My 7yr old son has been taking Children's Zyrtec Allergy medicine for the past 2 weeks. My husband and I have witnessed some major behavior changes in our son. He seems angry and very irritable. He has been inappropriately lashing out at his 2 yr old sister, which has not been a problem in the past. This evening, after a horrible time getting him to bed, my husband and I discussed what could be causing this negative change in his behavior. We think it may be the Zyrtec. Of course, we will take him off of the medicine and see if it makes a difference. I would love to know if anybody else has had this problem. Thanks ahead of time for all your help!!
Many medications for allergies, colds and sinus can lead to irritability in children and adults. Try giving the med at different times, but ask your ped or pharmacist for an alternative.
My daughter has horrible allergies & she has been taking Zyrtec for as long as I can remember. Probably since she was 3 years old. she is now 9. My daughter has horrible behavior problems as well. i never thought it could be linked to the zyrtec. I really need to check into that. If you hear anymore info about this please let me know.
I do believe different medications effect people/kids differently. Zyrtec didn't work for my toddler, but Allegra did. Today there are so many alternatives.
Example: while Benadryl will make some kids sleepy, it makes my son crazy hyper. Don't rule out school and other issues too, but what can it hurt to stop the meds and try something different. Ask your pediatrician what alternatives there are.
Good Luck.
Julene
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Several years ago I read a bunch of info saying that Zyrtec can have this effect on children. I watched a little boy who took it and I often wondered if that was what was causing some of his bad behavior but mom didn't care to listen so I have no idea.
I do know however it was super hard for me to get off of. I had been taking it for a couple of years and went into withdrawl going off of it. It caused me to feel like I had the worst allergies for about a month before it completely wore off.
If you think this is what is causing a problem in your son I would for sure keep him off of it because I have heard it to be true in other kids.
Talk to your pharmacist. All medications should list known side effects.
Hi Susan
I feel you are right. These meds. can effect the attitude. Look how we get when we taken them. I myself get very tired and very grouchy.
I hope I helped.
Vicki W.
My niece had her son on it for a short time, and he had exactly the same behaviors. They couldn't understand why this normally very sweet child all the sudden started acting so terrible. They took him off it, and the problem resolved. I've taken it for years and not had any problems with it- but it can definitely affect some kids this way. If you stop it and the behavior continues, it might be something else, but it sounds like a definite possibility given the circumstances. Good luck!
My daughter took children's Zyrtec last week for fire ant bites. She is only 18 months and had a small dose, and only for 2 days, but I did notice behavioral changes I thought might be associated with taking the Zyrtec. She had a terrible time sleeping and was more "antsy" and agitated than normal so I stopped after the second dose and she seemed to go back to normal. Now, of course, this could totally be a coincidence, but it's probably worth checking out and even asking your doc about. Good luck, my daughter has allergys too and it's tough. I hope you find the right medecine for your little guy.
I had a similar thing happen with my then 5 yr old - I never made the connection to Zyrtec though. He's now on allegra and doing much better. I couldn't swear it was Zyrtec but I wouldn't rule it out! Eliminate it and see if it improves. Could also be a sensitivity to a food or food coloring.
Let us know what you find!!
The article below explains a new FDA warning about what Singular does. I am sure they are similar in ingredients. I took both my kids off Singular and haven't found a safe alternative yet. Most deplete the body of serotonin. I heard Benadryl is the closest thing to a true anti-histamine without the horrible side effects.
I am very wary now of big Pharm. too much bad press. Vioxx, Singular, ADD meds, anti-depressants. The list goes on and on.
I give them fish oil, a tsp a night for inflammation and a pro-biotic for immune support. Any elderberry syrup or echineacea you can add to juice will boost immune health. We have been doing this for the last 6 months with great results. The alternative is unacceptable. My children are three and ten.
"Singular is used by millions of Americans who suffer from allergies. Singular is used by millions of Americans who suffer from allergies.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced it is reviewing a number of reports after three or four patients experienced mood changes that led to suicides and suicidal behavior.
Drug maker Merck says Singulair is its best selling drug at $4.3 billion in sales last year. The drug has been used by millions since its 1998 release to treat allergies and asthma.
Merck stresses that none of the 11,000 patients enrolled in their drug trials has committed suicide and the FDA says this is just an effort to inform the public, no casual relationship has been established between the drug and suicide.
If you are taking Singulair under doctors' orders you should not stop says a statement by the FDA. But your doctor needs to monitor you for suicidal behavior or mood change.
