September 7th
2008
8:33 AM
Thanks for the update Kate,as we wait with interest in what Merck has to say,I hope it is not a repeat of the Lung Associations report.To review past clinical studies,i dont know feels crazy,to ignore post marketing reports,well ignorant.My fear is after making my report to the FDA,that was the end of it not one follow up for further information,not one question on how our recovery was continuing nothing.All my letters to my congressman not one reply,i did not ask for a reply,but if someone wrote to me as often as i write,i would at least want to rule out stalking.Clinical trials are what they are,they are for profit,and not the profit of the participant,but profit for the companies and clinics holding trials,this by itself is a conflict of interest.We must continue to demand change the very future of our children demands it.Those of us who have seen the ravages of this drug must still shout out till we are heard our experiances do count no matter what the out come of this investigation.Good luck to all keep fighting
-- By flindy | Reply | Send Private Mail
September 6th
2008
8:38 AM
Hey to All.
I know that the ALA study got everyone upset and I am happy we all emailed her.We all pretty much got the same response from Heather,defending the study and the integrity of the results.If only this investigation would conclude!
The Merck company contacted our Senator and indicated there was a conclusion and then ,they never got back to her before the weekend.I will have news early in the week.Please everyone just keep on voicing your concerns by reaching out any way you can.Sometimes it seems unbearable and I have to take a break with the communications on this website but,I continue my communication with my local contacts and the FDA.
I would love quick results and everyone would love this to get the publicity this story deserves but,if you look at how far we have come getting attention focused on this drug it is amazing.
This website has been here for years and people have complained and nothing has been accomplished until now.Our system is so broken it will take time to fix it.Drugs get approved everyday and when they are put out for multi use,the population benefit -risk ratio changes and there is little oversight on this matter.
The problem is much bigger than just notification of updated side effects,which indeed is why our son died from this drug.It is reporting adverse events to the FDA and the drug company and following up on your report.We can only fight within the system of the government that is in place at the moment and push for change to take place in there programs.
This is what has take place as of this year,The FDA's new 'Safe Use "iniative(which when it gets further developed will increase our partnerships with physicians as well as patients) and the July 2008 AAM report" Education in Safe and Effective Prescribing Practices" which aims to address the education of the next generation of physicians on how to best use medicines.This may help in notification practices and over prescribing but, we want the drug companies to lose the unprecedented control over the clinical research and and evaluation of there own drugs.What other company in the USA, gets to self regulate.Change will come ,we have asked for accountability by having a signature exchange when new and updated side effects are found.Full disclosure of all reported adverse events to doctors from the company representatives,with signature required upon full understanding of the benefit -risk ratio change. A prescriber should know all the good and the bad about a medicine they have chosen to dispense,if not then they should not be able to dispense it.If we were not knowledgeable about selling mushrooms and we sold the poisonous ones ,because we did not take the time it would take to educate ourselves about them,would we not be legally responsible for our actions.
Accountability is what we are asking for and maybe the candyland doctor prescribing practices would stop.They seem to ,not have a responsibility to their patients and the company has no responsibility to the prescribers,so who is responsible for our safety?
I will keep fighting for real change and all you people must do the same ,make an appointment with your representatives and have them contact our Congress representative of NY,maybe with enough onboard we can get the legislation we need to put a law in place for proper notification practices.Kirsten E. Gillibrand Member of the US House of Representatives 120 Cannon House Office Builing Washington, D.C. 20515
This is how change is made ,if you want to help please go forward and do this and don't stop until they listen.I am always willing to do whatever I can,it is physically exhausting and sometimes I just have to step away but, my daily review of this site has not stopped and my fight will continue.Dave and I sit here and our hearts just break for all but, we need people to push their Representatives they do work for the people just remind them of that.Any one with questions or that wants to communicate via private email just ask for my email address or phone number or leave me yours and a time and I will be sure to contact you,Kate M.
September 5th
2008
8:57 PM
I'm going to be interviewed about my family's horrific experience with Singulair on Monday by a CBS news affiliate out of Boston. I am going to try and blow the lid off this story and will hopefully be posting my interview on youtube. This has gotten so ridiculous with the ALA "study" ....and I never wanted to go there....but it almost to the point of conspiracy. These people are just downright creepy!!!!!!!!!!
-- By matthewct1 | Reply | (1) replies | Send Private Mail
September 5th
2008
4:04 PM
Just read an FDA article out today, I believe. The FDA is looking to publish quarterly a list of "potential problem drugs". That is fantastic! But where will this information be posted, and how often should a medical prescriber visit and hunt for such information?
I still maintain every medical professional with the appropriate credentials to prescribe any medication should be required to register with an email address with a database within the FDA to immediately communicate this new-found quarterly list, as well as any investigations launched (as with Merck/Singulair). Wow - what a concept.
I suppose I should be somewhat more optimistic with a slight move in the right direction - but I know with all my heart neither my daughter's pediatrician, nor my personal intern will receive, nor be aware, of any of the quarterly "lists".
Will keep trying to get a change within the FDA.
-- By rlcoffin | Reply | (1) replies | Send Private Mail
September 4th
2008
10:34 PM
I just started Singulair about a month ago. Before I started taking the tablets I remember hearing some negative information on the news about the medicine. I found this web site and read about all the side effects before taking my first tablet. Even though there was so much negative information I thought I would give the medicine a try anyway. I have always been in good health and only needed this medicine for seasonal allergies. Part of me said "I know the side effects wont affect me!" Well I was WRONG! I have had the worst nightmares!!!
The nightmares started the first night I started taking Singulair. I continued taking the medicine hoping the nightmares would pass. Well, they have only got worse. However, last night was horrible. Not only did I have my nightly nightmares I had a hallucination! It started when I heard my 2 year old son wake up. He first opened his bedroom door then drank some water that was on his night stand, then was on his way over to my room. I got up to put him back in bed just to find out his bedroom door was closed and he was sound asleep in his bed. I haven't had any other side effects, but I think this is a good enough reason to stop taking the medicine. Does anyone have any other suggestions for another allergy medicine I can take. I've already tried Nasonex and Flonase they don't work nearly as good as Singulair. Any suggestions would be great thanks!
-- By vartis | Reply | (1) replies | Send Private Mail
September 2th
2008
11:45 AM
I read the article by the AP,what i find interesting is Mercks acknowledgment of some minimal brain crossing in rats of the drug....no studies were done in humans to see if it crossed the brain barrier....there is a way to find out if this happens designed by Columbia uni..fairly easy and inexpensive...and the FDA dosnt require the drug companies to do it What part of the big picture did they miss is this not a no brainer
-- By flindy | Reply | (1) replies | Send Private Mail
September 1th
2008
12:56 PM
I apologize that the summary is not ready yet. At this time, I am inclined to believe that the FDA will "black box" Singulair. Maybe, I am just hoping but we will see. I also believe that the FDA will also investigate the entire category of drugs with genetic components and warn doctors that these drugs do NOT behave AS EXPECTED when the patient has a genetic variant.
I am posting this again.
