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I took my very happy, sweet, polite four-year-old son to the doctor yesterday because he was coughing horribly during the night. Great during the day, hacking at night. He was put on Singulair. I didn't think twice about it, since I am on it and have had no problems (although I take it sporadically since I tend to forget!). I picked him up from pre-school today and was told that he was a completely different child. Rude, put in time-out multiple times, refused to listen. This is behavior that he has never had at school, and the only difference is the Singulair. I will not be giving that to him again!

I am 30 years old and have bad allergies. My doctor gave me a week worth of singulair as a sample. I took it last night. I woke up at 5 am thinking and worrying about the smallest things. I couldn't fall back to sleep. At the same time, my stomach is killing me... I feel like throwing up and have bad diarrhea... I will not take it anymore.

i have been suffering from nightmares, irritability, moodiness, anger, hopelessness, agitation, hallucinations, fatigue, behavioral problems, withdrawal from my spouse, loss of interest in my everyday life.
i never put anything together about the weight gain until i read some of the responses on the web. I attributed to being 40 , loss of activity etc.

I started singulair a week ago in order to treat my allergies and mild asma. At first, I did not realize that I had headaches and head pressure due to its adverse reactions. On Friday night after my dinner I got very bad vertigo, and I did not take singulair for a day. Believe it or not my vertigo and headache went away. Tonight, I tried it again, and my ear and head pain came back.
I am calling my doctor tomorrow and stopping it right away.
Thank you all sharing your experiences.
V.

Had "walking pneumonia" in February 2008. Went to a couple of primary care physicians before I was finally prescribed AVELOX. I was 40 at the time and have no psychiatric history but within a day of taking AVELOX I suddenly felt like I was being pulled into a black hole of depression. That lasted about 20-30 minutes but felt much longer. The next day, the same feeling happened. I immediately went online and found all of these posts. I stopped taking AVELOX ASAP. Over the next couple of days, those feelings dissappated. I feel so fortunate that my symptoms went away. Every chance I get, I tell people, "DO NOT TAKE AVELOX!" I am wondering how AVELOX remains on the market! How many more people will be temporarily or permanently damaged by this toxin?!

PLEASE REPORT SIDE EFFECTS OF SINGULAIR TO THE FDA: https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/medwatch/medwatch-online.htm.

The FDA is continuing to monitor ongoing reports of suicide and other psychiatric problems.

From the FDA's "Updated Information on Leukotriene Inhibitors: Montelukast (marketed as Singulair), Zafirlukast (marketed as Accolate), and Zileuton (marketed as Zyflo and Zyflo CR)"

6/12/2009

Neuropsychiatric events have been reported in some patients taking montelukast (Singulair), zafirlukast (Accolate), and zileuton (Zyflo and Zyflo CR). FDA has requested that manufacturers include a precaution in the drug prescribing information (drug labeling).

Montelukast is used to treat asthma, and the symptoms of allergic rhinitis (sneezing, stuffy nose, runny nose, itching of the nose), and to prevent exercise-induced asthma. Zafirlukast and zileuton are used to treat asthma.

The reported neuropsychiatric events include postmarket cases of agitation, aggression, anxiousness, dream abnormalities and hallucinations, depression, insomnia, irritability, restlessness, suicidal thinking and behavior (including suicide), and tremor.

This information reflects FDA’s current analysis of available data concerning this drug.

Advice to patients and healthcare professionals:

Patients and healthcare professionals should be aware of the potential for neuropsychiatric events with these medications.

Patients should talk with their healthcare providers if these events occur.

Healthcare professionals should consider discontinuing these medications if patients develop neuropsychiatric symptoms.

Background

In April 2009, FDA completed its review of neuropsychiatric events, (mood and behavioral changes) possibly related to drugs that act through the leukotriene pathway (montelukast, zafirlukast, zileuton). As part of its review, FDA reviewed post-marketing reports and also requested that manufacturers submit all available clinical trial data for these products.

