Anyone's Child on Singulair Pkgs?

My oldest was on singulair for a full year, no side effects and no lasting effects. He's recently tested allergen free, so we're trying to go without meds this spring. He still has a runny nose, but it is much better than last year.

J.,

My son has been on singular for a year. He is three and always had runny eyes and nose and ear infections. Well we have been through tubes in the ear and adnoids taken out. But to make this short i have had not seen any side effects from the meds. my son is also on clartin once a day as well to help with the different types of allergies that singular dose not cover.

I'm like you, I hate to put my kids on meds unless they absolutely need it! My 3 year old (at the time) was on Singulair and it helped Casey out... some. I then switched to Claritin D and things got better. Now he is 4 and occasionally on Zyrtec for children and it works great! It knocks out my almost 2 year old, but it does clear up the runny noses and the ear infections have been drastically reduced!!! Good luck!!

Singulair is not an antibiotic and is treating the runny nose symptoms. I think your doctor may be prescribing that so that possibly a fullblown ear infection does not occur. But, I also wouldn't want my children to be using it for a long time unless they really needed it. Too often, docors have prescribed antibiotics for viral ear infections, which then don't respond and then make the body resistant to a real bacterial infection. You should really talk to your doctor.

My son was on Singulair for allergies and asthma. We did the packet thing, but for him it didn't really work for other reasons. His adnoids had to be surgurcially removed for him to get reliefe. He had no trouble at all coming off of it after being on it for 4 months every single day. I found if you can find something to control the congestion, you can avoid the ear infections and antibiotics. You don't want the bacteria in the girls to get immuned to the antibiotics, leading to bigger infections, and even stronger antibiotics or lack of stronger antibiotics b/c they are immune to all of them. It is becoming a problem. I don't think there is a risk for dependency with singulair packets, or at least not a high one. We had no symptoms of withdraw. You may only need to take it seasonally--my son has to be on zyrtec through seasonal changes but like in the dead of winter or high summer he doesn't take any medications at all, except his multi-vitimin.

Hi, J..

My daughter and I are (were) both on Singulair for allergies, but I recently took her off. It is a wonder drug for allergies so I can appreciate your relief for them. As an adult taking it, I have had immense relief from it. However...they will still have allergy symptoms. It does not control everything. I am all stuffed up today, and I take Singulair in the AM and Claritin in the PM due to very bad allergies.

On the other hand...my daughter was on it for about two years, starting around age 3 1/2, and it really helped her allergies. However, with all of the recent "bad press" about it, I started to realize that some of the things I was seeing in her could have been the Singulair. They were saying it can cause hyperactivity, sleep issues, behavioral problems, aggression, temper, etc. She has always been a very mild-tempered child, but I did start to have some problems with her, mostly with being mouthy and uncooperative, and nothing extreme like temper tantrums or fighting. She's a wonderful, dream-come-true child, so please understand that for her, being mouthy was extreme behavior (I'm a lucky mom). She also had sleep issues. I thought...maybe it's because of starting pre-school, maybe she's tired, maybe she's getting sick, it's her age, maybe she's having trouble with her friends at school, etc. But I realized I was always finding a reason for it, and sometimes there was no reason. So, I decided to take her off the Singulair.....and I have my even-tempered child back who can now sleep soundly for 12 hours every night. She even has started helping me clean the house she's so cooperative. We laugh, have fun, and our days are no longer filled with arguing.

I asked her if the Singulair made her feel funny, for lack of a way to have a 5 1/2 year old describe it, and she said it made her dizzy and feel weird. She took it in the mornings, it made her too hyper at night, but when I'd pick her up from school she was "out there". I continue giving her Claritin at night and it's helping enough, so she may have also "grown into" some of her previous allergy issues. Her allergies are mostly seasonal now, like mine, and right now is a bad time for allergies.

I would definitely not give the Singulair to the 18 month old. Claritin would be enough to help her with symptoms. Zyrtec and Benedryl can make them sleepy or have sleep issues, and in some kids (like mine and my nieces) Benedryl makes them mean-tempered.

I realize everyone has their own unique reaction to medicines. I would say watch for the behavior changes and sleep changes. From a Mom who has been through it, if you see it, take them off the Singulair.

Hope everyone feels better!!

Hi J.,

My son Evan has been on singular now for the second spring and summer season. He is 16 months and is doing well. The doctor put him on it last summer until the first couple of frost. Then he was off of it for fall and winter. We just put him back on it because he had a runny nose that wouldn't stop. He has been doing well and it stopped the runny nose. I haven't seen anything with him that makes me think there is going to be a long side effect. I wish you well and hope this helps in someway. Take Care!

