Merck symptoms and conditions

my grand child is almost 3 year old , he has been on singulair candy for almost 6 month , what we noticed is a noticeable change in his behavior in the form of nervousness , he turned cranky , recently his teacher reported that he is not him as before , his appetite in that good as before , he became nagging while he was a sweet child before singulair .

I am starting to think I would like to be a part of a class action law suit, my daughter had to switch schools because of her mood swings, and vague hallucinations. and vague paranoia. She once ran into a parking lot she was so afraid of needles! Took her to a psychiatrist, sensed she was quick to put her on mood stabilizers and left before the eval. Recently her ped refused to up her dose of singulair and told me about depression. I subsequently upped her flovent and took her off her singulair. I did this after I heard her teacher saqy she kept on leaving the classroom to go to the nurse, and was exhibiting defiant behavior. and saying she was depressed, hearing music that wasn't there, etc. Now that shye has been off of it a week, she is a different child, and hasn't argued with me once. Hasn't cried for 5 days. has not argued w2ith her brother either! I feel I have the child back from 5 years ago when she started taking it! unfrigging believable! I would love to sue, because these episodes have almost ruined my marriage, and caused me to miss many days of work, and feel guilty when I didn't Thank-God I just took her off of it on a whim!

FYI: As of Friday, October 2, The website of the Merck sponsored Time 2 Talk Asthma education campaign no longer links to Singulair's website and coupon.

FYI: "Supernanny" Jo Frost and asthma advocacy organization AANMA have partnered in an asthma education campaign sponsored by Merck called Time 2 Talk Asthma. The website links to Singulair's website, which offers a coupon.

My allergies caused nearly constant painful sinus pressure, drippy nose (I should have bought stock in Kleenex to profit from my box-a-day use), asthma, getting gradually worse all the time--it was as though I'd had the flu for 10 years (I'm 54). I was taking Claritin in the morning and Zyrtec at night, which only toned down the most severe symptoms. I was on Prilosec as well, as one doctor though acid-reflux might exacerbate the asthma. My family and I are avid hikers, but I haven't been able to breathe well enough to join them for years, even with daily Ventolin and Flovent. I've only been taking Singulair for two weeks, but it has made all the difference. I feel "normal" instead of sick for the first time in a long time. So, for me, it does work. But my stomach's been killing me--like a bleeding ulcer (which I had 25 years ago). I'm hoping that will subside or going back on Prilosec (expensive!) will counteract it. I've also had the weirdest dreams--very vivid and disturbing. Because I did research online before taking Singulair (Doctor uttered not one syllable about side effects), I recognize the dreams are from the Singulair. Because I understand what is causing them, I can easily set them aside when I wake up. I think anyone who's had mental or emotion problems could be sent over the edge by the dreams unless they had a clear understanding and acceptance that the allergy drug caused them. I would be easy to think something was wrong with you to dream such bizarre, violent stuff. (I'd give examples, but I've truly trained myself to forget all about the dreams as soon as I wake us, so I don't remember the dream events now.) I'm quite concerned about children taking this drug. Maybe not everyone has this disturbing-dream side effect, but how could you explain them away to a four-year old? How would you even know if a younger child was having them? Even children old enough to comprehend shouldn't be subjected to horrific mental images, like the 16 year old above. A tip for people who Singulair helps, but they have the weird dreams--try Melatonin (over-the-counter supplement) at bedtime. I've used it to help me sleep in the past when life events kept my mind too active to sleep for several days at a time. Unlike sleeping pills, it doesn't make your tired the next day, you can wake up easily, and it's not habit-forming--it just lets you drift off on days you otherwise can't. Since I'm concerned about the long-term effects of anything taken frequently, I don't take Melatonin very often, but I did try it after the fourth day of Singulair dreams. I had no memory of weird dreams when I woke up, so it seemed to work, and I didn't remember dreaming the next night either. I only tried it that one day because, as I said, I've trained myself to not be bothered by the dreams.

