Psychiatric side effects of Montelukast, Singulair

[@darealmr7931]

I took this drug for years starting at 9 years old. Ever since then, even after stopping the medication, it has given me horrible anxiety. So much so that i cant have a normal life and have been on many different anti anxiety meds through out the years. I still battle with it today along with ocd and depression. I am now 26 years old.

[@amymurr28]

i started taking this at 10 , by 11 i had depression and anxiety- i’m 14 now and still on it- i’m worried that i’m in a similar situation to you now

[@catal7504]

How are you both now

[@platypuz1702]

I will never forget the first day I took it, took a nap and then proceeded to have some of the absolute worst nightmares and night terrors of my life, even though it was the middle of the day. Never touched it again.

[@maxp6051]

I take it every day I've had some weird ass dreams even some where I die but honestly it's kinda cool to me

[@gooddoc8129]

@@maxp6051 Please stop it I went throu like you It will get worst and you will be aggressive and do dangerous things

[@maxp6051]

@@gooddoc8129 yea I did get aggressive while using it

[@gooddoc8129]

@@maxp6051 How are you now

[@maxp6051]

@@gooddoc8129 much better now luckily

[@expatnanay]

This was prescribed to my then 3 years old son for what was assumed as reactive airway. my gut instinct as a mom kicked in as I immediately noticed behavioral changes such as agitation, irritability and uncontrollable screaming. It was like my son turned into a completely different person. The doctor dismissed it and so I changed doctors. I could not forget that.

[@ErikMessamoreMD]

There is now a warning in the montelukast (Singulair) prescribing information. So hopefully discussions like that (where the doctor dismisses patient/parent reports) won’t happen again - at least where it concerns psychiatric side effects from motelukast. On the other hand, it’s still way to common (based on what I hear from patients) that the prescribing clinician dismisses side effect concerns. “Anybody can get any side effect from any medicine” is what I’ve come to learn during my work.

[@noelavalos2558]

Is he ok

[@danielamartinez8200]

Hello. My little brother was prescribed with Montelukast. He passed away due to this medication's side effects and medical malpractice. We are looking forward to getting support on this matter.

[@ErikMessamoreMD]

I'm very sorry for your loss. It's our hope that broader knowledge about uncommon but serious risks will help others to avoid serious problems.

[@emilyjames296]

They just prescribed my 4 year old son this for his asthma and I’m not going to lie these side affects are scaring me, I’m so sorry for your loss

[@clawskitt-3841]

It caused hallucinations and deep depression in me as a child- luckily a pharmacist told us I should stop and switch medicines. So sorry for your loss 💜 I can’t imagine the pain

[@morehp1]

This medication missed me up, I’m dying a slow death from it. What happened to little brother if I may ask?

[@7vernessa]

If you can please let me know how to get help my son almost died on 6/23/2021

[@maudetongson9532]

My doctor prescribed this medicine and after taking it for 4 days, I've been having nightmares. The nightmares were realistic. I killed many people in my dream. It was like a horror movie😭😭😭

[@killer_style007]

Seriously?

[@JournalismCCP]

I am recovering from this medication. Please do not take these meds. It will turn out to be a lot nastier than it is

[@Jxspur]

What types of steps are you taking to recover?

[@7vernessa]

Yes could you let me know what I can do to help my son he almost died from suicide and he really still seem very empty inside

[@7vernessa]

Will this ever go away

[@JournalismCCP]

I’m sorry I didn’t see these you guys. It takes time. Please hang in there! We got to start small! Have you both joined the Montelukast support group on Facebook? Are you off meds? How long have you been on or off?

[@gooddoc8129]

@@JournalismCCP Will the mental symptoms go away?

[@crystalakabeavergamingsubs9549]

I am barely functioning. Extreme anadonia. It’s all I can do each day to keep Living. I’m in terrible frame of mine. My life is falling apart. I just heard about this and stopped yesterday. How soon will I feel a relief. Just the tiniest relief. I have been to psychiatric and doing anything to find the courage to live one more day.