The FDA is asking Merck to look into its data bank for any evidence of suicidal patients. The drug maker has updated its label several times over the last year to increase its warning of suicidal thinking and behavior, despite the fact that it has not determined any link to the drug's use.
The label now reads: "The following additional adverse reactions have been reported in post-marketing use: Psychiatric disorders: agitation including aggressive behavior, anxiousness, dream abnormalities and hallucinations, depression, insomnia, irritability, restlessness, suicidal thinking and behavior (including suicide), tremor."
But Merck stresses the label changes follow anecdotal reports from consumers, not data that the company has observed.
For asthma patients side effects include headache, flu abdominal pain and cough.....
27 Comments
Posted by Cynthia Giordano
Friday, March 28, 2008 9:33 PM EST
My 6 yr old son was put on Singulair when he was 4 because he has severe allergies and asthma. I didn't make the connection at first, but within a couple of days of taking it, he began having nighttime hallucinations and then slumping back to bed. This was totally unlike his normal sleep behavior. I began to do some research online and read other parents stories - some that it was a great drug, but most took their kids off it because of bad side effects. I finally made the connection and took him off. There was an immediate change back to his normal behavior/sleep pattern and he has been off since, never to go back on. The doctors were a little unhappy that I took him off, but still supported my decision. After reading the article today I now realize that it was a good decision.
Posted by Michelle Ramsey
Saturday, March 29, 2008 12:29 PM EST
My 7 year old has been on Singular for 2 years off and on and then has been taking it regularly since January and has major behavior problems in school now.He is ready to be suspended and is only in the 1rst grade.In February he had tried to strangle another classmate in the restroom and just last week he hit another boy in the back of the head in the restroom.Usually he is a very normal and quiet kid .I have been trying to figure out why his behavior and moods change so much.I am meeting with the Principal and school counselor this Thursday to discuss his behavior.I am going to call his Dr. and get his opinion on Monday.
Posted by Katherine
Saturday, March 29, 2008 3:11 PM EST
My 17yr. old son has been on Singular for over 5 years. He just came to me last night and told me that
he has suicidal thoughts and has had these thoughts for the past 3 years. he did not come to me soon cause it would come and go. He also didn't understand what was happening. yes, the mood swings is there and also the insominia. I called his Dr. yesterday re:the new singular warning and the Dr. said keep him on!!!! I had no idea that he has been tormented by these thoughts...now what will happen? I am going to take him off the medicine but now we have to deal with the anxiety, depression and suicide.
Posted by Lee
Saturday, March 29, 2008 3:13 PM EST
I didn't see the connection but my sone who is now 5 has been on sigular for 2 years. In the last 2 years he has been very aggitated, he wasn't like that before but he is so young I honestly thought that was his personality. Since I took him off the medication he is back to the way he was when he was a baby. He is happy and not moody at all. This has to be the cause there's no other explanation. I am now afraid of the long term effects this may have on him.
Posted by Bethany
Sunday, March 30, 2008 9:31 AM EST
I have an 8 year old daughter who has been on singular for 3 months. she has made comments about killing herself and I don't know where she has heard that before. I don't know if it's now the medicine. I will be talking to ger doctor.
Posted by Andy
Sunday, March 30, 2008 9:35 AM EST
Unpleasant mood changes - that is an understatement.
I am planning on leaving my wife this summer.
She has been taking Singulair for the last several years. Thank you Merck for turning my wife into a monster.
Posted by michelle
Sunday, March 30, 2008 3:12 PM EST
My daughter, 2 1/2 years old has been on Singular for four months. I've noticed changes in her sleeping and some kind of unexplicable agresiveness.
Posted by Matt
Sunday, March 30, 2008 4:55 PM EST
My 5 year old son was diagnosed with mild asthma and put on Singulair. Within a few months he began having uncontrollable fits of rage, displayed self-loathing behavior, had night terrors, and was inconsolable during these episodes. He became very destructive and was a danger to himself and our family. He even talked about killing himself and would say things like "I don't want to be in this life anymore" and "I want to kill myself". He would threaten my wife and his siblings and told them he wanted to kill them. It was a truly terrifying experience. Our pediatrician was clueless to these side affects and recommended we have our child go through a psychological evaluation. I knew this was not my child's normal behavior so I searched the internet for Singulair side affects and found some message boards where parents just like me were telling their stories of their children's aggressive behavior. I immediately took my son off the drug and within a couple weeks he was back to his normal self. He told us that he no longer has "that feeling inside of him". Five year old children don't even know what suicide is and to see my son talk like this was extremely frightening. He is a sweet, intelligent, loving boy who had never exhibited behavior like this until he went on Singulair. We have not seen this behavior after taking him off the drug.