Hello J.. My son was put on singulair, but it didn't really work for him that well. My daughter was put on Zyrtec before it became over the counter and now that we are able to buy it at the local pharmacy without a prescription it is even nicer. What are peditrician told us is to give it to them during prime allergy season and then they can go off of it. We usually start it in March or April (dending on weather) and then we are able to go off of it...then back on it usually in August or September until the last leaves fall. Maybe you could ask your doctor about this so you are not giving it to them all the time. Good luck.

My 4 1/2 year old has been on Singulair for a year and a half for asthma/allergies. He does not seem to have had any side effects. He has been to the doctor far less for asthma and ear infections. It has been worth it.

Hi -

My daughter is 4 now, she has been on Singulair for about 2 1/2 years now... we haven't had any issues with it. She is also on a few other medications - she has asthma, alleries, and JRA (Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis.

We even had an issue last year where the kids (then 3 & 2) got ahold of her weekly pill keeper - it just has Singulair tables in it... that way I can make sure daddy is giving her her meds. But anyways the kids ate all the pills (a weeks worth) thinking they were candy... I called poison control and they told me there was nothing to fear.

My older daughter say how it helped the younger one, so she now takes and over the counter version for her allergies. It isn't a very harsh drug... plus if it stops the runny nose and ear infections, you will be stoping the possible damage the infections can do.

So far I haven't seen any long term affects on my little girl... I'm just happy she hasn't had to be hospitalized in almost 2 years now. Sometimes we have to figure out what scares us more - in my case it was the meds vs. her in the hospital... I feared the hospital stays more then the meds, so she is on her meds now.

Good luck with your battle!

If I were you, I would want to find out WHY the kids are having chronic runny noses. It sounds like allergies to me. I would suggest taking your girls to a pediatric allergist to determine if they have allergies or not. Singulair was originally developed to aid children with asthma and it also helps with allergies. An allergist would be able to determine if your girls have allergies and then could prescribe the best treatment method.

I am a mother of 3 kids (11, 7 almost 4). Two have allergies and asthma and take Singulair.

Here is a web site to look at and read all you want:
http://www.singulair.com/montelukast_sodium/singulair/con...

It sounds as if your children have allergies.Runny noses are a pain and children so young do not know how to blow their noses properly.They suck it up which is probably why they end up with ear infections.They may need to see a Ear/Nose/ throat specialist and get tubes in their ears to stop the infections.As a child I nearly lost my hearing from constant ear problems.My parents did not believe in Dr.s unless you were Bleeding huge amounts of blood. At 24 I saw a specialist and he put tubes in my ears and I haven't had hardly any problems in years.The canals were not draining properly and it effected me badly and I was walking like I was drunk but I didn't drink.I was dizzy all the time and nauseated from the dizzyness.He prescribed a antimotion med and a decongestant for daily use as needed after two weeks I felt like a new person.Dr. Noche really made a differance for me.

I was able to go completely off allergy medicine by drinking mangosteen juice. I know of others who have done the same. It even has a natural antibiotic in it to assist with the ear infections etc.. It is safe for children and highly recommended by many in the medical profession. Your children would only need small amounts a day (not a drink like apple juice--but a supplement juice). Please contact me for more information. I can get it for you wholesale.

I would suggest that it is ENT time with the girls. Been through this with the 10 year old I am raising when he was a baby. Anything leading to repeated ear infections is not good.

P. R

My 9 year old has been on Singular for several years now. We love it. No side effects. Just like what someone else said, if she donsen't take it, she gets this horrible cough. It has really saved her many sleepless nights. It was horrible before she started taking it. Her coughing and congestion would wake her up at night.

I am not sure about starting it so young though, but then again I am not a doctor. :) My daughter was 5 when we started it.

With the 18 month old, I would wonder about new teeth coming in???
My 20 month old, had a fever for two days, then runny nose for two weeks, and I finally realized medicine wasn't doing any good, and I let it go and then also found out that she was getting some new teeth.
Finally after about another week and a half, the runny nose stopped on its own.
My first daughter would get runny nose and diarrhea everytime she was getting new teeth.

J. my son is on singular and has been for about a month and half now. although he has no symptoms with this changing weather and (plowing of fields) we live near corn. he has developed this emotional state. cries hysterically when he doesn't get his way or someone won't play with him. i had to respond to you because after a little cry this weekend i will be on the phone with our dr. this am to switch him back to the zyrtec. we believe that this is due to the singular and not his age. (5) i hope this helps and just gives you something to keep your eye out for.