My 13 year old daughter was injured by Gardasil and completely disabled for the past year. Merck got it right when they used the slogan "One Less" for Gardasil. Because of Gardasil, my daughter was "One Less". She was "One Less Student", "One Less Active Child", "One Less in every aspect of her life". Take it from a mother who has spent the past year sitting by my child's bedside wondering if she would die in her sleep. INVESTIGATE BEFORE YOU VACCINATE. DO NOT trust your doctor to make this decision. If you want to understand Merck's role in the medical community, investigate some of their former wonderdrugs such as VIOXX and then marvel at how many people died from it before it was pulled off the market. The CDC AND FDA need to do their job and get this off the market before more children are harmed. The public is not aware of VAERS and the #'s are grossly understated. I have had to tell my child's doctors about VAERS and make them file reports or she would not be one of the current statistics in VAERS. Even then, her information has not been entered correctly so I know that VAERS is not what it should be. Please do not let this happen to your child.

My 9 year old daughter got her first shot in Dec. 2008 and her second in Feb. and the last in June. We have have been to the doctor a lot of times due to headaches with the doctor's opinion being that it's "allergies". She is now on allergy shots with still no relief from the headaches. I listened to her pediatrician and got her the shots. I feel so bad now after reading all the problems others are having with this vaccine. She also has had a change in her attitude aggression,moodiness,cries often, and she says she's depressed. If anybody has any suggestions for us please let me know. I love my little girl and know I'm worried.

Our son, who is now 6 was prescribed Singulair at the age of 3 due to asthma/allergies. He was prescribed this by an ENT/Allergist. I thought our sons mood swings were due to the fact that we were expecting another child. He was always so happy/loving and playful. When the baby arrived 2 months later, his behavior worsened. Again, I put it on the new baby sister in the house. His moods/anger/outbursts increased. He hit, threw things etc. I told the doc about this and he said it was due to his enlarged tonsils, and they were then removed. Well needless to say, his behavior did not change because he was still on the Singulair. I mentioned the possible side effects to his pediatrician and she said it was a possibility, but to keep him on it because he needed it. Well, 3 years later, in March of this year I took him to an allergist that I had seen years ago. He immediately took him off the singulair (and all inhalers). His moods seemed to brighten a bit, but not they are worsening again. Is it possible for the Singulair to have long term damaging effects. I understand kids have tantrums, etc. Kids are kids, I get that. But he punches, kicks, screams, cries etc. My husband are at a loss. We don't know what to do. Oh, and he is now on Veramyst as needed (march-june, Aug-Oct.). Has anyone else experienced long term effects due to Singulair?

My 11 year old son started singular in March of 2009 for exercise induced asthma. Within weeks he started having symptoms of heartburn - which he had never had before. I brought him back into the dr. mid June- they said wasn't related to singulair and actually increased his does from 5 mg to 10 mg. Since increasing his does, he started experiencing, daily headaches, stomach pain, leg cramps, night sweats w/ shaking & overall FEAR. Last night he was in tears - he kept saying there is something seriously wrong with me - I can't stand feeling this way he was afraid he was going to die and didn't want to go to sleep.

Last night I did my own research and found this board. THANK GOD!
He didn't take his singulair last night & he never will again.

I called his dr. this morning to tell them I think he is having negative side effects from singulair. They actually told he it was "HIGHLY UNLIKELY" his symptoms were related to singulair and NOT TO STOP USING IT. They instead said I should start giving him pepcid. I told them he had stopped it - for good and that we need a plan B for is exercise induced asthma. Looks like my plan B is finding a new Dr. that isn't in bed with Merck.

Has anyone had any experience with a NATURAL approch to controlling exercise induced asthma?

My husband had been on Actos for 4 years. A new Diabetic doctor said h needed to get off the Actos to loose weight. So she put him on Januvia.
He takes 1000mg twice daily and 100mg Januvia once a day. Since taking Januvia he wakes up complaining that he had slept wrong on his shoulder, then he complained that his hands and feet felt like he was developing arthritis. This has gone on for 6 months. 2 days ago he woke up with both his feet and his hands were swollen and painful. I started researching Januvia and found this blog. I can't thank all of you enough for the information. None of this side effects are published by Merck!! I took my husband off Januvia and within 12 hours (checking his sugar every 2 hours) his hands and feet were half as swollen. We are headed back to the doctor to reevaluate hi medication.