The post-market reports of patients on these medications included cases of neuropsychiatric events. Some reports included clinical details consistent with a drug-induced effect. In the clinical trial data submitted by manufacturers, neuropsychiatric events were not commonly observed. However, the available data were limited because the trials were not designed to look for neuropsychiatric events. Sleep disorders (primarily insomnia) were reported more frequently with all three products compared to placebo.

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I am a 48 year old female who had just recovered from pneumonia and was prescribed avelox for a lingering sinus infection. Within hours after taking just 1 400 mg pill, I began experiencing a severe reaction. First there was a rash all over my body, with swelling and flushing all over. Then I became nauseated to the point of dry heaves and my temp went to 104 digress. My body then had neurological shakes, I could not control them -- just like Parkinson. I had no energy to move. My husband rushed me to the ER where I was treated with steroids, liquid benadryl, nausea medicine and IV fluids. After a few hours, I was released. Two days later, after another trip to the ER because of tingling, rash and no blood flow to extremities the same treatment was given. It has now been two weeks and I am just now feeling like I am coming out of this and getting back to normal. I have just spent over 10 days in bed, untold amount of money at ER and lost two weeks of my life.. BTW, the ER Doc said he would never prescribe Avelox to anyone due to the numerous reactions he has seen. If there is a class action suit, count me in.. Never let anyone take this drug..

I have been taking Singulair since November 08. Over the six months I noticed that I was suffering from depression and increased anxiety, plus an irregular heart rhythm. I experienced nightmares on an almost nightly basis. I have since stopped the medication - the nightmares have gone, the depression and anxiety improve everyday. Hopefully, this will also resolve the heart irregularities.

Tremendous weight gain almost instantly from age 7 to now at age 8-1/2 . When my grandson started this medication we noticed the weight gain. The doctor assured us it had nothing to do with the Singular. We looked on line for information, but could find nothing about weight gain as a side effect. At last it has surfaced that children taking the Singular are also having a weight gain problem. We intend to stop this medication immediately. This is intended for the health and well being of children.

I WAS GIVEN AVELOX AFTER I HAD A SINUS INFECTION WITHIN A COUPLE MONTHS. I WAS ALSO PRESCRIBED PREDNISONE. THE FIRST DAY I TOOK THE AVELOX I RAN A FEVER. I STARTED THE PREDNISONE THE NEXT DAY. I FIGURED I WOULD FEEL BETTER ONCE THE AVELOX KICKED IN. HOW WRONG. IT TOOK ME THREE TRIES THE NEXT DAY TO GET THE DOCTOR ON THE PHONE BECAUSE I HURT SO BAD. EVERY MUSCLE, EVERY JOINT IN MY BODY HURT. I DID NOT MOVE OFF MY COUCH. THE DOCTOR TOLD ME HE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT BUT I COULD MAKE AN APPOINTMENT THE NEXT DAY. MY MUSCLES HURT SO BAD AND THE JOINT PAIN WOULD GO FROM ONE TO ANOTHER WITH WEIRD CHILL LIKE FEELINGS AT TIMES. MY MUSCLES IN MY ARMS AND LEGS WERE VISIBLY SHAKING WHEN I RETURNED TO THE DOCTOR THE NEXT DAY. HE BLAMED THE PREDNISONE. BUT TOLD ME AFTER A DAY OFF OF IT IF I STILL DIDN'T FEEL RIGHT TO STOP THE AVELOX. YA THINK? THREE DAYS LATER AND I AM STILL IN PAIN. AFTER 4 DAYS OFF WORK I HAD TO RETURN AND I HURT ALL OVER. DURING THAT TIME I CRIED FROM THE PAIN. MY STOMACH HURT, AND I WAS NERVOUS. I THOUGHT MAYBE I WAS LOSING MY MIND I HAD SO MANY DIFFERENT SYMPTOMS AND HURT SO BAD. WAS SO GLAD I FOUND THIS SITE. SOMEBODY NEEDS TO SUE THE DRUG COMPANIES. I WOULD LIKE TO SUE THE DOCTOR TOO.