I just wanted everyone to know that I am still here and concerned about everyone who is having side effects from Singulair. Sometime within the next few weeks I am going to post a summary and conclusion about all of the research that I have posted. I hope to come up with a well organized concise statement about why everyone who experiences side effects from Singulair should stop using the drug immediately. Not everyone has an adverse reaction to this drug. For those who do, it is very dangerous to continue this medication even for one more day. STOP IMMEDIATELY IF YOU SUFFER SIDE EFFECTS FROM SINGULAR. WHEN YOU SUFFER SIDE EFFECTS FROM SINGULAIR, THE REASON IS THAT YOU ARE NOT COMPATIBLE WITH THE DRUG'S GENETIC BASED MODEL. Singulair targets the CysLT1 receptor, which is a gene. This gene is not the same for everyone. If your doctor does not understand that the mode of action of Singulair has a genetic component, then tell him/her.
-- By concernedcitizen | Reply | Send Private Mail
August 30th
2008
5:27 AM
My 6 y/o daughter has been taking Singular for approx. 2 years. She began to have regular stomach pains shortly there after. She was sent to Children's hospital where they put her on a laxitive which made things worse. Then we began testing for food allergies only to find out that she tested positive for a 3 page list of foods. We eliminated those food and had her tested again. She was subsequently allergic to the foods we eliminated. She was recently down to rice, a few meats and some vegetables. Guess what, she is now allergic to those foods.
All this time she has been complaining of severe leg pain, eye pain, throat pain, numbness and tingling in her hands a feet, all of which come an go. I have reported this to all the doctors and specialists we have seen. She had undergone countless blood tests to rule out autoimmune disorders and all come up negative.
She began to develop severe anxiety and just had the blues most of the time. She would be crying and saying off the wall things like, "I don't think my fish is happy". She couldn't stand to be away from me and would stress out about even weather or not she would sit by me at a restaurant. I mentioned this to all of the doctors. They said to not make too much of it. One suggested she see a psychologist. NOT ONE DOCTOR EVER LOOKED AT THE SINGULAR.
Finally about 4 weeks ago my neighbor who is a scientist at a pharmaceutical company called me and told me about the "black box" warning that had just come out on Singular. I took both of my children off of it immediately. My daughter went through about a 10 day period where her anxiety got worse and then it was just gone. We are adding foods back into her diet and at this point she has not had any severe allergic reactions.
The last 2 years have been a complete nightmare for her and for us. I am a medical professional and I have had doctors treat me like a hypocondriac, hypersensitive, attention seeking mother. I feel so justified and saddened by the recent findings all at the same time. Most of all I am so grateful that we figured this out before things go even worse.
Please let me know if anyone else is suffering food related reactions as a side effect.
-- By gayelea | Reply | (4) replies | Send Private Mail
August 30th
2008
12:19 AM
I forgot to add my symptom of long bouts of sobbing to my earlier post. I took the advice from celticmoon and also made a report with the FDA. Here is the address: www.fda.gov/medwatch/report.htm
-- By megs153 | Reply | Send Private Mail
August 27th
2008
7:29 AM
5 months Singulair free,yesterday was Matts first day of high school,his first day of regular school in 2 years as he could not leave the house or cope with out panic and fear.7am he awoke by himself and got ready for school,the only thing i saw in his eyes was excitement,he left the house smiling.While he was gone i passed and worried waiting for the phone to ring in case he needed me ,watching the clock and wondering how his day was. he arrived home at 2 thirty still smiling,i asked him how his day was he said fine, i asked him what they did he said nothing ,lol all is good ,thank you thank you thank you
-- By flindy | Reply | (3) replies | Send Private Mail
August 25th
2008
9:22 AM
SINGULAIR AND ZYRTEC SAME MEDICATION made by different companies. Be careful!
-- By frightenedmother | Reply | (6) replies | Send Private Mail
August 25th
2008
8:13 AM
Hi to all,
I want to Thank all those who contacted me in regards to my request for help with the Media.I believe the reports are in now and the stories will be out soon.I am going to ask that if at all possible ,those that have contacted me wanting to come forward with your stories, let me keep your names for further reference if needed.If anyone does not want that, please reply and I will delete the information.I just cant thank all of you enough,you are helping many by coming forward with your stories.There is great power in numbers and every person counts that is willing to not lay down to this injustice done to our families.If you have a voice and use it, it is a tool to make a change.We all forget that years ago information was passed on by word of mouth,this maybe the only way this will get out until this investigation is over.Use every avenue possible and change will come.Thanks Again Kate and Dave M.
August 23th
2008
8:57 PM
I have been reading all of these posts and have another question. I hope that someone can help. My daughter, 8 years old, has been on Singulair since she was 4. She is normally a very happy girl with a wonderful disposition. For the last year or so, she has been having trouble getting herself to sleep at night. She says that she hears things in her head such as ringing or "noises". A few hours before she knows it's bedtime, she cries and when we ask her why she's crying, she can't give us a reason. We initially thought that she was crying for no reason because she didn't want to go to sleep. I remember reading about the side effects of Singulair causing mood swings, etc., but her's are not violent mood swings. Just very emotional and has a hard time coming down from the "episode". I'm at a loss...I have not talked to her doctor yet about it, but have told her that we will make an appointment this week to discuss it with him. My husband suggested that maybe it sounded like she was having a panic attack or anxiety attack. I hate to label her as that at such a young age. My mind now goes back to the side effects of Singulair and maybe this is to blame. Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thank you! Concerned Mom
-- By danap | Reply | (12) replies | Send Private Mail
August 22th
2008
4:54 PM
My son became soo aggressive 3 days after starting Singulair, that he was almost banned from soccer for life because of attacking another player on the field. It resembled what I had heard of 'roid rage'. When I questioned the doctor immediately, was told there was no connection. After months of the aggression, then came depression and self mutilation. My 15 yr old was secretly burning himself to 'punish' himself for things he done wrong or "disappointing" those around him. He now has permanent scars all over his arms from these burns. The depression took to drug abuse and my A student fell to an F student in 6 weeks. He completely lost his will to live and thrive. After 4 months of hell, the dr informed us that the FDA just warned physicians of this side effect. Im furious now that I read through the court documents and find that the drug company knew this all along. I know I am a luckier parent than some whose children committed suicide, but still wish that the FDA would get off their BUTTS and do something to take this drug off the market. I was told by a rep at the FDA that Merck will not take it off the shelf until they're made to because even if they had to pay parents millions for their child's suicide, they would still be pocketing more profit than our children's lives are worth in the court system. Not sure WHY we even HAVE an FDA, they won't do anything to protect us from these money hungry drug companies. A YEAR to do an 'INVESTIGATION" are you kidding me? If the CEO of Merck had to bury his child, it would come off the shelf THAT DAY.
-- By frightenedmother | Reply | (3) replies | Send Private Mail
August 21th
2008
10:49 AM
Have been experiencing the same serious behavioral issues (screaming, launching every toy he has out of his room, knocking over his night stand, hitting, kicking and just being hateful) with my 4 year old who has been on Singulair for 2 years as I'm noticing many of you have here. My wife and I have a wonderful relationship and happy home and tons of love and support from other family that's close buy so the kid has a very nice environment. We have taken him off the medication as of yesterday. I have consulted his doctor but I'm anxious to hear what methods of treatment for the asthma all of have chosen in replacement of Singulair or did you just maintain with an inhaled maintenance program with something like Pulmicort? Also, how long was after taking your child off of Singulair did take to for the outburst to subside and the behavior to become more mellow and normal (what is normal for a 4 year old?). Any info would be greatly appreciated.
