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Anyone use Singulair for their kids?
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evie




 
 
    
 

Post Wed, Sep 19 2012, 9:07 am
My almost 4 year old has asthma, and with the weather changing, it's starting to act up again. For the past week, he's been taking ventolin and steroid inhalations 2x a day. We went to the doc today to get him checked out, and she suggested we try Singulair. I bought some with the prescription but dh is very against it because of the potential side effects.

The doc said that Singulair is actually less potent than the meds he's already taking, but dh disagrees (he wasn't at the appointment with us).

So for now, it's going to sit on the shelf until we can agree - I'm on the fence about the whole thing - but I'm wondering if anyone else has used Singulair for their children and how that went. His asthma gets really bad in colder weather and I'm sure we're going to be giving him his regular meds often (I hope I'm wrong! but I'm going off of last year's experiences).

Thanks for any input :-)
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jzmom




 
 
    
 

Post Wed, Sep 19 2012, 9:13 am
My son seems to have outgrown his asthma but we used singulair for a year and I found it very helpful. I did not notice any side effects.
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evie




 
 
    
 

Post Wed, Sep 19 2012, 9:14 am
Thanks, jzmom. Did it significantly decrease his asthmatic symptoms?
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Six boyz




 
 
    
 

Post Wed, Sep 19 2012, 9:19 am
My kids are taking singular for years. Def. helps their asthma from flaring up. No side affects at all. The Meds u r currently taking has more side affects than singular. It will stabalize his asthma .
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cbsmommy




 
 
    
 

Post Wed, Sep 19 2012, 9:21 am
DD #1 was on singulair for her asthma and allergies when she was 3. Her asthma was flaring during the cold weather and when she was 2 we spent the winter/spring on a combo of albuterol (aka ventolin), pulmicort (an inhaled steriod), zyrtec (oral antihistamine), and patanol (topical eye drop).

The doctor suggested singulair for this year and it works wonderfully! She was able to come off of ALL of the other meds and her asthma was well controlled. We used to be at the allergist once a week for wheezing - she hasn't needed to see him in 5 months.

What side effects is he more worried about?

Side effects of uncontrolled asthma = shortness of breath, chest pain, wheezing, failure to thrive, cardiac problems, and in extreme circumstances, death.

Side effects of albuterol and inhaled steroids can include rapid heartbeat, hyperactivity and thrush...plus often kids end up on oral steroids (prednisone) b/c they need the extra assistance to breathe. Oral corticosteroids can have a VERY LONG list of side effects (weight gain, short stature, hyperactivity, insomnia, depression, osteoporosis, head hair loss, an increase in body hair, etc).

Side effects of singulair (which is a maintenance drug) include stomach ache and drowsiness.
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jzmom




 
 
    
 

Post Wed, Sep 19 2012, 12:09 pm
I cant be absolutely sure it was the singulair but before singulair he had many asthma flare ups, even hosipitalization. After a year of singulair (bli ayin hara) not one asthma flare up. We have taken him off singulair now and are watching him carefully.
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evie




 
 
    
 

Post Wed, Sep 19 2012, 12:22 pm
So frustrating! Dh just went and found all of these crazy side effects of singulair online. And he says that it can't replace the steriods anyway. I don't know, especially after hearing these few stories (and having a few neighbors whose kids are on it), I really want to try, but he's being rock solid on this one.

This is what he emailed me:
I don't know where he found it.

There are also reports about serious singulair side effects in behaviour and mood while taking Sinclair: aggressive behaviour, bad dreams, dejection, awkwardness, anxiety, sleepwalking, hallucination, restlessness, irritability, suicidal thoughts, tremor and sleeplessness. Consult a health practitioner at once should your child suffer from any of these symptoms while taking Sinclair.

Sometimes, people who stopped or lowered their steroid medicine intake by mouth, and take Singulair may increase the count of certain white blood cells, and blood vessels all over the body.

Other side effects with Singulair are: increased bleeding tendency; inflammation of the face, tongue, lips and/or throat that might cause trouble in breathing or swallowing; hives and itching; giddiness, lethargy, numbness or lack of sensation, seizures; palpitations; nosebleed, stuffy nose; diarrhoea; heartburn, indigestion; nausea; stomach upset; vomiting; hepatitis; bruising; rash; muscle aches, pain in joints, muscle cramps; tiredness and swelling.


