Asthma treatment

I have been taking singulair for years with zero side effects, but recently I’ve been feeling symptoms of depression: no pleasure out of life, feeling like everything is one long useless slog. It may be that I’m having a reaction to events in my life, but I also wonder if (a) menopause is a factor, and (b) if my reaction to singular has changed as I’ve hit menopause. I was taking Singulair for about 3 years, I went off of it about 2-3 months ago and have had feeling of depression,and anxiety and have no interest in much at all. I totally have not felt myself since stopping the Singulair. All my friends say I am not myself, I am actually contemplating on starting the Singulair, because when I was on it, it actually helped tremendously with my allergies and asthma. Has anyone else experienced these effects after going off of the Singulair. My son was on it, for over a year, he is almost 4 now. He was always a funny happy kid. Recently he had started becoming irrational, hitting himself, saying he was very angry, we were seriously wondering what was wrong with him. I then happened to be in the allergist office for myself when i saw the postings on this med. We talked and decided to take him off and see how he was…. All i have to say is…i feel like i have my son back. Within 4 days of being off the med he is happy again and full of life. No more hitting himself and hidding in corners crying. As my alergist said, if you suspect, simply go off for it for a week, it takes 3 days to fully exit the system then see the results. I was on Singulair for at least 3 years and thought that I would get off it cause I thought my asthma was geting better. I was wrong,geting off Singulair can make your asthma Worse,and cause worse wheezing. I’m geting back on Singulair right away,it controls wheezing and asthma. If you have asthma I would not stop taking this medication for wheezing,unless your dr. I haven’t had any reactions from this medication,accept wheezing when I got off of it and that was it. I haven’t been depressed at all being on only Singulair,it could be when you mix it with other medications. I would watch what kind of asthma medications to take as alot have many side effects,do read about the side effects before taking medications. My opinion Asthma is past on from others that have had to of had in the family like grandparents ect.

http://www.healasthma.com

I searched on Singular and depression and read about other reports of similar symptoms so I decided to stop taking Singular. Within two days, I starting feeling better emotionally, but my asthma got worse. It has been two weeks since I completely quit taking Singular, I feel so much better and my thoughts of giving up on life have completely gone. This is really scary, I pray that no one will give up on life because they are experiencing depression as a side effect of taking Singular. For those above who felt better mentally after stoping Singulair, how long did it take for the depression to leave and the mood ro improve. I have been taking Singulair for extended periods of time (2 months), and sporadically. I was put on Singulair before I moved to Australia as a precaution against the intense pollution here. As soon as I moved to Australia, I began noticing changes in my behavior. I was becoming overly anxious, and would have intense mood swings. To complicate the issue further, Australia has an intense night life. So, occasionally, I would have intense mood swings while drinking. However, after hearing the reports I connected the dots. Not only am I taking a medicine unsupervised, but I am also in a completely new environment. A new environment always comes with a certain amount of stressed, and since I moved to Australia basically right after college. So, I do not think this help. When I heard about these reports, I connected the dots myself. Then, I called up all my family and close friends. They admit that I have some trouble with anger, but so does my father (and that may be a learned behavior). But, I am by no means depressed nor do I suffer from rapid mood swings. They say I am generally a normal happy fun loving guy. However, I did not think something was seriously wrong until I blew up at a coworker at friend. Actually, I blew up at more than just one coworker or friend. I am a French teacher, and my caring students noticed a significant difference in my behavior this past Monday. All of this happened after I took Singulair for a week or so then abruptly stopped. I think Singulair might compound all these feelings.

http://www.healasthma.com

I started taking Sinulair a year ago. After 6 months I noticed a changed in my moods, anger and patience level. I was losing my upbeat attitude towards life. I stopped a month ago and my breathing has worsened but my moods are back to my up beat self again.I am now dealing with deeper depression, anxiety, no motivation, I feel confused and want to sleep a lot. I am easily agitated and no sex drive. Not my normal I am usually very active. I started seeing a therapist 3 weeks ago because I felt I had no control over my life anymore and I m always feeling down. I read these articles today and now I am concerned this singulair medication is contributing to my depression and anxiety.