I am so thankful that our MANY voices are finally being heard I am grateful that the FDA is finally forcing MERCK to add a warning to its label, but we must still keep fighting until there is a blackbox warning on this medication. My daughter committed suicide after three years of hell on this medication. The world has lost a beautiful, fun, and highly intelligent young woman because MERCK is so concerned about its billions of dollars in sales from Singulair.

If you have had any side effects PLEASE REPORT TO THE FDA! It is up to us to make them aware of how devastating this medication can be.

As i read some of the news reports on the new FDA comments,i see we are referred to as a handful of reports,the very words handful conjure up a picture of 10 not the thousands that there actually are.Also i noted missing from the news reports was ,that this drug is largely given to children,as young as 6 months,not for 10 days or 2 weeks but everyday,for as long as they need it.i know myself trying to convince my doctor,that my sons depression,insomnia and anxiety,came from this drug was impossible,so i fired him.I am wishing the best to everyone that has suffered,and ask all to please report your adverse effects to the FDA

From the FDA's "Updated Information on Leukotriene Inhibitors: Montelukast (marketed as Singulair), Zafirlukast (marketed as Accolate), and Zileuton (marketed as Zyflo and Zyflo CR)"

6/12/2009

Neuropsychiatric events have been reported in some patients taking montelukast (Singulair), zafirlukast (Accolate), and zileuton (Zyflo and Zyflo CR). FDA has requested that manufacturers include a precaution in the drug prescribing information (drug labeling).

Montelukast is used to treat asthma, and the symptoms of allergic rhinitis (sneezing, stuffy nose, runny nose, itching of the nose), and to prevent exercise-induced asthma. Zafirlukast and zileuton are used to treat asthma.

The reported neuropsychiatric events include postmarket cases of agitation, aggression, anxiousness, dream abnormalities and hallucinations, depression, insomnia, irritability, restlessness, suicidal thinking and behavior (including suicide), and tremor.

This information reflects FDA’s current analysis of available data concerning this drug.

Advice to patients and healthcare professionals:

Patients and healthcare professionals should be aware of the potential for neuropsychiatric events with these medications.

Patients should talk with their healthcare providers if these events occur.

Healthcare professionals should consider discontinuing these medications if patients develop neuropsychiatric symptoms.

Background

In April 2009, FDA completed its review of neuropsychiatric events, (mood and behavioral changes) possibly related to drugs that act through the leukotriene pathway (montelukast, zafirlukast, zileuton). As part of its review, FDA reviewed post-marketing reports and also requested that manufacturers submit all available clinical trial data for these products.

The post-market reports of patients on these medications included cases of neuropsychiatric events. Some reports included clinical details consistent with a drug-induced effect. In the clinical trial data submitted by manufacturers, neuropsychiatric events were not commonly observed. However, the available data were limited because the trials were not designed to look for neuropsychiatric events. Sleep disorders (primarily insomnia) were reported more frequently with all three products compared to placebo.

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My son was on singular about 4 years ago and i thought i noticed irratability, lack of interest and depression, but he was only 4 1/2 at that time and i couldn't tell. It did relieve his allergy symptoms. We took him off at that time. Now, again put him back on it this past year (he is now 9 years old) and i see again a lack of interest, depression, mood swings, irritability and his teacher just told us that as this year has increased he has changed in his school work as well. As of last night we will be taking him off of this medication for good and will continue to manage his seasonal allergies with an emergency inhaler and zyrtec/claritin type meds. He is sluggish on the baseball field and not as alert (he unusually a natural athlete!) and he seems depressed and withdrawn - which is not his personality. I thought maybe because he was getting older he was changing but now I realize it is again the medication. It is okay for a week or two to get through a cold or high allergy week, but long term I will not have him on this any longer and wish that Merck would make the long term effects clearer to the doctors, patients and public in general. We are fortunate that his allergy symptoms are not as severe as other children and we can go lightly on medications.

