Comments on: Singulair May Be Linked To Increased Risk Of Suicide

By: Pamela

Pamela — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 04:13:41 +0000

My son has been on singulair since he was 16 months. It is quite expensive! He doesn’t have the side effects that other mothers on here are mentioning ie; night terrors or mood changes although if he misses a dose or two he becomes feverish. It is a steriod and I know it can be highly addicted so is it his bodies way of telling him he needs it? Or is it just a coincidence?

By: john

john — Sat, 09 May 2009 03:44:05 +0000

I have suffered with allergy problems for about 20 years. Over the years they have worsened significantly and I have been miserable, due to heavy sinus congestion and migraines. I have tried all the nasal inhalers, with no relief. I have tried all the prescription allergy oral meds, with no relief. The most effective medication was always tylenol allergy sinus but taking it 3-4 times a day leads to other problems. I started Singulair and I was congestion free for the first time in 20 years, and my four times a week migraines cleared up almost immediately, sleeping was restfull again, and I had unbelievable energy. But after a week of taking singulair 10 mg a day I started to have panic attacks that went on for about 30 seconds (terror attacks probably more appropriate way to describe it). Because I have tried everything with no relief and am desperate, I will try swithching to the 5mg chewable tabs and go from there. My situation is an extreme one and I would probably not continue taking this med if I had any other options but I am kinda stuck. If the side affects continue at 5mg though, I am done with Singulair.

By: V.

V. — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 17:58:15 +0000

I can only say that I am glad my son (who was 7 at the time) developed stomach aches from it. I discontinued using this drug as soon as we realized the connection- he would get a stomach ache (not upset stomach; it was pain) within 20 minutes of taking it every night. It was only about 3 weeks or so into use. We stopped using it and went to something else and he hasn’t had another stomach ache like he experienced using that drug. After finding out the mood altering effects, I’m glad we quit it so quickly.

By: Mark

Mark — Fri, 30 May 2008 23:16:38 +0000

My oldest son took singulair through his adolescent years and suffered from nightmares, mood swings and cutting. I wonder if it was caused by the singular. I had never even considered that as a cause. He no longer takes it (19 years old) and does not exhibit these symptoms anymore. I wonder if there is a connection. I hope they further study it before more people have to suffer.

By: zumilla

zumilla — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 01:56:09 +0000

I’m with Renee. My ENT doc suggested this to help control my allergies since Zyrtec alone wasn’t doing a great job. I’ve been on it for years with no adverse effects. At the time I started it I wa told that it didn’t work for everyone (less than 50%), but if it did work, it was very helpful. I guess I’m in that minority group. I should say that I’m an adult, and dealing with kids is something entirely different.

By: dal

dal — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 18:33:29 +0000

i work in pharmaceutical advertising (directed toward physicians) and i can tell you that it is flat-out illegal to try to bribe a physician into using your product. merck in particular has very strict guidelines about what you can legally say to a physician, and what you can “offer” him or her. we are only allowed to provide marketing materials that provide educational value to the physician and his or her patient. yes, many physicians are paid to speak on/endorse a particular drug, but they have to have some clinical experience with the product–namely, they need to be involved in some type of clinical trial.

also, you must give full disclosure about your drug’s clinical efficacy, side effects, and potential drug interactions. it is a very rigourous process that is subject to legal review after legal review.

yes, pharmaceutical companies have a profit motive, and i am not naive enough to believe that no abuses ever take place, but i know that my work is scrutinized by both merck’s legal and medical departments, as well as by the FDA, on a regular basis.

as for singulair itself, i both take and market the drug, and so far i have had no side effect issues at all. in fact, it greatly improved both my asthma and allergy symptoms, and for that i am grateful. of course, if i started having any kind of ideation problem, i would contact my doctor and seek out another alternative.

i think that many consumers are very jaded and quick to go on a corporate witchhunt without understanding the totality of a situation. to date, i think merck has been fairly responsible in how it has responded to both the vioxx and singulair issues. i am not saying singulair is not without any potential side effects, but i think the company has taken a proactive stance to investigate the issue further.

By: Tom

Tom — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 14:07:05 +0000

I used to have significant exercise induced asthma. Aftert 6-8 weeks taking Singulair, the symptoms disappeared! I no longer need to use a rescue inhaler. I have not noticed any of the side effects mentioned. There probably are many variables which may or may not result in specific side effects. People should be aware of all potential side effects, but they should also consider the positive affect of the medication and the probability that they may not experience particular side effects. It worked well for me and I assume many others. Perhaps it needs to be Rx with a warning.

By: Arlene

Arlene — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 22:03:15 +0000

My daughter was on Singular about 4 years ago. She’s 8 now. She took it for a short time as I noticed she was having night terrors. Full blown-running wildly, hallucinating of bugs and snakes, screaming hysterically, crying, wide eyed. Nothing would console her. I made the connection that she never had them until she took the Singular. I asked 2 different physician’s who said they had never heard of that, but the 2nd agreed that I should take her off of it, see if they subsided, try the singular again and see if the night terrors returned. I was right. When off the singular she stopped the night terrors. Immediatly after taking it again they returned. She has never taken Singular again.

By: Renee

Renee — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 13:22:48 +0000

I have been taking Singular for 9 years and personally for me, it has been great. There have been a few occasions when I have run out of the medicine and gone without it for a few days. I really regret it when I do that because I will start having breathing problems, asthma attacks or allergy problems. For me the drug works. We all have to be wise and take charge of our bodies. Not all drugs are for everyone. So it is your responsibility to tell your doctor if the medicine he prescribed for you is not working or you don’t like the side effects. Don’t put all the blame on your doctor if you are not going to give him/her any feedback about it. As for me and others the medicine has been great, a lot better than having to use inhalers all the time.
As for the doctors, you can not put all doctors in the same box or stereotype them all like that. I know some wise, honest, godly doctors who are not swayed by any gifts they might receive from phama. companies. They only prescribe what they believe is right for that patient and often encourage you to buy the generic drug if there is one available.

By: brittany

brittany — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 04:10:59 +0000

I have never heard of this drug as I am not aware of many drugs but it sounds very exspensive. I will never take this for my asthma but thats just my point of view