My son started taking Singulair in Sept 08 when he was 22 months old. I never really gave it to him consistently, since it was just to help with his reoccurring ear infections. I noticed a little change in his behavior, but I thought it was the "terrible two's". I started giving it to him religiously at the beginning of Nov 08. He had his first meltdown on Nov 15. He was totally uncontrollable. I call it the "Exorcist" tantrum. I took him to the ER, but they told me nothing was wrong. (I did tell the ER all of the medications he was taking.) He started waking up in the middle of the night screaming. Each day, he got a little worse. Defiant, hateful, destructive, etc. He still isn't talking much, so he can't tell me what is going on. Christmas and New Year were horrible. We had NO idea that it could cause mood changes (that is putting it mildly). The pediatrician had no idea what could be causing the behavioral changes. He also started biting his fingernails and obsessing over little things, like the strings hanging off of his blanket.
We decided to take him off Singulair after double checking the side effects. We stopped a week ago, and the change is amazing. He is back to my great little boy. I am sooooo glad that we discovered this after only a few months. I cannot imagine living like that for years.
Two days after stopping the Singluair, I found this website: ******
As I read the different cases, I thought that it was exactly like my son. I was convinced it was the medicine. Each day that he gets better and better-like his normal self- I keep getting madder and madder that no one informed me about the possible side effect. The Dr. did not know nor the pharmacist.
Yesterday, I went to the FDA site to complain about the side effects. It just so happens that the FDA released a statement yesterday that they are still investigating the link between suicidality and Singulair.
We need to let everyone know, that if you are using Singulair, please pay attention to their child's behavior. Some people may be just fine, but others (like my son) are not fine.
Congratulations on making the connection and getting your son back!
"Living like that for years" is mentally exhausting, heartbreaking, frightening, isolating, and despairing. It makes you feel like a failure as a parent and as a person.
Please visit us at www.parentsforsafety.org and help us raise awareness of the side effects of Singulair.
Best wishes!