May 7th
2008
12:12 PM
I am writing in response to the last posting and to all others out there who worry about long lasting effects. My son was on Singulair for about 3 years (ages 3-6). He was diagnosed with an anxiety disorder in Kindergarten and we took him to a psychologist and psychiatrist and read a lot on anxiety to try and help him. But despite some success with his behavior using exposure therapy, his mood kept getting worse - he seemed more depressed, and started talking about death. That's when I got desperate and went to the web and googled anxiety and Singulair and found this site in January 2007. After reading post after post describing children suffering in the same way as our son, I immediately stopped the medication, though the doctors were reluctant and assured me the medicine was safe.
Within a day or so I saw a noticeable difference in my son - like a cloud had lifted. The most troubling of his symptoms - such as the talk of death - went away quickly. But his anxiety did not immediately go away. Anxiety - especially over time -can lead to patterns of thinking and habits that can outlast the original problem. Whenever he felt anxious and overwhelmed, he would act out, become easily upset, and was unable to work things out rationally. We continued working on behavior management. One technique that I found very useful is the Collaborative Problem Solving (CPS) method outlined in "The Explosive Child," by Dr. Ross Greene. I also enrolled him in social therapy groups. He also got support at his school. After stopping the medication, he really began to respond to all these interventions. He steadily got better, and by the beginning of 2008 we all noticed a significant shift - not just our family, but his teachers and group counselors. Now he just seems like any other kid. Every once in a while a new situation will raise his hackles a bit, but then we just take it slow, and help him overcome the fear.
Today, when I see him humming a song to himself, skipping down the sidewalk, or shouting out a hello to a friend, I remember that there was a time when I had stopped expecting him to ever do these simple things, and I am so thankful for the parents who posted here in 2006 and 2007 and gave me the courage to follow my instincts.
I have faith that your children will keep improving. But if they are still anxious, there is a lot you can learn about anxiety - either in books or on the web - that can help you understand and enable you to give your child the support he or she may need to navigate their lives as they recover and begin to form new habits and thought patterns.
Good luck!
P.S. One note about leg pain - both my older sons suffered from this, and the oldest didn't take Singulair. I have always assumed they were growing pains, but who knows? I will say that ibuprofen is very effective, along with rubbing their legs.
-- By massmomof3 | Reply | (3) replies | Private Message me
January 23th
2008
3:16 AM
I was put on Effexor because of depression. My husband was going to be going to the middle east and I was so worried and depressed as well as experiencing separation anxiety. I started it a month before he left and IT WAS HORRIBLE.! Getting on it was just as bad as not having it! The side effects were like everyone else. No sex drive (mind you...my husband was leaving to the middle east!), cotton mouth and nausea. He left and that is when little by little it got worst. I GAINED WEIGHT and felt even more depressed because my husband was coming home to a PIG! Hubby got out of the military and I had went home to wait for him. (VA is where I was getting the meds and home is CA) When he got home I decided to get off the meds. I had gained over 30lbs! I was always petite and athletic. 5'2 120lbs and size 3 or 5. I was at 152 and size 9,11 and EVEN 13!!!! I have 2 kids and even pregnat never gained that much weight! I called my Dr. and they said I would have to come in to get off the meds! I live in CA now and cannot go to VA just to get the ween off pills so I did it COLD TURKEY!!! BIG MISTAKE!!!!! One disagreement with my husband made me FLIP OUT!!!! I was out of my character! I attacked him and became physically violent and angry! This is not like me! He could not control me and called the police thinking they were just going to calm me down. Because he told them the truth, but did not want to press charges, they still arrested me and I went to jail that night! I have NEVER went to jail and I never thought I would NEVER be somewhere like this. It was so embarrassing! As a result, my charges were dropped, but because my son was there CPS got involved, my husband and I were separated (although we didn't want to be apart, but if we did not do as they wished they would've taken our children!) for 6 months 1 month after he got back from the middle east! I was made to attend 52 week domestic violence classes! THIS HAS BEEN A NIGHTMARE!!!! I DO NOT RECOMMEND ANYONE TAKE THIS MEDICATION!!!!!
