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Allergies and intolerances

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Original poster

any experience with singulair?

19 replies

cheeryface · 30/03/2007 16:50

ds2 (8) gets wheezy when he ahs hayfever and also gets chest infections. i'm ot sure if it really is asthma as he doesn't cough and he's never been out of breath.

the asthma nurse suggested that i use singulair as it also helps hayfever.

is his right?

any advice?

OP posts:

Spidermama · 30/03/2007 16:53

Cheery I was on it for a bit. I have asthma related to allergies. It's briliant. One tiny pill and all symptoms disappear BUT you have to look into the long term risks. When I next went to the GP to get a repeat prescription she said, 'Are you happy with the Singulair? I have to tell you it is fairly heavy duty. Normally we don't prescribe it unless the condition is extreme.'

I just have to go and do some dinner stuff. I'll be backl.

nikkie · 30/03/2007 17:04

Dd1 has it , never been warned about long term use though , she has been on it a while now and Paeds didn't mention anything either.

Her symptoms are practically gone though its great.

Overrun · 30/03/2007 17:07

thats interesting Spidermama, tell me more. I was on it for a while, and it didn't do a huge amount for me, then stopped it when I became pregnant with ds1. They now want me to try it again, but not sure
Ds1 had it for a little while when he was 2 I think. But we noticed no real improvement so it was stopped.
Perhaps it might work well with your ds, as actually it is supposed to work on the allergies side of things. I think my family's Asthma is more sparked off by viruses than anything else

Original poster

cheeryface · 30/03/2007 17:08

i had been planning to use the brown inhaler during the summer as last year we just had salbutamol and he ended up constantly full of phlegm and wheezy at times but i don't really like him to have steroids, he already uses a steroid nasal spray.

he doesn't need anything the rest of the time, so, maybe singulair mught be a bit harsh then?

OP posts:

Overrun · 30/03/2007 17:10

I don't know Cheeryface, there can be a danger of parents of children with Asthma not medicating their children enough, out of a fear of side effects. It has been implicated in several childhood deaths.
Maybe he doesnt need it, I don't know, and I can understand your concerns as I have them to. I just think some times we should be prepared to give something a go iyswim

Original poster

cheeryface · 30/03/2007 17:11

if it helps the hayfever it would be worth it though as that is horrendous even with eye drops, nasal spray and antihistamine!

OP posts:

brimfull · 30/03/2007 17:11

My ds has been on it for about 4 months now and his asthma has been really improved by it.He was regulary needing steroids and nebulisers but since starting singulair he hasn't needed tham at all.
He is still having the steroid inhaler aswell.
I wasn't warned about any long term affects ....would be interested to know more about that.

brimfull · 30/03/2007 17:13

I would be much more worried about the long term effects of asthma on his lungs than the worry of using steroids to control the symptoms.

alibobins · 30/03/2007 17:13

Ds who's 2.3 has been on this for nearly a year now for his asthma and allergies. not sure if its made ant difference but hosp dont want us to stop it.

alibobins · 30/03/2007 17:14

Don't know about side effects either.

Overrun · 30/03/2007 17:15

ggirl, I agree with you. I don't think it is explained properly to parents that undertreated Asthma can cause those sorts of problems.

Spidermama · 30/03/2007 17:16

Have you come across What Doctors Don't Tell You?

They have a great deal to say on the modern approach to the management of asthma.

I'm on a combination of inhaled steroid and bronchio dilator but I don't like that either. I've just ordered WDDTY Asthma Manual as I'd really like to give it a try managing my condition without the drugs. I worry about side effects, about long term use and dependency and I know that years of Ventolin use has exascerbated my condition.

I don't know the answers, though I'm building up a picture. My astham is better when I avoid dairy completely and damp dust my house regularly but I can't seem to stick to itr.

Sorry to ramble, but I think astham treatments need to be questioned.

brimfull · 30/03/2007 17:17

It was explained to me that I should think of his lungs like a balloon ,if astham is left untreated,his lungs will be like a balloon when its been blown up loads of times and is all floppy and not as efficient.

brimfull · 30/03/2007 17:20

spider-in the link what are EMF's?

Overrun · 30/03/2007 17:24

Gawd, I don't know. I guess it is important to question things, and not just take things on blind faith, however, I think the general distrust of the medical profession. Along with every ones an expert attitude. Can be quite damaging.
All I know is when I try and reduce my inhalers I get worse. So I probably take the view that I don't want to know what terrible things my meds might be doing to me, as I have no choice

Spidermama · 30/03/2007 17:37

Overrrun I know exactly what you mean. I havew just been thouroughly enjoying a symptom-free few weeks after going on this combi inhaler, but I noticed I was putting on weight, fast. So I stopped it abruptly and my tight chest came back within 48 hours.

I have had success keeping symptoms down without drugs in the past but it takes a lot of effort and then I'm not sure to what extent it's to do with the time of year. It's very complecated isn't it?

EMFs are electro magnetic fields. A whole 'nother can of worms.

northender · 30/03/2007 17:46

ds had singulair for about 3 years. His response to it was fantastic. As far as I know children tend to respond well to it as opposed to adults. ds came off it in May last year (age 5) and has not had any problems since. For now he seems to have grown out of it. Singulair made a real difference to his health and quality of life at the time when inhaled steroids just weren't hitting the spot.

nikkie · 30/03/2007 18:10

dd1s asthma seems to be allergy based too that was why it was suggested

Overrun · 31/03/2007 11:02

Spidermama, its frustrating isn't it. I can't help feeling really sad that two out of three of my dcs seem to be taking after me.
As you say it is good to be informed. I think it is partly because I was diagnosed at the age of 6, so I have lived with this all my life, and have become used to taking medical advice.

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