Anwer symptoms and conditions

My 4 year old son started taking singulair when he was two. I don't think I picked up on his behavior change right away b/c I thought that he was just entering the "terrible two's". But over time, his allergist added on Nasonex (I know the docs say that it doesn't cause side-effects b/c it's a nasal spray, but I don't buy that...it's a steroid, plain and simple) and more recently zyrtec was added on for his hives. Well, the zyrtec was the straw that broke the camel's back. I mean, he has been a real "handful" since the singulair, but after zyrtec was added 5 months ago - let's just say he was completely out of my control. His meltdowns were so bad that I couldn't go ANYWHERE with him. I either got a sitter or just didn't go anywhere. He became aggressive, defiant, emotional, unhappy. And to top it off he started to have serious "autistic-like" self-stimulatory behaviors (grinding teeth, squinting eyes shut, flapping his hands, punching himself...). At this point my life had become a complete nightmare, and my poor 10 month old son was getting NO attention b/c my 4 year old was so out of control and aggressive. I was afraid for the baby's safety...oh, I could go on all night. This medication has impacted my marriage, my finances, my sanity. Shortly after he started Singulair I had to go on an antidepressant b/c it too so much out of me just to be his mommy. Anyway, a week ago I had him scheduled for a psych evaluation (thought for sure we were going to walk away with either autism or bipolar diagnosis), but two days before I decided to look up the meds he is on and BINGO! All of these posts sound like what we have been going through. I stopped all of his meds that night, cold-turkey, and he has been the most pleasant little boy I have ever met!! My husband and I have fallen in love with him over the past week - we had no idea he was such a sweet child.

Now, while I'm ecstatic that we have found the answer to our nightmare, I also feel SO STINKIN' ANGRY! We lost out on 2 years with our sweet boy, there were times when we raised our voices at him when he just couldn't help himself - he was suffering inside!! When I went to talk to the allergist about my findings this past week, he said, "well, maybe he just had a good day. I'd like to see what happens if he goes off all his meds for a week". Well, there you have it, he has been off for one week and he's an absolute angel. He has an amazing heart and is so caring!!!

Singulair is awful (and so is zyrtec). Please don't give this drug to your children. Research other alternatives (I am giving my son Nordic Naturals Fish Oil, Culturelle probiotics, vitamin c, and am changing his diet - increased magnesium and decreased dairy. I came up with this after hours of research...).

There is a woman on this site whose daughter committed suicide after 3 years on Singulair. This is no joke and the FDA needs to get with it.

BTW, I used to date a Singulair rep (I knew there was something I didn't like about that guy:)

I have been diagnosed with Dermatomyositis (muscle disease called inflammotaroy myopathies)....very painful and weak is my whole body...wherever there is a muscle< I was in pain. They tested for Lupus and still not out of woods on that one....but they are treating me for the other as the symtoms with the skin also......I have been taking Prednisone for 11 days now in doses of 20mg three x day...It has taken my extreme pain away at night as I was so inflammed my pressure areas of my body would not only be in pain but numb....my body is very weak underlying complaint and unable to walk a great deal, but must keep working on my job....so it has at least help me to keep going....One thing is my voice and my eating are altered as I can not swallow because of my muscles "giving up" when they become tired in my neck....So I must be careful what and how I eat......and I anwer phones all day at work and talk with residents in a Retirement Community here in Prescott AZ....and my speech is getting harder and harder to control at times....Weight gain....not yet as I am watching that I eat only "good" food that counts when I can eat it......I do not know if this is from the Prednisone or from the disease I have....I have heard conflicting answers. If anyone could let me know, I would listen to another opionion.....God is good and He will provide strenghth and care for me.....have faith!