Singulair is a very commonly prescribed drug for Asthma and allergies. My girls are both on it, one for each reason. My youngest has severe asthma and has been on it since she was about 18 months, and she is now 4. She started on 4mg and when she was about 2 1/2 went up to 5 mg. My oldest has allergies that cause her sinuses to drain into her throat which makes her cough like crazy. She is 7 and on the same dose as my younger one. They both respond to it very well. I have never seen any side effects, or signs of "addiction." I have noticed that when they don't take it for a while, they both start having problems again. I don't consider this to be an addiction though. I look at it like this... If someone has high blood pressure and needs medication to control it; if they don't take their meds for a period of time, then the BP goes back up again. Sometimes our bodies just need a little help doing what they are supposed to be doing. It is much better for your girls to be on a low dose of a maintenance medication than to be on antibiotics once a month. That can have serious long-term effects in that they may very well become immune to the antibiotics. That in the long run can cause many problems. You wouldn't want them to be in a situation where an antibiotic could help, but won't becuse they are nonresponsive to it. Hope this was helpful.

My son is on Singulair, he has asthma though. My son is two and a half and he has been on it since he was 9 months. He has no side effects to it. It helps him with his congestion due to seasonal allergies which causes the asthma attacks. The pedia. wants to start weening him off of it this summer before he becomes dependant on it. I have no complaints sbout it though :) I would give it a try for a while then try to ween from it....

Does he think they have allergies? My DD is on Singulair for allergies. I'd rather have her on the Singulair than on antibiotics. Also, singulair is not addicive, so I wouldn't worry about it. You can do a search on the med online and the company will have the side effects, etc.

Jeesica,
I woul dsuggest looking into NAET for allergies.I go to Kern Marshall in Fishers. You can look her up on the web. You'll be glad you did!
Blessings,
S.

Well I do know it is a med that is used for asthma and also allergies. My doctor prescribed it for me, but all it did was make me cough all night long. My hubby takes it. It also was given to grand-daughter for asthma. If you are concerned about your girls taking it, you should ask your doctor why he is prescribing it and about the side effects for children at that age, I would think over the counter liquid benedral would work just as well to keep the fluid dranined from the ears .

My daughter takes singular 4mg once a day. She's been on it for 3 months now. if she misses one dose she's sick. I hate it. She has to go back to the doctor today to be rechecked to see if she should stay on it. My daughter has it for the runny nose but also for her asthma. I don't think it's a horrible thing if its going to help your girls just dont miss a dose. Good Luck

Yes my girls were on singular, plus myself. Been on it for probably atleast a year or so. I recently took all of us off because there has been a recall on the drug. Which was just an another warning that had been added to the drug. I don't mean to scare you but this is what had happened. I guess there was a child that had committed suicide that was taking the drug. Plus other parents had notice simular side effects to there kids that were taking the drug. Like behavior problems and such. My sister also has problems with he 9 year old son who was also on the drug. My new doctor has switch one of my girls to nasonex instead, because of me taking her off singular. She has a mix of allergies and asthma. You can research the drug online and read some of the parents reveiws on the drug.

My son is 9 yrs old and has been on singulair since he was three. He is a severe asthmatic and has severe allergies. He takes many medications all year round, otherwise he would end up in the hospital. It is a very effective drug. It helps with allergies and asthma. He has had no side effects from it, although you want to make sure and give it to your child early in the evening because it makes you very sleepy. I am also on singulair and have taken since it came out on the market. It is an amazing drug and I don't know what we would do without it.

Hi J.,
My name is M. V. I'm not sure if this will help much since my son is older(15), but he has been taking Singulair for 2-3 years and has suffered no ill effects nor does he need to take it everyday. He does not like taking them at all(he takes 2 chewable 5mg at bedtime). However, he is miserable if he doesn't. I also take it, 10mg every evening for asthma and allergies and thus far I have not suffered any negative effects. In the end everyone is different and the drug's effect are different.

Have a Blessed Day !!!
M. V.
Melaleuca-The Wellness Company

We haven't used Singulair, but enter "Singulair" and "warning" into Google, and you'll find that the FDA has issued an early warning that Singulair may be linked to suicide risk:
http://www.injuryboard.com/national-news/fda-issues-early...

You may want to watch you child for mood changes, sleep disturbances, or personality changes when on Singulair.