Has anyone ever started having side effects after years of taking a medicine?

[inigomontoyahwillcox]

I've got a thread elsewhere where I was trying to work out what the hell was going on with me as I'd suddenly started to have these awful attacks of total space-outness, cold sweats and shakes, vomiting followed by some hours of feeling "high"/spaced out and then a banging headache.

The Dr’s have theorised that they're migraines but it's just not sitting right with me.

Initially I though I must have accidentally taken something such as my DD's ADHD medication along with/instead of my own tablets as it really felt like I was reacting to something. I dismissed this entirely when I worked out I hadn't and am just taking the tablets that I've been taking for years.

But this morning at about 1am when I yet again woke up having another massive attack it dawned on me that every time I have one of these attacks it is within about 30 -45 minutes of me taking my medication. I didn't take one of them this morning (lansoprazole - nothing earth shattering) to start a process of elimination, but still had an attack (and am still somewhat in the midst of it although its intensity reduces somewhat after about a couple of hours) which came on about 30 mins after taking the other 2.

But the thing is I've been taking this medication for years - one (Propranolol for migraines) for about 12 years and the other (just a livercare supplement as I've got a bit of a fatty liver) for about 2 - with no side effects at all.

So after all that spiel (TLDR) - do you think it's possible to start having side effects out of thin air?

I think it's not impossible.
Have they changed the brand of medication?
I have absolutely no problem with my proper branded hayfever medicine, but react terribly to the generic version. Technically I shouldn't, because it's meant to be the same stuff, but I do.

Im pretty sure it's my usual one - the box is the same as always.

I'm trying to think of anything could be interacting with it? I mean, I went to a day rave last Saturday (a hacienda revival type thing) and did wake up feeling quite odd in the middle of the night - it crossed my mind that I could have had something put in my drink - but thought I was just being paranoid. In any case this didn't start happening until 5 days later.

Funny coincidence, I'm about to take Dc to the GP as I think she's started to react badly to her medicine after 2 years.

Could it be colouring of the tablet/capsule? My OH is intolerant to one of the red dyes they use and has to check with the GP/pharmacist as to the colour before he accepts the prescription. Sometimes the GP has to change the drug or the pharmacist has to order from a different supplier.

He's also become allergic to penicillin after being able to have it for decades until the last couple of years when he's tried it but suffered side effects, panic attacks, rashes etc when he's taken it.

"He's also become allergic to penicillin after being able to have it for decades until the last couple of years when he's tried it but suffered side effects, panic attacks, rashes etc when he's taken it."

Gosh that's odd isn't it, after 2 years. I mean, how the hell does that happen?!

I partook in illicit drugs in my 20s (I'm now well into my 40s - they are a distant memory, I'd be terrified to take anything these days) but the feeling I get is almost exactly the same as what I remember coming up on a pill was like but without the nice loved up parts (it's just massively scary instead).

That's a coincidence- don't suppose they're made by Noumed Life Sciences are they?!

Do you have a different batch/pack you can try?

@inigomontoyahwillcox I don't think so.. manufacturer says Sanofi.

I don't as I'm almost at the end of this pack, but I've managed to make an appointment with the GP I spoke to yesterday for this afternoon.

A lot of people become allergic to a substance in adulthood. I became allergic to penicillin after a lifetime of taking it.

I've started with side effects after 18 months on one type of med so I do think it's possible

I started to get side effects after two years on a medication without any issues. Took me ages to work out what it was but I accidentally ran out and felt so much better and finally made the connection.

I stopped taking PPIs after a few years because I suspected but couldn't be sure that they were actually making me feel worse not better. I read some papers which seemed to say that there are not many studies on long term use for these drugs. Depending on why you take them, could you consider trying without for a while?

Dr lowered my dose of PPIs yesterday although don't think they're what's causing this as I purposely didn't take it this morning and still have an attack.

Just saw the Dr face to face - she still thinks it's an atypical migraine but hasn't discounted it being due to the propranolol (at least triggered by it) so I'm not to take it for a couple of doses and I've also asked to go to a lower dose - so we shall see what happens. She also prescribed some anti emetics and Topiramate to start when I'm over this (although aware this also comes with a whole host of side effects ... but it can't be as bad as this).

*had

Brain's not exactly on top form.