have been taking lipitor and neurontin for about five years. The neurontin helps to control the hot flashes I get from the tamoxifen I take for breast cancer. I have never experienced any problems with the combination, but it's best that you find out more information from your own doctor about it.

 

[strawberry]

Hey Glenda, I have taken Neurontin for pain and like someone else said it worked for the pain but made me loopy. It made me dizzy and sleepy at first but that got better. It never gave me any kind of cramps.

 

[Harrybaby666]

Glenda, It's the lipitor that's doing it....

Glenda, It's the lipitor that's doing it....

I had to go off of it, but then they put me back on it at a lower dosage, and so far, I have been doing ok with it....ask your doc if your dosage can be lowered and see if that helps.....Ole' Harrybaby is sending you hugs and prayers and I am sorry your not feeling well.....Harrybaby

 

[Rich]

Hi Glenda,
There is little doubt in my mind, that the Lipitor is causing your muscle and leg cramps.
My wife has tried every statin drug out there and the results have been the same with all of them.
She couldn't even walk and suffered severe pain in her legs.
She is a very active lady so she threw those statins in the trash.
A few days later she was back to herself.
Now she takes Zetia and while it doesn't lower cholesterol as well, she can still walk!!
Rich

 

[Granbonny]

Hi Twin sister

Hi Twin sister

Gosh, we have another birthday coming up in 2 months. June 10th...Sorry, you are having problems.I have just about given up on trying to look 39 again.. I bought an AB Lounge about a month ago. sure enough, a few days after using it..Shoulder started hurting.. Ben-Gay seems to help..but like you, the nights are the worse when I turn over onto that shoulder. .....Thank goodness, it is my left one..so can still unload washer, walk dog on leash, ect...The only exercise that does not bother me is walking.......So, the AB machine now has 3 light-weight blankets that I washed today..and letting them finish drying on it... So much for my flat-stomach.. I cannot diet ..either. Messes up my INR....So have decided to always have an INR in range, buy larger jeans, ect. Pain is just not worth it. Take care. Bonnie

 

[hensylee]

Glenda, Lipitor crippled me. I quit flat and told my drs I'd NEVER EVER let one pass my lips again s0 the cardio put me on Zetia.

The swallowing, tho, is maybe another matter. I bet you are allergic to one of the meds and you should report this PRONTO. Like now. And let us know.