Vertigo
I remember reading some posts from people experiencing vertigo, which I now
seem to be experiencing. I’ve been on the 5 pen since July 1. Does it make
sense that the vertigo is from Byetta and I’d only now begin that side effect?
I’m also on Lysinopril for high blood pressure and I just got new glasses. I
November 16th, 2005 at 10:33 pm
I think the culprit is Lysinopril, many blood pressure medications cause
dizziness. Read the website of the manufacturer, you will find that dizziness
can be a problem. How long have you been taking it? I take Toprol XL, I’ve
taken it for quite awhile, once in awhile I’ll get postural hypotension and
dizziness.
Frances
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Frances
November 17th, 2005 at 6:18 pm
Kathy and Frances,
I agree completely! I was having the same problem - my Endo cut my
dose in half and I have had no problems since then and my blood
pressure had been fine.
Elaine (TN)
November 18th, 2005 at 9:59 pm
Frances and Elaine, Thanks for your response. I’ve been on it for about six
months. I think I will check with my doc and get an ok to try cutting it in
half. I like the Yoga and really need to get moving. Even if it’s just
stretching, it gets me to the Y and all those machines, which I’ll tackle next.
Kathy, MN
Kathy and Frances,
I agree completely! I was having the same problem - my Endo cut my
dose in half and I have had no problems since then and my blood
pressure had been fine.
Elaine (TN)
November 19th, 2005 at 11:47 pm
Thanks for your two cents, Sharon. I sure don’t like this stuff my body is
going through as I grow older. It gets trickier and trickier. I’ll be checking
with my doctors and also just hoping it will pass. Kathy
Hi Kathy
I have suffered from vertigo for several years, sometimes it’s really
bad and I have daily attacks, sometimes I can go for months with no
problems. I think the vertigo is connected to my chronic migraines. I
don’t think the vertigo has been exascerbated by the Byetta. I also
take Lisinopril and I don’t think that has anything to do with the
vertigo either.
My 2 cents
Sharon
>^..^<
November 20th, 2005 at 2:32 am
I am also one of those who reported occasional vertigo, but it is not
related to Byetta. I’ve had an inner ear condition for nearly 15
years (may be Meniere’s - the docs don’t agree on the diagnosis, but
none of them have done anything that helps). It started with my first
vertigo experience a couple of weeks after a very bad respiratory
infection, and since then I have vertigo attacks every one to two
years - hope they don’t increase. My last was in late Spring this
year. They are disabling for one-two hours and then I feel wiped out
for several days and can experience headaches. I stopped Byetta for a
few days last week since I was feeling rotten, no actual vertigo but
feelings of dizziness, headaches, and increased tinnitus, similar to
how I feel after vertigo. (Sometimes I wonder if I can have a vertigo
spell while I am asleep and these are the after-effects - I have
already awoken in the midst of a full-blown vertigo attack.) I’m back
on Byetta now and so far, so good. (But I’m sleeping more than
normal, which also is common after I have had vertigo.)
November 20th, 2005 at 6:50 am
By the way, rereading this, I’m not sure that I would call what you
are experiencing "vertigo." When I have a vertigo attack, I am unable
to function at all - everything is spinning around me and I am
throwing up or have the dry heaves if my stomach is empty. The only
way I can control it is to stay as still as possible until it passes
(one-two hours) - one little move of my head will set it all off
again. The first time I had a spell I was working in a hospital so
thankfully they knew what was happening - but it was still a horrible
experience. At least now I know what is happening when I have an
attack and don’t panic, which can just make it worse. Vertigo is much
more than dizziness. You feel totally helpless. The first time it
happened to me I literally wondered if this was the end.
Your dizziness, especially during exercise, could be related to those
new glasses - have you talked with your eye doctor about it? I
remember when I first got bifocals, they made me dizzy and a little
nauseated until I got used to them. (Don’t need them now . . . I had
cataract surgery several years ago and now only need glasses to
read!) - Judy in PA
November 20th, 2005 at 12:41 pm
Thanks, Judy. What I’m experiencing is more of a light headedness. Just a
little, slight "swoon" feeling especially if my head is down. I’m going to
start ruling things out. The glasses, I’ll get used to. One person said she
experienced light headedness due to Lisiniprel. Her doc reduced her dose and
the light headedness went away. If it’s from the Byetta, it sounds like it
might come and go. Thanks for the information. I’m glad it’s not vertigo. I
think I experienced that a couple of times in my life and, I agree, it is just
awful. Kathy, MN
By the way, rereading this, I’m not sure that I would call what you
are experiencing "vertigo." When I have a vertigo attack, I am unable
to function at all - everything is spinning around me and I am
throwing up or have the dry heaves if my stomach is empty. The only
way I can control it is to stay as still as possible until it passes
(one-two hours) - one little move of my head will set it all off
again. The first time I had a spell I was working in a hospital so
thankfully they knew what was happening - but it was still a horrible
experience. At least now I know what is happening when I have an
attack and don’t panic, which can just make it worse. Vertigo is much
more than dizziness. You feel totally helpless. The first time it
happened to me I literally wondered if this was the end.
Your dizziness, especially during exercise, could be related to those
new glasses - have you talked with your eye doctor about it? I
remember when I first got bifocals, they made me dizzy and a little
nauseated until I got used to them. (Don’t need them now . . . I had
cataract surgery several years ago and now only need glasses to
read!) - Judy in PA
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November 20th, 2005 at 3:48 pm
I had no clue you might be able to go without glasses
after cataract surgery! But, I’m doing it - and
sometimes, I don’t even need them to read. This is 2
years post cataract surgery, hooray!
Kay aka Iljewel
November 21st, 2005 at 12:02 am
Me either when I was told I needed the surgery (on both eyes) - I was
only around 55, which I thought was too young! Now I tell anyone who
needs cataract surgery not to walk . . . run and get it done ASAP. No
pain, no recovery other than to protect your eyes at night for a
couple of weeks and use some drops for a while . . . when the
bandages came off the morning after surgery, I was amazed at
everything I had been missing . . . went home and immediately cleaned
my house (I literally couldn’t see the dust and dirt before!). And I
could drive right away and do just about anything I wanted to do . .
. and actually see what I was doing <GR>! My surgery was six years
ago, and so far, so good. And I could get rid of all my eyeglasses. I
figure what I have saved in glasses has easily paid for the surgery
(I just buy the cheap dollar-store reading glasses.) - Judy
November 21st, 2005 at 5:52 am
Kay, thanks for sharing this! Since most of us will be facing this, it’s good
to know about the huge upside. Kathy, MN
Me either when I was told I needed the surgery (on both eyes) - I was
only around 55, which I thought was too young! Now I tell anyone who
needs cataract surgery not to walk . . . run and get it done ASAP. No
pain, no recovery other than to protect your eyes at night for a
couple of weeks and use some drops for a while . . . when the
bandages came off the morning after surgery, I was amazed at
everything I had been missing . . . went home and immediately cleaned
my house (I literally couldn’t see the dust and dirt before!). And I
could drive right away and do just about anything I wanted to do . .
. and actually see what I was doing <GR>! My surgery was six years
ago, and so far, so good. And I could get rid of all my eyeglasses. I
figure what I have saved in glasses has easily paid for the surgery
(I just buy the cheap dollar-store reading glasses.) - Judy
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