Last Tuesday, my son was prescribed Singulair by our pediatrician. He was also prescribed Pulmicort by nebulizer at the same time. Within a couple of days, I was noticing a dramatic change in his personality. He's only 21 months old and normally a very happy, lovable, easygoing little boy. He did a complete 360. By Friday, I had to take a day off from work, as I was too scared to send him to daycare. He took his last Singulair chewable tablet on Friday night. Saturday was his worst day by far. I was in shock by his behavior. He was extremely aggressive, punching and slapping anyone who came near him, he was throwing things, throwing himself into walls, etc, just completely out of control. I contemplated even taking him to the hospital, but then started doing some research online. I had my mother contact a pharmacist whom we trust, who advised for us to stop the Singulair, as if he was having any side effect, it would more than likely be from that. On Sunday, I started to see some changes in him. Yesterday he was getting back to normal. Today, he's that much better. We actually went back to the pediatrician this morning and I'm actually thinking of filing a formal complaint against the dr. as he basically swore up and down that his side effects weren't from the Singulair. Well as a parent, does anyone really think I'd want to put my child thru this?? It may be different if he had behavioral issues prior to this, but this came completely from left field. I am beyond upset right now, pissed off that this drug can be on the market. How many children have to be affected??? This is very scary to me. My son was only on Singulair 4 days, and I feel guilty and angry that he had to go through even that short period of time on the drug. And then to have a pediatrician basically discount me and say that it has nothing to do with singulair is a complete slap in the face! I won't stop speaking out against this drug and hopefully it will inform other parents of these harmful consequences!!!!

We all need to report these problems to the FDA. I filled out my report in about 5 minutes. There is also a number for Merck, I couldn't find an e-mail address. To report an adverse experience with a specific Merck product, please call the Merck National Service Center at 800-444-2080. Don't you wish that someone would have spoken up before our kids had to experience these side effects? Let's spare some other kids, fill out the form, it's worth your time.

My son is 5 years old and has been on Singulair for 2 years. I am so relieved to find this website after seeing a report about Singular on the local news.
Just the other day I was telling my husband how much it bothers me that our son is not very affectionate. We also have a 3 year old who hugs, laughs and plays like a normal child should. My son, on the other hand, is very rigid if you try to hug him, very serious if you try to joke, and VERY, VERY emotional when I leave him anywhere...as if I'll never return! I don't know how many mornings I've left day care in tears. I always thought to myself "What are we doing wrong?" "Why would he think we weren't coming back?" He is also very moody and argumentative. He reminds me of a very stressed out businessman in his late 50's. Not to mention the leg pains and the nightmares...we have always chalked it all up to "normal" things kids go through. Now that I have read all of the postings on this page I know there is hope. None of us want our children to be unhappy. Thanks for informing me...we are stopping Singulair Immediately!!

My 15-year-old daughter experienced alopecia (bald patches) after the first injection. We didn't initially connect it to the vaccine. Then, after the second shot, her thick long hair thinned significantly. She will NOT be getting the third injection Gardasil is poison. Anyone else who has experienced hair loss, please post a comment with information on how long it took to come back. She cries daily about this and it breaks my heart.

