To be worried about dd taking montelukast for her asthma?

[Trewser]

Sorry, posting in here for traffic. Dd is really struggling with her asthma and has been prescribed this today. The side effects can include depression and suicidal thoughts she is anxious and a worrier as it is. Does anyone else take it?

I take it - have done for about 5 years. I've never had those (or any) side effects

I tried it for my asthma. It didn’t help so I stopped it. I suffer from anxiety and depression anyway but it certainly didn’t make them any worse. Chat to the pharmacist?

I didn't want to talk aboit it in front of dd. That's so disappointing that it didn't work wolfie

My child has been prescribed this and it’s the one thing that really helps them, they just take it as and when needed and never had the side effects.

My ds (just turned 7) has been on it for 3 years now. The difference it has made to him has literally been life changing. I haven’t had to call an ambulance since he started taking it, he hardly needs prednisolone anymore etc. At first I noticed that it maybe changed his behaviour slightly. We persevered for a few months and found it returned to normal. Also as he was so young when he started to take it I do question whether he was just going through a difficult phase regarding behaviour. Have they played around with inhalers too? We found when using the brown inhaler (can’t remember name) ds was still needing a lot of ventolin. He was switched on to Seretide and that, with the montelukast, seems to have finally got his asthma under control (mostly)

It was worth a try but I didn’t notice a difference! That’s just me though. I think with side effects they list EVERYTHING. No matter how rare or unlikely. It’s worth knowing what they may be even if you’re really unlikely to suffer from them.

Sadly my DD was very very badly effected- and had to stop taking.

Everyone's experience is different and I respect that it is a lifesaver for people-and should not be tarred as bad for all-but it had a devastating effect on DD and took her a long time to recover.
We were unaware of the potential side effects (years and years ago) but as long as you are careful and know what to look for you should be ok.

There are several threads on here about it and they do get very passionate responses- good luck!

I took it as a child and was badly effected. I tried again about a year ago, and was so miserable and depressed. Once I realised it was the montelukast I stopped taking it. After a few days I felt like the clouds parted and the depression cleared. I feel like it gave me an understanding of how people with depression feel. I would never take it again

I'm an adult with anxiety and depression. It's been a miracle for my asthma and made no difference to the anxiety/depression at all.

Everyone is different - you have to try it to find out.

DD age 16 has been taking it for several months for allergies and she's had no noticeable side effects.

2 of my children are on it and so is my husband when he needs it. No one has ever had any side effect from it.

It's a potentially life saving medication.

Everything has side effects but most of us don't experience them. We take paracetamol regularly but if people looked at the side effects they would think twice.

Thank you. Not sure whether to discuss it with dd. I'm a bit worried she might talk herself into feeling bad iyswim.

they just take it as and when needed and never had the side effects can you do that? Take it for a few weeks then stop?

My dd has been on it for a few years and no noticeable side effects. We were in hospital every few weeks before and that just wasn’t sustainable.

We've been in hospital twice in the last few weeks. She's started to be scared of leaving home. Really hoping it gives.some relief but the side effects are.so worrying

My DD took it when she was 6 and experienced frightening side effects.

The GP agreed with us that it wasn’t working and we’ve since managed her asthma in different ways.

they just take it as and when needed and never had the side effects can you do that? Take it for a few weeks then stop?

DD's doctor said it's important to take it consistently, not just when you feel like you need it.

As a longer term strategy the Buteyko method is excellent for improving Asthma.

My ds was prescribed this and we noticed his behaviour deteriorated drastically, we took him off it and he went back to his normal happy self. Despite this I would always recommend that you try any medication recommended by your doctor as everyone is different What works for one does not always work for another

I've taken it for years alongside inhalers when I couldn't have prednisolone long term. I've also had depression and it never had an impact. It's quite quick at working. My 4 year old has just been prescribed it too.

Has she tried the new inhalers? They have changed my life!
Called Relvar Ellipta

I've been taking it for 3 or 4 years now, and it's really helped my asthma, though I do take it in conjunction with a combined inhaler.
I've not suffered any of the side-effects, I think the leaflet has to include practically anything that could possibly happen to anyone taking it, and this goes for all medicine's side effects leaflets. They just have to cover all bases.

My daughter took it from approx age 5 until 11. It helped a great deal and although she is an anxious person it didn't exacerbate her anxiety. One thing I would say is to take it in the morning rather than at night as it can disturb sleep.

Relvar is the inhaler I use along with the Montelukast.

My DC had horrible side effects and I regret ever starting them. We are now almost two months off them and DC is slowly loosing the side effects thankfully.