Singulair Users-Please Read

[ammom1]

While on Singulair, I experienced terrific flu-like symptoms, and on smaller doses I experienced aching all over, especially in my feet. The doctor persisted in trying smaller doses on me until I gave it up on my own. Of course, I'm now left wondering if it was vasculitis to blame and if any permanent damage has been done.

Have any of you had similar experiences with this med?
Thanks

[This message has been edited by moderator2 (edited 07-13-2002).]

[prin123]

I never took Singular because I researched the drug . Last year my asthma which I had for 20 years got much worse and I was coughing and coughing. Azmacort wasn't helping anymore and I needed Ventolin, 8 puffs a day; so I went to a new doctor who wanted to put me on Singular but I told him I had read about flu-like symptoms,etc which he pooh-poohed but I asked him to try me on something else. I tried Flovent inhaler and it has worked; I still use Ventolin , 2 puffs a day. He wanted me to try Advair but I don't like combination drugs because if you have a reaction it is difficult to determine which drug is causing the problem. Anyway, I am glad I never used Singular; I think people need to do a little research before just taking something and if they have a concern to discuss it with their physician.

HERE IS A GOOD RULE OF THUMB!!!! If the drug does not have a generic, it is still too new to measure its true merit. A drug must be safe and effective... approved by the FDA for TEN years before it can be made a generic. So, ANything that only has brand names, know... you are taking part in a huge study....
Your are a guinea pig.... if you are taking it.
(Remember phen-phen)

Blue

[wrin]

NOT TRUE.

Pulmicort has been around for 30 years and is only manufactured by AstraZeneca. It is also the only inhaled corticosteroid approved for children under 12 years, which puts it into a very narrow range of drugs. Hardly any drugs are approved for children under 12 -- Even OTC drugs like ASA.

Many other drugs are like this. Drugs can have been around for only 1-2 years and have generic markets. Your rule of thumb isn't a rule of thumb... it's a rule of thumb and broomstick and hockey stick and twig and .5 dowel. All generic means is that the patent ran out and the company chose to sell the patent to other companies. The approval process is 95% over once the drug is approved for human consumption -- it can be pulled from shelves after that, but I'm really sorry, I'm afraid you're misinformed.

RESEARCH the drugs you're going to be on. Research them more once you're on them. Information is really the only way you can be sure of what's going on. Rules of thumb like that are like comparing apples to oranges.

Remember too that sometimes asthma drugs like Beclovent and Becloforte are phased out by a company in favor of drugs like Flovent because Flovent was proven to have fewer side-effects. Just because they're mostly tried-and-true doesn't necessarily mean they're any safer than a newer drug that's been released. It doesn't even mean it's effective! Did you know that there are STILL conflicting independent reports about whether guaifensin (a commonly used OTC expectorant) has any effects at all?

And just because a drug has a generic brand name doesn't make it perfectly safe either! Think of Prednisone. Or any number of more toxic, cytotoxic meds given for cancer. Medicine is still medicine, it's not a magic bullet that will cure a condition without any side-effects whatsoever.

And phen-phen was a herbal. Herbals are not regulated the same way drugs are, they are regulated as 'foods' and not as 'drugs'. What's a little more in context is something like... 'remember thalidomide'.

[This message has been edited by wrin (edited 07-17-2002).]

[Jay Tor]

Well said, wrin.