i am really glad i found this site, and got to really understand what may be my problem. its the SINGULAIR, i really believe. i will share my story so no one has to go through what i have been going through. (i just stopped my medicine a day or two ago, so i will repost and see if i start seeing changes in my behavior) well first off i am 19, and i started taking singulair when i was a senior in high school, so about 2 years ago. i didn't see any noticeable changes for awhile, except for probably a year now, a little more or a little less. for this whole time, i have not been sleeping, i wake up 3-4 times a night, fully awake and can never fall back asleep for hours. its almost like my body tries shutting down, but my brain never does, i have the craziest dreams, most of them are me suffocating or not getting enough air, which are really scary. I have been having really bad anxiety, panic attacks, basically i have been just feeling like i am going to die every second of the day. the feeling of being trapt inside my own body. it seems like every month it just gets worse and worse. i cant focus, i don't go to school, i don't work, and i believe its from the side effects of this medicine. i also always feel so tired, and so weak, i cant even look through a clothes rack without my arm aching. i have been having a hard time breathing, which is odd seeing its supposed to help me breathe, i have been sick at least once a month, through this whole time i have been going to my Dr. at least twice a month or more, telling her my symptoms, i even went in their one day crying i was so scared. and she just kept telling me, its probably all in your head, this, that and the other. she even put me on probably 10 different medicines trying to see which one would help. and of course none of them helped anything. I started thinking, and feeling like i was going crazy, what was wrong with me? i wondered constantly. For a couple months now, i figured i had to take it into my own hands to figure out what was wrong, seeing this Dr. doesn't seem to understand me. I looked up every disease or problem imaginable, and had blood tests done, but every thing came back normal. i didn't understand what was going on, every month i just feel worse and worse, lately i have been telling my mom i just want to die, that i cant keep living my life this way, of course i would not do this for the fact that i couldn't do that to my mom or my little sister, or anyone, but it feels like it would be easier then dealing with everything i have been. along with everything else i was/am feeling, i also feel a lot of hate toward myself, i feel like i am not good at anything, and i feel very ugly, sometime i don't even want to leave my house, because i just feel disgusting. Finally, a couple days ago, my little sister which is 10 and really smart i may add, was watching TV and they happened to have a commercial for SINGULAIR. she told me that everything i have been saying that was wrong with me (she hears me complaining a lot about all my problems to my mom) were all the side effects from SINGULAIR. of course i wanted to know more about this even though i have taken this medicine for awhile without any of these problems, i started researching and realized that all of my symptoms happened to be the side effects from singulair. and then i started reading other peoples stories about it, and about linking it to suicides and everything. i told my mom and i told her i wanted to stop the medicine right away, at least just to see if this is what it was all along. i haven't taken it for 3 days now i believe, and i already see a difference, i actually get tired now instead of staying up reading till 5 in the morning, and i haven't been waking up at all during the night. i am pretty angry that my dr. couldn't figure this out, or at least maybe even think about it. for awhile i thought i was honestly going crazy, i lived in fear for so long that something was extremely wrong with me, that i haven't lived my life the way i should of, or wanted to. i never thought that it was just the EXTREME side effects of this medicine. i am so thankful for my little sister listening to all my complaints and all my anger toward myself, and actually putting it together that it would be my medicine that was supposed to make my asthma better. as i said its only been a couple days and i already feel better, i will repost to tell you if im back to my "normal" self after being off this medicine for a longer period of time. i feel so grateful for my little sister, who would have guessed she would tell me what a Dr. couldn't even think about. i really feel that if i get back to my normal self, i really have her to thank for saving my life. <3

I can't believe that after months of searching for an answer to my daughter's health problems I may have found it! My daughter was a healthy, active happy child until recently. She is 17 and started experiencing joint, bone and muscle pain and swelling, unexplained rashes, migraines, tingling in her hands and feet and was diagnosed with neurocardiogenic synchrony (heart rate and bp out of synch) shortly after her first shot (she was 14).

We have been to a rheumatologist for the joint pains, they did blood work and there is a marker for some sort of auto immune disorder, but nothing specific.

I never connected the dots to the shots. In January of this year she started having severe diarrhea, stomach and intestinal pains. She has no energy, the most basic activities wear her out. We ended up at a gastroenterologist looking for a diagnosis (they thought it was Crohn's or lupus). All the tests have come back negative, they said she had gastritis and blew us off. She is on medicine for the intestinal pain, a prescription for an antacid for gastritis and an anti-inflammatory for the joint and bone pain.

She was a straight "A" student up to January and has had to finish her junior year at home. It has been a very stressful experience for all of us.

BELIEVE WHAT YOU READ!! TAKE YOUR CHILDREN OFF THIS POISON. 3 yrs ago my 7yr old was on this for 6 months. The "bad thoughts" were terrifying this wonderful boy and changed him drastically and FAST. We took him off this and he immediately improved but the emotional harm this garbage did to him still lingers (anxiety mostly). This is so unfair. Is there nothing we can do to warn other parents except for this? I can't believe I let this happen to my beautiful boy.