My therapist suggested that I stop taking this singulair. It worked great for allergies but not worth what I going through currently.I will be trying something else for my allergies. I have been on singulair for about 2 years now. I have always been depressed for most of my life but the past 2 years have been hell. I have noticed that it was getting worse and worse and didn’t have any energy, cried alot, ect. I have stopped taking it now for about 1 month since I heard the news and i don’t know if it’s related or not but i’m happy now. I’m not as depressed and have way more energy. I think that speaks for itself really. I can’t wait to see what they find out.

I’ve been taking singulair for a long time and I have been depressed and suicidal for just as long. I never considered a correlation between the two but it would answer a lot of questions. I had been given a prescription for Singular several months ago and had not taken it on a regular basis until my asthma got so bad that I was having to use my relief inhaler several times a day. A couple of months ago I remembered that I still had my prescription and decided to start taking it on a daily basis. The depression started very gradual and I didn’t realize how depressed I was getting until I started having thoughts of giving up on life. I felt like crying all the time, and the thoughts of suicide started occuring more and more. A friend mentioned to me that she had heard that Singular was suspected of causing depression and suicidal thoughts.

http://www.healasthma.com

I have to agree with the “out of sorts and blue feeling. I’ve been procrastinating and have very little energy or interest” but never made any connection with Singulair until today when reading about something else i found info on this. Im not sure if its due to singular or not but lately I have been really down and in a funk. Does singulars depression symptoms kick in right away or a few months after use. Im not motivated to do anything my energy levels are really low and I have alot on my plate which adds to the depression when its not accomplished. I have no record of ever having depression, anxiety or any disorder. At the same time I am so thankful to be able to breath again. I was intubated for 3 days and was in ICU for 5 when my lungs stopped working from a major asthma attack. I used to use my inhaler 6-10 times a day and since singular this past january I picked it up one time only. As I continue to take singulair Ill post updates on my mood changes to see if it continues or not. Right before I read “about” i asked my doctor why is my depression comming and going. I explained to her that I was caught up on my bills, my relationship was fine, and the kids are doing well. I said I should be the happiest person in the world, yet i’m not. The doctor gave me something for depression then I read this. Thanks for the warning because I believe it could only be the singular that is causing my depression. i have been taking singular since january of this year and i have had severe mood swings ever since. my doctor today told me that she just heard about depression being linked with singulair. it sounded funny but it’s a huge possibility. im getting real depressed these days and im not the usual out-going josh anymore. im going to either take a break from singulair or see my doctor soon.

http://www.healasthma.com

Singulair made me crazy…there is no doubt in my mind whatsoever. While taking Singulair (daily for 2 years), I had pronounced mood swings, was depressed and suicidal. I was having very strange thoughts about death and physical trauma and had never felt that way before. Not long after I stopped using Singulair, these symptoms went away completely. There is no doubt in my mind that Singulair is the culprit of those symptoms. Our 16 year old son has been on Singulair for almost a year now (various enviornmental allergies). After hearing about it the side effects on the news a few weeks ago, we decided that it wasn’t worth the risk and took him off. Plus the last nine months he has expressed that he hasn’t felt quite right mentally. He is confused and unsure of things and has low energy. After two days of being off Singulair he became very congested for about three days. We are going to talk with his ENT and get him on something else, as hearing this on the news and reading these comments almost convinces me that the Singulair is affecting his moods. I have been taking singulair for about 8 years. In combination with advair and zyrtec D, my asthma has improved drastically. I couldn’t do anything without wheezing and literally slept with a rescue inhaler under my pillow and used it several times per night. I am currently taking mesd for depression and anxiety but this is due to personal issues and pre-menopause. I am very greatful for what sigulair has done for me… I now work out at a gym 2 times per week and everynight at home on my treadmill for 4 miles. Since December, I have lost 15 lbs and 25 inches… and for the last few summers I have been able to getback into roadbiking and long distance walking which I could never have done this without singulair. My child was on singulair for nearly 4 years. Over the years he has become more irritable and angry. Two years ago he developed an eating disorder at age 9. we have no way to know if this triggered/contributed to that. We’ve been off singulair for 2 weeks but have replaced it with single puff of pulmicort at night. My 9 year old daughter has been on singulair for over a year.

http://www.healasthma.com

For those people that seem to be depressed on Singulair, try Zyflo cr. It is probably even more potent in severe asthma. (Nasdaq: CRTX) today announced that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has created a unique Formulary Key Drug Type (FKDT) category for the Companys asthma drug, ZYFLO (zileuton tablets), under guidelines developed specifically for the Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit (Part D). Under the new FKDT, ZYFLO is now categorized as a Synthesis Inhibitor based on its pharmacologic distinction from other anti-leukotriene compounds, including Mercks Singulair, which are grouped together in a category known as Receptor Antagonists. ZYFLO is the only 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO) inhibitor approved by U.

