Side Effects
By Amber
@AmbiePam (120738)
United States
August 31, 2007 10:44pm CST
So tonight I got another migraine. I went to take the medicine I was prescribed, for when one occurred. So I took it, and about 2 hours later I could feel the side effects. Sort of like my blood was on fire. I have tried many migraine medications, but this is the most effective one that my insurance will pay for.
And it just really feels off. The burning sensation extends to my head and it really isn't pain, but extremey uncomfortable and slightly nauseating. All in all, I am willing to live with that because contined migraines are awful. But it started me thinking on side effects of medicine. And it also brought me back to when I was 19 and my doctor put me on Ambien. I would go 4 days without sleeping, so they suggested Ambien. Well, one night I took the medication as usual (this may be why I resist taking sleeping medication now) and went to bed. The next morning I got up to go to class and as I walked to my car, I saw one headlight completely hanging out. Long story short, it started to come to me in pieces. I got up in the middle of the night, went somewhere (I don't know where), and on the way back I went into a ditch, almost hit a tractor (between 2 and 4 in the morning apparently), and jumped a curve.
Just recently the FDA had the makers of Ambien put warnings on their medicine because sleepwalking was happening to a lot of patients. In fact, just a month ago, my 60 year old aunt took it because her doctor recommended it. She then proceeded to shave her head the second night she was on it!
So have you had any bad side effects due to medicine? We all would ideally like to NOT be on any, but sometimes it can't be helped. If I can treat it with herbs, I do. But a lot of us just have to go the traditional way. And I'd like to hear your true stories. : )
2 people like this
9 responses
@laurika (4532)
• United States
1 Sep 07
I do not have any story for you , just want to tell you, how I feel with you and hope your migraine would get better.It s a shame you cannot treat it with herbs.
I also never read any article like this.Sleepwalkign and shaving head, hit almost truck....wow it sounds unbelievable...Just do not understand why they do not pull back all this medicine from store?One day can happen something really bad.
@AmbiePam (120738)
• United States
1 Sep 07
No. : ) I live alone. But if I really needed someone, I know my parents and friends would come help me. My parents are really good about taking me to the ER when I need to go. They live about 25 minutes away and will come get me. At 26, I just really want to stay as independent as I can for as long as possible. I have great hope some of my health problems will and can be eliminated with the advance of future technology.
@laurika (4532)
• United States
1 Sep 07
That wants to meet some man, who will take care of you.I know you are grown enough to take care of yourself, but live is just better if you can share with somebody.
My gosh , how many time you need go to the ER, when you said your parents already know what to do.I have to read about your diagnose, because I feel like dump, nothing noving about that.
1 person likes this
@ElicBxn (64169)
• United States
1 Sep 07
I used to use the shots of Imitrex before the nasel spray came out & that would give me a feeling of light-headedness, dizzy, wierd feelings - something I put up with because I too don't like migraines. When the spray came out I put up with the HORRIBLE taste for the same reason - but at least it doesn't give me the other side effects.
Funny story - I had a terrible, lingering upper respetory infection in the late 1990's & was put on several antibiotics, one was really nasty. Later I took an Imitrex spray & thot "gee, this isn't as bad as something - oh yeah - that other med..." I mentioned this to the doctor & he agreed.
But my biggest problems with meds aren't the side effects, its the no effects. Both my dad & I were put on a certain medication - me after a car accident, dad after surgery - and it didn't help at all. When I saw what dad was on I told him they had put me on it after the accident & that it hadn't helped & suggested he go back to the doctor to get something else. He did, they did, it helped. All I can guess is its in the same family as Tylenol since that stuff does nothing for me & did nothing for dad either.
1 person likes this
@TerryZ (22076)
• United States
1 Sep 07
Oh geez! Some of these medicines out there are scarey to me. I dont like taking anything if possible.Because of those reasons. Do you still take ambien? I dont think I would if that happened to me.Ive heard alot about the sleeping medicines like people eating out of controll in the middle of the night. Can you imagine?
1 person likes this
@AmbiePam (120738)
• United States
1 Sep 07
The day I realized I had "sleepdriven", I threw my Ambien away. I just can't believe I have such little memory about that night. More than anything, I am puzzled why my doctor didn't tell me about that possible side effect. Sure, it isn't too common, but if it possible, I'd like to know. The same with my aunt. She was appalled that she shaved her head, but more appalled that she couldn't remember why or even remember doing it.
@KarenO52 (2950)
• United States
2 Sep 07
I have a lot of trouble sleeping sometimes, but I've never mentioned it to my doctor. I've used Excedrin PM, and that helps, but it makes me kind of groggy the next day. If I've had little sleep for 4 or 5 days, I'll take the Excedrin PM, because I'll be tired anyway after that long without enough sleep.
One morning, all the kids were here visiting, so I came down to make them a big breakfast like I always do when they're here. I had a terrible headache, so I got some Excedrin out, and took it without looking at the bottle. I got everyone fed, and was starting to clean up, and I started feeling real dizzy. I thought I was getting sick or something. I told everyone I wasn't feeling so good, and I had to go lay down. Then it dawned on me that I might have taken the wrong Excedrin. I went and looked, and sure enough, I'd taken the Excedrin PM. I had to go sleep it off for a few hours, and when I got up, I was still tired and groggy, but at least my headache was gone. Now I keep the pm medication in a separate place from the regular stuff. I would hate to be driving somewhere and have that night time stuff kick in.