Thanks for sharing your stories.

I want to share information with everyone regarding the filing of Vaccine Injury Compensation (VIC) claims. I realize that many of you have probably already initiated action, but, if not, you may want to consider doing so.
I have posted a couple of times before regarding my daughter's reaction to Gardasil. Here's a brief summary: At age 19, she had 2 shots (Sep & Oct 2007). For 9 weeks in late 2007, she suffered severe GI problems, along with many other incapacitating symptoms, but no seizures. She recovered from the constant GI problems but has continued to experience occasional flare-ups. (Prior to the shots, she had NO history of such problems.) She also began to experience debilitating problems during menstruation, and in Oct 2008 her annual pap test showed precancerous cells, as did a follow-up pap test in Feb 2009. (In Sep 2007, she had a normal pap test.) Her next GYN appt is in May.
In light of her continuing problems and the alarming information in the Jun 2008 Judicial Watch Report regarding (1) the 44.6% increased chance of developing precancerous lesions if certain (undetectable) conditions existed prior to vaccination; (2) the fact that Merck does not know if the Gardasil vaccines are carcinogenic; (3) the fact that it is unknown if Gardasil will have long-term effects on fertility; (4) the fact that the final report on Gardasil's safety is not due until late 2009; and (5) etc., etc., etc., we have decided to file a VIC claim. She is still on our insurance bc she is 20 and a full-time college student, however, her future insurability once she becomes independent is a concern.
Information on filing claims is at www.hrsa.gov/vaccinecompensation. I called the Clerk of US Court of Federal Claims at 202-357-6400 and within minutes he e-mailed me a list of attorneys who specialize in VIC claims. I called a nearby attorney, and he returned my call in less than a day and provided very helpful information. Generally speaking, claims must be filed within 3 years after the first symptom of vaccine injury and injury must last more than 6 months, or claims must be filed within 2 years of vaccine-related deaths. (This is not intended to serve as governing guideline; please refer to the website for complete information.) So, in my daughter's case, the 3 years will be up in Oct 2010. The attorney advised that we need to get started now to collect all the medical records and allow at least 6-8 months for review and processing (after medical records are obtained). The up-front cost is minimal ($250 to file, but assistance is available in cases of financial hardship, some doctors/hospitals may charge for records reproduction, but that's about it, as it was explained to me.)
I know that many of you are still trying to get your daughters through their Gardasil ordeals and may not have a lot of time to devote to this, but I wanted to alert you to the time limitations. Unfortunately, none of us know what complications our daughters will experience in the future from Gardasil, so it's something we should all consider.
Good luck to everyone. I pray daily for the thousands of girls who have been injured by Gardasil.

To ilovesummer: I'm glad that you may be one of the lucky people that have had no side-effects....yet. You need to go to the medalerts.org website & do a Basic Search, using HPV4 in the Vaccine field and also indicate "yes" beside the Died? field and you will find that 33 deaths have been connected to this vaccine - are these families just looking for something to complain about? If you are looking to the CDC, FDA or Merck for whether or not this vaccine is safe, you are looking in the wrong place honey. Money & politics are a big driver in the pharmaceutical industry; go to
****** and search "how the pharmaceutical industry educates doctors". I couldn't figure out why the Regional Health Officer & doctors in my area were pushing this vaccine so aggressively so I researched as many different angles that I could think of until I finally found it: in the last couple of years, Merck donated about $143 million to our biggest university - would you look a gift horse like this in the mouth, and endanger losing a donation like that?? Look up Vioxx, also brought to us by Merck, courtesy of the FDA, which ended up killing approx. 40K people, and surprise, internal e-mails are now coming to light (at trial) that show that Merck knew about the cardiovascular dangers of the drug all along, but gee, for some reason they didn't share that info with the FDA or the medical community. It seems they are very selective about the info that gets released about their drugs/vaccines...hmm I wonder why...

Oh and by the way I have had the Gardasil shots and I have had NO side effects and I feel great!!! I think people are just looking for excuses to blame Gardasil!!