[@ckas1785]

Hi, I know im 3 months late, but are you ok? 😣😔

[@simonriley4180]

You good now brother? Did the symptoms vanished? I'm going through similar phase. Please tell me how much time it might take

[@crystalakabeavergamingsubs9549]

@@simonriley4180 yes!!

[@crystalakabeavergamingsubs9549]

@@simonriley4180 I noticed a big difference after 10 days being off it.

[@willowbe4747]

I have been on this medication for over 20 years. I've never linked my behavior with this medication. Just so happen to read the side effects from the manufacturer. I have taken them and then stop for years. I've had asthma since I was very small.

[@compulsiverambler1352]

The vast majority of people with symptoms would have just been diagnosed with anxiety or depression as standalone conditions, never linking them to the drug, not caring what the cause was, probably not even bothering to do blood tests. Even blood tests are woefully inadequate when someone reports psychiatric problems, few get the right types of tests for every possible cause of psychiatric symptoms, they just jump straight to the assumption that it starts and ends in the mind. People with asthma have higher rates of anxiety and depression. What if certain medicines used are the reason, never identified. Corticosteroids do the same thing but the vast majority of the time nobody asks what medicine you're on and even considers if they might be the cause, no doctor has EVER suggested any of my steroid or other medications could be the cause of any of my diagnoses, they just don't care what the medical cause of mental illness is, they want to tell you it's all in your mind, not a real medical problem. Same with my B12 deficiency causing psychiatric problems, it took nearly two years to get diagnosed and when I got the loading injections I was back to my old self within one week. They just can't WAIT to dismiss mental symptoms as all in the mind instead of looking for the medical cause. And you've still got people trying to treat schizophrenia with talk therapy instead of as a brain disease needing medication. Talk therapy is an insult in many cases, it's gaslighting. The only time any kind of talk therapy was appropriate was when I had OCD, really severely, and I got CBT, ERP, and mindfulness-based therapy combined. But even then, I needed medication so I could even engage with the therapy at all. Mental illness needs to be renamed because in very few cases is the mind the cause, it's just the victim of the real cause.

[@kayomoreno4031]

Hi Doctor Sara Dugan, how are you? I work in the pharmaceutical industry here in Brazil. I have montelukast as a product, and is propagated to doctors. In the past two years, I haven't heard reports from doctors, who have had problems with the montelukast prescription, although everyone is aware of the likely side effects. I would like to thank you for the video, in my case in particular, it will help a lot in talking to doctors, where we can clarify how the FDA studies on montelukast are doing. Congratulations on your work, God bless you!

[@ErikMessamoreMD]

Thanks for the comment, Kayo. The psychiatric adverse effects are (fortunately) uncommon. But they do happen - more so in children. It’s good for everyone to be aware that things like mood changes, agitation, and psychosis are possible. Others in the comments section here have spoken about how they had reported these side effects to their doctors, only to have the doctors dismiss the concern. I’m glad this video can help in your work.

[@AJ88874]

@@ErikMessamoreMD hello Does Montelukast cause withdrawal symptoms?

[@shirleyreyes8991]

Too late for my son

[@wellnesscanceradvocate8564]

🙏🙏🙏 I’m sorry. I was just prescribed this . I took one before seeing this video. I felt side effects immediately. I’m not taking it anymore especially know it is black box label.

[@amonaco11]

I've been taking this for one week shy of a year. I've felt many of the symptoms described, never considering it had any association with this drug. My question is... What about withdrawals? Is there data describing what could occur if use of this medication is abruptly stopped?

[@7vernessa]

Abruptly stopping can lead to suicide my son cannot get back to his normal self and I am very concerned he will never be the same

[@maxp6051]

I have the same situation/ question

[@AJ88874]

Hello did you stop the medicine? Did you have any withdrawal symptoms when stopping?

[@shirleyreyes8991]

My son is going to prison because of this medication. This stuff is bad

[@almightydrankhead3570]

Aight bruh that’s just taking it too far😂

[@Day2Night_]

@@almightydrankhead3570 LMAOOO

[@DrBenson21]

What did he do?

[@samirahmed175]

Same. Almost went to prison. Even my family noticed something was off. The aggression is REAL.