Sigh, another 9 months of steroids, ventolin and running to the doctor every other day. Sad
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sim




 
 
    
 

Post Wed, Sep 19 2012, 2:43 pm
My dd used Singulair from the time she was 18 months old (she used to eat it in a hollowed-out half grape) until about age 10. I loved it. She had no episodes whatsoever since about age 2, and no side effects that we could see. we took her off of it at age 10 with the pulmonologist's approval. Previously she had been taking inhaled or oral steroids, and those are no picnic.
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cbsmommy




 
 
    
 

Post Wed, Sep 19 2012, 5:12 pm
evie wrote:
So frustrating! Dh just went and found all of these crazy side effects of singulair online. And he says that it can't replace the steriods anyway. I don't know, especially after hearing these few stories (and having a few neighbors whose kids are on it), I really want to try, but he's being rock solid on this one.

This is what he emailed me:
I don't know where he found it.

There are also reports about serious singulair side effects in behaviour and mood while taking Sinclair: aggressive behaviour, bad dreams, dejection, awkwardness, anxiety, sleepwalking, hallucination, restlessness, irritability, suicidal thoughts, tremor and sleeplessness. Consult a health practitioner at once should your child suffer from any of these symptoms while taking Sinclair.

Sometimes, people who stopped or lowered their steroid medicine intake by mouth, and take Singulair may increase the count of certain white blood cells, and blood vessels all over the body.

Other side effects with Singulair are: increased bleeding tendency; inflammation of the face, tongue, lips and/or throat that might cause trouble in breathing or swallowing; hives and itching; giddiness, lethargy, numbness or lack of sensation, seizures; palpitations; nosebleed, stuffy nose; diarrhoea; heartburn, indigestion; nausea; stomach upset; vomiting; hepatitis; bruising; rash; muscle aches, pain in joints, muscle cramps; tiredness and swelling.


Sigh, another 9 months of steroids, ventolin and running to the doctor every other day. Sad


I'm really confused.
Does your DH not understand that asthma is a serious chronic condition that is life threatening if untreated?
Does your DH happen to have a medical degree? Pharmacy degree? I'm thinking not because he doesn't seem to understand that corticosteroids have an even longer list of definite side effects.

Because really, nobody should be in favor of a four year old needing "9 months of steroids, albuterol, and running to the doctor every other day."

I don't care if his nickname is Gibraltar - you need to family pow wow it in the doctor's office ASAP. This will allow DH to make his concerns known to the pediatrician, the pediatrician to explain his/her rationale, and most importantly -- so that your 4 year old can find some asthma relief.
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amother


 

Post Wed, Sep 19 2012, 6:02 pm
I took singulair when I was pregnant. She is a healthy 12 year old.

I would for sure give it to my child over steroids.
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amother


 

Post Wed, Sep 19 2012, 6:32 pm
I currently have two kids taking singular, and have had two others who have taken it in the past. we have never had a single one of those side effects mentioned, not even the minor ones.

your husband needs to realize that all possible side effects need to be listed on the medication. he would be better served if he read the breakdown of the side effects, because the severe ones our in less then one percent of patients.

prednisone, need s to be severely limited and gets to be very dangerous when taken on a regular basis. publicity is inhaled steroid and is used to help manage symptoms, but also has alt of side effects as dotes v entolin a n d a l b uterol. in many cases songhai eliminates the need for all three of those medications.

the only asthma med I'd avoid us abattoir add the digital thoughts on that med are very high. I'm many kids singular is really a godsend, and it is known to be a med with low risk side effects.
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amother


 

Post Wed, Sep 19 2012, 6:35 pm
autocorrect fixed it the med I'd avoid is ad v a I r
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amother


 

Post Wed, Sep 19 2012, 6:35 pm
autocorrect fixed it the med I'd avoid is ad v a I r
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B"H YOM YOM




 
 
    
 

Post Wed, Sep 19 2012, 8:38 pm
Singulair is a great drug with very little side effect (and if any are noted, it can obviously be stopped so...) Taken by adults and children alike. If you read the 'potential' side effects of ANY drug, you'd never take them at all! My kids were/are all on Singulair and it really works. On the other hand the DEFINITE side effects of uncontrolled asthma/breathng issues are obvious... Please have your DH speak to the pediatrician himself and that should not only calm him but perhaps he will understand the necessity of a proper asthma protocol/treatment plan. Good luck and a healthy year...
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evie




 
 
    
 

Post Thu, Sep 20 2012, 1:05 am
Thanks for all the replies, everyone, I appreciate it. He thinks that what we're doing is better because these drugs are topical and not oral. Topical (inhaled) steriods are not the same as oral.

cbsmommy wrote:


I'm really confused.
Does your DH not understand that asthma is a serious chronic condition that is life threatening if untreated?
Does your DH happen to have a medical degree? Pharmacy degree? I'm thinking not because he doesn't seem to understand that corticosteroids have an even longer list of definite side effects.