-- By rhettro73 | Reply | (6) replies | Send Private Mail
August 20th
2008
10:02 PM
To all the Parents out there that are outraged at what Singulair has made your child and family suffer through - Please, please take a moment and file a complaint with the FDA. It is a simple form you can complete on the computer. This product should not be dispursed like candy to our children. It is amazing the number of doctors that are unaware of the severe side effects that this drug has. Our children suffer and we keep poisoning them under the illusion that we are helping them. We tend to blame the abnormal behavior on growth all the while punishing them for it. It is a horrible, horrible cycle.
-- By lindsaysmom | Reply | (2) replies | Send Private Mail
August 11th
2008
9:55 PM
I am a parent of a 14 year old son. He has been on many meds due to having migraines, adhd, seizures, and asthma. For 3 years his ADHD meds have been switched. Now Thanks to a friend she told me about singular side effects. OH MY GOD. it blows my mind reading this stuff. He has been on singular for 3 years and never once did I think all these problems were caused by that drug. Flipping out over the smallest things, arguing with us his parents, his friends, being mean to us and a real smartass, depression, and MAJOR attitude. Getting upset over nothing at all then crying for no reason What was his Dr. thinking? Needless to say, I took the singular while she was telling me this stuff about her own son, and threw them away, I will never allow my son to take that shit again. I hope in three days like all of you say, that my son will be that loving, caring, friendly person he use to be ! Singular free is how he will be!!
-- By te12 | Reply | (3) replies | Send Private Mail
August 9th
2008
12:03 AM
unfreakinbelievable. every single drug ad I see on TV these days for new drugs claims that it will cure you of something. the only catch is: it will give you a million side-effects, half of which can be life threatening!!!
What kind of a job is the FDA doing that it lets these kinds of drugs enter the market and puts people with common problems like asthma in greater danger for developing extreme heart problems and psychological disorders???
I used Reactine. The very 1st tablet I used gave me a dream so vivid that I jumped out of bed - I was about 30% conscious and I still believed that I was in that dream. I dream that a Black Widow was in my bed right under my back and when I woke up I actually envisioned the Black Widow. Now consider that I live in Canada where BW's don't even exist. That's how powerful these drugs are and that's why you should stay away from them. I know this sounds crazy, but DON'T BELIEVE A THING YOUR DOCTOR TELLS YOU!!!!! Use common sense in common situations!!! Think for yourself and listen to your gut instinct or you will wind up dead before your time.
-- By oncrack | Reply | (2) replies | Send Private Mail
August 7th
2008
3:25 PM
Hi to all,
I wanted to take a minute to say Thanks to all who post and search for answers to this drugs confusing and serious side effects.To all who have taken the time to contact the FDA and file a report to help others.Dr.Sarah Sellers is no longer the person to contact at the FDA,she has moved on after concluding her end of the investigation on Singulair.If you have a serious side effect please still take the time to file on the official FDA site for adverse event reporting.In NY. state we are still searching for legislation to help with the notification process for these serious side effects.There are to many Doctors that still do not have a clear idea of the updated side effects,and are not reporting as they should.
Letting your doctor know that good medicine is all about follow up on complaints,such as researching the singulair website to rule out that it may be the drug or it may not.Just dismissing the patient and prescribing another drug is how these drugs go undetected for so long.We want this to stop and only the unfortunate recipients of the horrors of this drug can make this happen.Again thank you for your efforts to change the system with follow through and perserverance.Our horror story is one of many and we want to help those who have survived the ravages of this drug, OUR CHILD DID NOT. Kate and Dave M.
August 4th
2008
4:00 PM
My eight year old daughter was recently diagnosed with precocious puberty. This is devastating to my family...She was on singulair fo asthma for almost 4 years...Noone in the med profession will comment on how this happened but the internet is filled with other parents dealing with the ame dilemma. I am so furious right now.
-- By aleteat | Reply | (3) replies | Send Private Mail
July 31th
2008
8:11 AM
Singulair associated with Churg-Strauss. A study in France and Germany.
Thorax. 2008 Aug;63(8):677-82. Epub 2008 Feb 14. Links
The leucotriene receptor antagonist montelukast and the risk of Churg-Strauss syndrome: a case-crossover study.Hauser T, Mahr A, Metzler C, Coste J, Sommerstein R, Gross WL, Guillevin L, Hellmich B.
Dr A Mahr, Department of Internal Medicine, Hôpital Cochin, 27 rue du Faubourg Saint-Jacques, 75679 Paris Cedex 14, France. alfred.mahr@cch.aphp.fr.
BACKGROUND: There has been some concern that leucotriene receptor antagonists might precipitate the onset of Churg-Strauss syndrome (CSS). A study was undertaken to investigate the relationship between the leucotriene receptor antagonist montelukast and the onset of CSS. METHODS: Medication histories of 78 patients with CSS from France and Germany were retraced by questioning the patients, treating physicians and dispensing pharmacists, and from medical records. Using a case-crossover research design, exposures to montelukast and other asthma medications during the 3-month "index" period immediately preceding the onset of CSS were compared with those of four previous 3-month "control" periods. Odds ratios (ORs) were computed by conditional logistic regression. RESULTS: The ORs for CSS onset were 4.5 (95% CI 1.5 to 13.9) for montelukast, 3.0 (95% CI 0.8 to 10.5) for inhaled long-acting beta(2) agonists, 1.7 (95% CI 0.5 to 5.4) for inhaled corticosteroids and 4.0 (95% CI 1.3 to 12.5) for oral corticosteroids. Montelukast exposure during control periods increased temporally over three consecutive calendar periods of CSS onset from 1999 to 2003 (p(trend) <0.0001). CONCLUSION: Montelukast use was associated with a 4.5-fold higher risk of CSS onset within 3 months. However, the positive estimates obtained for other long-term asthma control medications suggest that this link might be confounded by a general escalation of asthma therapy before CSS onset. The association between montelukast and CSS observed in this study is probably also explained by the increasing use of this medication over time.
PMID: 18276721
-- By concernedcitizen | Reply | (1) replies | Send Private Mail
July 28th
2008
12:16 PM
I have just come across this website and I am so upset. My 10 year old daughter has been on Singulair for 8 years. Since she was 2 years old. About 3 years ago I spoke to her pediatrician about the fact that I was concerned that she had been on it for so long and about the possible long term side effects. She brushed me off and told me that there weren't any.
Over the years she has complained often of stomach aches and pains. We even had her on Miralax for a couple years because the Dr. was sure it was constipation. The last couple of years she has been complaining of leg cramps and I sort of brushed that off as "growing pains."
She is extremely emotional and has serious mood swings. I even asked her Dr. about ADD and she said it was just her personality. I am almost in tears typing this because I have no way of knowing if her actions are because of her age, her personality, or because of this medication. She has been on it for so long that I wouldn't know what her personality would be if she had never taken it.
Her asthma tends to be seasonal and she hasn't had an attack in years. I took her off the meds as soon as I read about the disturbing side effects that hit too close to home. I am upset that her Dr. never warned me about these side effects (that were not listed on the label) and didn't take my concerns seriously.
