May 12th
2008
2:09 PM
Flindy is correct. It is easily possible to be just plain allergic to montelukast- Singulair. Where were the other "allergens" that her child was exposed to? It was, at least hopefully, a sterile environment.
Montelukast is a quinoline. Drugs often are built around a core molecular called a pharmacophore, the molecule responsible for the drug's important characteristics. There is an enormous amount of literature regarding adverse side effects for other drugs in that category.
At the time when Merck was pursuing quinoline as the pharmacophore, other companies were pursing other core molecules. So a quinoline core is not the only choice of drugs. The huge problem is that doctors are not aware that Singulair is not an anti-histamine. They are not warned that the core molecule is a quinoline so they don't know to watch out for allergic reactions especially serious ones.
It would be common knowledge that a quinoline radical (in an acid pH) could react with hydrogen peroxide to produce quinilinic acid, a nasty neurotoxin. When I hear of neuro-psychiatric side effects that appear to coincide with times when hypoglycemia could be happening, then maybe there are some genetically pre-disposed people that actually are experiencing times of ketoacidosis. Scientist have known about quinolinic acid since the 1940's. Malaria drugs containing quinoline come with a warning about hypoglycemia and electrolyte imbalance. Which comes first - the chicken or the egg- the reaction to the drug then the hypoglycemia or the hypoglycemia then the reaction? It would be amazingly easy to prove whether quinolinic acid is responsible for these neurological side effects.
I am appalled by two things. One is that Merck has such power over the FDA that the FDA fails to even recognize basic pharmacophore characteristics. Merck manages to snow them somehow with just words - leukotriene receptor antagonist. So what is the FDA reaction? Merck should review their clinical data. How about find some people who are suffering from Singulair side effects and do some tests? Then you might actually find out why.
If it turns out that anyone at Merck or FDA knew that montelukast carried significant risk of allergic reactions due to it's pharmacophore and they chose not to reveal that in the literature for marketing reasons, those people should be prosecuted. It should not be the job of doctors who prescribe medications to do their own research.
-- By concernedcitizen | Reply | (1) replies | Private Message me
August 29th
2008
2:32 PM
I had the mirena put in in june after my third child. I did feel a bit dizzy when it was first put in but did not cramp at all. I was still spoting then from giving birth, so it just continued for about 3 more weeks the stopped altogether. I have not had a period since, woooooooohooooooooooo!!!!!!!! I don't feel bad about that at all. I did have a day when I woke up cramping and thought I was going to start but never did. My doctors nurse told me everything I needed to know about the mirena long before i had it put in. I actually made the appointment to discuss it with her. Everyone should have been smart enough to ask questions before it was done, not the day it is. You cant think straight when someone is getting ready to put a device in you. I have to say I love my mirena and would not trade it for a pill, a shot, or any other birth control method. Ladies know your gyn very well before trusting them. I think most of you just think it is your doctors fault. It is not it is yours for not researching it more. And come on what women is not moody a day in her life, not many. How many headaches did you get before the mirena? How were your sinuses before mirena? Probably the same. Some womens health simply changes after having a baby. I also advise against you removing these mirenas yourselves. It is not smart, you could get a bad infection from not being in a sterile environment.
-- By tntwcnc2002 | Reply | (5) replies | Private Message me