Singulair and rn

Wow, this last few months have been a revelation. My big guy (now nearly 7) was diagnosed with Asthma at 18 months or so. He has been on singulair for as long as we can remember, and then since November 07 on Flovent too. He was such a happy baby, just the cutest thing, but as he grew older he got more emotional. A little high strung, quick temper, and some signs of depression. His eating habits were awful, which we thought were due to him having allergies to some foods. We have noticed mood swings and depression, but it would pass. Leg cramps were a common complaint which we brushed off.

Then for some reason we thought it would be a good idea to put him on Flovent too in the winter, well it really went downhill from there. Violent anger, depression, wanting to die, wanting to kill himself, wouldn't eat at all. You name it, he had it. My wife and I were at our wits end, but we didn't think it was the medicine, never entered our minds, and my wife is a paediatric RN too. I sent an e-mail to a psychiatrist friend of mine desperate for help. Well while I was writing it I saw there was a pattern and the sudden slide began the same time he started Flovent. I researched it on the web and OMG the horror, the other parents could have been talking about my boy.

I took him off immediately, co-incidentally his Doc had failed to renew his Singulair scrip the month before so he hadn't been taking it for a month. Well within 24 hours we saw a difference, by the end of the week I cried as I had my boy back. Never thought about Singulair as really we thought it was the Flovent. However after seeing the news today, and having seen a little guy get less and less happy over the years, we realize that the singulair was also affecting him, and then the combo just ripped him apart.

We had filled the Singulair but thankfully were holding off until we saw a pulmonologist and allergist this next few weeks. We will now not be putting him back on it at all. We removed his bedding, got rid of our cats (labs came back highly allergic to them) and tonight after being outside running around in the 40 F air, he went to bed breathing fine. He still is a little emotional, still a little difficult to feed, but we can negotiate, he listens to reason (as much as a 6 yr old will), and more importantly is happy and chatty again.

I have been an RN for 11 years. I just want to say that I think many of your childrens problems may not be related to Singulair. Children w/ADHD to begin with will probably experience an exacerbation of their symptoms since allergy meds in general can cause a little "jumpiness." Also, as w/ most allergy meds, you can become shaky and some people who are sensetive to such meds may become anxious.

I think people are too quick to point the finger. Some of these symptoms may just be normal childhood drama. Take your children back to the doctor and have it checked rather than trying to diagnose the problem yourself.

Ive been on singulair for years with no problems. I also in the past had suffered from anxiety. This has done nothing to exacerbate that. I find it to be a great allergy med with far less adverse efffects than over the counter meds like pseudoephedrine. After reading some of these posts it just seems like the blam on Singulair is snowballing just a bit.

Again....get a doctor's opinion. Maybe this med is just not rught for eberybody. Thats why there a whole slew of others to try.

....Just my 2 cents.

Hi. I just wanted to write to say I am sorry so many of you have had a bad experience with singulair. I am also an RN, pediatrics is my specialty. My grandaughter has been on singulair for years and it has been a godsend. Prior to the singulair, she was on several treatments a day, plus breakthrough inhalors...and sick alot. Now, she is hardly ever sick, only uses her inhalor on infrequent occassions and has none of the side effects I am seeing here. I hope you all find better treatments for yourselves/your children!

I have been taking Singulair for seasonal allergies since April of this year. My allergies have improved, but the other side effects have been grusome for me. I have been so depressed. I'm a RN & at first thought it was just me. Then I started thinking back of when it started. I have also gained about 20 pounds since starting this medication. Most recently I have been having palpitations, feel very nervous, jittery. I kept telling myself it wasn't this medicine, but after seeing these post, I think it is. Especially this weight gain. I just can hardly believe it!

I wish I'd checked this site before giving my 5 year old son Singulair. Our lives have been turned upside down for the past four months, with the last month and a half being truly hellish. I am an RN and finally figured out that the only change that could have prompted such a significant mood/behavior change was his allergy/asthma medication, Singulair. It is like a switch turns on, his eyes flash with anger, he is very aggressive, physically tests us and reacts with violence, destroys his room when placed on anykind of restriction or time out, pushes way past set boundaries, has insomnia, restlessness, bad dreams, and finally he choked a nine year old out of frustration at a BBQ last night...He has been off the Singulair for two days and I know now that I am just going to have to treat him with kid gloves until this poison is out of his system. His allergies/asthma have never been better controlled, but at what cost? This medication is dangerous and I wouldn't be surprised if children started getting really hurt or hurt others while on it...it is a relief to know that my husband and I are not going crazy, but I feel horrible for putting my son through this.

I took my first dose of Singulair this am for asthma and allergies. 2 hours later I am so tired I cannot move. I will be watching the side effects closely. I am an RN and noticed the fatigue came after the Singulair as I felt rested beforehand.