My daughter is 5 years old and has been on singulair for 1 week. ...

My son was also put on singulair last spring at the age of 5 for allergies and asthma, immediately he was having behavior problems, as soon as we stopped the singulair the behavior problems went away. We changed him back to claritin, with no adverse symptoms. Claritin did not control his allergies and he ended up having an asthma attack. Allergist recommended trying singulair again so we did and he has been doing fine so far this spring.. no adverse reactions or symptoms, thank god! For us it was worth trying singulair again, since he has not had to use his inhaler for the asthma since taking the singulair. I am glad we tried again!!

They could be acting aggressive because Singulair makes you tired.Maybe they're sleepy?My son has taken Singulair for about two years now and he's starting to get nosebleeds.Someone told me it is a blood thinner.Have you heard of this?

be very careful with the medication. My sone was on it for 3 months, his behaviour changed extremely! he became agressive, started having temper tantrums, night mares, frequent urination etc. It was so hard for him and me and my husband. I am so thankful to this site that helped me to identify the problem was the awful side effects brought by Singulair (despite the doctor assured me the medication is very safe......).

There is no way we are going back to Singulair! and suggets you same thing. You are smarter than me noticing the changes in your child's behaviour at such an early stage of administering the drug. It took for me 3 months to figure out what is wrong.

I don't think it is due to singulair. I've been on it for 8 years and it hasn't affected my personality at all. I have had no side affects what so ever.

My daughter also has a 5 year old and she is acting the same way and doesn't take singulair. She is around other children that do not get any punishment for ill behavior. Teachers are not allowed to punish and there for the children get away with bad behavior and these same children do not get punished at home. My granddaughter said to my daughter that her friends at school don't get punished by saying I hate you and not listening. A squirt of Viniger is very good, it is harmless and they do not like it. Also the one two three book is very good. When they get to three one of there favorite toy is taken away and then when they don't do what they are punished for, for a week they get it back. Right now my granddaughter doesn't have any toys as she has been very bad with back talk and saying no when she is asked to do something. When she wants her way she throws herself down and starts screeming.
I don't think it is singulair, I think it is at 5 years old they are in school with other children who are very disrespectul and their parents let them get away with it.

I forgot to edit this, sorry for this mis-spelling here it is revised

I don't think it is due to singulair. I've been on it for 8 years and it hasn't affected my personality at all. I have had no side affects what so ever.

My daughter also has a 5 year old and she is acting the same way and doesn't take singulair. She is around other children that do not get any punishment for ill behavior. Teachers are not allowed to punish and therefore the children get away with bad behavior and these same children do not get punished at home. My granddaughter said to my daughter that her friends at school don't get punished by saying I hate you and not listening. A squirt of Vinager is very good, it is harmless and they do not like it. Also the one two three book is very good. When they get to three one of their favorite toys are taken away and then when they don't do what they are punished for, for a week they get it back. Right now my granddaughter doesn't have any toys as she has been very bad with back talk and saying no when she is asked to do something. When she wants her way she throws herself down and starts screaming.
I don't think it is singulair, I think it is at 5 years old they are in school with other children who are very disrespectul and their parents let them get away with it.

to MRANCH

my daughter does not go to any school. she is not in the prescence of ill discliplined children. my child is not normally a child with monster like qualities. there are too many coincidences and everyone reacts to meds differently. adults definitely do not have the same side effects as children. please be respectful of other people here and do not criticize what may be someone's parenting skills or judgment.

my son has been on singulair for 3 yrs and initially i noticed a change in behavior but it worked so well for his allergies/ear infections. my son is going to be seven and he has been in trouble for his behavior in school yet gets all A's in academics. i have been so frustrated and had even thought about bringing him to see a psychologist. the temper tantrums have been unbelievable i cry all the time. i am a firm believer in disciplining children but nothing seems to help. as a nurse i know that you should not abruptly stop this medication. i suggest that anyone who discontinues this med ween off of it, especially children. i will do the same.

My son is four yrs old, he was recently put on this medication. We have always been complimented on how well behaved our son is and how mild mannered. He is very good. I have three kids and I would have to say he is the most passive and mild mannered of the three. Hes the youngest. Well not anymore, hes become aggressive and out of control, screaming crying, you name it, plain crazy. Im glad to see other parents have the same experience as us. Last night I was in tears as he was kicking me as I was trying to put him to bed, which normally, even our sitters say, he does on his own with problems. I am calling the drs. and stopping this med.

Hi,

I read your comment and wante to oppose you - just because you have been on the drug for 8 years with no side effects, unfortuately it doesnot mean there are no side effects!
How would you explain the drastic behaviour in kids during Singulair therapy and after the administrtaion of drug is terminated?

