Singulair Side effects - how can you tell?

[BonzoDooDah]

My DS (2:7) has been prescribed Singulair to treat his wheezing. He's a bonchiolitis baby and has viral induced wheeze and is clear most of the time but then has been in hospital several times with wheezing.
So, two weeks in and obviously we can't tell whether it is working or not as he is usually fine in between episodes so it is only absence of wheezing that we could monitor.
But if you read the side effects (in the link) they say SINGULAIR may cause serious side effects. Behavior and mood-related changes have been reported: agitation including aggressive behavior or hostility, bad or vivid dreams, depression, disorientation (confusion), feeling anxious, hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that are not really there), irritability, restlessness, sleepwalking, suicidal thoughts and actions (including suicide), tremor, and trouble sleeping
What I want to know is how on earth do you know in a 2 year old? He is articulate but going through the terrible twos BIG style. He can be a stroppy grot at the best of times so how can you tell if he's having mood changes (like yes! he's a toddler), aggressive behaviour and irritability (tantrums etc). He seems a bit more on a hair trigger this week but then he and his sister have had upset stomachs so may be feeling a bit rough from that. Just how do you tell? Anyone?

DS is on singulair to, I work on the principle if you can't tell that something is the result of the drug (ie not a new medical problem or massive change in moods etc) then to assume all is fine!

DS2 now aged 5 has been on singular for around 20 months, and like you it was hard to tell, but no nightmares which was the main thing I was worried about. My consultant said it was Ok to give in the morning after food instead of at night as it can make them hyper a bit.

It has helped, only two hospital admissions since, and he is due to come of it at after Easter as he has just turned 5. Saying that we are up with croup right now, DH in bathroom with steam as I search MN for some help!

I've taken it on and off for several years for persistent rhinitis. It's brilliant stops my nose dripping into my throat and me feeling awful all the time.

I've never noticed any side effects, but agree it might be hard to spot them in a 2Y.

I hope it helps him and he feels better soon.

Thanks everyone for the comments. And good to know about teh missed dose - will make sure it is regular. If needed will switch to mornings - we just do.not.need a hyper-stroppy 2yo

caracaro how's your DS today? Best thing I did was take DD to A&E (at 5 -bloody - am) ... she was better by the time we walked in bloody typical as cold air helps! So now I stand them on the back step wrapped in a blanket (DD 4 had it the other week). Otherwise steam is supposed to help too. Blooming scary though isn't it!

We recently took my 6 yo ds off singular as we suspected his behavior was a side effect of it.
He became extremely aggressive and violent, with pretty much constant meltdowns and lashing out and throwing stuff.

I also took myself off it to see if it was causing my depressive feelings. Within 2 days I felt like a different person, and have also found other things that I put down as fairly recent quirks have disappeared to.

For both of us, it took a couple of months on the drug for the changes to appear.
Having said all of this though, I know other people on singular that have had no problems, so I wouldn't worry.

If he does have any side effects, it doesn't take long off the drug to see a difference.

Wow Faverolles - that's good that you recognised that it was the drug causing those effects and cound get off.
I will be watching my boy carefully over the next weeks.

We did steam for 20 mins and cold ait for 20 mins about three times and he fianlly stopped! Since then it turned in a chest infection but anti b's are doing the trick and he is now so much better as are me and DH, sleepless night totally fry your head and ability to funciton normally!

Tell me about the sleepless nights! Urrrg - glad he's getting better!

I think this is brilliant. It's totally transformed by 10 yo. He can do way say mo now. He does cross country now which is just amazing. But he has always been a grump, the only one of mine with tantrums. He has been n this now since I guess 7. I do find he does go off on one eassily if he gets going! I just keep him sweet of I can. I do know a child who tried to commi suicide.i dont know the ins and outs or what he tried to do though. But I again reiterate its made a huge difference to what my son can do now. He never used to be able to swim a width without wheezing and now he runs over a mile quite fast!

Wow moose that's an amazing difference to make. You must be thrilled!
My boy isn't affected by his asthma in that way (at the moment) so I'm not sure if he needs such a strong medicine. But if it keeps him out of hospital then great.
Thanks and wow to such an asthmatic doing running! Woo Hoo!