I started on the 27th of April and by the 29th I had burning in my back and severe pain. I then got chest pain and tingly in my arm. Over the next few days, I got anexity, the depression, confusion, poor judgment, depth perception problems, muscle spasms and almost wrecked my car.

I had memory problems, irritable, uneasiness feeling, etc.

I then had problem with my hip and I am only 35!!! I can't pick up my baby without feeling faint.

Today my eyes started yellowing.

I reported all this to the FDA MEDWATCH and to BAYER the makers of it. Maybe if everyone did this, they would see there is more of a need to help others. PLEASE do the same. A quick internet search would help you find what your looking for.

Been on Avelox for 9 days & thought I was having a nervous breakdown. Whenever I had a side effect from an antibiotic I would break out like a raspberry. So when these side effects started I never thought it was from the Avelox. I started out with nausea, stomach ache & vomited once. Had a close second. THEN I started to have anxiety attacks and had no clue how or why this was happening. They got worse & worse. Then out of no where I got depressed. I DON'T GET ANXIETIES NOR DO I GET DEPRESSED Ever!!!!!

I was so scared. Then I became confused. OK, this is when I said..... what the hell is going on????????? I thought back to the last week.... what was different? What changed? The only thing I could think of was that I was on an antibiotic for a sinus infection. I never took Avelox before. Could it be?????

So I googled it to find out that I was suffering from EVERY side effect the drug had.

It should be taken off the shelf!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I was given Singulair about three months ago. The first few months I hadn't noticed anything extreme as far as side affects. However gradually my moods began to change. I became sullen and agitated at first. I thought perhaps I was coming down with something. Then as time went on I began to hate life. Everything was irritating me. I had unusual outbursts. I began to feel as if I just didn't want to live anymore, but really didn't have any type of justified reason. I even had begun planning things, what I'd leave to my family, how I should go about it, etcetera. My husband even commented a few times that I just didn't seem like myself. I know he had no clue as to just how bad it had become. After an extreme outburst targeted toward my 6 year old grandson I knew something was NOT right. I took myself off the Singulair and am beginning to feel like my old self again. It may work fine for some, but for me, I'm afraid much longer and I may have truly ended my own life.


Good luck with your story.
Keep us posted!

I was prescribed Avelox along with Prednisone by my allergy doctor for pneumonia. Even with a prescription insurance program, the Avelox costs $14 a pill. After 13 days on Avelox, my joints hurt so bad I can barely walk. My muscle tone is almost non-existent, and the muscles ache like I've been in training for a marathon. I daily became more depressed, and really thought I was dying. I went to see my internist this a.m. A chest x-ray revealed I still have a raging case of pneumonia, now in both lobes of my lungs. She wanted to put me in the hospital but agreed to put me on a Augmenting and another round of Prednisone to try at home a couple of days. Avelox should be taken off the market. I can not believe this medication which costs over $240 for one round of treatment was ever approved by the FDA. My doctor could not tell me when the side effects of the Avelox will diminish or disappear. DO NOT TAKE THIS DRUG IF ANOTHER WILL DO THE JOB.

I was given Avelox by my Allergist three weeks ago because I had yet another sinus infection, she had me come in and pick up some samples she had with 5 days worth of 400 strength Avelox.
The night of the third dose I was awakened by numbing and tingling and pain in my right arm from the elbow down to my hand, I had never had this before. I called the nurse the next day and she said to stop taking the drug which I did. I figured now that I stopped taking the drug the symptoms would go away.
A few days later I was out shopping and within a few hours of walking around I began to have so much pain in my right foot/ankle/heel that I had to come home, I could not put my foot down.
Then within the next few days my knees began to hurt, behind the knee and in the side. It has been 3 weeks now and the foot pain is better but my hand,elbow and knees are bothering me so much I can't sleep. The other symptom feels like nerve pain in my legs, hands and fingers. I am really troubled by this, I am a very active healthy 62 year old Woman, I have not been able to exercise all of this time.
I went to see my Allergist who prescribed the Avelox and informed her of all of these symptoms. She said that this was a rare side effect and that I was particularly sensitive. I asked her if the symptoms would go away soon and she gently said that it would take time.
Then she said that she had prescribed Avelox to her husband a few months ago, she said he had the same reaction as me (how does this translate to a rare occurrence?) and that he was slowly improving. She thought I should go to a Physical Therapist or a Rheumatologist, I told her I can't afford that.
At this point I am scared I won't get back to how I was before. I have had knee surgery in the past but my knees were doing fine until this.
Have other people slowly recovered as my doc has suggested will happen?
I don;t know what I should be doing at this point. Help!
S.