Because really, nobody should be in favor of a four year old needing "9 months of steroids, albuterol, and running to the doctor every other day."

I don't care if his nickname is Gibraltar - you need to family pow wow it in the doctor's office ASAP. This will allow DH to make his concerns known to the pediatrician, the pediatrician to explain his/her rationale, and most importantly -- so that your 4 year old can find some asthma relief.


Hmm, ds4's asthma is not untreated. We use other meds right now. Of course he knows that.
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cbsmommy




 
 
    
 

Post Thu, Sep 20 2012, 8:48 am
evie wrote:
Thanks for all the replies, everyone, I appreciate it. He thinks that what we're doing is better because these drugs are topical and not oral. Topical (inhaled) steriods are not the same as oral.

cbsmommy wrote:


I'm really confused.
Does your DH not understand that asthma is a serious chronic condition that is life threatening if untreated?
Does your DH happen to have a medical degree? Pharmacy degree? I'm thinking not because he doesn't seem to understand that corticosteroids have an even longer list of definite side effects.

Because really, nobody should be in favor of a four year old needing "9 months of steroids, albuterol, and running to the doctor every other day."

I don't care if his nickname is Gibraltar - you need to family pow wow it in the doctor's office ASAP. This will allow DH to make his concerns known to the pediatrician, the pediatrician to explain his/her rationale, and most importantly -- so that your 4 year old can find some asthma relief.


Hmm, ds4's asthma is not untreated. We use other meds right now. Of course he knows that.


Yes, but if you are going to the doctor every other day, then your son is NOT experiencing CONTROLLED asthma symptoms.
As for topical vs oral, that's why I still strongly recommend a discussion ASAP with DH and the doctor in the room together.
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amother


 

Post Thu, Sep 20 2012, 10:06 am
My ds took sigulair for a few days and was in an extremely bad mood (wrote a scary note to us) so the allergist said to stop immediately. I don't mean to scare you. Just want you to know that it's possible and it's good to be aware of the side effects that way you can make the connection.

It's important to keep asthma under control and there are different options out there.
Some side effects look scary but not breathing is alot worse.
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shnitzel




 
 
    
 

Post Thu, Sep 20 2012, 10:55 am
Have your DH call the doctor and discuss his concerns. The doctor can probably explain the risk/benefits. The side effect list your DH saw seems to be legit. I always check out side effects before I take medication and I think everyone should be aware in case a problem arises. Almost every medication can have some serious side effects but there are a lot of instances where it is worth it to risk the side effects and they aren't guaranteed to happen.

It sounds like your child needs to do something to get his breathing under control. If your DH is against singulair have him go back to the doctor to find another med option. Oral steroids have some really awful side effects if that is the other option.
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evie




 
 
    
 

Post Thu, Sep 20 2012, 1:24 pm
Just wanna say, crisis b"H over - he agreed to try it out for a few weeks. Whew! I can't stand my poor ds's constant coughing. :/ He just coughed so much he puked. Sad
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yOungM0mmy




 
 
    
 

Post Thu, Sep 20 2012, 2:38 pm
My DS has viral induced wheeze, and ended up in the emergency room on oxygen and a steroid cocktail 3 times in 2 months. Seeing that was absolutely petrifying, and I would do anything to stop it, especially as I have asthma and know how horrible and debilitating it can be, puking till throwing up and wanting to claw your chest open.
We then started singulair on a daily basis throughout the winter, and BH not another episode since! Once summer came we weaned him off, and kept it for when he only had flareups. I give it to him for a few days at the first hint of a cough, and BH we havent had to go to the hospital since, almost a year now.
I was seeing a peadiatric respiratory specialist at a top hospital here and he said there is no problem in giving it for years, much safer than the steroid inhaler, never mind the oral steroids which make them completely cuckoo.
It can completely change your childs life for the better if he has constant episodes, and who wants to see their child suffer like that??? Of course it's better to take nothing, but that is obviously not an option for this child, and this is definitely the better choice.
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