I am 100% convinced that Singulair does have strong, very negative side effects. more over, all the posts on this website has so much incommon when describing their kids medical and behaviour issues while administering the drug.

It is great there people out there who do not suffer from Singulair's side effects. But there is so large number of those who do!

To: vincinikki

this is exactly what happened to our 4 year old during 3 months he was udner Singulair. About 2 weeks after we stopped giving him S things went back to normal. It is a scary drug.

I have a 5 year old daughter who has been on Zyrtec now added Singulair with pulmacort too. She started the singulair on April 21 st. She has had nothing but bad reports from pre-K about not setting still and not listening etc etc. I definitely do not claim to have a innocent child 100% but I am now wondering if her aggressive behavior, restlessness, etc is attrib uted to the drug. I work for mental health facility and would never just take her off without talking to her Dr but I'm beginning to wonder about this medicine.

Teri, IN

You know, I am starting to think that this is also happening to my 4 year old son!! As soon as we put him on this medication, he has been very unbearable! You cant even take him out in public anymore! He was on it a couple of years ago and it did the same thing! Does anyone notice if it comes in "spurts"...such as, great one minute and then for the next 20 minutes a devil then back again?? This is CRAZY! I will be calling my doctor in the morning!!!!'

How bout "Zyrtec"?? Anyone have any issues with that?? He will absolutly NOT take the inhaler, even with a spacer...so thats out!!

Thanks!! AND GOOD LUCK EVERYONE!

Allie is on Zyrtec, Rhinocort and Albuterol along with the Singulair. I am sure that the Singulair is causing her adverse behavior. I have taken her off of it and she changed dramatically overnight. I haven't had anything but the normal issues since. We are headed to an allergist tomorrow for scratch tests and a new evaluation on the drugs she is taking. I'll keep this updated!

My son is 3 years old and I give him singulair during the times of the year when his asthma is very bad. It helps a lot. I have noticed no change in his behavior. He is a very good kid. However, I did read the label and it says it contains aspartame which makes me really not want to give it to him. I believe that aspartame can cause ms. Is anyone else concerned about giving their child a drug that contains aspartame?

I have read all of these posts and I do not know why anyone would post their opinion if they haven't shared this experience especially telling concerned parents to squirt vinegar at their children who are taking a medicine prescribed to them that may be making their problems worse. If you have a child with asthma you know that sometimes they do not get enough oxygen which may cause them to act out I mean what would you do if you could not think clearly because you were not getting enough oxygen to your brain? To top it off they have to add an unnessary toxin to their medicine that is supposed to make them better. Everyone who is concerned about thier children please research ASPARTAME and speak to the doctors about how you feel about it. I don't know what it will take but I feel like I am giving my son poison every time I give him that pill it kills me to think he could have other problems in the future because of it. What am I to do because he needs to breathe. Sincerly, Pam

My daughter (4.5 yrs old) has had unspecified allergies as long as I can remember. At 9 months, she began taking Tannafed (which is pretty much same as Zyrtec but also contains a decongestant). About a year ago, she actually had an anaphylactic reaction--now that's scary!!! We had her allergy tested afterwards and were very fortunate to find out what she was allergic to--cashews! Allergic to cashews (but not peanuts, though we avoid all nuts), dogs, and slightly allergic to milk (which certainly explains the eczema she'd had up until that point!).

She had about three episodes of pneumonia over the last several months, so we consulted her allergist and just as we'd started suspecting, she has asthma. We discontinued Tannafed and began Singulair. She's been on Singulair for a little over a month now.

I mention all of this b/c I wonder if I'm overlooking something, but...I'm concerned about her behavior. She's always been strong-willed (you can call it "spirited" but the girl has a mind of her own!) so I don't know how much is just her age. She doesn't listen and this seems to be worse over the last few weeks. She doesn't cooperate as easily these days and we have DEFINITELY thought she needed more sleep than she's been getting (but she fights us on the bedtime thing, too!). So we've chalked up her behavior to needing more sleep, but someone mentioned the Singulair today being a potential culprit. If Singulair didn't work for your toddler, what did? I am at my wit's end with the poor behavior, and it makes me feel like a crappy parent b/c patience has never been one of my virtues :>) So if you have any suggestions on meds....I'm all ears! Thanks!

I am suspect of Zyrtec as well. When allergy season is at its peak, my 5-year-old son takes it and has behavioral problems (most of which revolve around not being able to stay still, and he normally has a freakishly long attention span for his age). His Pre-K teacher says, "It's like he's a different kid." He really never has trouble at school, except when he's taking Zyrtec. (So, those whose sage advice would include squirting vinegar on a child can just keep it to themselves ... and learn to spell.) It may be that he doesn't sleep as soundly or deeply when he's taking it, or it may be something else.

