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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To ask you about my son's montelukast medication?

69 replies

Witsendmummy · 03/08/2018 13:37

DS is 24 months and has been on montelukast to help with reoccurring bronchiolitis since he was around 13 months.
His behaviour is awful, he hurts everyone and other children and gets angry very easily. He's very intelligent and can be very loving and loves to be around other children but lashes out. We've got a new born now and he can't be let near her.
Is anyone's child on or been on montelukast and has it affected behaviour?
His behaviour is really making me feel so down and embarrassed now.
DS was admitted to hospital multiple times before he was on montelukast and last winter was alot better possibly due to him been older and stronger or due to the montelukast.

OP posts:

Mumofoneprem · 04/08/2018 01:22

Dd was on montelukast for quite a long time with no side effects.

It's late, I'm tired.. but from this thread does it seem to be mainly boys affected by behavioural and sleep issues?

brizzledrizzle · 04/08/2018 01:29

My son was on it for seven years with no behaviour issues at all.

Rebecca36 · 04/08/2018 01:56

I had not heard of the drug but looked it up.
www.healthline.com/health/montelukast-oral-tablet#side-effects

Go down to serious side effects, eg mental health problems.

It sounds like a horrendous drug for adults, never mind children. There must be something gentler that can be given.

ncforthisasitsrevolting · 04/08/2018 02:43

My son was on it. He became depressed. It has been known to cause severe depression in some children.

DancingInTheGarden · 20/08/2020 10:39

Early this year (February 202) the FDA issued a black box warning for Montelukast / Singulair:
FDA requires Boxed Warning about serious mental health side effects for asthma and allergy drug montelukast (Singulair)

"The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is strengthening existing warnings about serious behavior and mood-related changes with montelukast (Singulair and generics), which is a prescription medicine for asthma and allergy.

We are taking this action after a review of available information led us to reevaluate the benefits and risks of montelukast use. Montelukast prescribing information already includes warnings about mental health side effects, including suicidal thoughts or actions; however, many health care professionals and patients/caregivers are not aware of the risk. .."
"Because of the risk of mental health side effects, the benefits of montelukast may not outweigh the risks in some patients, particularly when the symptoms of disease may be mild and adequately treated with other medicines. "

There are published studies which show that the incidence of side effects is much greater than previously thought (up to 1 in 16 discontinuing due to behavioural / neuropsychiatric side effects).
They also acknowledge that some side effects do not stop on ceasing taking the medicine and some even start on cessation.

If you see behavioural changes in your child on this medicationplease see your doctor.
There is a facebook group for support Montelukast (Singulair) Side Effects Support and Discussion Group

I know this is an old thread but posting for anyone who is searching old posts for answers

DancingInTheGarden · 20/08/2020 10:40

@Witsendmummy how is your son now?

Waveysnail · 20/08/2020 10:44

I take montelukast and have for years. I take it in the morning so doesnt effect my sleep. I take it for severe hives and life chnger for me

Supsista · 20/08/2020 10:53

My son had it when it was 18 months.
It's fucking evil stuff if you get side effects.

He was depressed.

A depressed 18 month old. He wouldn't play, he would just sit there and stare into space and just cry like his heart was broken. It was horrible to witness. He couldn't smile, he couldn't play. It was as though it was utterly bereft.

DancingInTheGarden · 20/08/2020 11:10

@Supsista that is so, so sad.
How long until you found out what caused that?

DanielRicciardosSmile · 20/08/2020 11:19

DS was on montelukast for a short while when he was younger (4? 5? Not too sure now, it was a long time ago). Didn't cause any behavioural issues that we noticed (not easy to be certain as DS has ASD, but we didn't notice any major difference in behaviour), but also didn't help his asthma at all. Consultant withdrew it after 6 months.

Soundbyte · 20/08/2020 11:45

Anecdotally, montelukast is thought to disturb sleep, often giving nightmares or night terrors,

I stopped taking it myself for these reasons.

Ginpalacequeen · 20/08/2020 12:04

My ds went on it when he was 6/7 and his behaviour deteriorated terribly. We couldn’t understand what was going on at first, there were issues at school home life was a nightmare. I did some research and found out that a number of people had reported negative changes to behaviour so we took him off it and he changed back to the happy child we knew.

Bagshot · 20/08/2020 12:27

Has caused a negative change in both my children behaviour wise.
I did however change from giving it at night, to adding it to yogurt at breakfast. That stopped the night terrors dramatically for my dd (5) and my 3 year old is more settled at night too.
Unfortunately for me, not giving it is more of an issue. Especially with Winter and Covid, it's absolutely terrifying.

bettybigballs · 20/08/2020 13:10

I was on it for six months up until January when I connected it to the severe depression, violent thoughts and chronic insomnia I was having. My GP pushed me to continue but I slowly came off it and the effect on my mental state was transformative. It sorted my asthma out but in doing so turned me into a shell of a person, very nearly cost me my marriage.

Rumblebear · 20/08/2020 13:37

My DD (3) has just started it, this is a little scary to hear - we haven't had any side effects yet I think though. For those that did experience side effects - how long did they take to kick in? I am too nervous to stop it, her (possible asthma) attacks are happening every few weeks (we have salbutamol as well) and winter and covid does worry me a lot.

DancingInTheGarden · 20/08/2020 14:27

@Rumblebear for my son it was several months, for some it is immediately and others never. For some the medicine is a saviour for bad asthma (e.g. my son) ... until it's not - sorry - it is a difficult choice but just be very aware.

You should be warned by your pharmacist which side effects to watch out for. But keep a note of any changes in behaviour or sleep patterns.

This picture shows things to look out for.

To ask you about my son's montelukast medication?

Rumblebear · 20/08/2020 18:20

Thank you @DancingInTheGarden

That's quite a list

berryhead2013 · 20/08/2020 20:06

My son was out in it at 6 months old and it turned my gorgeous chilled little baby into an anxious wreck we persevered for 2 months with very little sleep and thought bugger this within a week he went back to himself
If you google monteleulast patient experience and children it describes kids saying they feel rage and anger and they don't know why some of the tales are harrowing and sad as they end up labelled as disruptive problem kids x

DancingInTheGarden · 21/08/2020 09:04

@berryhead2013 anxious at 6 months! That is heartbreaking.

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