I have been taking Singulair for about a year now and have noticed a marked difference in my personality and mood. I never connected the dots that it might be related to the Singulair until I heard it on the radio 2 weeks ago. My doctor and I have blamed it on my low thyroid, which is fixed now and I have blamed it on menopause. Everytime I have seen my doctor in the last year I have told him about my depression. I used to be one of the happiest, most up-beat, joyful persons you would ever meet. I was the one always going around cheering everyone else up. Now I feel like a huge dark cloud is hanging over me. I am not really sad deep in my heart, but this heavy gloom tries to envelope me everyday and steal my joy. Since hearing about the possibility of this being a side-effect of Singulair, I have tried to get off of it two times. My athsma gets so bad that I hurry and take it again. I dont know which I want to live with, the depression or the athsma. I wish there was something else that would control the athsma just as well.

http://www.healasthma.com

I work for a surgeon and I agree that singulair need to be tested for longer periods of time for their potential side effects. I’m somewhat angry at myself for jumping in to him taking the medication at all. I will be talking to his doctor about these concerns. That Singular might be related to triggering – or worsening – depression is very bad news since I did notice an improvement in my asthma symptoms on the medication, however, my mood has worsened recently, and the lack of energy and anhedonia (loss of interest in fun stuff) is marked. I will immediately look for another asthma alternative. If I my mood improves I will post my comment here. My 9 year old son used Singulair for about a year and then stopped in December. At about the time he stopped using Singulair, he became very depressed and developed an eating disorder. A report from the Netherlands discusses depression. The report stated that in three cases the onset of the depression after taking Singulair was from 3-14 days. Discussion and conclusion received four reports of depressive symptoms in patients using montelukast. Possible confounding includes that asthma itself has been associated with the development of depression.

Inhalated corticosteroids can also exert effects on the central nervous system. Fluticason in combination with salmeterol which is used by patients A, B and D, is associated with hyperactivity and irritability whereas budesonide, which is used by patient C also has been associated with depression. The latency of montelukast-induced depressive symptoms varies from 3-14 days.

The fact that the patients (except for one) did not suffer from depressive symptoms before they started montelukast, the short latency, and recovery after withdrawal of the drug all strengthen our hypothesis that depressive symptoms are related to the use of montelukast.

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http://www.healasthma.com

http://www.squidoo.com/singulair-studies-side-effects

Singulair has been a godsend for my asthma. I think it has also helped with the rhinitis. Now, if I could just totally get rid of this exzema, i’d be in great shape. I had been treated for depression, but I don’t think it was caused by the Singulair. This medicine has helped my breathing so much, that I am able to do things I wouldn’t have made an effort to in the past. Could it be a coincidence in these other folks, or maybe since their allergies are better, that maybe the depression symptoms made themselves more noticable. Just guessing, but hope you all can find relief, because None of it, asthma, or depression, is fit to live with. I had a 5 year old daughter that was on singulair 4mg for over a year. And I will admit that it controlled her asthma GREAT…BUT I also seen my little girl go threw depression, hours of sadness and crying with no reason and she didn’t even know why. Her moods changed from a very sweet little girl to an angry out of control child.

After everything came out and we talked to her allergy doctor we decided to take her off of it all together to see if we noticed a change. AND WITHIN ONE WEEK we had our very sweet, happy little girl back. Even her allergy doctor said he was unaware of all of the latest side effects and truely wouldn’t know for about a year what the true side effects are to this medication. I think there is too much rushing to get pills on the market these days and that the FDA needs to put more restrictions on that and less on vitamins. It sure has opened our eyes for anything we ever get from any doctors for our children in the future to take. I think with this medication it may be great for some and some may not have the side effects but I really feel it should not be given to any children at all. My grandson started on Singular when he was about 5. It has made all the difference in his asthma and allergies. But I have been worried because he he gets anxious, and feels sad alot and has stopped wanting to be with friends very much. He just turned 13 and I thought maybe he was just starting into puberty, but with the new information, I am truly concerned. We do have an appointment to talk to his doctor.