That's pretty scary what happened to you. I've heard about those kinds of side effects with some sleep meds.
1 person likes this
@AmbiePam (120738)
• United States
3 Sep 07
I took Zomig too before I switched to disability. But they won't cover it. When I did have Zomig, the insurance limited my amount also. I always wondered, what did they think I was going to do with excess migraine medicine, sell it on the street? LOL
I heard migraines are hereditary. My uncle has them, and so do several of my aunts on my dad's side. When people suffer from migraines, it does feel like we're all alone. I mean, no one can comprehend the impact unless they have them. Even doctors get mad if I miss an appointment due to a migraine. I really think they should understand, LOL.
I really hope you and your daughter's migraines get under control. With the changing weather migraines seem to have a habit of coming in full force. Thanks again!
@KarenO52 (2950)
• United States
2 Sep 07
I feel so bad for you that you've been having migraines since you were 7. I only started getting them a little over 10 years ago. My mom used to get them, and now my daughter is getting them. I think it must be heredity. I take zomig, but my husband's insurance only pays for limited amount of pills, so I have to conserve them. My daughter's insurance only covers a small portion of the cost. I know how disabling migraines can be. I hope they come up with a cure someday. I never realized how many people suffered from migraines.
1 person likes this
@jillhill (37353)
• United States
1 Sep 07
I am not on any medication but know others that are. One of my friends was on a pain killer for her feet and she thought one day she had a heart attack. It scared her so much.....and also a co workers wife was on vioax? and they attribute it to her seizures!
1 person likes this
@terri0824 (5203)
• United States
2 Sep 07
I have heard of people sleep walking and doing strange things in their sleep when taking ambien. I have never taken it though. The last several months I have been taking advil PM to fall asleep. And just about 10 minutes ago, I took some herbal sleep now so that I can fall asleep and have a good night sleep, since I have to be up and at work by 8 in the morning.
1 person likes this
@AmbiePam (120738)
• United States
2 Sep 07
It's a bummer you have to work on Sunday. I hope you get plenty of rest. I didn't know they made Advil PM. I knew about Tylenol PM and Excedrin PM, but Advil is a new one. I'm glad you mentioned that, because some people I know can't take Excedrin, and Tylenol doesn't work at all.
1 person likes this
@ElusiveButterfly (45941)
• United States
2 Sep 07
There are often so many side effects from medications that it isn't worth taking it to fend off whatever ails you. A nasal spray that I was taking for my allergies caused my nose to bleed on and off for 3 days! Forget about that. I would rather suffer with the allergies.
1 person likes this
@AmbiePam (120738)
• United States
2 Sep 07
Allergies are the one thing I'm able to treat without medication. I know those nose bleeds well. You're right, in that case it's better off to suffer. Unless their focus was to make your nose bleed, so you'd forget all your allergies. : (
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169474)
• United States
1 Sep 07
I am fortunate that I am not on any prescriptions and seldom have to take them, knock on wood. My headaches were greatly reduced when I increased magnesium in my diet and also began taking it. I was never diagnosed with migraines, but am pretty certain that was what they were. My weirdest experience with a prescription was after I had a hysterectomy. I was given a small prescription for percoset when I went home. Ten tablets, maybe. I would only take a half of one, just because the pain was not that great. I always made sure that I was in bed first, because as it took effect if I talked, or thought any thing, I could SEE the words, above my head in a bubble, like when people are talking in a comic strip. That was everything I thought, and said. It was too funny. I never finished the prescription.
1 person likes this
@Debs_place (10520)
• United States
1 Sep 07
I took tegretol -- and it was a killer for me, I got so confused on it, I could not leave home and drive without my 15 year old son with me, to navigate for me. I remember one time, pulling of the road about 5 miles from home and crying because I did not know where I was and could not remember how to get home (that is when I started taking my son with me for any trip other then to work)
Then one time I called my boss by the wrong name, I had know the guy for like 10 years and could not remember his name, I was so glad he had a sense of humor about it.
I had a hard time finishing a sentence when talking. I guess I stayed on it for about3 months hoping things would get better and the side effects would go away, but they did not.
I took ambien and had no problems.
On your migraines..one thing I have started to do is as soon as I feel even the inkling of a maybe migraine I take some Excedrine Migraine immediately - I carry them with me all of the time. Ihas cut down on the number and severity but heading them off really early. BTW - I use Maxalt and if works well if you have not tried that one..and I had no real bad side effects..certainly not burning blood.
1 person likes this
@AmbiePam (120738)
• United States
1 Sep 07
Yeah, I know a lot of people don't have problems with Ambien. It is thought that maybe with some people, the medicine doesn't react well with their body chemistry. That would make sense to me, since my aunt and I both had experiences like that, and we're related. That would tie into the body chemistry thing.
Excedrin Migraine actually doesn't work on me. I think it is because I used to take it immediately after I started having pain, and my body got use to it. I should try it again to see if that effect has worn off. Yeah, I've tried Maxalt and it didn't work. BUT, Imitrex and Zomig did. Unfortunately, the three medications I just mentioned are not covered by insurance. I've had migraines since I was seven, and I'm just grateful almost anything is better now than it was decades earlier.
I would have been scared out of my mind if I had experienced what you did. I know my doctor always tells me and I know they have told my mom, to take the medicine no matter what, because the side effects will eventually go away. And I'm like, what? Waiting for the effects to go away, anyone could die of the side effects!
Oh, I'm starting to think that the burning blood signifies I'm becoming a vampire. LOL