She is very small for her age and I was concerned that the medication may have stunted her growth....little did I know there were so many other dangerous side effects. I just hope and pray that she doesn't suffer any long term negative effects from this medication that I have given her, thinking I was helping her.
-- By casibugg | Reply | (2) replies | Send Private Mail
July 27th
2008
11:39 PM
I have been on and off Singulair for roughly a year and half, and after reading some of these posts I have a much better understanding of where some of my feelings are coming from. When I first began taking Singulair, it really helped me breathe a lot better and I was convinced it was the best drug on earth. Slowly, over time, I began to notice that I was becoming slightly more irritable but didn't really think much of it. I got off the drug for several months because I don't enjoy being on medication. I wanted to see if a nutritional approach would help me ward off my allergies. After a few months of being off Singulair, I began to have difficulty breathing during allergy season and went back on the drug. It really helped my breathing in a big way; however, my irritability began to return. I thought I was just becoming overly stressed, but when I heard about the moodiness that can be caused by Singulair, I decided to once again get off the drug. I was off of it for several month, and have recently begun using the drug again. I haven't even made it through my first 30 days and I'm becoming a monster!! I'm yelling at my wife like crazy. I seriously felt for the first time in my life that committing suicide would be a good thing and I keep telling myself in my head how bad I suck! My temper is off the charts! I feel like I literally have no way of holding my rage back. It's like I'm an audience member to my own MMA fight. I'm absolutely getting off of this product tonight! I will keep you posted on how I feel after a couple of days not taking this drug.
-- By newera1927 | Reply | (1) replies | Send Private Mail
July 25th
2008
4:12 PM
hi everyone my name is Katie, and my son has been on Sindulair for over 6 months now. I took him off 2 nights ago, the day I found this sight. I just cant believe how many families this medication has hurt. When my son was put on, I was never told anything about anything like this happening. I thought his behavior was due to the divorce and child custody things in his life that were going on. It did not cross my mind that it could ever be this medication. He does not take anything else at all.
Some of the things we have been dealing with are, panic attacks at night, bad dreams, aggressiveness, depression, anxiety! Fits that you would not believe. Crying all the time, very emotional. And the newest one, thinking everyone he loves is going to get killed. These are not things a 6 just turned 7 year old should be going through.
I got to thinking that I needed to get him some professional help, this is not normal! I decided to look up Singulair on the net, I did not find anything. I looked up Childrens depression, and angziat, still nothing fit. Then I found this site. Wow did it blow my mind. It fit and it felt right, if you are a mom, I think you know where I am coming from. When you know you just know! So I got him off the medication, and already I am seeing changes. The first night was not grate but better than it has been in a long time, the next day though, he woke up and smiled at me for the first time in way to long, he only had 2 meltdowns that day, when he was having at lest 2 in an hr before. So far so good, I just hope that It keeps going well for him.
Thank you for letting me tell my story!
July 19th
2008
5:33 PM
hi,
My three year old son was prescribed singulair - he stopped sleeping well- and started stuttering severely. He had total meltdowns, the like of which,
i'd never seen before. We took him off the medications and the meltdowns disappeared, he started sleeping well again. The stuttering improved but he still has a mild amount of stuttering that we are treating preventatively.
July 18th
2008
8:38 AM
My son has been taking Singular as well as Advair and Zyrtec and Nasonix for the past 6 months. He is doing so well. He has not had to go to emergency, he has not been sick, and he has not had mood swings. If you look at the prescription information that comes with Singular, you can see what the side effects can be. My recommendation is to take your child off of them if they have a side effect. I contacted my Dr. and Merck is studying only 1 case with a child that had side effects, but they did not say if this child was on other Psych medicine at the same time. The 2 psych meds that have shown a bad interaction with Singular are Phenobarbital and Rifanpin (spelling may be wrong). With all the posts I have read, very few people indicate if they are taking other medications at the same time as Singular. My suggestion is that you consult your Dr. and then send your case to Merck for more studies. If all you are doing is posting on the web, you are not solving this issue with the makers of the medication.
-- By motherbird | Reply | (4) replies | Send Private Mail
July 16th
2008
4:48 PM
Dear Friends,
Just want to reconfirm that this drug, that according to the Lab, present this side effects as "rarely" now we can see that it is not, I have a 2.5 year old boy, that is presenting these same side effects that you are mentioning. In a sudden he starts to act really nervous, his eyes turn red and cries while he tries to express something, but he does not know what is going on, in the meantime he has this truly visible crisis, his heartbeat goes up like hell, and his hands shakes. My wife and I got really scared the first time we experienced this with him, and we did not know what to think, we asked the Doctor and the stupid guy told us that he needed a shrink, but we did not believed it. Today he had the second same crisis, not as hard as the last one, and we discussed and came up with the idea to find out what were the side effects of this drug, and voila, is the gdm Singulair. I just can't believe that the Doctors that are prescribing these drugs do not warn the people that this may happen. The only thing that I can do is write my experience to you, thanking you for your attention, and spread the voice to the other parents that are around me that they take care of this and prevent their children to go through this process. I really feel like trash, because I did not do this before starting giving him this drug. Thanks for listening.
By the way this is an international problem, I am writing you from Mexico City.
July 14th
2008
10:19 PM
I've been on Singulair for more than a few years now. I'm 43, with exercise and allergy induced asthma.....but mild. I also have VERY bad allergies. Talk about being allergic to EVERYTHING outside....that's me. I also suffer from migraines and depression. I've been on every antidepressant out there....still depressed. Now I know why...Singulair. I've tried tons of migraine meds....and I'm wondering if some of my side effects are really from Singulair. I'm moody, I don't care about other people's feelings like I used to, I snap at my kids like crazy,I cry at the drop of a hat....at stupid stuff. And now I'm thinking that my joint pain in my hips is from Singulair. But Singulair was my miracle drug for my asthma and a huge help to my Allegra D for my allergies. I'm asking the doc for an alturnative drug. As soon as I get it I'm off Singulair. ADIOS!
-- By robin43 | Reply | (1) replies | Send Private Mail
July 14th
2008
2:19 PM
My 16 year old son took Singular for three days. Almost immediately after taking the first dose, he starting having increased blood pressure, rapid heart beat, tiredness, depression, thoughts of death, muscle soreness, tingling in his arms and legs, numbness, weird dreams (when he was actually able to sleep) and decreased appetite. He seriously thought that he was going crazy. It was not until I did some internet research that I finally linked all of his symptoms to this horrible drug. He stopped taking it on Friday of last week and each day since has been feeling better. He is not 100% back to normal yet, but each day seems to be better. It was a scary three day period while he was using this medication. Hopefully it will only take another day or two to get out of his system completely.
-- By cal1 | Reply | (1) replies | Send Private Mail
July 10th
2008
2:22 PM
My 3 years old daughter was on Singulair for 8 months, that was prescribed by her Pedestrian from the Asthma clinic in Canada, Quebec. Lately, some of the symptoms of adverse effects are surfacing in her, including depression, action very emotional, constant having bad dreams (which causes tiredness), crying almost whole day in the daycare, refusing to eat and drink, refusing to join her favorite activities... Her Pedestrian told us there is no side effect on Singulair when she renewed the prescription 2 days ago. Because of my doubt about that, I started research on the web and found out that the early communication was issued by FDA. Of course, I took my daughter off from Singulair right away.
