Singulair and urge

I spent the weekend reading about the development of Singulair. The early studies recognized that the first phase of the acute asthma response bronco-constriction was probably not caused by leukotrienes. They identified histamines and prostaglandins as the probable sources. I don't think that changed because the Singulair literature states that it should not be considered as a treatment for that. Leukotrienes were a source of inflammation caused by eosinophils and mast cells present in greater numbers (than normal) in airway tissue. So, it was beneficial to find a way to decrease that.

The cysLT1 receptor was identified as source of the signals that tell the cells to produce leukotriene. The receptor, a gene, consist of 337 (they think) amino acids. They modified a compound that would bind to that receptor thus blocking the cells ability to produce leukotrienes. This compound is very specific. It was formulated to bind to the "model" receptor. This compound will not even bind to cysLT receptor sub-types. (That is the good thing.) There is an enormous amount of research that discusses the genetic variability of the chemical reactions that occur in the leukotriene (calling it this for simplicity) pathway. We are also seeing that a number of researchers would like to use gene profiles to predict whether patients will respond favorably to different asthma/allergy drugs. ALL PATIENTS HAVE A RIGHT TO KNOW IF IT IS INHERENT THAT SOME PEOPLE WILL NOT RESPOND TO SINGULAIR OR RESPOND ADVERSELY.

There are many studies from the 1998 era that conclude that montelukast is not effective for everyone. Those researchers stated that it can be predicted that those people who are going to respond favorably will do that within the first 14 days or so. That conclusion would be consistent with a genetic component for efficacy and safety of Singulair. Those doctors concluded that those who did not respond within that time frame should not take Singulair for fear of harming them. That makes good sense.

The Italian researchers wanted to know if there was more going on than blocking leukotrienes in the action of montelukast. They set up a "test tube" study regarding montelukast, the cysLT1 receptor, and some t-cells that they selected. Why? Researchers always have something on their minds. They observed the death of these particular t-cells.

Montelukast is a quinoline. We basically know of quinilines and quinolones as compounds that were invented as broad spectrum antibiotics. They work because they interference with bacterial DNA so they cannot replicate themselves. Montelukast is a quinoline modified to bind with the cysLT1 receptor (a gene) and prevent that gene from activating. That's consistent with what a quinoline/quinolone does.

So what does montelukast do in blood plasma if it does not bind to the receptor because of genetic mis-match? (If montelukast does bind, then a chemical reaction has occurred and the liver will break down the by-products. Montelukast metabolized in 10-12 hours.) What happens if it doesn't bind? How long before it breaks down? Does it produce toxic by-products?

I want to know what happens to lymphocytes such as t-cells just because montelukast is a quinoline. Maybe nothing but what's up with the Italians researchers? I want to know if montelukast has the capability to interfere with lymphocytes who can clone themselves. That could be a good thing under circumstances when these lymphocytes are causing inflammation. But it could be a bad thing in the case of normal individuals with no problems.

I want to know if the bad side effects are due to the fact that the body has to break down and metabolize a quinoline that did not bind to the receptor for which it was created. The side effects of Singulair are strangely similar to what is observed in the quinolones such as levaquin. I have not as yet been able to compare montelukast as a quinoline to levaquin as a quinolone. I am hoping to find something on these categories. There may be no reason to worry that they cause similar damage. But frankly, I think that there is. There is some terrible chit happening to some people. The scariest is the neurological damage.

All of these questions would be in the everybody pharma knows to ask category. I don't know where the answers are. I haven't found them as of yet. Maybe there are no answers. We have to remember that Singulair and Vioxx were released in the same year. They have continued to be drugs under the current executive management of Merck. If the Vioxx marketing promoters had their ghost writers, why not the Singulair marketing promoters. The genetic component appears to be widely accepted but we haven't heard one thing about even that.

I think that it is sad that maybe the marketing of Singulair as one stop shopping for asthma/allergies may have destroyed the original concept. I really think from reading the original work that they knew that they couldn't engineer a drug for one size fits all. Everybody gets harmed when information is withheld.

Shame on the allergist who yelled at the mother who wanted to discuss issues. Does he know exactly who is allergic to Singulair and who isn't? Get him a dunce hat. Just because Singulair is marketed for allergies does not mean that you cannot be allergic to it. See the power of Madison Avenue? The ad agencies focus group these drugs to death. The ad agencies cleverly craft the product information. A good piece of legislation would be to prohibit consumer drugs ads.

I have posted before but wanted to update. Singulair ruined my life for nearly 2 years, but I did not realize it was the reason until about 2 months ago. About 4 months after being on singulair, I sought treatment for severe depression and anxiety. My docs/psychs thought that it was a delayed reaction to the death of my father a couple of years earlier, so we did lots of therapy and 3 different psych meds trying to help me adjust. After all this (and one suicide attempt), I was finally just starting to accept that I was a miserable excuse for a human being, and I should get used to the fact that my life was going to suck from here on out. Then, I developed GERD and could not see my regular doc. The new doc told me to research all my meds (I was taking FOUR a day at that point, including the singulair...I am 27...) to find out if any could be the cause. That was when I found out what singulair can do, and that it could be the cost of my problems. My doc checked my charts, and sure enough, I started taking it shortly before I developed all of these "psychological problems". I've been off singulair for 2 months and my psych meds for a month (had to wean off). I finally feel like myself again after two years of hell!!!! I still have a slightly foggy head and problems concentrating sometimes, but what can I expect? I've been on mind-altering drugs for a couple of years. I hope things continue to improve. Never again will I take any drugs without doing *thorough* research (not just reading the hand out that comes with it..when I started singulair, there was no information about all these problems on the leaflet).

