Ever had a crazy/rare side effect to a common drug?

[lemondog]

I have never been able to take plain erethromycin...tears my stomach up. However, that is a very COMMON side effect. As for uncommon....

I had a HORRIBLE experience at the beginning of the summer with Zyrtec withdrawals. Yes, Zyrtec. My whole body broke out in horrific hives for 3 weeks straight when I stopped taking it (had been on for a couple of months for spring allergies). I did some research and found a whole online group for people who have this problem. It was really fascinating. I followed the advice of everyone to NOT be tempted to take any other antihistamines, like Benadryl, as it only prolonged the misery. The theory is that your body's histamine levels freak out as they try to return to normal. Makes sense to me, but it was pretty miserable itching like mad in the heat of the summer! The only relief I had was when I would get in the pool.

Anyone else have a bizarre drug experience?

 

[acmmommymouse]

I got a headache sooooo bad that I thought the top of my head was going to blow off from Lipitor.

 

[happily single]

Don't know if this counts, but when I take Nyquil I dream of flying turkeys

 

[tigercat]

I got lock jaw from one dose of Stemetil an anti nausea drug.
tigercat

 

[tigercat]

I forgot I am "drunk" when I take codeine. I don't drink alcohol and never have but I can not be left alone as I get to be a very happy giggly "drunk" after taking it.
tigercat

 

[okeydokey]

This should be interesting.

 

[tiggger1]

when I take NyQuil, I cannot sleep! It makes me super hyper and I cannot sit still plus it makes my heart race. I feel very trippy

 

[Magic Mom]

Once I took asprin and I grew an extra toe. It's a dangerous poison.

 

[MushyMushy]

The first time I ever took Ambien, I hallucinated. I had a field of tombstones flying at me in 3D. I wasn't scared -- I kept reaching out to touch them and was fascinated by it.

Ambien and I are good friends now. Goodbye tombstones, hello good night's sleep.

 

[MIGrandma]

Yes, compazine, when I was pregnant.

Told DH I felt "funny" and he just pooh-poohed at me, saying it was just because I was pregnant.

But when I couldn't control my arm muscles and my face contorted grotesquely he finally called the doctor.

Doctor said I was having an allergic reaction to the compazine and said to come right in. When the doctor walked into the room he just stood there, in the doorway, looking at me and talking to DH. Said he'd heard about reactions like I was having, but had never seen one. Through the corner of my mouth (it was pulled to one side) I said "will you please DO something?"

He gave me a shot and it brought me out of it within a few minutes.

Felt fine so a couple hours later we decided to go out for supper. I started feeling "funny" again so DH took me right to the emergency room (doctor's office was closed by this time). Of course I had to wait, and the reaction kept getting worse. They finally gave me another shot to stop it.

I stopped taking compazine.

 

[crz4mm2]

Once I took asprin and I grew an extra toe. It's a dangerous poison.

You better stay away from Ibuprofen then

 

[ElaineMarch]

I had that same reaction to Compazine!

 

[luvmy3]

when I take NyQuil, I cannot sleep! It makes me super hyper and I cannot sit still plus it makes my heart race. I feel very trippy

Me too.

One time I took 2 vicodin but I had taken them an hour apart. The oral surgeon told me to start with one and take another if it didn't help, so I thought it was okay. Anyway I was so dizzy and nauseous that I couldn't move any part of my body. I just sat at the dining room table with my hand holding up my head and drooling. My kids had to eat their dinner, PB&J sandwhiches with me sitting there. I'm not quite sure what dh was thinking when he came home

I also passed out when I took 2 Aleve and cut my lip open. It was my and dh's first Valentine's Day together when we started dating.

Now I just stick to advil

 

[MIGrandma]

I had that same reaction to Compazine!

It wasn't much fun, was it? Forgot to mention my eyes rolled upwards too and I could not make them come back down.

 

[lemondog]

when I take NyQuil, I cannot sleep! It makes me super hyper and I cannot sit still plus it makes my heart race. I feel very trippy

Same here! Cannot take it. Kind of does the opposite of helping me sleep. Same thing happens if I am on codeine for too long. One time I had a horrible cough and the codeine cough syrup helped great for the first 3 nights, after that it just amped me up and made my heart race.

 

[Scornelius]

This should be interesting.

MTE. DISers have the most fascinating medical stories.

 

[RayaniFoxmur]

Tylenol 3. I got some after my C-section and took some when I got home right before bed. That night I could not breathe if I laid down. I woke up actually struggling to get a breath. I went and sat in the living room chair and had to take very short wheezing breaths the rest of the night.

We weren't entirely sure what it was, and I was not thinking straight enough to go to the hospital, so luckily for me it did calm down after a few hours. I stopped taking the Tylenol 3 and never had another problem like that.

 

[LuvLDM]

......waiting patiently for our resident medical marvel to chime in.

 

[bookgirl]

I have never been able to take plain erethromycin...tears my stomach up. However, that is a very COMMON side effect. As for uncommon....

I took EEC one time and had the same problem. Horrible stomach cramps and naseau. I now list it as a allergy.

I took a nsaid once and broke out in hives. I have never had an nsaid reaction before or since. It was just that particular generic. Come to find out it was later withdrawn for that reason, lots of one time reactions. I did list the nsaid reaction for a while but it was a hassle explaining that it was just the one time and only to that specific version. My current doctor told me that after 10 years with no other reactions that I could quit listing it.

 

[Christine]

I recently started getting *one* hive when I take Ibuprofen. Then I got the *one* hive when I took a Feosol iron tablet, and then the one hive when I take extra strength Tylenol. I am down to only being able to take regular Tylenol. I started out thinking I had an ibuprofen allergy, but I don't think I do. I've tried taking the children's liquid ibuprofen and I got the one hive on that one also. I then got the same hive when I ate a Peep last year. I can't figure out what it is.