Side Effects
@ElizabethWallace (12074)
United States
April 30, 2016 3:36am CST
Some of us are really lucky, others are not. I have lots of luck, both good and bad. For the last few weeks I have been under the weather. Santa Ana Winds triggered my allergies, which caused a sinus infection and an exacerbation of my usually well controlled asthma. But I’m on medication for both the infection and asthma. While the medication is working (too slowly for my taste), I have been under the threat of side effects.
But here again, my good luck decided to take control. Great, because the whole chain reaction thing did not make me happy in the first place. After all, I took precautions. They didn’t work this go around. Oh, well, at least I am having a fairly easy time with the medication.
I am supposed to be suffering from long bouts of staying in the bathroom from using the antibiotic I was prescribed. But, no, everything is normal. I am eating yogurt daily. I am also taking the medication on a full tummy. Both of these suggestions were made, and I am following them.
The steroid medication to get my asthma back under control should make me horribly hungry, but has had no effect upon my appetite. It should also make me very cranky. In fact, at the dose I am taking, the word rage was mentioned. But I’m pretty chipper and not even blue, let alone feeling any anger.
I am awake and online at 1:30 in the morning, however. Insomnia. I have not escaped the side effects unscathed. But I will start tapering off the steroids tomorrow (or is that later today?) and should get back to my regular sleep routine soon.
Hopefully, my energy will return too, and I will be able to get back to exercising, walking and socializing. Do you suffer from side effects when you have to take medication? How do you minimize them?
Update: It is now 2:20 a.m., and I am going to try to sleep. Wish me luck.
24 people like this
20 responses
@ElizabethWallace (12074)
• United States
1 May 16
@DianneN Anything to slow down the old noggin helps.
1 person likes this
@ElizabethWallace (12074)
• United States
1 May 16
I used MyLot to distract and slow down my thinking. LOL This helped.
1 person likes this
@ElizabethWallace (12074)
• United States
30 Apr 16
I was in the hospital last year. They wanted to give me all sorts of medication, just in case. I made them explain it all. I refused two of them. But took the other two. They made sense to me. The others did not. But then, I am fairly well versed in all things health related, so my discussions with the doctor were cordial and positive. She agreed with my decisions.
2 people like this
@ElizabethWallace (12074)
• United States
1 May 16
@MGjhaud I always ask questions and make my own choices. Works for me.
1 person likes this
@Marcyaz (35316)
• United States
30 Apr 16
Good Luck to you going to sleep. I have a lot of problems with medications so generally I am only prescribed a minimum until we see what effect it has on me. Sometimes I swell up like a balloon or I become faint and feel nothing will stay down in my tummy. I have all kinds of weird things happen on different medications.
2 people like this
@Marcyaz (35316)
• United States
2 May 16
@ElizabethWallace
I have hives also when I was given a medication a medication with penacellion.(spl)
2 people like this
@ElizabethWallace (12074)
• United States
1 May 16
I swell up and get hives on any NSAIDs. Not good. So steroids are the only anti-inflammatory medication I can take. I use Margaritas for small muscle related inflammation. Agave is a great tool, and the taste isn't bad either. 
1 person likes this
@ElizabethWallace (12074)
• United States
2 May 16
@Marcyaz Once you know what you are allergic to, like penicillin, then be very forceful whenever anyone starts to give you meds. They will learn to listen, and you will stay safe. I am allergic to latex, and trust no one. The new dentist tried to use a big chunk of rubber to keep my mouth open, although she knows I am allergic. So dumb.
2 people like this
@scheng1 (24650)
• Singapore
30 Apr 16
@ElizabethWallace Hope you recover soon.
LIfe will be back to normal after you have recovered, and stopped all the medication.
2 people like this
@ElizabethWallace (12074)
• United States
30 Apr 16
@scheng1 This is true. I have an appointment with my regular doctor in a little over two weeks. I want a strategy to deal better with the allergy, so this won't happen again.
1 person likes this
@ElizabethWallace (12074)
• United States
30 Apr 16
Steroids cause insomnia. They reve you up and keep your mind busy. It would be great, if it wasn't the middle of the night, or morning already. Sigh.
1 person likes this
@arthurchappell (45002)
• Preston, England
30 Apr 16
sounds quite grim but you would be worse off without the meds - you are coping well
2 people like this
@arthurchappell (45002)
• Preston, England
2 May 16
@ElizabethWallace it does sound horrific - hope your doctors could help combat that too for you
2 people like this
@ElizabethWallace (12074)
• United States
2 May 16
@arthurchappell And without steroids, I hope.
1 person likes this
@ElizabethWallace (12074)
• United States
1 May 16
I was in a ton of pain from coughing so much. Never had that before. It was brutal.
1 person likes this
@ElizabethWallace (12074)
• United States
1 May 16
Where I go for medical care, they give us a huge print out with all sorts of important information. Knowing what might happen helps me avoid it. That's why I stocked up on yogurt, to fight the big D that often comes with taking antibiotics. So far, so good.
2 people like this
@ElizabethWallace (12074)
• United States
2 May 16
@JudyEv Antibiotics have a tendency to kill off all the good bacteria in the gut. So probiotics, yogurt, etc. help restore the balance. Works great.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325798)
• Rockingham, Australia
2 May 16
@ElizabethWallace I didn't know that about yoghurt and antibiotics. I'll remember that in future.