I work in the drug development clinical research field. I know that nothing the FDA or Health Canada will pursue until a lot of cases on adverse events (side effects) reported to them. Please everyone, if you or your child has had developed any side effects on this particular drug (Singulair), please report to FDA at once. It got me so upset is that this drug is constantly and widerly prescribed to children, and the Pedestrians are not caution enough to tell the parents. I definitely do not want to see other children suffer the same symptoms as my daughter had.
-- By ko_karen | Reply | (1) replies | Send Private Mail
July 9th
2008
8:40 AM
My daughter has been off Singulair for approx 2 months and is back to her old self. Talkative and happy! How about contacting the media to see if they would be interested in doing a story on the problems that have been associated with this drug. Yesterday morning there was a story regarding the poor health of our children-high cholesterol etc, and my first thought hmm-wonder if they are on Singulair. I think if more light was put to this drug, maybe we could get answers faster.
-- By you123 | Reply | (2) replies | Send Private Mail
June 30th
2008
10:50 PM
I'm seeing some posts from parents who say their children have returned to normal after discontinuing the use of this medication. However, there seem to be a lot of diagnosed "ADHD" or "BIPOLAR" conditions. Are your children really returned to normal? Or have they been diagnosed with a psychological issue and are receiving treatment? There seems to be a connection here, even after discontinued use, especially male adolescents. Any thoughts?? The increase in cases of ADD, ADHD, AUTISM, etc has been multiplying at a very disturbing rate in the last 10 years. I'm thinking definite connection to the "new" breed of "receptor blockers". What is it triggering? Any thoughts out there? Lets post anyone with similar cases and see how many are out there.
-- By wewe | Reply | (1) replies | Send Private Mail
June 27th
2008
2:13 PM
My 10 year old son has taken Singulair on and off since he was 5 years old and has been on it for the past 3.5 years. My son at an early age was affected by a bad marriage and then the divorce when he was 5 yrs old. So we always suspected that his behavior issues were caused by this and I had done everything I possibly could to give them the help he needed to get over and through his issues. He was held back his first year of Kindergarden and during his second year midstream he was placed in a special class for behavioral problem children. Nothing ever seemed to help him, everytime we would see some progress and encouragement we were always blind sighted by a behavior that was always worse. Two steps forward and them 5 steps backwards. I always knew that his problems would never get better overnight so I just kept on going. He was diagnosed with ADHD but because he has some ticking issues I had to put him on Strattera which was did not do a thing for him. I always described him as my Dr. Jeckyll/ Mr. Hyde child. He could be really good and sit still and behave but I think he had to try really hard to do so. He eventually was always overpower by the impulse to show negative behaviors. Defiant, extremely impulsive, always negative and completely miserable all the time. He also went through phases of compulsions. There was always a compulsion of the month- germs, bathroom habits, noises, repetitive words. He hated school and always complained of a stomach ache which i thought he was always faking to get out of school. He had confrontations in school everyday for most of the day. I often thought some of this was because of being tired all the time. We had battled over bedtime every single night. He was terrified to go to bed alone, I tried everything to get him to sleep alone. I wore myself out falling asleep next to him, I would then go to my own bed only to be up with him half the night going back and forth. I gave in many a night and slept with him just so we could get a good nights sleep. At age 8.5 I finally got him to go to sleep alone but the lights haf to be on and he has to know that I am still awake before he will fall asleep. He would always say he didn't want to go to sleep because when he does he has bad thoughts about me and people that he loves. He always had an extremely hard time excepting the word "no"- he would flip out and hit his head with whatever was handy, throw things, break things, scream holler etc. It would take hours to get over it. When he did he would be very remorseful and lovable. He was always in turmoil. Finally in February of this year, this graduated to a new level where he would want to just kill himself and would actually go and pull a knife out of the drawer and just shake with anger as he held the knife to his throat. I was terrified although i really didn't think he was going to harm himself he just wanted to scare me. Then at the end of March when i first heard the news about the possible side effects of Singulair, I had only heard about the suicide effect. Oh great just what I needed was this medicine causing him to do that. The doctor was thinking about taking him off if this summer because he wanted to see if he out grew his seasonal allergies so I took him off immediately. Well I had no idea about the other side effects until my son turned into a completely different kid. School noticed a huge difference in him! His grades went up, his is able to control his behavior, he is happy he is NORMAL. I never suspected this drug as the culprit due to the timing of taking it. Our lives have changed completely. When i first found this site, it seemed as though some of the parents were writing about my child. It is amazing. My son still has some old habits to break but overall he is a wonderful and normal 10 year old boy. He did not outgrow his seasonal allergies but Allegra seems to help in through it. I get so angry- his whole early childhood was ruined by this medicine. He is a labled kid in our school system. This whole experience has opened up my eyes. Thank you for letting me share my story.
-- By cindy48 | Reply | (5) replies | Send Private Mail
June 22th
2008
11:43 AM
I am finally writing after reading these posts since the end of April. That is when I took my 11 year old son off singulair, in an act of desperation. He has been on singulair on and off for about five years for seasonal allergies. He started again in mid-March so it could get into his system, before the allergies started. Immediately thereafter his behavior changed. He was arguing on a daily basis. He would hit, kick or trip me when he was angry. He was starting to destroy things in anger. He seemed to be fueled by anger. It was affecting the whole family. He was starting fights with his younger brother, my husband's heart was palpitating and I was crying every day. I heard about Singulair side effects and looked it up. I saw that it caused behavioral changes and out of desperation, took him off, not knowing what to expect. We had three days of total peace, then on the fourth day another outburst. Then my son told me he had taken a singulair the night before. That was it. I threw every pill in the garbage. He no longers acts like that. It's been almost two months so I am convinced it was the Singulair. By the way, he always complained of headaches, stomach aches and would scream in his sleep. Who knew - it was the singulair all along.
-- By mhjslu | Reply | (2) replies | Send Private Mail
June 22th
2008
9:03 AM
Hi,
I wanted to post this link just to give some small consolation to our concerns about the lack of awareness THAT DOCTORS HAVE ABOUT SINGULAIR.This is a voluntary online informational site,that doctor's can join. It provides updated information on serious label changes and safety concerns on drugs.Most doctors at this point still get snail mail updates,in the paper shuffle a lot of information gets misplaced.The AMA would like to have all information come in online,eventually.The link is ******
read it and tell me if you think more can be done By the way my pediatricians office does not have online communication.Our life is forever changed because of that ! Information is playing a vital role in this drugs destructive path ,or the lack there of information.Again this is voluntary for the Doctors to sign up .In this modern day of communication how does important information not get where it is the most useful, I ask you?When drugs are making multi billion dollar profits,that would be an educated guess.I am doing another interview with CBS affiliate out of Boston on the 23rd of June,they contacted me.I hope it will reach more people who are still unaware of this drugs serious potential side effects.If any of you parents have some connection to media ,please use it to your best advantage to get this very important information out to the publicAlso so many of you ask how to help.Contact your local Senators and keep bothering them to reach out to the FDA to expedite this investigation. Make a pain in the butt out of yourself and be persistent.I will try to make reference to this site so your stories are heard. Dave and I are coming up on a year since our son passed on to our lord .Still fighting Kate and Dave M.
