Singulair and sinus congestion

My baby is 3. She had strep throat from Jan to April. I'm talking off the antibotic for max 4 days and the fever would return along with swollen glands, difficulty swallowing and just plain miserable. Took me 2 ENT referrals for someone to finally agree with me that this is not normal and something needs to be done. We scheduled a T & A for April 18th. The surgeon told me that she had a severe sinus infection as well (surgery day). He recommended that we start Singulair 4mg at night along with Nasonex to possibly help with her constant sinus congestion. I gave it to her and noticed nearly an immediate a change in her disposition.(looking back now) At the time I simply chalked it up to having her tonsils out. She was on the medication until Friday May 9th. Her babysitter said that she was seeing what I was at home...only I hadn't shared my dgtrs behavior at home with her...call it guilt for being a single mom who works...I just thought she was having trouble adjusting from a week at home with mom from the surgery recovery to getting back into the "norm" routine. At home she would cry at the drop of a hat. Not just wimper or whine....but tears and screams for nearly an hour. I would ask her why she was crying and she'd simply reply "I don't know Mommy." One minute we'd be playing and she's be laughing and the next she was angry and anxious. She would complain of "tingles in her feet"...I thought she had just been sitting on her legs and her foot had fallen asleep. She would deliberately instigate her older sister...totally not her. She became fearful of her room at nighttime...and took for ever to get to sleep. A co worker had mentioned that a little boy she worked with had his medicine changed b/c the dr said one of his meds may contribute to his behavior issues. Being a nurse I asked what med...SINGULAIR. I immediately went to the web and googled singulair. I found this site...and began to read parents horror stories of their experiences. She has not had another singulair nor will any of my children - EVER. I feel guilty that I didn't take the time to research it before I put her on it. I feel blessed that I was in the right place at the right time to find out about this site. I thought that my kind and sweet little girl had turned into. I know it's only 5 days off the med but she's back to her sweet self about 75%. I am blessed that my experience was not even a month long...but losing your child to a medication that no one warns you about even for a day is WRONG. I think I would be more "forgiving" if anyone along the line of me picking up the med had said ANYTHING...but no one said a thing. My prayers are with those who were not as lucky as I was to stop this med so quickly. I hope your children return to their pre singluair selfs quickly and permanently.

We have the group called Americas Watchdog, we are taking on Bayer for the heart medication called Trasylol, and we would be very interested in hearing from anyone with problems related to Singulair. My e-mail is *******

Hi,

I had a systemic allergic reaction to an allergy injection. I was treated at the hospital with Benadryl and Prednisone. I was told to continue to take both, but still was having problems with sinus inflammation related to the reaction a day later. I saw my Dr. who told me to up the Prednisone and start taking Singulair.

Well I started having side effects worse than the sinus inflammation I originally had within a few hours of taking the Singulair. I totally chalked them up to Prednisone side effects, since that drug has so many issues. But the side effects were different than those listed from Prednisone, and different from the last time I had to take Prednisone for an allergy attack. I had INTENSE head pressure (not just the sinuses, but everywhere), muscle tightness/pressure in my neck muscles and at the base of my skull. I don't know if this was a side effect or not, but I had freezing hands and feet, also VERY cold.. except my face was hot. I also got hot flushes occasionally in my body, like on the backs of my thighs. I also felt "out of it".. very dizzy and slow to respond. I was also very confused by why my sinus inflammation was not really responding to the Prednisone since it is such a strong anti-inflammatory. Well, I stopped taking the Singulair last night after reading this site, and I am feeling back to normal! Even my sinuses have unplugged. I suppose this could all be something besides the Singulair, but I am not chancing it again.

I was given Singulair by my doctor to take for severe allergic rhinitus and chronic sinusitis, in addition to the Zyrtec and oral steroids I have been taking. At first, it seemed to help with sinus congestion, but did cause problems with sleeping--nightmares and waking up "jittery" and unable to get back to sleep. Then, after about 3 weeks, I began to experience violent vertigo, to the point of being unable to function. I could barely stand, was nauseated to the point of vomiting, experiencing sweats and hot flashes. I stopped the Singulair today and will see if symptoms improve and post again in a few days.