To get the real information in regards to what level of research...

Kate, I fully agree. She must have some interest in Merck whether she's an employee or has money tied in Merck's plummeting stock otherwise she wouldn't be defending Singulair specifically and so vigorously without class.

Sorry to disappoint you, but I have no vested interest in Merck or any other pharmaceutical company for that matter. What I have a vested interest in is providing some balance to those parents who come to this blog site and are scared to death. That is what happened to a very good friend of mine. After reading the posts here, she was so panicked she took her 12 year old off Singulair. A kid who had no problems on it by the way. A few days later my friends kid was rushed to the ER and almost died from an asthma attack. That is what I have a problem with. People here telling others the side effects will creep up, that kids should stop their medication right away, etc.

So sorry for your friends child chris555,asthma is a slippery slope,that is why informed decisions,are what we are asking for.The right as parents to make the correct choices for our children.It is a personnel choice,but it is your choice ,and you have the inheriant right to know the facts.The risks and benefits for your own situation.Of course all of us struggled with the fear of taking children with asthma off this med,as we did believe it worked.but we weighed the risks and benefits,and made to the best of our abilities the choise for our children. Had my child after taking him off regressed and had an attack i may well of considered putting him back on,but that was not the case,he neither had an attack or suffered from allergies,as his doctor said he would.In fact he is as healthy as i have ever seen him

I'm reading right through chris555's post and I don't buy it. Why did you never mention that before and instead chose to throw venomous daggers at people? I've done extensive research on this drug as well as many others on here and I don't buy it. Here's a direct quote sent to me from the leading professor of Pharmacology and Pediactric Medicine at the University of Miami.
"I think Singulair has MODEST efficacy, and IF WE TAKE ALL OUR PATIENTS OFF THIS DRUG TODAY THEY WILL NOT SUFFER. This is not an important drug for pediatric asthma, as are inhaled corticosteroids"
What would you say to this comment? Mind you this is coming from one of the leading authorities of pharmacology in the nation.
Furthermore, nobody on this site recommends stopping a medical treatment without finding an alternative. We recommend making informed decisions based on the information that's available to them.

My son went on a different asthma med rather than just going cold turkey. It is not one that gives him suicidal thoughts like singulair did. Does chris555 think we are just ranting? I took my son to psychologists trying to figure out why he had these thoughts as a 4-8 year old. When I found out that singulair, a drug that was supposed to help him, caused this side effect, I took him off of it. There are lots of other asthma drugs out there so why put yourself at risk with a drug that causes depression and suicidal thoughts? I am so happy to have all of these stories that support what I was seeing with my son. To close, I would not recommend this drug, but others are fine. Do not just take your child off cold turkey-have a back up!

To chris555:

Merck warns on it's Singulair website that Singulair is not an effective replacement for fast acting inhalers in the event of sudden symptoms. Originally when Singulair was developed it's purpose was to prevent damage and inflamation that is caused by excessive number of eosinophils in respiratory tissue. There is no evidence at all that Singulair is effective as the only treatment for asthma to prevent or treat acute asthma attacks. And, Merck makes this very clear in the warning notice.

The efficacy and safety of Singulair has a genetic component. That means that it is entirely possible that some people are not compatible with the way in which Singulair works. Adverse side effects are very possibly the result of compatibility problems.

Sadly, Merck has succumbed to the disease of "corporate greed." Meaning that they care more about profitability and the shareholders than they do about the patients. For this callousness, some day this corporation will suffer the punishment. Merck has always known that the cysLT1 receptor is a gene with more than several variations. If they told doctors to watch out for side effects due to genetic variations, then they wouldn't be able to sell this drug like it's harmless - cherry chewable - candy. Singulair is dangerous to people with gene variations and it causes unnatural biochemical events to take place.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
SINGULAIR will NOT replace fast-acting inhalers for sudden symptoms. You should still have rescue medication available and continue to take your other asthma medications unless your doctor tells you to stop.