Unrelated problem symptoms and conditions

Visited new physician, blood test showed recent spike in LDL level (+60 points). Test was non fasting, and not repeated. At follow-up visit, doc directed me to take Lipitor, and when I expressed concern about taking drug before trying diet and other tactics for lowering LDL, doctor brooked no discussion. I specifically expressed concern regarding dizziness, as I had had very severe neurological problems after taking a high level of an OTC at a doc direction for an unrelated problem. My concern was dismissed out of hand (I've never seen it in 20 years.) No return visit was scheduled at this time to check on efficacy. (A medical student was in the exam room, I never spoke with the doc alone, and the doc left the room and I never saw her again.

Without other immediate options for medical care, I filled the prescription for 20 mg of Lipitor. At about the second week, I began to experience severe neurological problems (dizziness, sense of no orientation of my body in space, trouble keeping upright, etc.) I received a card for a cardiology appointment shortly after the visit, and decided to hang on until the visit. The cardio doc said to me, "why are you here?" I told her that the appt. had been scheduled by the other doc's office, but told her what I knew. She took bp - told me it was fine (actually, it was prehypertensive), and then told me my high LDL was genetic, and I'd have to be on drugs for the rest of my life (56). Did not ask for family history, and ignored recent severe leg infection as a possible cause for the spike in LDL.

Having been offered no alternative, I decided to stop Lipitor on my own after 19 days on it. (I decided I would rather drop dead than feel as I did.) Not much improvement immediately. It took 30 days off it to have a day on which I felt well. I am into my second week since then, and have an occasional bad spell, but I am hopeful I'll have a full recovery from the neurological problems. I've been on my own low fat diet for the LDL, but don't know what effect that is having, and have no intention to visit a doctor to find out.

Interestingly, the FDA's Medwatch only allows reporting of severe side effects, and I didn't stay on Lipitor long enough to meet the definition (become disabled).

Hey Singulair Friends - My son has been off of it a little over a month and is still complaining of stomach aches. Are any of your kids still complaining of that? I am concerned that maybe there may a bigger underlying issue. Any feedback would be appreciated!

Hi there. I started levaquin again today because i am having bronchial pnemonia. I have 250, 500, and 750 mg stocked at home, because i have taken this medication a LOT this last year for chronic kidney infections due to kidney stones that keep popping up.

For me, levaquin works great, with NO side effects on any type of dosage, except for the occasional tiredness. I am 23 years old. I would just like to say that i believe the benefits outweight the risks in the case of this drug, unless you are have horrible reactions such as rashes, losing hearing and sight etc which have been described. For the eye sight problem, if i was you i would SERIOUSLY find out if levaquin is really the cause for that, it doesnt make much sense how a drug designed to kill bacteria could actually interfere with cornea and eye functions, seems like there might be a possibility of some underlying and unrelated problem with the eye but seriously i wouldnt know. Just wanted to say that for me, this anti biotic has been a life saver, right now i just took me dose about an hour ago so i wont see any improvements soon but i feel like crap. My chest hurts, i cant stop coughing, fever etc i really hope this will lower my fever. I cant find any cough medicine at the store that is helping me i dont know how i will sleep tonight. =(