My 5 year old has had some of the same effects. Did you take your off? Did her "normal" disposition return?

My son was put on Singulair at age 3. Our happy child turned into an anxiety- ridden, aggressive, miserable little boy.His personality changed completely. We began having problems with him at home, daycare, preschool, kindergarten... We went to therapy. We looked at our parenting skills and styles. Three years later I kept trying to think about what changed at that time in his life... It was the medication. I stopped the Singulair a month ago. He is a different child. Completely.

I am so glad I found this web site. My 5 year old daughter is taking Singulair for about 6 weeks now and was on it about a year ago. I could not remember why I stopped it last year, but now I clearly remember. First and foremost, she wakes up during the middle of the night at least 5 or 6 times a night. Mid way through her awakenings, she is throwing screaming tantrum fits. I was starting to get a little scared. Also I have noticed during the day the wining, irritability and crankiness and I also believe as someone put it "just plain craziness" has gotten really bad. The night time thing has gotten so bad that I found myself screaming and crying like crazy a couple of nights ago in the middle of the night. I am expecting my 3rd child in April and have been in denial of this pregnancy b/c of what we are going through with her. I found myself saying I didn't want another child, and that I can't even handle the ones that I have, etc. I have been so emotionally upset about this whole thing. I am now glad to read that my daughter isn't the only one with this 'all of a sudden symptoms'. Thanks to you all. I will be sure to call my allergist!!

My daughter is also 5 years old and was on Singulair she also turned into a little monster and had all off the same side effect she was no longer my sweet lovable little girl. I took her off the medicine and called my Doctor and she didn't feel it was the singulair. i told her I look up the side effects and it was my daughter to a T so she said she would say something to the drug Rep.

My 3 and 1/2 year old boy has been on Singulair for 6 months. The past 2 weeks he has been aggressive, irritable and has had problems with attention span at his pre-school. He has also started bed wetting and complaining of tummy aches, something he has never done before. Nothing has changed in his routine or at home so I got on line and found this. I called his pediatrician today and he took him off Singulair but not the Zyrtec. We are going to evaluate his behavior and in 3 weeks if it has not gotten better the also take him off Zyrtec. He has been on Zyrtec a lot longer that is why I think it is the Singulair or combination of both. How long before I notice any changes if it is the Singulair?

I am so excited to have found this site. My 2 year old daughter was just put on Singulair last week and she is so irritable and emotional and a bit crazed. We kept writing it off on lack of sleep due to asthma coughs, terrible 2s, or some such thing, but today realized that her behaviour was not normal. Just did a quick internet search of Singulair and behaviour and came up with this site. Such a tremendous relief to hear your stories. Will call MD first thing Monday morning and get her off this!

So, thanks to everyone for sharing their stories. These basic behavioural effects are not what the drug companies can quantitate for their labels - it all depends on parents talking to find out that its the medicine and not just that your kid is "going through a phase" or just a you-know-what! You all definitely made my night! Cant wait to get her off it and get my sweetie back!

I know this site is discussing Singular affects... we have not used this drug... we are actually having issues we believe with advair hfa inhaler. We have been using this for my 4.5 year old daughter's allergy induced asthma. She had been taking flovent and it didn't seem to help her horrible cough. The advair did help, almost instantly. She was also taking Zyrtech (which we found was causing a bed wetting issue) and Nasacort. I feel like I am hopping my daughter up on drugs and she is becoming a monster! The behavior change has been gradual... well it was mild to start and in the past 2 months she is simply out of control. Any advice???

It is important to remember that from a medical stand point children are not just little adults. Medications and substances that our bodies seem to be able to handle affect these little guys very differently. A pediatric nurse talked to me extensively about this not too long ago.

As a child I was VERY allergic to FD&C #5 red dye. I had serious personality changes when I would get some of it in my diet. (I was like Dr. Jekkyl and Mr. Hyde.) Remember all of the years without red M&M's? That was after FD&C #5 was discovered as a cancer causing substance.
I am a very normal well adjusted adult and remember this well. It was not my fault, I was just the unlucky one who could not tolerate this chemical in my body.
As a young mother I stood in line at the pharmacy and over heard parent asking the pharmacist if their childs behavior changes could be due to red dye in the pediacare the child was taking and he told them no. It made me really mad becasue I knew that it could surely be a possiblity.

Some kids just can't tolerate the same substances that others can. There is a difference between behavior problems and issues with substances causing reactions. I am so glad to see Moms who are insightful and paying attention. Good job!
It is very frightening trying to navigate the medical arena sometimes. When a child has a need that is as urgent as a breathing problem it really ups the stress level. Knowing if something is safe for my child is scarey.