-- By aztecprincess | Reply | Private Message me
September 26th
2007
8:02 PM
I have been on mirena now for 10 months. I was on the depo for 10 years prior. I loved my depo adn only went off of it after Kaiser said I could not do it any longer. I was told that mirena was a god send and a lot like my depo. I can say that the combination of depo and mirena I have not had any period at all. but that is where the happiness ends. I have experienced moths of breast pain. it hurt to touch them let alone put anything on them. after about 6 months and numerous trips to the vet it disappeared. then I got a small rash on my neck and by my arms. went to dermatology and since then I have been there, or to my primary or an allergist every week since then. the rough severley itchy skin is constant. remarkably every 29 - 32 days it fades for 2 days or so and just when I am sure it is going away wham back it comes and each time it is getting worse and worse. having never had any skin problems before I believed the doctors tha tit was folliculitus, then they said dermatitus, then they said uticaria and then hives or the last straw i was causing it that it was in my head. i just got a new allergist and while she doesn't knwo if it is my mirena she can tell me I have histamine levels that are off the chart. my husband is allergic to a lot so we already use free & clear everything and my housse is spotless but I am still being told it is soemthing I am doing to myself. I have also been reevaluating my things and I relaize I have been experiencing a lot of numbness and joint pain. so much so that my primary sent me to a rhuematlogist and he ran every test for lupus, and many other diseaeses adn even cancer. I was going crazy. Iwas beginning to think maybe I was mental. I have since been researching mirena and I am finding it so much more than what the pamphlet says. I finally got the nerve to call my ob, adn she ahs since been researching things with me and we know for sure that no matter what next week I get my mirena removed. I am just feeling so alone and depressed. I am 33 years old and instead of enjoying my new marriage I am contemplating a divorce becasue I do not want him to be stuck with soemone who might be crazy. seeking support and anyone else who feels this way.
-- By smoore74 | Reply | (21) replies | Private Message me
June 3th
2006
12:29 AM
I have life long temporal lobe epilepsy.this drug was given to me for tooth absess.I started having''breakthru''seizures that resulted in ten day comma dislocated shoulder.the seizures and comma continued 3 days hear 36 hours there.
I seemed to be improving when I was diagnosed with cancer of the neck.I had swollen lympth knodes.after a surgical biopsy that removed thirteen lymph knodes,I was given sulfameth as a prophilactic against risk of infection.this was dec 18.
I spent christmas in the er after a seizure.I started having the strangest seizures of my life.I thought I was dying.the spirit ws poised to just walk out of my body.and I was some how joyful at the idea,
I had half a dozen seisures,this time!the thing is this episode sheds
light on the seizure episode I had in 1999.I went to the dentist,and started having seizures,my sexual preference became confused.
I was living with a great lady,we where planning on adopting a beautiful boy we where raising.the CPS took the baby away because of the seizures.the lady and I broke up and I just drifted away.and the doctors no where along the way had a clue.one dr asked another is this what we do.the other dr just says yes.the one dr.should have mentioned that I had spent more time in comma in there hospital in the last twelve months than most people get to spend on vacation.
April 24th
2006
7:02 PM
My son is 7 and has been taking singulair for about 3 1/2 years, we first noticed that he was rowdy and very tempermental, he also had trouble sttling down at night. The Dr. didn't put much faith in my concern for the medication. Recently he has tried to seriously harm himself and has been quite down, we have seen the Dr. and he has never once woried about the side effects of the medication. i came across some very disturbing information in the canadian cps boo that supported my theory and have taken him off the medication, within the first few days he seemed very down, but has now returened to my fun loving sweet little boy. Thanks to everyone for sharing I would never have thougth to pursue this if there were not other parents who had the same experience.
-- By mbutt3 | Reply | Private Message me
August 26th
2008
8:43 AM
Did anybody have horrible hair loss? I only had mine in for 6 weeks and i got it removed yesterday!!I have a 4 month old and i am following weight watchers and going to curves fitness centres 4 times a week . When my daughter was 2 and a half months old i had lost all my baby weight plus 17lbs..since Mirena i have continued my program and gained 7lbs!! in 6 weeks!! my joints are screwed up it hurts to stand up my knees are so bad..Nausea..depressed..but the worst would have the be the hair loss!!! my hair line had receded over an inch in the last 6 weeks..unbelievable..why are doctors so quick to say it's not the Mirena..I live in Canada and the dam brochure did nto even mention hair loss..i am a Pharmacy Tech and my CPS which is a reference the doctor's use does not mention it either...so horrible iam now 25 and balding..i have post phoned my wedding scheduled for mar 2009 indefinalty until i get my hair back..i can't believe how much this product has ruined my life in 6 weeks...
-- By cgallagher | Reply | Private Message me