June 21th
2008
10:19 AM
My son is 6 years old and he has been on and off Singulair for about 2 years. He was off since last Fall 2007, but was put back on in April 2008 for allergies. He began telling me that he was having "dreams" during the day. He would then tell me these totally bizarre thoughts, "dreams" that he was having. They were very strange and perverted and violent. I asked him why he was saying this stuff and he said, "I just can't help it, they pop into my mind." I thought that he was going through a phase because he was bored. He is in 1/2 day kindergarten and I attributed this to too much television and boredom. I was thinking that someone was feeding him this crazy information (kids on bus, class, etc.) and he was repeating it to me. He was too showing OCD symptoms, afraid if he touched his feet- "is that dirty??" afraid if he touched someone's hand, "is that dirty if I touched Tim's hand?" He would also cry and whine often over the simplest things. I thought this was a phase. Our prescription for Singulair ran out and I did not fill. I started noticing a change over a week's time period. My little boy who was coming to me several times a day with bizarre "dreams" had not mentioned them at all. His compulsive behavior has stopped and so has the whining. I feel lucky that I did not fill the prescription because I would not have even thought it was the singular, since there are no side effects like the one's I mentioned above on the label. I am sick about this!!
-- By mattiak | Reply | (1) replies | Send Private Mail
June 13th
2008
11:23 AM
Who administers this site? I posted a side effect last night after I registered and then this morning I got an email saying there was a reply to my posting and when I tried to log in, my account was inactive and my posting had been removed, as had the reply to my posting. I don't know if it is because I put a link the an online reporting tool where the FDA is compiling feedback from people/or their children who have experienced terrible side-effects. Here is the link again and I urge you all to report your cases: http://www.fda.gov/cder/drug/early_comm/montelukast.htm
My son is 3.5 and has been on Singular for 2 months and just like all of the other stories about the other young children posted here, he is a different kid after being on Singular. Last night was the first night I took him off of it. All of the side-effects that are mentioned here are the same ones my son is experiencing, nightmares (screaming in the night), hyper, aggressive, reliving injuries from days past, the day care telling me that they now have concerns about how different he has been lately and the even used the term "bad behavior". They said he is hyper, he screams, not listening, aggressive. He is a favorite at day care since he is so loving, polite and kind. I know all parents say that, but pretty much anyone who has met him compliments me on how well behaved he is. I am even nervous to have people over since he seems out of control and I have found myself ensuring people that he isn't normally like this. I have taken him off as of last night and I am hoping he will get back to his old happy-go-lucky self soon. Does anyone know how long it can take to get this poison out of their system? I pray that there are no permanent side-effects.
-- By ryager11 | Reply | (6) replies | Send Private Mail
June 10th
2008
5:55 PM
PRAISE GOD for all of the stories shared on this site. And I've only read page one. My husband called me back today to say that he "googled" Singulair and found some interesting things (to say the least). While we were on the phone, my three-year-old was in the throes of another meltdown, kicking me, hitting me, throwing whatever he could get his hands on. My older two boys, 8 and 12, were ordered, once again, to lock themselves in their rooms to avoid being hurt by him. He will throw stuff, bite, hit, kick, and, at times, spit on us. This disturbing behavior is rather constant lately. He is like a mad man. Very scary.
Caleb has been on Singulair since about age 1, when he was diagnosed with chronic sinusitis and allergic rhinitis. Unfortunately, we initially equated his rages with the onset of "terrible two's" and dismissed his behavior to a chorus of "oh, he's just a boy!" My husband felt, at times, that I was just not disciplining him properly. I intuitively knew, having raised two other boys, that this behavior was abnormal, even for severe tantrums. We received a variety of suggestions from his pediatrician, caregivers, and grandparents, all to no avail. We have several calm days but things always deteriorate back to insanity. He is VERY unpredictable.
Last Thanksgiving, Caleb (age 3) was kicked out of his daycare setting for biting and hitting. Once I witnessed him run as fast as he could into a group of playing children, falling on them, kicking them. He would walk up to sweet little girls half his size and push them down as hard as he could. It was a nightmare. My husband had to take 3 weeks of leave to stay home with him while we prayed and searched for new care. We had him evaluated and he was staffed into the "developmentally delayed" program in our school district (for poor adaptive skills and personal/social behaviors). We recently had his tonsils removed, hoping that some of the sinusitis symptoms and behaviors would improve. They really haven't. This past week we have been looking into the Feingold diet. We have been PRAYING for answers. The last time we spoke with his developmental neurologist, he recommended a trial of Risperdol (sp?). We feel like more meds would be like a band-aid, not a solution. But his rage is becoming unbearable.
So, that brings us to today. I was so moved by your accounts. Unlike so many of you, we don't have much of a "before" to go by. But his "after" sounds VERY much like what you have all described. It's probably the pure rage that I see on his face that is the scariest part. And at the same time he seems desperate and vulnerable. He truly seems to snap. If we had pool chairs, I can just picture him throwing them (citing another post :).
We are going to throw the Singulair away. He will never, ever have it again. Even if this isn't the cause of his problems, I certainly don't want to exacerbate any behaviors with this toxic medicine. I will post again just to let anyone who's interested know if this changes his behavior. I am praying that my entry will help someone else, just as all the other postings have helped me. I have renewed hope.
I have copied many of your comments to a Word document. I will be sharing it with a high ranking officer at the medical clinic/hospital on Keesler Air Force Base. I hope that he will discuss this with his staff and that perhaps we can at least make a difference here. I, too, will be filing a report with the FDA. I can only pray that this medicine has not permanently altered his developing brain.
-- By calebsmom | Reply | (4) replies | Send Private Mail
June 9th
2008
10:27 PM
I took my son off Singular a month ago, some slight improvements with the sleep and behavior problems. I voiced my concerns with my doctor twice now he looks at me like Im crazy and then he goes on the PC and says he cant find any of these side affects im talking about. My son was an appointment to see an allergist specialist.
-- By mommy12 | Reply | (5) replies | Send Private Mail
June 9th
2008
5:37 PM
Just an update. Went to FDA.gov and submitted a complaint and then called Merck and told them as well. The rep I spoke with sent me to the prescribing information, how am I supposed to know about any of this? I am not the Doctor, I can't prescribe meds! She pointed out that this the mood changes is in the info...that I don't get b/c I am not the doctor, duh! Anyway I just wanted to vent and tell about our experience. Will give an update tomorrow after I talk to the ENT. I have also decided to take him off of any and all allergy meds for a good long time. I would rather wipe a runny nose all day and have my happy baby boy back then to have to battle a monster...