My son started taking singulair in 1999 when he was 12. He was also taking Flonase, Flovent, and Claritin. Currently he is taking Singulair and Clarinex only. He takes these medications year round for asthma and allergy problems. Over the past few years we have gone through an emotional hell that is difficult to describe. Let's just say he has been through counseling and is currently in anger management. I thought that these were life related things.... but he says it isn't and that life isn't bad. He can't name anything he is angry about. Basically, he's a kind, gentle and happy guy. Now he is experiencing blackouts when he is awake. Sounds strange doesn't it. He can't sleep during the night, hears people talking (not to him), sees things that aren't really there but only for a second, and has asked me to get him some help because he feels like he is going crazy. He scares himself. He is 19. I made an appt with a neurologist but the end of February is the soonest we can get in. I would tell him to stop taking it now but just missing one day produces major panic attacks... in a physical sense. I urge parents to try other avenues before singulair, then monitor it closely. It is a dopamine agonist and messing with the receptors or storage modes of dopamine does not appear to be a good idea.

First I urge everyone who personally has experienced a serious side effect or had a family member such as a child suffer to go to the Food and Drug Administration's website and file a report. I did. It's confidential and it took me only about 10 minutes to complete. The drug manufacturer will claim that all of us reporting side effects never notified them. Doing it through medwatch notifies the FDA and the drug manufacturer.

I am the mom (guest number 13248) who hoped that Singulair was the cause of my daughter's behavioral, emotional and physical problems. It's been one week since we discontinued the medication and all of her symptons are gone. They are actually too long to list here. Her last psychologist said not only did she have adhd but oppositional defiiant disorder and since she was thinking about killing herself we may have to consider hospitalizing her! The emotional toll on myself and my poor daughter has been unbelievable. Two gastroenterologists couldn't account for all her stomach problems. She had a reflux scan, and an upper GI at age 5.

I can't possibly put her all the problems we've had, but once again, I urger everyone to be proactive and file a drug interaction notice with the FDA.

Then, maybe as doctors become aware that the drug causes these problems they may start notifying their patients. Doctors tend to rely on what the drug manufacturers tell them. I think very few doctors actually do any "outside" research on their own. To think how much agony would have been saved had two years ago the first doctor we saw suggested we take her off singulair.

i am a newcomer to this website, and have happened upon it by an overwhelming urge (from God, i believe) to research this medication that my 5 yr old daughter was on for 2 years. She had been a happy, sweet, sunday-school loving child, but started to become a somewhat demonic, temper tantrum, "nothing was ever good enough" evil child. it kills me to write these descriptives of my one & only child, but i was ready to call social services to come & pick her up because i could not, in any way shape or form, "handle" her anymore. i thought with the new school, moving to a new area had something to do with it, but i was mistaken! chills run up & down me as i read what others have written about this Singulair POISON!!! Let the Lawsuits roll, as God gave me the knowledge to look at this site for something...I thank Him daily for giving me my child back! She's "coming back to life" again after 2 wks of being weaned off....For the love of your child, and your own sanity, Get your Children (& yourselves) off of this stuff!! if you do continue to take it, lock up the gun cabinet for your sake & your childrens.

My 16-year-old daughter was taking Singulair, Pulmicort and Flonase for allergies and asthma. For a while, all was well. The she suffered from nausea. Her allergy doctor said it couldn't be her medications, maybe she had acid reflux. Then they thought she was depressed. My honor student starting doing poorly in school, got arrested shop lifting, and then threatened suicide.

Of course, no side effects of this type are listed on the Singulair website!

I found this forum and took her off Singular immediately. She was back to her old self in a few weeks and she is doing well with her allergies and asthma without it.

Thank you all for writing in, you probably saved my daughter's life.

I urge all of you, follow your instincts; do not trust your doctor; always get a second or third opinion; do not trust drug companies.

My husband went to the doctor Saturday, 3/19/05 was there at least 3 hours before being seen by the doctor. He went for sinus allergies. He was prescribed Singulair, my husband took the dose late that afternoon after having lunch with a close friend. At around 2am he started having stomach pain and the urge to release everything in his stomach. Since 2am that morning he had strong vomiting and diarrhea up until 4pm the next day. I gave him a warm chammomille tea and Immodium advanced to help him get through this horrible ordeal. He also came down with flu like symptoms of aching muscles and the vomiting/diarrhea continued it was extremely difficult for me to watch him suffer this way. My small 4 year old started crying feeling that his daddy would not get better, this was extremely sad for both of us. My husbands diarrhea finally calmed down at around 7pm Sunday. The vomiting continued since he did try to have a light soup, he then went to bed early at around 9:30pm and later complained of having dilusional dreams as though they were very real, this is one of the symptoms described on the medication. My husband was never really able to sleep since he had taken this medication it wouldnt allow him to get any rest. Finally at around 3:30 am that Monday he finally dozed off and slept until 7:30 am. only 4 hours of somewhat sleep.

He wasnt feeling well enough that Monday morning so he forced himself to stay home from work to catch up on some rest, my husband had gone through an absolute horrible ordeal only because some doctor gambled on guessing this medication would be ok for him. My husband also had very fast heart rate along with everything else I've talked about.

He did mention to this doctor that he had previously had open heart surgery and the doctor didnt feel that this would be an issue with Singulair. When the doctor was contacted on Saturday morning he simply told my husband that his symtoms were due to him picking up a viral infection from the patients sitting around him in the waiting room that Saturday morning he came in. I strongly doubt that this was the case.
To everyone out there if you read this message please do not allow your dear family loved one to be put on Singulair, this medication is extremely destructive. My husband simply went in for allergy treatment and ended up having a weekend nightmare. So please I strongly advise that if you suffer from allergies do not allow any physician to prescribe you this absolute nightmare medication. I wish you all well and take great care of yourselves along with your dear loved ones.

Thank you.
Ms. Hicks