I am totally blown away by what I've read here because I have one Avelox pill left and now I know the source of all these symptoms I'm having. I"ve got the blurred vision in my right eye; feel like my body's on fire episodes--esp hot hands and red palms; achey feeling in my joints; headache that comes and goes; neck pain; fatigue; disoriented fog feeling and decreased mental capabilities; anxiety attacks and depression; dry mouth and eyes (and I'm drinking lots of water); waking up sweating; ears ringing from time-to-time; pain in kidney area that comes and goes; and not wanting to eat. The fever in my hands thing is the worst. Never had anything like it. The anxiety side effect got me thinking that I was dying. After reading this, I'm glad I can pinpoint it to Avelox. I won't ever take this again and I'll tell others about my reaction so they can avoid this experience. I can only hope and pray that these symptoms are not long-lasting.

I'm really upset that my doctor didn't forewarn me about the potential side effects.

I am a 23 year old female. I was prescribed Avelox for a sinus infection for 14 days. by the 5th day, i started feeling severe back pain and tingling throughout my entire body. I have stopped taking it on the 7th day. Now..i am restless...twitching...anxious all the time...and feel like i am literally having an out of body experience. My nerves are all over the place. It is hard for me to pay attention at work. This is the worst drug i have ever taken and this should be taken off the market immediately. my lips are numb, my back is in so much pain. WHY IS THIS ON THE MARKET! If this doesn't go away, i will sue...

DO NOT TAKE THIS DRUG. i was prescribed this for a sinus infection and had no issues with it the 1st time. infection cleared up in a couple days and hadnt had any issues. sinus infection is coming back after about 3 months. had 2 pills left over from before. took 1 and about 10 minutes after taking it my face and chest were blood red and a itchy feeling in my mouth. a couple mins. later it spread to my chest, back upper arms and thighs. started itching like crazy. it looked like i had tons of mosquito bites all over my chest , back and butt. immediately had diarrhea and started to get panic attacks. itching and redness spread to my thighs and i thought i would go nuts itching them. after about an hour and half of this, it seems to be subsiding. but now im very tired and starting to feel achy. will never ever again take this HORRID drug. AVOID AT ALL COST>

i posted here in march 2008. i'd been taking singulair for about 8 years. at the time of my post i'd quit that and allegra and some other allergy/asthma meds. within weeks i noticed huge changes. one year later i can say i am far less depressed, i have been sleeping much better. i'd only been sleeping one or two hours at a time for all those years. my cholesterol went from 243 to 192 within months. i'm trying more natural ways of dealing with my asthma, and i'm willing to suffer with the allergies to some degree rather than use any more meds. i'd have to say that the best thing that's happened from quitting singulair has been sleep. i used to say sleep was overrated. now i'm thinking i love that i often sleep 4-6 hours at a time and if i wake up, i go right back to sleep. my sleepwalking has been so much less. i used to do it 4 to 6 times a week. now only maybe a dozen times in the past year.
anyway..just wanted to say i'm really glad i found this website and woke up to the dangers of singulair.

I am just in shock. I have been on Avelox for 7 days now, and I can tell you that the side effects are not worth it. I still feel sick and have the bad cough. Now, I also have Thrush. But the weirdest and most upsetting part of this was that I didn't notice any of the other symptoms. So I went all week, talking a mile a minute, sweating, dry mouth, hallucinations, etc. Then on Saturday, a few of my friends staged an intervention. They actually believed that I was taking Crystal Meth - ICE. I was heartbroken, confused, and mad. I knew I had not done any illegal drugs, but several of my friends were convinced.

