Churg strauss syndrome symptoms and conditions

After 5 days of Singulair I acquired Churg-Strauss Syndrome which made my lower legs paralyzed, I acquired Drop Foot, right hand paralysis and Vasculitis. It is a debilitating illness.

I have been on prednisone continuously now for 15 years. I was put on it in March of 1995 for a lung condition called chronic eosinophilic pneumonia. I was 122 pounds when I first started prednisone. Now 15 years later I am 197 pounds. I am 35 years old with osteoporosis. I have dealt with depression, terrible headaches, stomach ulcers, hormonal imbalance, hair loss, swollen feet and ankles, I now wear glasses when I didn't before, I have thin skin now that looks older than my 35 years, I deal with night sweats, and in the summer out in the heat my very round moon face turns red as a beet. But, no one can get me off the prednisone. I have seen many specialists, and within 1-2 days of starting to wean past 10mg I get so sick I have to be hospitalized, I literally can't breathe or live without it. I hate this stuff and what its done to me, but I have no choice but to take it or I will die. Doctors have tried alternate medications, nothing but prednisone works. If there is ANYONE who has had to be on it as long as I have or have had success in getting off it after being on it for so long, I would love to hear from you.

I am a 57 year old man, who has been suffering from asthma several years. This spring my doctor put me on Singulair as an additional medicine to my cortisone-inhalator. after one month I feel symptoms of depression an mood-changing, severe ups and downs.
AND - as an additional symptom i have partially lost my feeling in some fingertips, and now parts of my left thumb and even a feeling of "cold2, mostly in my left hand.
anyone who share that symptom?
M.

From a UK Yellow Card Report.

Montelukast

The product information for montelukast has been amended to include the following ADRs: Reaction No. of UK Yellow Card reports

Nausea 63 Diarrhoea 54 Rashes 52 Insomnia 44 Dizziness 42 Fatigue 37 Vomiting 24 Pruritus 24 Arthralgia 20 Urticaria 19 Malaise 18 Dyspepsia 13 Myalgia 12 Dry mouth 9 Anaphylaxis 4 Angioedema3

In addition, the following suspected ADRs have been reported and are still being evaluated: psychiatric disorders (63) ; also nightmares (13), sedation (13), palpitations (12), tremor (10) and increased sweating (10).
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Zafirlukast The most frequently reported ADRs under the Yellow Card Scheme for zafirlukast have been rashes (7), headache (7), abdominal pain (6), nausea (6) and pruritus (5). All of these are included in the product information which has also been updated to include the following ADRs that have been identified from data other than UK Yellow Card reports: urticaria, angioedema, blistering, bruising, bleeding disorders, including menorrhagia (rare), thrombocytopenia and agranulocytosis (both very rare). Churg-Strauss syndrome Churg-Strauss syndrome (CSS) is a rare syndrome characterised by a history of asthma, and often rhinitis and sinusitis, with systemic vasculitis and eosinophilia. There has been a recent increase in the number of reports of CSS associated with the use of anti-asthma drugs, particularly the leukotriene receptor antagonists. The MHRA/CSM have received 63 reports of CSS through the Yellow Card Scheme since 1963, 59 since the beginning of 1998; Of these, 90% were associated with drugs used to treat asthma (mainly leukotriene receptor antagonists). In many, but not all cases there was documented evidence of a reduction or withdrawal of oral corticosteroid therapy prior to the onset of the reaction. There are clear warnings regarding the possible association with CSS in the product information for montelukast and zafirlukast. Prescribers should be aware of the possibility that, although rare, CSS may be the underlying cause of asthma in their patients. In patients prescribed a leukotriene receptor antagonist prescribers should be alert to the development of eosinophilia, vasculitic rash, worsening pulmonary symptoms, cardiac complications and/or peripheral neuropathy. The identification of new and suspected ADRs emphasises the important role of the Yellow Card Scheme in helping to ensure the safe use of medicines. The safety profile of leukotriene receptor antagonists remains under close review. Please continue to report all suspected ADRs to montelukast (Singulairt) and zafirlukast (Accolatet) through the Yellow Card Scheme.1. MHRA/CSM Current Problems in Pharmacovigilance 1998; 24:14.
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Six years on Singulair and I didn't think that I had any side effects. I did develop multiple health issues that no one tied to the Singulair. To understand the range of the side effects that Singulair had on me, Google Churg-Strauss Syndrome. Before quitting Singulair in mid February of 2006 I was close to dying. All of my health issues (including a very high tryglyceride level) began reversing after stopping Singulair. My once great memory is returning, the chest pains have stopped, the arthritis is reversing itself, the anxiety attacks are less often and less intense, the muscle and joint pain is gone, the weird skin lesions are gone, etc, etc, etc.

I still have mild asthma issues but I'm getting my life and myself back. Singulair might work well for some people and have no significant side effects, but in my case it stole my health, my life, and my spirit. If you are a long time user of Singulair be aware of Churg-Strauss Syndrome and if you have some of the related side effects (Churg-Strauss Syndrome is a known side effect of Singulair) get to your doctor before it kills you. Good luck to all of you.

well this is the exhaustive list of the possible side effects triggered by montelukast sodium given in the leaflet of this medicine....i am so grateful to the distributors of this medicine in my country for keeping the users of this medicine informed. I am stating the side effects as it is for every ones notice here

1. Body as whole: asthenia, fatigue, malaise, oedema, hypersensitivity reactions including anaphylaxis, angioedema, urticaria, pruritus, rash and one isolated report of hepatic eosinophilic infiltration.
2. Digestive system: thirst(pediatric patients), abdominal pain.
3. Nervous system/psychiatric: headache, dizziness, dream abnormalities including nightmares, hallucinations, drowsiness, insomnia, paraesthesia/hypesthesia, irritability, agitation including aggressive behaviour, restlessness, seizure.
4. Musculo skeletal disorders: arthralgia, myalgia including muscle cramps.
5. Hepato biliary disorders: elevated levels of serum transaminases(ALT,AST), cholestatic hepatitis.
6. Digestive system disorders: diarrhea, dry mouth, dyspepsia, nausea, vomiting.
7. Cardiovascular disorders: increased bleeding tendency, bruising, palpitations. Very rare cases of Churg-Strauss Syndrome CSS have been reported during montelukast treatment in asthmatic patients.
8. Mutagenicity and carcinogenicity: No evidence of this have been reported in montelukast treatment.
9. Pregnancy and lactation: no evidence of tratogenicity and there is no suffiecient prove for the excretion of the montelukast in the human milk as many drugs are excreted in the human milk.

After more research I have come to the preliminary conclusion that I may be one of the rare Singulair users that is afflicted with Churg-Strauss Syndrome. If you or a loved one have any severe side effects from Singulair it is important that you take a serious look at Churg-Strauss Syndrome. Other than seasonal asthma symptoms that were more related to my environment (Phoenix) my health was great until I started taking Singulair. After five + years of using this wonder drug my general health and well being was not too good. Three weeks after stopping Singulair my body seems to be healing itself. To be safe Google Churg-Strauss Syndrome.

vasculitus churg-strauss syndrome resulting in the amputation of two fingertips and diabetic neuropothy in both feet.

I have been an asthmatic my whole life, and I have pollups (which is rare). I have had nothing work for me ever, and my doctor decided to try singulair. It was the only drug that worked, until I started getting some side effects. I got something called churg strauss syndrome (bleeding from the lungs). My symptoms were tingling left arm, nose bleeds and headaches. I got taken off the medication right away, and was a test case for doctors. No one can still figure me out!! But I would not recommend this to anyone. Espeically children.