2 people like this
@celticeagle (159058)
• Boise, Idaho
30 Apr 16
I hate side effects. They are the reason that most of the anti-depressants I have tried don't work for me. Insomnia is awful. I have gotten to a point where I sleep in a cycle. One way for a few days then another. You should try doing a little more each day. If you don't feel well after don't do so much. Hope you are doing better soon.
2 people like this
@celticeagle (159058)
• Boise, Idaho
2 May 16
@ElizabethWallace ....Yes, it is. Has to find what works.
2 people like this
@ElizabethWallace (12074)
• United States
1 May 16
Sorry. It's a balancing act, as you know. Knowing what works for our bodies is important, and paying attention is helpful. But you know that too. Good luck.
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61047)
• United States
1 May 16
Hopefully you did get to sleep. I always have an unfortunate reaction to antibiotics, several different types. of unfortunate. I hope you are back to your normal healthy self soon.
2 people like this
@ElizabethWallace (12074)
• United States
1 May 16
I'm lucky with antibiotics. Fingers crossed it stays that way.
1 person likes this
@PatZAnthony (14752)
• Charlotte, North Carolina
1 May 16
It is odd how meds have certain side effects on some, but not on others.
2 people like this
@ElizabethWallace (12074)
• United States
1 May 16
I blame it all on our DNA. We have a tendency toward something or not. Someday all this will be known and common knowledge, but not quite yet.
@LadyDuck (458174)
• Switzerland
2 May 16
@ElizabethWallace Sometimes, a normal boring pattern it's much better.
2 people like this
@ElizabethWallace (12074)
• United States
2 May 16
@LadyDuck Yes, it sure seems so. I can save exciting for some other activity.
1 person likes this
@ElizabethWallace (12074)
• United States
1 May 16
It's been a roller coaster, but hopefully will get back to my normal boring pattern.
1 person likes this
@ElizabethWallace (12074)
• United States
1 May 16
Finally did, but only was able to get four hours of sleep that night. Did sleep better last night. It's a process.
2 people like this
@garymarsh6 (23393)
• United Kingdom
30 Apr 16
Sorry to hear you are poorly but you seem to have it in check. You are doing all the right things and good on you about the yoghurt as sometimes the antibiotics kill off the good bacteria too. Wishing you a speedy recovery and you are feeling your usual self. I have usually been ok with meds without any side effects thankfully.
2 people like this
@garymarsh6 (23393)
• United Kingdom
1 May 16
@ElizabethWallace Well at least you know you have friends here that are wishing you good health!
1 person likes this
@ElizabethWallace (12074)
• United States
1 May 16
I have been really lucky with necessary meds. I avoid most side effects. This one is annoying, but not really too bad.
1 person likes this
@CRK109 (14558)
• United States
1 May 16
There's always something with medication. But as you said, you'll be tapering off the meds soon and hopefully your life will get back to normal. My body doesn't like medication much, so I do find that I often suffer side effects when there's something I really have to take. Most times I try to find an alternative to medication when I can.
2 people like this
@ElizabethWallace (12074)
• United States
1 May 16
I have a whole category of medication that I cannot take, so I do alternatives for those.
@norcal (4890)
• Franklinton, North Carolina
30 Apr 16
I am on my last day of prednisone, which I have been on for three weeks. Also, I have been taking Singulair, a new one for me. The Singulair did keep me awake, and make me feel weird though.
I am feeling much better, I hope you are too.
2 people like this
@ElizabethWallace (12074)
• United States
1 May 16
They did talk to you about tapering off, I hope. Stopping cold is brutal.
@norcal (4890)
• Franklinton, North Carolina
2 May 16
@ElizabethWallace Yes. 4 days on 50mg, 4 on 40, 4 on 30, 4 on 20, 4 on 10. I took my last pill yesterday.
1 person likes this
@ElizabethWallace (12074)
• United States
2 May 16
@norcal Great. That should do it. I'm down to 20 today, then 10 for eight days.
@Juliaacv (48442)
• Canada
30 Apr 16
I hope that you are able to relax and fall into a nice deep restful slumber.
Side effects can be nasty, but it sounds like yours will mostly be short-lived while you take the medications.
I was left with severe osteoporosis as a side effect from taking a medication. I've lost a couple of inches in height in the past 15 years as a result.
I hope that you're sawing logs and sound asleep right now! Night night
2 people like this
@ElizabethWallace (12074)
• United States
1 May 16
I was sawing logs when you wrote this. I am taking meds for osteoporosis, so I get it. That is a side effect of this medication, but I'm only on it a short period of time.
2 people like this
@ElizabethWallace (12074)
• United States
1 May 16
Since I am basically staying home, I just take a nap on the bad days. After all is right, and my sleeping pattern is back in place, they won't be necessary.
@DeborahDiane (40055)
• Laguna Woods, California
3 May 16
I'm so sorry you are going through this. How awful!! I very rarely take medications. Even Novocaine knocks me out, so most of the fillings in my teeth have been done without it. When I have had anesthesia, it has left me drowsy for a couple of days.
@JohnRoberts (109857)
• Los Angeles, California
30 Apr 16
Is that great photo yours?
1 person likes this
@ElizabethWallace (12074)
• United States
1 May 16
Thanks. I love taking photos of pretty plants, and took this photo with my iPhone when in Key West in December.
@pinkCardigangirl (587)
• United States
30 Apr 16
I hope you got some sleep last night. It's great that you didn't have the side effects. I don't usually get side effects when I take medication. I hope it stays that way. :)
2 people like this
@ElizabethWallace (12074)
• United States
1 May 16
I agree. Good luck with that.
1 person likes this