I have an 11 yr old son who started with asthma problems when he was 6. He was started on Singulair about 5 years ago. It relieved his asthmatic symptoms completely which meant no more ER visits in the middle of the night. He was diagnosed with depression 3 yrs ago. Before Singulair he was always happy and smiling, now his moods wax and wane. He gets very depressed,tearful and doesn’t want to be alone, while other times he just sits in his room alone. I am concerned that the Singulair could have brought on his depression which we are treating with medication and counseling.

I do take Singulair and if it is possible that it increases depressive episode or even just makes them a little worse or a little more frequent; I will opt for something else to control my asthma. There are enough challenges in life without the side effect of a medication making it harder. I will talk to my doctor about another medication for my asthma now and if the study shows no relationship in 9 months and the new medication isn’t as effective then I will switch back. Sleep, eat right, exercise, practice stress management techniques like meditation or yoga, do something fun each day, connect with people, pray, and be strong…depression can be managed and in some cases overcome.

I was diagnosed with bi-polar in 1987,did not have any asthma at the time but did suffer from severe allergies when I was younger. They subsides and have had no problems since last 2 years. Started on Singulair about 1 year ago with good results in regards the to the wheezing without having to use nebulizer or inhalers. But have had much more difficulty in regards to my depressive symptoms. It never dawned on me that that Singulair could have contributed to this. Also noticed a tremor in my left hand 2 months ago and and just chalked it up to pschye meds. Fatique is worse, can’t get out of bed, and really don’t get much accomplished. I have been confused and have had trouble understanding why these latest symptons have been different from my usual episodes of depression in the past, these just never leave. Have not been suicidal but do not have any feelings of joy either. Will definitely be removing Singulair from my daily meds and see if it makes a difference.

Part of me hopes this is the answer. I am looking forward to learning more about the results and yes, I hope this is part of my problem. I am 72 and have emphysema and asthma. I have been taking Singulair for about 3 – 4 years. The biggest change is the fact that I can hardly drag my body out of bed in the morning. Is it sleep apnea, breathing difficulties Singulair or all of the above. Has my depression gotten worse from taking this drug. I had a depression a few years ago but have been absolutely perfect for over two years with no medications and feeling great. About three months ago I began taking Singulair and have been having a noticeably amount of blues, crying over seemingly nothing, have no energy, sad and wanting to stay in bed. I have been trying to fight myself to stay positive but the gloom has been truly overbearing and I am having a hard time seeing the light at the end. I believe this drug may be causing this as I was fine before I began taking it. Have an appointment next week to review. I have had asthma all my life. I am 48 years old and have only been on Singulair for 4 months. I can breathe and exercise like never before. I have had no problems so far and hope and pray the studies prove to be wrong about this medication.

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http://www.healasthma.com

On March 27 , 2009 the FDA issued a safety alert regarding the asthma medication Singulair (montelukast). The alert was issued in order to inform healthcare professionals and patients about the agency’s investigation into the possible link between Singulair use and depression and suicidality. During clinical trials, depression was not reported as a side effect, however, drug makers are required to keep track of side effects reported to them after drugs go to market. , which manufactures Singular, had received reports of tremor, depression, suicidality and anxiousness. In February of this year, Merck and the FDA began discussing how to disseminate this information to the public and the decision was made to interact face-to-face with prescribers and provide them with patient information leaflets to distribute.

The FDA is also working with Merck to review its study data as well as reviewing post marketing reports. The FDA estimates that it will take about nine months to complete its investigation and the results will be released to the public once its review is complete. At this time, it is not known whether there is a causal relationship between Singulair and depression and suicidality. Until further information is available, the FDA recommends that patients should not stop taking Singulair before discussing it with their doctor. It also recommends that healthcare professionals and caregivers should monitor patients taking Singulair for any suicidal thinking and behavior or changes in mood.

Singulair is a leukotriene receptor antagonist used to treat asthma and the symptoms of allergic rhinitis, and to prevent exercise-induced asthma. Have you experienced depression or suicidal feelings while using Singulair. Kind of an “out of sorts” and “blue” feeling. If so contact the nearest FDA office.

http://www.squidoo.com/singulair-side-effect