-- By coopersmom | Reply | Send Private Mail
June 9th
2008
4:21 PM
My 15 month old son was just put on this Friday, four days ago. He had been on Zyrtec since he was five months old and his allergies had recently gotten worse along with a percistant cough. As the weekend went on he became more and more angry and fidgety. Sunday afternoon, after his nap he came running down the hall screaming and crying (this nap is usually 1 1/2 hours long and he had only been asleep for 30 to 45 minutes when this happened). He was very upset for about 20 minutes. He is normally a very happy, fun loving child. Later that afternoon he didn't get his way and took it out on me. He began to kick and scream(at the top of his lungs) , throwing his head back, and then hitting me. Everyone that was with us have been around him from day one and they all said how he wasn't himself and had never seen him act this way. Now, this morning on our drive into town to go to daycare he normally is talking the whole way (45 minutes) but this morning he was just staring off out the window and didn't want to talk or "have a conversation" with me. I knew something wasn't right and had already had it in my head he wasn't getting another dose of this. I found this site and some of the little things began to jump out at me and I know for sure we aren't going to take this again. I just hope and pray that this hasn't caused any lasting side effects, again he has only been on it for 4 days. After reading all of this I have called the daycare to check and the doctor, who hasn't called me back yet. Going to see his ENT tomorrow and we will be having a long conversation about it all. His ped. is the doctor who put him on it. She is trying to try everything before he is put on a nebulizer.
Another side effect named on the Singulair web site is ear infections. This med. should have never been given to my son who has already had one round of tubes because of ear infections. The tubes have already fallen out and within a week he had an ear infection.
-- By coopersmom | Reply | (2) replies | Send Private Mail
June 6th
2008
8:30 PM
My 54-year-old fit, social, successful husband was put on Singulair in January for newly diagnosed asthma. He developed a depression with anxiety, irrational fears, avoidance, mood swings and even one episode of suicidal thoughts out of nowhere. He saw a psychiatrist and a therapist, tried medications, yoga, a vacation, meditation, breathing exercises - everything! But he kept getting worse.
The day he was throwing patio furniture then sobbing uncontrollably was the day he realized he couldn't work in his condition. He negotiated a 60-day leave without pay. Even that didn't help. It was crazy. How could a man who managed hundreds of employees and a major health service system for 20 years suddenly be so paralyzed with fear that he couldn't walk down a beach or go into a Walgreen’s?
We found this site May 26th. He stopped the Singulair immediately. It has been 10 days and he is already 80-90% back to normal. Thank God.
Partly I am writing because it is so hard to read of parents' guilt that they "should have known" etc. Look, unlike a child, my husband is mature and very verbal; he is also a psychiatrist (!) with a capacity for self-examination and a language to describe his inner experience. And me, I'm a psychologist (!) trained in understanding people and I know him very well. And yet with all that training and skill and consultation and treatment, WE STILL COULDN’T FIGURE THIS OUT! So please, don't make yourself feel any worse with guilt. This is awful and tragic enough already.
I would add that the onset of mood and behavioral problems is so insidious that it is hard to connect the problems to the Singulair. Also, I suspect that children and adolescents are at greater risk because of their immature emotional developmental level. An adult l suspect may need some genetic or personal predisposition to mood disturbance, or stress, or both, to trigger these side effects. My husband had a depression episode 30 years ago and had recent traumas that certainly could have triggered the depression. But how treatment resistant that depression was, and those strange paralyzing fears and extreme anxiety – all that I blame squarely on the Singulair.
I have made a report to the FDA. I urge you to do the same.
-- By celticmoon | Reply | (4) replies | Send Private Mail
June 6th
2008
5:24 PM
I am a 41-year old female with allergy induced asthma, who has been taking Singulair for almost 1 1/2 years now. I was diagnosed with depression about 5 years ago (after my sister's death) and was taking 100mg of Zoloft daily, which my doctor upped to 200mg around the same time I started Singulair for allergy problems. I did not know about the Singulair/depression warnings until searching today on Google for drug interactions on the meds I take in hopes of trying to find a reason for my overwhelming depression. For the past 1 1/2 years, I have lived like a zombie, numb to the world and my family, gave up a $72K job, gained alot of weight, have the weirdest and most vivid dreams, and am tired all of the time, only finding rest after 10-15 hours of sleep per day. I am a working professional, have a Master's degree, and have always considered myself a rational objective person, and not a "lemming" that follows the rest over the cliff. However, the side effects I am experiencing ARE NOT NORMAL and ARE NOT IMAGINARY. I do not know if Singulair is causing my symptoms or not, however, I am going to stop taking the medicine today, and switch to something else. For me, QUALITY OF LIFE is the major issue. While Singulair works great to help me breathe comfortably, I can find other meds to do the same thing. However, what I cannot take is a medication possibly responsible for taking my "life" away.
-- By luv2surf | Reply | (1) replies | Send Private Mail
June 6th
2008
3:17 PM
WOW!!! I am glad I came across this website. I have twin boys that will be 7 this month. One has been on Singulair for about 3 years for allergy induced asthma and my other son has been on it for 9 months for allergies. I am taking them both off of it today. The son that is taking the medicine for 3 years has become increasingly angry and gets upset over small things. Over Memorial weekend, he lost a game he was playing on the wii and exploded. He was banging his head and then started to hit me. NEVER in my life have I seen him attack anyone. A few days later he threw rocks at his friend because he wanted the wagon. Over the past 3 years I have noticed some change in him and just took it as growing pains. He has always been a strong will child. However, over the past 3 years he has gotten worse and since he has physically attacked me and his friend, I have decided to send him to counseling. Now I firmly believe it is the Singulair.
My other son has been on it since August. He started to have anxiety within a month of taking it. His behavior has been stressed, depressed and not wanting to play with other kids. He was biting his nails to a nub, licking his hands, not talking to anyone at school and rubbing his head. I have also noticed he does like to look at the person he is talking too. Of course I thought the worse and thought he was being molested. I went to his Teacher and she has worked very hard with him, but he is still a loner. If you knew him before, he played with everyone and enjoyed life. I was told by his Ped. that he had anxiety and to have him see a shrink.
I am hoping that after taking them both off this medicine, I will see improvement.
-- By nradovcich | Reply | (2) replies | Send Private Mail
June 4th
2008
1:15 PM
This is my story. My daughter 14, the most precious child ever born. She has a wonderful disposition always happy, loving, and determined to succeed in whatever she does. She just brightens everyone’s world.
She suffers from severe seasonal allergies and mild asthma. She takes approximately seven allergy/asthma medicines a day during peak season. Over the past two years she has been taking Singular as one of her medicines. Being 14, sick of taking medicine she would not take the Singular on a regular basis. Approximately four months ago “MOM” says, if you take nothing else take your Singular it will work both for the seasonal allergies and your asthma. She has been taking this regularly four the past four months.
She became paranoid, she became a compulsive eater and bites the skin on her fingers. She would eat and chew on her fingers at the same time, until she choked. She had so much anger, she could not even go to the mall without temper tantrums.(As a child she never had any tantrums ) Always afraid. Severe depression set in. She would cry at a moments notice. She would say, I have a very sad life, sad very sad, nothing makes me like this, I’m just sad. She felt she should go live with the homeless people. I asked her why, she didn’t know, she felt maybe that’s where she belonged. Nightmares and sleepless nights.
She needs help quickly. Before calling the Doctor, I went on the internet and entered Singular and depression and I found 1900 entries, all people telling me what I was experiencing. Could this possibly be the answer for us? I called her Dr and told him what I thought, he said he has never had anyone that this has happened to. He hoped it was the answer, but really didn’t think is. He said if it wasn’t the answer she would need therapy, mood stabilizer and Prozac.
