Environmental allergies symptoms and conditions

My son is in second grade and has been on Zyrtec and singular since he was four years old. He was diagnosed with asthma and peanut and tree nut allergies. He has always been the sweetest kid. However, we noticed in first grade that he was spacing out and not always focused. he became easily frustrated, did not want to do his homework, cried for everything and gave up easily. This year in second grade we are noticing the same thing in addition to talking back, being aggressive with his brother, rolling his eyes and having a nasty disposition. He is negative and complains a lot. His grades have been suffering greatly. He rushes through his school work and does not pay attention or try.
I am so happy for the reading that I am seeing on this site. My son is coming off the singulair and the Zyrtec first thing in the morning.

My son was on a cocktail of Singulair, Zyrtec, Astellin and Nasonex. Like a miracle, his severe allergies cleared up almost immediately. Months later, behavioral changes started to surface. Extreme irritability, major meltdowns over nothing, problems in school and pulling out his facial hair including eyelashes and eyebrows. We stopped the medication in April and he improved. By mid summer, the hair pulling stopped. When his allergies started up again about 10 days ago, I put him back on the Zyrtec, because I was certain the Singulair was causing most of the problems. Within 3-4 days, the emotional outbursts started, panic attacks that never happened before - he said he couldn't breathe. Now the hair pulling is back. Everyone thinks I want to blame medication for his problems, but I am certain that Zyrtec has something to do with these problems in addition to Singulair. We have taken him off Zyrtec 2 days ago. We have a dr. appointment in 2 days and we will discuss all of this with him. In the meantime, his allergies are back and he is miserable. I would rather him be physically sick than mentally at this point.

Kenalog-40 I was never told what I was being given in my bottom, just that it would help with seasonal allergies. FDA site "Neurologic-Psychiatric: Psychic derangements may appear when corticosteroids are used, ranging from euphoria, insomnia, mood swings, personality changes, and severe depression to frank psychotic manifestations. Also, existing emotional instability or psychotic tendencies may be aggravated by corticosteroids." FDA More "Neuro-Psychiatric: Convulsions, depression, emotional instability, euphoria, headaches, increased intracranial pressure with papilledema(pseudotumor cerebri) usually following discontinuation of treatment, insomnia, mood swings, neuritis, neuropathy, paresthesia, personality changes, psychic disorders, vertigo. Arachnoiditis, meningitis, paraparesis/paraplegia, and sensory disturbances have occurred after intrathecal administration."
I went to an Urgent Care Clinic for allergies. My skin was crawling every time I left the house so I was told the cause was environmental allergies. The Benadryl wasn't helping. The nurse noticed my skin was patchy and swollen. Another nurse returned to the room and said this shot would help with the reactions. I was not told what it was till it was done and she mumbled the word Kenalog. Three hours later I was anxious and talking irratically. Pressured speech, I could not stop talking. I called Nurse Advice line, then told to call a Pharmacy Help Line, who in turn said to go to the ER but to not drive myself in such a condition. I was talking as if I was on speed or manic. The ER said to go home it was just an anxiety attack. I took 2mg Clonzepam to calm down and sleep. In the morning, the symptoms returned. I called the hospital pharmacy and was told to go in immediately to see my doctor, that it is a steroid and causes psychic reactions. My regular doctor didnt have an opening so I saw a different doctor who wasn't familiar with my normal personality. She said she saw nothing wrong no matter that she couldn't get a word in unless I physically put my hand over my mouth. She sent me to a Nurse/psychiatrist next door to her. He said there was nothing wrong also. I had to keep repeating myself, speeding along, stuttering because I was talking so fast, telling him I was going 100 miles an hour in my head and out my mouth. I thankfully had an appointment with my psychologist a few minutes later in a different part of the hospital. I see her weekly. She immediately saw my change in mood and personality and called the clinic nurse/psychiatrist and told him to prescribe clonzepam. I did some reading about kenalog 40 injections. The clinic doctors didnt have the same list of side effects as their own pharmacy. I should never have been given the shot because I already have an emotional/mood problem and have epilepsy. I have to increase my anti-convulsants for at least two weeks and watch my mood very very closely. Some days I "fly" then "crash" now. This is all new, extreme symptoms of an already existing condition. This Urgent Care Clinic nurse was told all these things by me, repeatedly because of all my allergies to drugs, daily convulsions and counselling I already undergo for PTSD. I was never seen by a doctor that day or counselled. I will never take a steroid again based on the information I now have on its effects on psychiatric and seizure conditions. I am already disabled because of daily seizures and now I have even more daily seizures. These mood swings and seizures will be abnormally high for over 3 weeks I was told by the doctors but the more reading I do the longer I find that the steroid will cause side effects. Epileptics or those with a low seizure thresh hold, anyone with psychiatric conditions, emotional problems such as panic attacks or anxiety, PTSD, depression, Please use caution with kenalog. My friends are very helpful and supportive during this time. They can see the emotional impact the steroids are having on me. They will tell me I am speeding and I say "sorry, its the 'roids talking" Now, I will be watching my butt, too. Its been 7 days since the injection.

I have a 9 year old daughter that was sick on a monthly basis since she started school. We did the round of antibotics every month. Finally we went the route of having the tonsils out. That didn't seem to help the constant throat ,sinus drainage and constant barking coughing. Then we went through allergy testing discovered that she has no food allergies,but had a lot of environmental allergies and exercise induced asthma. The doctor prescribed Singulair in Feb of 06. My daughter has not been sick since. She has not been to the Doctor since Feb of 06. The cough has disappeared as well as the constant throat drainage. The medication has helped her symtoms,but now I am concerned as to what I am reading on this forum. She has not compalined about nightmares,or hallunications,but she has changed in her behavior some. She has become so confrontational with us. She at times does not have appropraite reactions to situations.She becomes easily angered and upset. She is a straight A student and has no problems with her behavior at school. Was recommended for the Excel program for gifted students.She does complain about joint discomfort l. She takes 5mg every day. I was wondering what mgs that others are taking that would cause all these horrible side effects? I am really scared to hear about the seizures. Of course her Doctor told us that the side effects were near to nothing almost like candy as he described it. I am worried about long term side effects. I did cut her dosage back to half during the summer months and she was fine.

Hi-
I have read most of the postings here and I too have taken my 3 year old daughter off of the Singulair after noticing similar side effects with her(bruising, nightmares, coughing). I do have a question-what medication if any have people switched to? My daughter has food allergies, some environmental allergies and mild asthma. I am looking into some natural treatments but would like to know what other alternatives there are.

Thank You!