FDA looks into Singulair, risks of suicidal thoughts

[jezzie]

FDA looks into Singulair, risks of suicidal thoughts
By Elizabeth Weise, USA TODAY

The Food and Drug Administration is investigating anecdotal reports that people who use Singulair, the popular asthma and allergy drug, are at greater risk for suicidal thoughts and suicide.

Singulair is a pill prescribed to treat asthma and hay fever symptoms such as sneezing and a nose that is stuffy, runny or itchy. It blocks an inflammation pathway in the body that can cause both asthma and allergy symptoms.

It was approved for treating asthma in 1998 and to treat seasonal allergy symptoms in 2003.

In the past year, drugmaker Merck (MRK) of Whitehouse Station, N.J., has added tremors, depression, suicidal thinking and behavior, and anxiety to the list of possible adverse side effects it gives doctors about the drug.


The rest is here:

FDA looks into Singulair, risks of suicidal thoughts - USATODAY.com

[nonstickpam107]

I stopped taking it because: 1. twice a day dosing and 2. the everlasting headache.

Pam

[Bluqq]

it has helped to control my asthma for years now
wow

[nonstickpam107]

I hit on my 'asthma combination' a couple years ago. Zyrtec, Pulmicort and Foradil Aerolyzer. I think it's important to read the study and see how few (um, many?) people were in the study and age group may be important too.

Pam

[dollysmom]

Originally Posted by Bluqq

it has helped to control my asthma for years now
wow

Mine as well. If I miss a day, I know it.

[Bluqq]

I have had no issues with it at all
singulair and advair have virtually eliminated my need for a resuce inhaler

[nonstickpam107]

It's great we all find 'what works'. Did you read the link? They are just 'guessing' it 'might' lead to suicidal thoughts. Goodness, perhaps they should do a study before they 'assume' things.

Pam

[dollysmom]

Originally Posted by nonstickpam107

It's great we all find 'what works'. Did you read the link? They are just 'guessing' it 'might' lead to suicidal thoughts. Goodness, perhaps they should do a study before they 'assume' things.

Pam

I really hope you're right, Pam. We have a friend whose medication was taken off the market for something such as this, and the new medication made her so depressed she couldn't leave the house. She is trying to get her old meds approved somehow, but meanwhile, she's struggling.

[nonstickpam107]

One of the meds I'm on is 'threatened' to be taken off market. Someone gave it to a very young child. Sigh. It's the only med that actually gives me a full 12 hours of breathing time on one dose. But if you read the information this gives, it says NOTHING about any study at all at this time. ???

Pam

[Denise85]

I take it once a day, and haven't had any problems. It's helps my allergies a lot. Anti-depressants caused major suicidal thoughts for me though (Zoloft and Celexa).

[nonstickpam107]

Not surprised by the Zoloft reaction though Denise. So much now on the Rx'ing instructions about Zoloft and thyroid (finally...all in small print of course..wonder if the Dr. ever checks for new Rx'ing info).

Pam

[Houston Heather]

I'm one of the reasons they did the black box warnings on antidepressants for teens. 6 weeks after starting Prozac, I was hospitalized for sucidal obsessions (I told someone). UGH.

Maybe they mean it for people like me, bipolar or whatever, as kind of a "Hey, don't take this - it's wrong for you." I just got the bipolar stuff under control, I'm not about to take something that will put me right back where I started. Ugh.

My lithium has a boatload of side effects but no one's about to tell us to stop taking it. Bad things happen when we go off our medication.

[nonstickpam107]

Lithium works for a number of patients (unfortunately the major side effect of Lithium is hypothyroidism, thus the need to be treated for waning T4 and T3 levels along WITH Lithium treatment is important, as the disorder being treated can worsen if no conversion from T4 to T3 is involved).

Pam