Its day four off Singular, she smiling, no tears today, no temper tantrums, looking forward to school next week, wants to play volleyball next year, singing in the car,
I hear that happy voice again.(Hi, Mommy!!!!!!) Every once in a while a glaze comes over her face. She isn’t a 100% back, but I know it is coming.
To all the people that don’t have the happy ending, I will pray for you and hold you in my heart forever.
June 2, 2008
-- By twink | Reply | (5) replies | Send Private Mail
June 3th
2008
7:41 PM
I am sure that all kinds of people told Kate Miller that Concernedcitizen was a cuckoo or a Merck competitor. I haven't been employed by a pharma company in many years. Everybody ever employed by a pharma company higher than a certain level (practically the mailroom) knows this stuff and what to look for.
I think that I am about ready to say my opinion on how montelukast works and why these problems develop. It will just be my opinion. I need to try to find actual proof but I may forego that and just say it soon.
-- By concernedcitizen | Reply | (5) replies | Send Private Mail
June 3th
2008
3:22 PM
My son has been on Singulair since the age of 6. He is now 13 years old. He developed seizures 3 weeks ago - temporal lobe aura epilepsy during which he was hearing voices. EEG abnormal, MRI normal. He hasn't started medication for the seizures but I have stopped his Singulair immediately! This was just a hunch - searching the net to see if there is any correlation. I have been to the Pediatrician AND the GP the past 3 weeks and no one said anything. I think a great number of children are on Singulair in SA. Does anyone know about the possibility of this danger?
-- By katryna | Reply | (4) replies | Send Private Mail
June 2th
2008
7:43 PM
My 17 year old daughter started Singulair last July for Asthma. She is brilliant and scored in the 99% on the ACT college entrance exam. She won 3 scholarships totaling over 60,000 and earned 27 college AP credits while still in high school, volunteering for the Red Cross, singing in choirs, and playing the lead in her high school musical and 3 plays. She was funny, sweet, and had many friends.
She left for college 3 weeks after starting the medication and saying she was breathing better. Her grades were terrible, even though I was able to check to see she went to class every session, as posted online. She became very depressed, withdrawn, staying in her dorm room. She was sleeping up to 20 hours straight without waking up. She didn't call her friends when she came home and only wanted to sleep. She was like a different person. She was so aggressive that she tried to run out in the middle of the night and attacked me when I tried to block her way, to the point I had to call the police. They diagnosed her with new onset major depression and ADD. They started her on Zoloft for 2 months and she got much worse and was removed from Zoloft as a result. She said she was too tired to stay awake even in class. We had a sleep study done for Narcolepsy and it was negative. Until reading these posts, I didn't connect the Singular. Everything I am reading is so familiar, it makes me feel ill. I can't believe I didn't know, I am a nurse. The guilt is horrible. I hope to get my daughter back, but she lost all her scholarships and only managed to pass 16 hours in one entire year of college. I can't afford to send her back without the money she lost. They even put her on a one time only probationary period to ever get Federal or State Financial aids and loans again. Singular had to be to blame. I am simply thankful my daughter is still here, she was very suicidal. My heart breaks for those of you that lost your children to the side effects of the drug. We have to get the word out by each filing a complaint to the FDA, and filling out adverse event forms.
Please don't let Merck get away with this. We need to act, even if your child was one of the lucky ones and is back to normal now.
June 1th
2008
10:47 PM
My 5 years old son has been on Singulair for 9 months. His allergy symptoms have completely gone away. He’s no longer has his night time cough, bloody nose, and frequent croup due to allergies.
My life has been a living HELL from the moment I started this medicine. Before he was on this medicine he was always a pleasant, smart, well-behaved child. Right after he started singulair he began having temper tantrums, becoming increasingly argumentative, not listening. He gets mood swings like you would not believe cry and/or yell at us over the silliest things, kicking, screaming, nightmares, and became very physically aggressive. We were unable to take him places because we never knew how he would behave in public .He was extremely unhappy little 5 year old boy. He also complained of upset stomach and fatigue. Even his school complained about his behavior and they said that he might have PDD. After consulting with doctors we got the assurance that he does not have PDD, but we end up changing his school anyway.
Being a first time mom I never thought it was the medication, I thought it was just a normal behavior. I thought as a parent I must be doing something wrong! I couldn't believe that other parents have gone through the same nightmare.
Two weeks ago the doctor handed me a report about singulair and its suicidal side effect and ask me to stop using this medicine for a while. Since then I started to notice a dramatic change in our son's behavior. He woke up singing, laughing. He wants to help with chores. He is doing great with his school lessons, and very patient with everyone. He is now a more stable and friendly 5 years old.
Wow, I have a completely different child, and thank God I took him off singulair.
As parents, please let’s do something to stop poisoning our children.
This registry is a place to share positive or negative side effects of using Singulair. If you directly experienced a side effect while using Singulair, then we encourage you to enter it here. Please note that entries here are the experiences of individual users, and in no way means that you or anyone else will experience the same side effect, since the same medication affects people in different ways. Please always contact your physician.
-- Please see our disclaimer
My sun has suffered from three years of age with stomach pain and discomfort uppon eating he is now 12 years old. We have seen many doctors all of whom are very vague. His blood work consistantly comes back with low amylase and lipase. Yet they dont see any need for further investigation. I have been told he has a sensitive stomach. As a mother I see more. I live with him and see him every day. He eats very little, (i think it still hurts) he says he's not in pain anymore. At nine he was still thr...
by lisa39, 8 replies, updated 13 minutes ago.Hi Guys I have been suffering from chronic daily headaches since March 2006. Have been to 4 neurologists and they all confirm that there is nothing seriously wrong with me neurologically and they put it down to stress. I have tried herbal remedies, acupuncture, body stress release, dietician, exercise, pain killers, massage, physio, posture modifying appliance, bean bags and oils, ice pack, pilates, chiropractor, daily meds like inderal and trepiline and still, nothing has been able to give me long te...
by rose81, 9 replies, updated about 8 hours ago.I need to take it all my life- isn't there any natural remedy somewhere?
by ginga3, 5 replies, updated 1 day ago.I have sufferred from panic attacks or fear of them since I was about 11 yr old.Am now 51 and never been anywhere by myself apart from the local easy to get to shops Thinking of doing the antieppressaant thing but really cynical and unsure about it Would appreciate any un biased oppinions
by michellebf, 6 replies, updated 1 day ago.I have a son who now is 12 from birth on he had constipation,with the years it didnt get any better,i went to differant doctors with him and they him medications like mineral oil,miralax,stoolsoftner,nothing help sometimes he has terible pain and needs to go to the ER they give him a enema and IV to hydrate him now when he needs to go to the bathroom maybe 1 a week he doesnt feel it anymore only when he start to go into his pants and feels the stools against his bottom skin does he realize whats hapenin...
by celine302002, 3 replies, updated 1 day ago.
September 7th
2008
10:49 AM
I'm starting my first day today taking my son of Sinculair after reading all the post. I'm here because I was searching for answers as to why my son's legs were hurting all the time. He is on several medications and Sinculair being on of them.. Also in the past year he has been put on antideppressants, and now maybe I'm wondering if it's necessary at all that maybe it's been the Sinculair.
-- By sltxgal39 | Reply | (1) replies | Send Private MailMy son is 10 yrs. old and been using Sinculair for 3 yrs. I'll post back in about a week if I notice any changes.