Singulair - tell me why I shouldn't go for it

[stealthsquiggle]

I have asthma which is well controlled with Seretide, but rhinitis (and other hay fever type symptoms), and skin allergies which have now become year-round and increasingly don't respond to anti histamines.

The asthma nurse suggested I talk to the GP about singulair. What should I ask /be aware of?

You sound very similar to me.I take singulair for symptoms you describe and have no problems.Are you concerned about taking it?I didnt hear anything about it.Should I?interesting ,thanks

Singulair (montelukast) can be really effective for allergy-based asthma.

I have had the odd patient who has experienced headaches, and one child with unusual bruising. Most take it with no problems and gain a lot of benefit.

It's also linked to a very very rare auto-immune disease called churg Strauss syndrome which my mum has. She took Singulair for moderate asthma years ago. No one has proved a causal link though. Most drs have not heard of it let alone the link to CS. It's so rare you probably don't need to think about CS but I thought I should mention it since I have some knowledge.

Sorry. Meant most drs are not aware of the link to Singulair.

We had major problems when DS took singulair.

He was on it for a few months, he became very depressed, crying all the time, wishing he was dead, night terrors, literally climbing the walls and screaming, was horrific.

As soon as we realised it was the medication we stopped it immediately.

Took a good few weeks to get our boy back, he was only 5 at the time.

Have heard of similar reactions in other people.

No particular reason for concern, except that it sounds (potentially) too good to be true, and the implication seemed to be that it was somewhat of a last resort. I am guessing it might be quite expensive??

It's the rhinitis that really affects my life most - I have been too ill to work on 3 separate occasions since September.

Thanks, all. I have an appointment on Monday so shall see what the GP says.

Eeek, fanny - just seen your post. Definitely one to be aware of. Poor DS.

It worked great for his asthma, just not for his mental health.

He seems to be growing out of the worst of the asthma now at age 8, thank god.

Hmm, I would rather not have to choose - although after a day of stripping wallpaper and clearing a very dusty room, the choice might be close...

Dd1 also had the night terrors reaction to singulair (she was 4) it was awful. I have heard great things from other asthma sufferers with no side effects though.

DD1 had nightmares while on it. It worked for the asthma though.

I know someone (an older child) for who it caused enuresis; but if they take it earlier in the evening (between 4 & 6) it's fine. Just not at bedtime

Worked wonders for DD though she did have headaches for the first few weeks of taking it, they subsided once she was used to it.

Did absolutely nothing for DS's asthma but we were warned that it would either work or it wouldn't, there would be no maybe about it's success (or lack of).

Interesting - I wonder (but really don't want to fi

I tried it. It gave me horrific nightmares that lingered with me all day long. I didn't make the connection until my DMIL said that she, and a friend of hers had suffered the same. I would not take it again, but I gather some people can take it without problems. If you do take it, this is definitely a side effect to look out for.

... Find out) how the night terrors would manifest themselves in an adult. Asthma did mention that it is (in the UK) used more in children than in adults.

My ds takes it and it has changed his life for the better, his asthma is allergy based and is 95% controlled when on singulair , have tried a period without and his symptoms were not controlled well at all.
No side effects thankfully

For me, it was really disturbing nightmares which caused me to wake up half a dozen times a night and which I couldn't seem to shake off when I woke up.

Oh, Thistledew, you just answered my question!

Nurse did say it was fine for 90% and not good at all for the other 10%. Strangely, she didn't elaborate, so I am very very glad I asked MN.

I think I had better warn DH what to look for, if GP and I decide to go ahead and try it.

Worth trying though stealth? I felt so guilty that it took
us ages to make the connection, but forewarned is forearmed and all that.

Yes, I think worth trying. Thanks to you all, I am indeed forewarned. I know the drug info sheet would warn of side effects, but they all seem to warn of every side effect under the sun, which means that I end up ignoring them.

So, interestingly, GP knew about Churg Strauss and warned me twice about symptoms of that - but said she had not seen anyone experiencing the nightmares/depression/night terrors.

I have a month's worth to see how it goes.