[@KinLarkin513]

Facts Arguments Hella Intense​@@samirahmed175

[@familyofnguyeners7946]

I’ve been on day 5 off montelukast and anxiety attacks are still going strong. While on the medication I’ve experienced anger, nothingness then spiraled to a deep depression until I found the linkage. Besides current constant anxiety my head has been very cloudy. How long should I expect to be back to normal? Was on the medication for 9 days

[@SincerelyJean]

I am 4 days off after taking it for 6 days and am still feeling horrible anxiety and sleeplessness. Are you feeling better now? And how long did it take for you?

[@noelavalos2558]

Are y’all good ? How long did it take to get back to normal

[@simonriley4180]

How y'all doing now? How long till it gets better? Please help

[@pancanman]

Been taking it for 30 years. I don't think that it does anything. No difference in my asthma, no difference in my mood. I have skipped doses many times by accident, but that also had no effect. Everyone is different. Why do I keep taking it? Habit.

[@davidkropodra]

I've been too scared to take mine ...I was on strong antibiotics for a little over a year and it took about 2 years to recover from them...I would have anxiety and panic attacks 6 out of 7 days a week

[@thetruthwillsetyoufree7912]

Did you take them in the end . How was it ?

[@davidkropodra]

@@thetruthwillsetyoufree7912 stuck with flovent hfa price is lnsane at 220.00 a month

[@bigjoseph1876]

Damn I’ve been on this for like a decade. I don’t think I’ve had psychiatric side effects but who knows

[@ErikMessamoreMD]

Most people don’t have psychiatric side effects from it. We just want to make sure that the possibility is known so that the people who do get these side effects will be able to quickly recognize them (rather than suffer for months or years not knowing the cause).

[@bigjoseph1876]

@@ErikMessamoreMD phew 😅

[@lady4191]

@@ErikMessamoreMD you are wrong I know lots of people who had those effects including myself and my half sister.

[@beautifulaffliction1742]

That Lady you're probably an anomaly

[@AJ88874]

Ate you still taking it?

[@yesikanarvaez5027]

Will the side effects and anxiety from it ever go away?

[@Smyline]

Ça fat 2semaines que j’ai arrêté,je ressens toujours quelques effets comme l’anxiété 😢

[@pavanpyda]

Association doesn't equal causation. I think there is a confounding variable : Inflammatory milieu... You did not talk about risk - benefit analysis that you mentioned at 2:27. What was the hypothetical pathophysiology ? The aspirin video covered this concept. You did not even make such an attempt

[@AJ88874]

Hello Does Montelukast cause withdrawal symptoms?

[@hampshire2821]

I have taken this drug for many, many years and now when I try to stop I have no inner voice.

[@AJ88874]

What do you mean? Does Montelukast cause withdrawal symptoms?

[@hampshire2821]

@@AJ88874 Idk, i am blaming the drug when it is probably not the reason. I do feel different when I am on it, like I am more myself when I take it.

[@AJ88874]

@@hampshire2821 that’s weird I’ve taken it for months on and off and never get withdrawal or feel any different..I sometimes wonder if it’s even working bc I don’t feel anything lol

[@jeraldlowe4370]

@@AJ88874 I just got some. You didn't get any side affects or anything?

[@AJ88874]

@@jeraldlowe4370 nope I’ve been on it for many months...I kinda wanna get off it tho bc I don’t feel anything lol like it’s not even helping

[@shy6892]

Lost my job because of it

[@Jxspur]

Is this safe for me to stop taking ??

[@Oilyhands]

Don't stop suddenly. Try skipping 1 day and take it the next day and so on. If you stop taking it suddenly you'll get restless and won't function properly.

[@AJ88874]

@@Oilyhands hi did this happen to you? Did you get withdrawal symptoms from Montelukast?

[@pavochon]

You need Singulair LOL

[@wellnesscanceradvocate8564]

Wow , good to know. I was just prescribed this . I took it one day and I felt side effects immediately. I will never take it and especially know it crosses the blood brain barrier & black box warning ⛔️ . The side effects do not outweigh benefits. I’m really losing my faith in doctors 🥼 because they are prescribing this to millions including young children.