Hello http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/wave.gif Everyone,

I usually post on the back pain boards. I am also have asthma and was born with it. I have had bad attacks over the years and on occasion ended up in the ER. Last year I started to advair/diskus 250/50 and it has worked wonders for me. I hardly ever take my abuterol inhaler and haven't used my neublizer in quiet some time. I was prescribed Singulair in May to help with the allergy season. As you will see by reading my signature I do suffer many lumbar and cervical problems. I also had lumbar surgery this past June.

About 6 weeks ago I started suffering from extreme stiffness of my legs. I assumed this was from my surgery. However, someone did email me telling me their horrible experience with singulair and leg stiffness. He told me that after he discontinued the medication that the stiffness went away. I am not ready to give up this medication as of yet. I stomach and back muscles at this time are very week from my surgery. If I was to cough right now I would experience so much pain in my back, so that is why I want to continue with my med.

I just wanted to ask if anyone else had a related symptom while taken singulair. Any responses will be greatly appreciated.

Take Care.

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Cervical MRI 10/02
Loss of cervical lordosis with reversal of the curvature.
C4-5 and C6-7 disc bulges resulting in flattening of the ventral margin of the cord.
C5-6 there is a left foraminal herniation which results in moderate foraminal stenosis In addition, there is flattening of the ventral margin of the cord due to bulging disc.
Cervical Epidural 5/19/03

Lumbar MRI 10/02
Lumbar Lordosis
L5-S1 disc herniation with moderate thecal sac deformity.
L4-5 disc desiccation with bulge which results in mild thecal sac deformity and mild bilateral foraminal stenosis.
L2-3 disc desiccation with Schmorl’s nodule of L3.
Lumbar Epidural 1/30/03
Lumbar Epidural 2/12/03
Lumbar Epidural 2/26/03
Lumbar Discogram 5/23/03
Lumbar CatScan 5/23/03
Posterior Fusion & Infuse on L4,L5,S1 6/30/03
Lumbar X-Ray 7/24/03
Lumbar X-Ray 8/27/03
Still no pain relief....

Tomorrow,

Singulair cleared up my allergies and breathing better than anything I've every taken... but, it also made me miserable. I was weak and exhausted. It was such an effort to put one foot in front of the other, my legs were weak, stiff and tired. Then, I started getting tingling in my arms and legs and that was it, I stopped taking it.

The symptoms you are describing can be caused by Singulair. And, from what I understand, when a person progresses from the weakness to the tingling, it is imperative they stop taking it. There have been incidents of vasculitis in rare individuals taking Singulair.

With all the other unfortunate problems you have had, I wouldn't add Singulair to the mix. It cannot be taken by everyone.

Hello http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/wave.gif Ammom1,

Thank you for your reply. I have also been weak and exhausted. But I thought this was from my anemia. I cannot believe that this med can cause all these symptoms. My doctor is now having me go to a cardiologist and I now my heart is fine. I stopped taking singulair yesterday, actually I threw the bottle in the garbage. After a couple of days I will come back and post. Hopefully I will have some improvement. Again thanks for replying.

Take Care.

This might sound like a stupid observation... but it's too bad you threw the Singulair in the garbage. It's horribly expensive and surely someone could use it.

Hello http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/wave.gif Plm,

Thank you for your reply. I sure can understand your reasoning for your post as I know how expensive this medication is. But if this med it doing to me what I think it is, I wouldn't give it to my worst enemy.

Have a great day.

I credit Singulair with being better than I have in 20+ years. Not everyone has such bad side effects, I have had none to my knowledge. The Advair was helpfull but when the Singulair was added to my medications it was a God send.

I know it doesn't work well for everyone but for those reading this post that haven't tried it, you may want to if your doctor recommends it. Different people react differently to drugs.

I forgot to say that I have been taking if for about two years. Started in 2001.

Hello http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/wave.gif Monday,

You are correct in stating that different meds work differently for other people. Some people such as yourself might have great relief from this med. I am happy that it has worked very well for you. As a matter of fact I haven't even coughed for a couple of months while taking it. I just cannot take the chance that this med may be causing ME more harm than good.

Have a great day...

Hi there....I have been taking Singulair for about 5 years now. In Canada it was originally marketed for Asthma control, not for allergies. I too am always tired, but I chalked it up to being a working mom with 4 kids and a husband to take care of!!! Maybe I should start paying attention to it. Since I've been on the Singulair, I've been able to cut my Ventolin use from 8 times per day to about 2. I also take Flovent 250mcg 1 per day and Flonase 1 per day. I have noticed in the past couple of months when I am walking long distances that my legs start to tingle and feel numb. Has anyone had this happen to them? I did a little bit of research and wondered if it might be sciatica?

Pamela

Hello http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/wave.gif Pamela,

Singulair also did work great for my asthma. I hardly ever took my abuterol or used my nebulizer while taking this script. Here they prescribe it for asthma, but they really want you to take it at allergy season. I just have so much going on right now and the doctor's are having a real hard time diagnosing me. I just have to be certain that a medication could not be the cause. I have had many tests and have many more to go through. I did see a cardiologist the other day and my echo and cardiogram came back great. So they have indeed ruled out that my heart would be causing my pitting edema and stiffness. I did speak to the cardiologist concerning singulair and he looked it up and said that it could not be causing my symptoms. I haven't taken the singulair in days but still no improvement. However, I am starting to cough more and I took my abuterol inhaler yesterday. I think if things don't change within the week I will have to get my script refilled.

I suffer from sciatica and it did start with the tingling but then turned to weakness and pain and my toes go numb. I would suggest speaking to your doctor about this.

As for the weakness and tiredness I also had the Epstein Barr Virus last year. My doctor told me this year that from the results of blood work that it went dormid. However, after my surgery in June I developed anemia. This can also make you tired. So can many of the medications I take for pain. Also have been told that singulair can also cause this. So many complications, I don't think I can narrow by problems to one thing. All that I hope for is to be well.

Hello http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/wave.gif Ammom,

I just wanted to know if you have a link or anything that stated that singulair can cause vasculitis. I have searched the web but cannot find anything. The reason why I ask this question is because my primary doctor now wants me to see a vascular specialist if the swelling does not go done within the week.
Thanks for any info that you may have.

Hope everyone has a great day...

Hi Ammom...thanks for your info. Next time I am at the doctors, I will mention the tingling i'm experiencing.

Pamela