Welcome to Medications.com

Is there a potential explanation for the adverse psychiatric side...

Posted at 12:51 PM on Apr 19, 2008 by concernedcitizen, #29732
Is there a potential explanation for the adverse psychiatric side effects of montelukast? In my opinion, there are at least some very good clues based upon the work of the Chinese researchers. A 2006 report indicated that they had localized (meaning found it was there) the CystLT1 receptor (same as the receptor that montelukast Singulair blocks) in the neurons of the brain tissue of rats. In order to do that, they injected rat brain's with NMDA to cause a chemically induced state of excitotoxicity. Excitotoxicity is a common factor in Central Nervous System disease. They concluded that both 5-LOX and CystLT1 were upregulated by the excitotoxicity that they artificially created with the NMDA. Therefore, there would be a potential link between neuron activity and CystLT1. Nerve cells are damaged by excitotoxicity. These researchers used NMDA to cause nerve damage which caused the CystLT1 to show up. NMDA was often used in human behavior studies to cause brain damage. They would then try to observe whether behavior was compromised to conclude what areas of the brain determined what behavioral response. So I was thinking about the Chinese researchers as I was reading other posts. One post interested me particularly regarding the mother who described behavior that seemed like hypoglycemics when their snack doesn't arrive on time. So a light bulb went on. Glutamate, another excitotoxin, can build up in the brain to a level that is damaging if humans become excessively hypoglycemic. If glutamate concentration around the synaptic cleft reaches too high a level then neurons die. Clinically, it really does seem that many people experience things that sound like the effects of hypoglycemia. It could be only a coincidence. But then again, maybe not. The Chinese researchers found the CystLT1 receptor in the rat brain neuron after brain damage. They found the CystLT1 receptor in the normal human brain in the microvascular endothelial cells and in neuron and glial-appearing cells in brain trauma or tumors. What role does the CystLT1 play in brain function? If it exists in brain tissue, we can assume that it does have a function. If it plays a role in preventing or repairing neuron damage due to excitotoxins, then there would be a very direct link between Singulair and adverse psychiatric side effects. http://www.chinaphar.com/1671-4083/27/1526.htm The bottom line is that Merck owes people who take Singulair further research regarding it's effect on the brain.
REPLY TO THIS POSTING | Private Message me | Add as friend | Flag as inappropriate
 
Reply about 1 year ago on Apr 19, 2008 by b2bmommy, #7436

My son had severe tantrums around dinner time and he would finally admit that he was hungry. He also thought he was hungry all the time. This ended up being tied into his ADHD and being on the meds for that, that suppress the appetite seemed to "cure" it. I have noticed he is not as famished when we do not use the ADHD meds since he has been off of the singulair. Could it be possible that because of the neuron damage, these kids develop ADHD symptoms? My son has no problem paying attention but struggles with impulsivity, hyperactivity, and irrational behavior, labeling him as ADHD. Please tell me what you think. He started singulair at age 4 and I have taken him off at age 8. That is a young brain! Thanks for all of your info!

Private Message me | Add as friend | Flag as inappropriate
 
Reply about 1 year ago on Apr 19, 2008 by concernedcitizen, #7439

I know that people think that I am picking on Merck. There is quite a trend that the FDA approves a lot of drugs for which there are not adequate answers. I am going to look at Lilly's Cymbalta. The literature says that they don't know how it works. Yeh, right on the patient information sheet. Then they list a lot of side effects that are similar to Singulair. Why would anybody take a drug that the company doesn't know anything about?

I want to take a look. It might take a few days to see if there are any parallels.

Private Message me | Add as friend | Flag as inappropriate
 
Reply about 1 year ago on Apr 20, 2008 by bobbiejo, #7460

Thanks concernedcitizen for the informative information about Singulair. I have read alot of your postings and wasn't aware of the actions of the drug. You are either very knowledgable or have done some great research.

Private Message me | Add as friend | Flag as inappropriate

Make a reply to this posting:

Type your reply to this side effect post:


Medical advice disclaimer
© 2002-2007, Skylabs Inc.  |  About Us  |  Disclaimer/Terms of Use  |  Advertise  |  Contact Us  |  Site Map  |  Developed by: W3matter.com | Sleep Apnea