I went to the doctor today and found out that it was the Avelox. However, I had already taken today's dose. I even told the doctor about the situation with my friends and asked if this drug could be related. He said no, it must be the steroids and sent me on my way. As luck would have it, the pharmacist saw me in the store and approached. I asked him if Avelox could make me feel the way I was feeling. He told me that I should have never been prescribed Avelox and Effexor as they had drug interaction issues. He also told me that my symptoms were disclosed on the pamplet. The problem was that I got the Avelox as samples after the Augmenton didn't work.

So, I came home took the meds for the Thrush and watched tv. I haven't slept since Thursday, nor have I eaten since Saturday. I am hearing and seeing things. Now I am scared to go to sleep because I may not wake up. My heart is beating fast, I can't stop talking, dizzy, blurred vision, disoriented but extremely happy given the circumstances, paranoid, jittery, extremely thirsty even though unable to pee.

This is just horrible. I am not a drug adict and do not do Meth/Ice or any drug like that, but now my best friends are doubting me. They don't understand or believe that an antibiotic could do this and how am I supposed to prove it to them? It looks like, just because I got sick, I may lose some of my closest friends... Remember, most drug adicts and alcoholics DENY it first. Great, huh. Now everyone is going to be watching me to see if I am on drugs. I feel violated because evidently I got all high on this antibiotic, didn't enjoy it, and now am suffering the consequences.

What makes it worse is that people I love now don't trust me, and I didn't even know what was going on

My nasal allergy symptoms were no longer controlled by daily Allegra D. The doc prescribed Singulair and told me to take it at night. I asked about side effects and she said, "none". After the first dose I had mild diarrhea the next morning. After the second dose I developed a bit of a cough and had more diarrhea. I took the third dose last night and shortly after began wheezing and coughing (I do NOT have asthma). I could hardly breathe all night because of the phlegmy cough. Also felt nauseous. I don't feel sick like with a cold or anything, just can't breathe. I'm so glad I found this site! I will not be taking any more Singulair. I hope I have not caused lasting damage to my lungs. Wondering if anyone of you who had a similar reaction could tell me how long before this self-caused cough clears up?

I really did not notice any side effects with the Zyrtec alone. I have allergies to mice (which I work with in my job). The zyrtec really helped when I took it once a day at first. It stopped the sneezing and I did not feel funny (nothing I can think of). Then the zyrtec seemed to stop working after 12 hours, so I felt like I needed to start taking more of them. At one point I was trying to take 3 a day, almost like I was weirdly addicted to them? I went to the doctors b/c I knew something was wrong, and they put me on Zyrtec and Singulair cocktail. The Singulair has made me feel nausea, I have had extreme diarrhea, lower back pain and headaches. I think I want to try to stop taking all of the medicine and see how I feel! I don't know how bad the zyrtec is, but I know the Singulair made me sick!

i took Singulair for one week. The first couple days, I had a head ache, sore throat, cough, and some other upper respiratory issues. I started to feel better, but I had to stay home from work and rest. About 5 days later, I took my singulair in the morning (I missed the night before). About 2 hours later I was sent home from work early due to nausea/diarrhea. I was in bed sick all of that day. I skipped the singulair that night and the next morning, and took it the following night. Again, 2 hours later I has severe diarrhea. I have been off Singulair for a day and a half and my diarrhea is gone. It is so weird, the whole 3 days I was off work, and calling out- I felt so depressed, like I did not want to go back to work, I was dreading it! BUT i love my job, and I have never felt like that before. I am really worried this medicine is what made me sick! I would not give this to anyone, and especially reading the things about what it does in children, I definitely believe this could happen!

I am 49 yrs old and was prescribed Singulair for allergy and asthma symptoms. I began taking it 2 weeks ago. I find it extremely effective for both asthma and allergy symptoms. Last week I experienced nausea - this has stopped, so it may or may not have been a 24 hr bug. However, I often have a headache and am generally lethargic and starting to feel depressed. After reading the posts here, I realize these symptoms are most likely associated with Singulair so I am planning to discontinue this drug today.