It is probably the zyrtec. We had the same experience with our son. I was upset the dr. didnt' warn us of that possible side effect. We also have an adult friend who had the same experience. Yes, take him off the zyrtec!!!
Hi. My son was on Zyrtec for a short time. It didn't help and yes his emotions were altered a bit. I assume it was the Zyrtec, but not definite. It is amazing how meds can make things worse. They are meant to solve one issue but have a slew of side effects. Then you have to take meds for the side effects and then meds for those meds. It's a vicious cycle. I honestly do not believe medicine is safe at all! Unfortunately, some people have to take it in order to stay alive. My daughter couldn't live without her seizure meds. But one thing I am learning, if I can endure the prob without meds I will. If I can take something natural for the prob I will. But if I have to take a chemical in order to function then I pray it will not permanently damage me, or my children.
My husband saw a cream at Walgreens last night that was all natural and for allergies. It's a children's allergy medicine. You just use it like a lotion around the nose and it's supposed to block the allergens from getting into the nose. I am not sure of the name but it might be worth trying. God Bless~
Just wanted to add that we tried Zyrtec with our daughter and it made her CRAZY!! Very excitable, running in circles and crying fits. It was like nothing I had ever seen in her! I tried it two times and after the second time realized that it was causing the out of control behavior. I will never use it again and you should probably consider another medicine. Good luck!
of course, read the side effects pamphlet and talk to the doc, but YES, it could be - especially if his behavioral changes started at the same time. my kids have never had a problem with Zyrtec, nor have I - but years ago, Claritin-D had that effect on me! I was moody, irritable, lashing out at people, had very little patience. I felt like my skin was crawling all the time! Now of course, being an adult female, moodiness wasn't necessarily UNUSUAL for me - just not ALL the time!!! LOL! :D
When my oldest took Claritin for kids (not the stuff with pseudophedrine) several years ago, he became VERY spacy and even went the wrong directions in line at school and ended up not doing well on the placement exam for academically gifted students that year! basically he wasn't placed into the gifted program for 3rd grade due to his allergies! it was crazy!
you do need to keep in mind that it could be something at school or elsewhere that started around the same time and he is taking out his aggression at home. double check with him to make sure he isn't being bullied or anything else. also, boys do start getting more aggressive as they get older - my oldest started having problems in school (yes around the Claritin time) suddenly, and it is still going on 4 years later! extremely smart, but also extremely disorganized so sometimes behavior just changes!
best of luck with this and let us know what happens!
I don't know anything about Zyrtec specifically, but it's entirely possible that it's the medicine. Meds affect people differently. Luckily there are a lot of allergy meds out there, if you don't want to take him off, you could ask the doctor about another type.
My mom was convinced she was developing Alzheimer's until I found a link with her behavior and the heart meds she was taking. She switched brands and is normal again. I would definitely try it.
Oh yes, I have been there. Talk to your child's doctor and have him/her call in another medication. Anything with sudafed in it makes my sweet little boy MEAN!! He becomes defiant and sassy. Good job Mom! You figured it out!!
Yes, I have the same problem with my daughter who has been on Singulair for a year. I just put a big post up about it. I have heard the side effects are very low with Claritin, but I'm going to take my daughter (who's almost 4) off everything for awhile to see if her behavior changes. You'll be shocked how many message boards are out there about just this issue. I was shocked. My daughter also has been uncharacteristically aggressive and won't sleep either...staying up till midnite sometimes. I brought it up to her pediatrician and he said to ignore the behavior as part of her Terrible-Threes. I don't buy it. I knew there was a dramatic change. The recent info I found on Singulair just confirmed it. Best of luck.
Our 4 year old daughter takes it occasionally (if we spend a lot of time outside or after a massive cleaning blitz in the house that might kick up dust and pet hair) and we haven't noticed any adverse reactions for her. I know everyone reacts to medication differently - in a way, I hope the Zyrtec is the cause of the changes in your son - at least it'd be an easy fix and you can try another allergy medication. If it's not the Zyrtec, I hope you and your son's doctor will be able to determine what's going on.