U.S. and World News - FDA Investigates Singular Suicide Connection

Cody Miller was only 15 when he took his life last August. His parents believe it was the result of an allergy medication, Singulair, prescribed two weeks before his death.

[ELISABETH-MOTHER]

I HAVE A 6 YEAR OLD WHO VIOLENT MOODY AGGRESIVE, AND THINK EVERYONE HATES HIM. HE IS ON THERAPY AT THE SCHOOL AND THEY CALLED THE MENTAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT TO TRY AND FIGURE OUT WHAT IS CAUSING MY SON TO ACT OUT. HE IS ON SINGULAR AND I AM GOING TO TAKE HIM OFF, BECAUSE THE ONLY WEEK MY SON WASN'T ON IT SEEM LIKE A LOVING NORWAL, HAPPY CHILD.

[Cheri]

I have been taking it over a year. No depression or change in moods, never a thought to suicide.
Works the best for my allergies

[Kim-Mother]

I have a seven year-old daughter who is on singular and is very moody and aggresive. She never seems to be smiling or happy at home or school. We have started taking her to a counselor, this review might shead some light on whats been going on..

[Phil]

I have been taking the meds for about three weeks with no problems

[Phil]

I am 50 years old, is the problem only with adolescents?

[LaTrelle-Mom]

My son is 5 years old and he's been taking sinuglar since he was about 18-20 mos old. Until this alert I can't say we really notice any problem other than what we contribute to boy stuff. Getting angry & crying over video game. My mom says she has seen him hit himself on the forehead and call himself stupid(video game) Crys easily. Allergist said to stop for a month. Loving child. Even more so the last 2 days, no singular......

Louisville, Ky

[LaTrelle-Mom]

i spelled cries wrong, sorry!

[Donna]

I have had my son on Singular for a few years. As a little boy he was happy go lucky and a joy.
I have finally figured out why he is a grouch and gets depressed. He has said things like "I hate my life" etc. Not only has this medication taken a toll on kids but also the familys that can't figure out why an ordinarilly happy turns into a mean nasty person. I had said it was like living with Dr. Jeckell and Mr. Hyde. I would take him off Singular during times when allergies were less then put him back on it in the spring. It all adds up now.

[Ivone]

I had been taking Singular for about 2 years. Last year in the fall I suffered depression and sucidal thoughts which I could not figure out why. I took a leave of absence from work for 3 months. I ran out of Singular and never refilled it because of my budget. I sought professional help and now after hearing about Singular I know that is what got me depressed. If I would've continue using it I would proably be dead by now. Singular has caused me much mental pain and I hope they take it off the Market.

[Utah Mother]

I just took my son off singular. He began to be very depressed when he took singular. I had no idea it was the medicine until the news release came out and it finnally clicked. He talked alot about killing himself or he would say "just kill me already". I became very worried. He is now on a medicine called Pulmicort. It takes 5-7 days for singular to fully get out of his system is what the doctor told me. He has taken it for two years.

Donna wrote:

I have had my son on Singular for a few years. As a little boy he was happy go lucky and a joy.
I have finally figured out why he is a grouch and gets depressed. He has said things like "I hate my life" etc. Not only has this medication taken a toll on kids but also the familys that can't figure out why an ordinarilly happy turns into a mean nasty person. I had said it was like living with Dr. Jeckell and Mr. Hyde. I would take him off Singular during times when allergies were less then put him back on it in the spring. It all adds up now.

[Christina]

I am a 44 year old woman who has had the normal stress issues. I had taken this med for 6 months along with a depression medication that I have take for 2 years. Never felt suicidal until 2 months ago. I believe this medication may have been partially responsable for a change in mind frame that ended in a night in intensive care and a stay in a "Special Ward", after a nearly lethal overdose.

[Angie]

I have a nine yr old son who was a happy sweet child and when he got on this medicine he was ok but changed and now that i put two and two together he is off! It has been a week now and he is slowly getting better! I will keep you updated!

[momof3]

My six year old son has been taking singular for almost a year. While it has helped with his allergies, we have noticed his behavior changing. When he gets upset he asks his father and I "Do you hate me?" He gets very aggressively angry once in a while and I always just thought it was his age...now I have to think otherwise.

[Joe_]

The FDA is just like the FAA-both are too cozy with the industries they regulate.

[Justin Time]

I killed myself yesterday because of this drug

[Coleton Ulmer]

I've been on singular for awhile now (off now) and i believe that i was an angryer person when taking it, i had no care for my own life at times and would contemplate suicide for no given reason. My brother was 17 and takeing singular for many years and i can tell you he is a happy person who loves everyone and everyone loves him. so when he commited suicide on semptmber 9th 2007,it hit his family and friends hard. This was not an act of god and my brother did not want to end his own life, he dreamed big and would have been big. I truely deep down balieve it was the singular that pushed him to do this, i have mood swings while taking it and i know he did also.

If I can help more you can contact me at [e-mail]

take this drug off the market

[Coleton Ulmer]

Justin Time wrote:

I killed myself yesterday because of this drug

this isn;t a joke you fu(*ing idiot

[concern parent]

Although I feel for the family, singular must be taken for one month before medication begins to take effect, therefore I don't believe this boy's suicide is related to singular. As always, parents need to monitor kids on and off medication.

[dee monroe]

i have a two and a half yaer old daughter, who has been taking singular for a little over a year. when she started having really bad temper tantrums people said it was early terrible twos. i really feel in my heart that her severe temper tantrums was caused by this medication. i have only taken her off of it for one day and every day she is off of it i really believe i will see improvement in her behaviour.pray for us

[Angie]

I have been on singular for over a yr. No problems at all. Could be like many meds...it accentuates underlying conditions or predispositions.

Best medical advice is to consult your MD and see about weaning off and discontinuing if you have issues and if they resolve. Best done under medical supervision to prevent possible rebound asthma and allergies from abrupt withdrawl. Most meds should not be stopped abruptly unless there is severe allergic reaction or severe side effects....

Angie RN