New warnings on Singulair - Asthma Message Board

nscrbug · 06-17-2009, 02:33 PM

I recently read about new FDA warnings regarding psychiatric behavior (mood swings, depression, suicidal thoughts, sleep problems) in patients using Singulair. Has anyone here experienced anything like this, while using Singulair? I've been on 10mg of Singulair for many years to control my asthma (I am also on Advair). These latest warnings have me a bit concerned. I have always wanted to get off the Singulair, and never felt like I really needed it in the first place. But I guess my doctor has me on it for a reason. I'm tempted to just stop taking it, just to see if it causes a flare-up in my asthma symptoms. I haven't had an episode or attack in years...haven't even needed to use my rescue inhaler in years either...so my asthma is well controlled by the meds I'm taking now...yet I wonder if I could go without the Singulair. Any thoughts on this?
Is anyone else using Singulair AND Advair to control their asthma, and discovered that they no longer need to use Singulair, and have stopped taking it?

dreams in neon · 06-17-2009, 05:20 PM

I have bipolar disorder which can cause severe mood swings.

I've also taken Singulair for several months before I was switched to a different allergy med.

While taking Singulair, I never experienced any mood changes. If anything, it elevated my mood because I was no longer suffering as much as I was before taking that med.

I believe the FDA may have added this warning to make sure all of their bases are covered in the event someone does experience a dramatic shift in mood. It's similar to the black box warnings on anti-depressants which indicate that they can cause suicidal behavior/ideation even if this isn't true for the majority of people who take it.

If you're concerned about this, you may want to discuss this further with your GP and/or pharmacist.

MountainReader · 06-17-2009, 10:59 PM

I'm on both Advair and Singulair as well. Have been for years. Really is concerning that both medications have high level warnings with them. I've taken them for years and had no side effects.

If you feel you have things under control and have not had to use your Albuterol for years, you may be able to reduce your treatment. I'd talk to your doctor first before stopping the Singulair though.

At my last Pulmonologist appointment several months ago, I asked my him about coming off of the Singulair. I'd already gone from years of Advair 500/50 down to 250/50 and have been getting antsy to cut back on the Singulair as well. My Pulmonologist told me that it was up to me if I wanted to try going off of the Singulair, but that one of two things would happen. It could go OK or I could have a bad time of it with a major flare. It is up to me if I want to risk it. I'm in a different place than you are though. In the previous year, my asthma had been out of control. It wasn't until last October that I got it in check. I've been chicken about taking myself off of the Singulair since that conversation. I figure I'd give it a bit longer before trying to go off of it. The other thing I've got going is that I was on 4 allergy medications. I went off 2 a couple months ago. Although I take it for my asthma, it is the last allergy pill that I'm on. I'm not sure I want to push my luck for the allergies and asthma that fast. It is in my master plan to come off of the Singulair though.

If you do try it, keep us posted with how you do.

gcsjr · 06-18-2009, 05:32 AM

I've been on Singulair for 8 years with no significant side effects. It has worked extremely well to help control my asthma (and nasal polyps).

doloresmc · 07-17-2009, 09:35 PM

Hi, my 6 year old son took singulair for about 2 weeks when we noticed he was super hyper and not able to control his impulses. He also started talking a lot about death and death dreams and nightmares. He even got in trouble at school for the first time ever, and that was it!!. We didn't really have time to tell if it made a difference for him, just the fact that he seemed so out of control made it an easy decision for us. It helped that his asthma seems to flare up in winter, now he isn't taking anything, just albuterol+pulmicort if needed, but not needed it so far thank God!.
I took singulair for almost 2 years and it worked really well for my allergies but it gave me ear pain in the end. I also felt I needed to stop taking it (can't say why)
Dolores