Can Singulair Cause Depression?

On March 27 the FDA issued a safety alert regarding the asthma medication Singulair . via About Depression

[GypsyGirl]

I have taken Singulair on and off for the past eight years. In that time I have had a series of self distructing events. All of witch occured on the drug. I never connected the two until the past week. I was given the drug on Wednesday. Today is Sunday and I have had severe nightmares, Irrational thoughts, such as leaving my husband and suspecting he wants to leave me, though we've been together since I was 14 and have a wonderful relationship. I think that for a lot of people this is a wonder drug, but for others it is a wonder they stay alive through it! Please, monotor your thoghts and feelings on this drug and stop right away if you even feel a little sad or irrational, there are other alternatives. Please, don't ruin yourself. I should have laid a foundation for my life in my 20's instead, I spent most of that time feeling like I was going crazy and being self distructive and unstable. I haven't taken it in two years and things have been better until this past week!!!

[shargram]

GypsyGirl wrote:

I have taken Singulair on and off for the past eight years. In that time I have had a series of self distructing events. All of witch occured on the drug. I never connected the two until the past week. I was given the drug on Wednesday. Today is Sunday and I have had severe nightmares, Irrational thoughts, such as leaving my husband and suspecting he wants to leave me, though we've been together since I was 14 and have a wonderful relationship. I think that for a lot of people this is a wonder drug, but for others it is a wonder they stay alive through it! Please, monotor your thoghts and feelings on this drug and stop right away if you even feel a little sad or irrational, there are other alternatives. Please, don't ruin yourself. I should have laid a foundation for my life in my 20's instead, I spent most of that time feeling like I was going crazy and being self distructive and unstable. I haven't taken it in two years and things have been better until this past week!!!

My Granddaughter has been on it for 4 years and is depressed has mood swings and is school phobic! I want to ask her Dr to try another med. to see if there is a change in her personality but I'm afraid a new med. will not work as well!

[kimberly balmer]

i'm 13 and i have taken singulair for the past 5 years, and now i have started to have suicidal thoughts and have been cutting myself for three years.when my parents and friends found out they were very confused, i was confused as well.i never thought of myself as depressed because i had a good life, friends, family, a suportive boyfriend and i still was depressed.after a few years of suicidal thoughts returning, my mom finally researched my condition online. she found a lot of studies about my allergey medication, Singulair.in these studies, she found many cases of suicide, suicidal thoughts, and depression reported after the drug was F.D.A approved.she took me off the medication and sought help from my doctors. i'm finally able to look forward to a bright future filled with happiness.

[Jpharm]

In rare cases, psychiatric disorders including agitation, aggressive behavior, abnormal dreams, depression, and suicidal thinking have been reported.-source Sigler medical publishing and Epocrates digital drug reference.

This may be happening, but advice here it isn't the end all be all. The internet is not substitute for a real doctor. If you are taking singular for allergies, there generally are plenty of meds that may substitute. However if you are taking it for asthma, it will probably mean switching to an inhaled corticosteroid, or combo inhaler such as Advair. This may be problematic, but it may verify that singular is or isn't the problem.

Good Doctors don't magically take a way a med that works, but they do compare the risk vs benefit to the patient. You should keep your doctor informed so he can help you find the right med, even if it is OTC instead of RX.

[ally]

OMG I can't believe what I am reading I was put on singulair a month ago and lately I have been so sad and unsure of myself and I am driving my boyfriend nuts...I am not my usual happy go lucky self. I went from go with the flow to trying to control my surrounds and have unexplained fear and panic. I just called my doctor so I just wanted to thank all of you for your posts.

[shargram]

My Granddaughter was on this drug for 3 years and was totally out of control, failing school, mood swing you name it! Took her off it and there was a complete change within 1 month! She is doing just fine without it!

[vip]

I started taking "Singulair" during the summer of 2006. I took it for asthma. I did not feel any suicidal thoughts, however it was affecting my emotions. When I was worried about something I would become extremely fearful. Or when I felt happy, I would become too excited. In other words, it seemed to intensify my emotions to an extreme. I stopped taking singulair in Dec 2008, and after 2 days immediately I felt more clear-headed, able to articulate easier, and control my emotions. I have since been taking "Xolair" and have never felt better. But the only reason Xolair works good for me is because my doctor discovered that I have "Allergic Asthma". If you are on Singulair like I was and are looking for an alternative, ask your doc to test you to see if you qualify for Xolair therapy instead.

[MOM of 3]

My son is 11 years old and has been on singular since he was around 3 years old. Last year he started getting really depressed. About 3 years ago he strted waking up in the middle of the night with night terrors. It was horrible for the whole family. He went through testing all night at the hospital where they found everything to be normal. But the Dr. did say that they have had kids that were on singular have the same symptoms but couldnt diagnose that because there hadnt been enough studies. Well awhile back I took him off and he started acting like himself again and has not had any night terrors. And these night terrors had lasted for about 3 years off and on. Now I am hearing all kinds of stuff about suicidal thoughts and depression are side effects of this drug. That is really scary to me because I use to hear him say he just wanted to die and how sad he always was. I believe I am going to keep my child off this drug and talk to the Dr about other ways to help prevent his flare ups of asthma. I think more people need to know about this too it is very important information.

[marika]

has anyone experienced or heard of symptoms of depression or anxiety getting worse after stopping Singulair? My 14 year old recently went off Singulair after 6 months on it, and at the same time began to experience aggression, anxiety and depression, way beyond usual teen angst. She went off the medication unbeknownst to me, and we just realized that it coincided with her sudden behaviour and mood changes. Any one with any experiences with this or suggestions?