Best wishes to all of you.
Marianne (Mom to a former 29 weeker)

Just this morning 3/28/08 I read an article in the newspaper consumer section indicating that this drug could be related to suicide. It also went on to say that the FDA is reviewing a " handful of reports involving mood changes, suicidal behavior and suidice in patients who have taken the popular allergy and asthma drug" Did you know that Merck has had to update the labeling Singulair 4 times in the past year alone to include info on reported side effects of tremors, anxiousness, depression and suicidal behavior? I have a son who is 6 years old and has been on the med for about a year. The only side effect that I was ever aware of till today was that this could possibly cause nightmares. Well we have not experienced those but after doing some other research on this drug this morning after reading the paper I have found that his complaints of "pins/needles, his irritability, his inability to sit still, and his defiance" could all possibly be related to this drug it does concern me. I will call his MD this morning to, because with all the meds out there, I believe that there has to be another option then Singulair for his asthma control. I hope that this was of help to anyone else reading these postings. Good luck to you all with your children.

My ten year old just had allergy testing on Wend. It is now Sat. She started Singulair Wend. Eve. She is complaining of the iching of her arms. Still from the skin tests? She has also been moody...to tears at times. I thought it was hormonal changes, because there was no "real" reason for the tears.
Wondering if it is the Singulair. My husband is a consultant, hired out to pharmacitical companies. He was rather upset about the Singulair, thain my mom mentioned her concerns, from the paper, yesterday.
Any advice...could she have a reaction this quickly? We are to go back mid April. I think if this becomes a pattern over the next few days, i will call Doc.
any advice would be great.

Did you ever figure this out? My son is currently on Singulair and we are experiencing the same problems. I'd love to know what happened with you. Thanks.'
Carol

My 6 yr old has been on Singulair every year during springtime allergies for 3 yrs. It is a season we dread every year for the fear of the behavior issues we face. He is on so many drugs (Flonase, Singulair, Zyrtec, Flovent, Albuterol) that we just assumed it was a combination of everything. I have a call in to his doctor right now and I'm so thankful I found this site.
There is so much guilt and worry in parenting and never enough time to educate ourselves enough on all the things we are up against. Hang in there, everybody. We can only do what we can with what we know at the time. All these drugs are scary. I will be researching more home remedies now, does anyone have any suggestions of where to start?

My child is not on singulair, but my cousin is. He is has been on it for 5 years now. He has been in and out of mental instititions for his temper and aggressive behavior toward everyone around him. He is always saying he is going to kill himself or run away. On several occasions he has hurt himself or his mother. He is only 12 and he WAS a well behaved child. He is now off the medicine and he is back to a happy child. My aunt also has 3 other kids and all of her other child are well behaved and pleasant. So as for the comment that "MRANCH" it is NOT that the child isnt being punished. Once again someone has to say it is the mother or people around that influence a child, not always the case. Do drugs not influence behavioral changes?

My aunt called the doctor and she was told to go to Merck.com look for the number and call them. Here is the number for people that have not already called and need answers now!! 908-423-1000

My son has just turned 2. He has been on Singular for almost a year. He is a very active little boy, does not listen when he is being disciplined . Since his personality has been developing alot over the past year it is hard for me to determine if the Singular is having such an effect on his behavior or if it is just the terrible 2s. He sleeps well at nighttime and takes a 2-3 hr nap but when he is awake he is constantly on the moove and getting himself into trouble. He can be very affectionate but then just like that his mood changes. There is no reasoning with him, as soon as he gets upset about something you just need to let him be and work through it. There is no coaxing him into it. So I wonder if this is all related to the Singualr. We tried for a few days during the off allergy season to take him off the drug, but he started to get a cough and ear infection, plus the dark circles under his eyes. So we started him up again. At that time I did not think that his aggressive behavior had anything to so with the Singular but now I wonder. Any advice.

I have a 5r-yr. old son on Singulair and has been on it for 2 months. After about the 1st month i noticed a change inhis behavior,(tempertantrums, fisting,etc..). Now it seems to have escalated to him saying nobody loves me, I,m a bad boy, you hate me and so on. His father and I always make sure he is praised when need be and diciplined when it calls for it. But we have never gone to any extreme of making him feel the way he feels. I am very terribly worried, I am so glad I stumbled on this web site, and to know its not just "this phase" everyone seems to think he is going through.

As a parent we know our kids, we may not always know what to do, but if you are tuned into your child you know if something is wrong and that is the way i feel, SOMETHING IS VERY WRONG.

Heidi,FL