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dizzy spells - Avandia withdrawal symptoms?

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gefmayhem

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Hi folks
Since Saturday morning I've been suffering from dizzy spells.
If I move my head suddenly it seems to take a second for everything to catch up with the physical movement and then I feel vaguely sick.
This has been coming and going since Saturday and doesn't bother me at night.

I've not been drinking or eaten anything unusual.
However due to an error at my doctors I've run out of Avandia and probably took my last one on Thursday or Friday.
Could this cause the dizzyness or should I look for another reason?
 
Hi Gefmayhem.
You haven't been without the medication for long. Perhaps it is an ear problem and sounds like it is affecting your balance and that would account for what you describe. I am not a Dr. so couldn't possibly diagnose. I would get a Dr's appointment and get this sorted. If it is the lack of medication then you will know next time you run out.
Hope this helps and is MHO
Regards, Catherine.
 
I agree, a doctor's opinion is probably a good plan, but try not to catch anything else while you're there! The last couple of winters have seen a bug around these parts which makes straight for the inner ear, labyrinthitis.

Similar symptoms are a known effect from dose reduction or withdrawal of SSRI and SNRI drugs but hadn't heard of it with Avandia
 
Thanks for the replies.
I work away from home so called into the local medical drop-in centre on Mnoday afternoon.
I was told that not taking the Avandia was probably the cause of the dizzyness and I was given a row for not taking them.

I explained I'd had a problem with the repeat prescriptions, but was told that couldn’t possibly happen as the practice in Perth have a duty of care to make sure I am given the pills.
If I chose not to take them then that is my choice.
So, its all my fault, I have the pills but chose not to take them. :)

I try to keep a weeks spare supply of my pills at work just in case, but some of these had been used when Flybe decided that I didn't need my luggage for a day or 3.

So I found a couple of Avandia and since taking 1 yesterday and 1 today, the dizzy spells have been less severe and less frequent.
Although that might just be a coincidence.

I've got a new supply waiting for me back home.

Thanks again
 
Avandia is accumulative, so missing a few day shouldn't be a problem.

When I came off Avandia, I didn't notice and problems, though the weight gain continued for 2 months.

It was the best thing my specialist did.
 
gefmayhem said:
So I found a couple of Avandia and since taking 1 yesterday and 1 today, the dizzy spells have been less severe and less frequent.
Although that might just be a coincidence.
Click to expand...

Interesting. Just because it's not common doesn't mean it doesn't happen!

They trialled an experiment here where they would not fulfil your prescription until they decided you needed it, and if you requested it too early they would not fulfil it at all. It came to an end rather rapidly as it was causing people to run out of their meds regularly and also creating much extra work for the pharmacy. They don't seem to have understood that patients may only be able to visit the pharmacy at weekends and sometimes go on holiday and need supplies in advance. Elsewhere I've even heard of people being caused to run out of insulin, which is unforgivable.
 
In my case the Doctors decided to remove the brand name Avandia from my repeat prescription form and replace it with the generic rosiglitazone, but without telling me.

I phoned in my repeat prescription request on a Monday, went to pick it up on the Saturday, no Avandia.
Phoned in the next Monday, pointing out that I had requested Avandia but not received any.
They called me back (I order to an answer machine) to say that Avandia wasn't on my list and did I know another name for it.
I didn't then but I do now.

The main thing that annoyed me is that they didn't call me the first time when I ordered something that wasn't on my list, I thought that was the point of leaving a contact number with them.

Needless to say I've ordered a double batch and brought a large supply down south with me so I won't run out again.

Ta for the help
 
Trinkwasser said:
They trialled an experiment here where they would not fulfil your prescription until they decided you needed it, and if you requested it too early they would not fulfil it at all.
Click to expand...

An update.
I called my prescription line this morning as the missed off my 2.5 mg glipizide and my Avandia from the weekends prescription.
I got a call back saying that according to their records I had plenty.

Loads of points here
1 - I've been using this system for years and NEVER had my orders questions before.
2 - If I order something and they decide I've got enough, surely that is the point they call me, not when I reorder and complain the next week.
3 - They completely missed the point that I had run out of avandia and needed to build up my stock of tablets for when I'm away from home.
4 - The number of tablets I take is what I get told by the Diabetic clinic, I know this information is passed to my surgery, but they never seem to update this on my records, hence I'm taking twice as many avandia as their records suggest
5 - unlike other people I seem to be able to order testing strips whenever I want and this is never questioned.

As it happens I'm on holiday at the end of the month and wanted to make sure I had all I need (due to work and other commitments, I will be unable to pick up any prescriptions for 3 weeks).

I've got my Diabetic clinic on Friday, think I'll mention this problem to them
 
I think this is definitely a case for face to face and get it all sorted out there and then.if they work a computer record system get the doc. to change it there in front of you.
 
gefmayhem said:
I've got my Diabetic clinic on Friday, think I'll mention this problem to them
Click to expand...

Make an EMERGENCY appointment. Do it now, tell them you will do this every time you run out of anything. Tell them all the other patients will do the same also.

Just a thought, are you sure they haven't sent your prescription to a different pharmacy? My previous clueless GPs and the equally clueless pharmacy used to pull this trick regularly.
 
The final chapter.
I went to my surgery to try and get this sorted out.
Today I got the doctor on the phone.
Turns out that sometime in the past, I went from 1 x 4mg Avandia to 2 x 4mg a day.
I took 1 in the morning and 1 at lunch - my major meals.
However, someone decided to change my 4 mg to 8mg - I didn't notice so have been taking 16 mg Avandia a day instead of 8mg.

Anyone got a packet handy so they can tell me the side-effects?
 
Hi Gef,

The maximum dose for Avandia is 8mg per day, so you have been taking double the permitted dose. However, the safety limits for drug max doses are generally set well below the level at which any damage will occur so you should be ok. At worst you could suffer more of the side effects for which Avandia is notorious.
 
Dizziness is listed as one of the common side effects of Avandia, So taking double the maximum dose has probably compounded the dizziness.

The main problem with the high dose is liver function, I would ask the surgery to arrange a liver function test asap.

My consultant reckons Avandia take a good few months to work out of the system, so the dizzines might not go straight away.
 
What dose of Avandia are people taking,I'm on a combi-dose of 500mg/2mg Metformin/Roziglitazone 3x day, and am wondering if I should ask to come off the roziglitazone?
 
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