Bright future symptoms and conditions

I am currently a junior in college and I have had severe allergies my whole life. Last summer my doctor prescribed Singulair and I really liked it as an allergy medicine (except for pollen). As a person, I am usually optimistic, happy go lucky, and always trying to make people laugh. I am also an avid learner, and I love school. I usually never miss class...well that was until last fall. I would get up everyday for my 930 class and take a shower and then for some reason just go back to bed. As Christmas approached- I failed my first class, got pneumonia, went on probation for my honor fraternity in which I was an officer, and was close to losing my academic scholarship. I changed my major to something easier in order to bring my grades back up this spring. I was actually excited about my new classes but then the semester started. Same routine- get up, take a shower, sleep and cry all day. I have lost most of friends due to my antisocial habits, gained 45 pounds to become 180 lbs on my 5'1 frame (borderline morbid obese). My parents and lifelong friends were worried I was going to commit suicide due to my downward spiral. My mother and doctor didn't want me to go on antidepressants in fear i would gain more weight. So they decided to change my ADD medicine which helped but not a lot. Then the suicidal effects of Singulair hit the news. I stopped taking it and within a week (spring break) I was back to my normal self like nothing ever happened. Except something did happen- I lost a huge part of me that is going to take awhile to get back. I was so convinced that I was causing the depression on myself and that I was crazy. Now the end of my school semester is wrapping up and I have a lot of catching up to do. There are times out of habit that I still act antisocial (which is completely uncharacteristic of me), but I'm hoping that will fade and I can get back to truly being myself. It's just so scary for me to think that there are unsuspecting prescription drugs that can cause so much pain. If I didn't have my family and true friends supporting me all year and sticking with me through all this, I know for a fact that I wouldn't be here today..

I was horrified when I saw the news report about singulair on Thursday! My little angel had her first asthma attack when she was 5 years old. She was put on Singulair and has been on it for 5 years. My life has been a living HELL since. Temper tantrums, biting, kicking, screaming, nightmares, waking up during the night, clinging to me constantly, We were unable to take her places because we never knew how she would behave in public I felt like a prisoner. We tried putting her in school but she ran away from the teachers and got into fights with other students. The school said she had A.D.H.D. and severe learning disablities I had to pull her out of school and home school her. Before she was on this Devil medicine she was the sweetest little girl you could come across. She was very polite, respectful, happy, and loving. Her doctor always reassured me that it wasn't her medicine. I have 4 girls and she was the only one who had any problems. I thought as a parent I must be doing something wrong! I prayed for 5 years for this nightmare to end I never dreamed a little 5mg pink evil pill was turning my family's life upside down. I couldn't believe that other parents have gone through the same nightmare. I took her off that same night as the report and will never put her on Singulair again. It's been 5 days and I already see a big difference in her behavior. She woke up singing, laughing, and no fighting with her sisters. She wants to help with chores. She is doing great with her school lessons, and very patient with everyone. I thank God for answering all our prayers and giving us our children back. When everyone goes to sleep at night say A GREAT BIG THANK YOU TO GOD.

My son 10, has been on Singulair since he was 4 yrs old for Asthma and allergies. His last dose was 3/26/08. He has always been my emotional child, he is 2yrs older than this younger brother. Some of his side effects included headaches, stomaches, leg cramps, emotional breakdowns, major mood swings, crying outbursts over small situations, night sweats, lack of motivation, weight gain, ADHD, wishing he were dead and the list goes on. His younger brother has always been involved in sports but he was always too afraid he would get hurt. This medication has robbed my 10 yr old son from 6 yrs of his childhood. Since he has been off Singulair he feels motivated and looks forward to joining the football team his younger brother plays for. I look forward to meeting this new young man who for so long has been hiding behind this so called allergy medicine. I am so thankful to know that my son can look forward to a bright future without these side effects. God Bless you all who are going through this as well.

To mlkeene who's working on your Masters in Psychology:

5 year old children do not know what suicide is and do not have natural thoughts of killing themselves. I pray you are not the common student in the bright future of Psychology.

If the drug works for you that's fine. My opinion is that this is a very dangerous drug for small children and the parents who have seen these side effects can tell you firsthand. Bottom line is our medical community needs to be more aware of the possible side effects so they are not blind to what they're prescribing to our children. You obviously do not have children.