montelukast

[Flora321]

hi my daughter started taking Montelukast at the age of 4. She is now nearly 6. Over the last 6 months or so (possibly when she started it but not 100% sure) she’s become really negative and aggressive. I know this can be a side effect.

But could side affects randomly start this far into taking the meds? I’ll be booking a review with the GP surgery this week but just wondered if anyone has experienced similar

[Gwalltarian]

I think it’s quite possible, I had a really strange episode in August that I put down to Montelukast and stopped taking it - after 22 years. I had some difficulties with asthma starting just before Christmas so I started taking it again with the intention of using it as and when I need it, not continually. It was initially prescribed to replace antihistamines because I had developed a reaction to them.

[peege]

Have you looked into other possible causes, something happened at school for ie, food?

My g'daughter was throwing things daily when she got home, turns out several weeks running the swimming teacher didn't accept mum's notes about no swimming and made her wear a lost property box swimming costume 4 sizes too small. Humiliating & sadistic or what. (She's already an excellent swimmer & cant concentrate or cooe with big noise). She suffered weeks of dread before final meltdown with a teacher she felt safe with.

I would definitely call the lovely people on the help line, they'll know more about pediatric issues than we adults who take montelukast. Good luck, P

[Flora321 in reply to peege]

I’m pretty sure it’s not related to anything else. Will be asking for the preventative inhaler instead

[Africanleopard Verified User]

dear Flora321

There have been warnings about negative feelings even thoughts of suicide in some children on Montelukast. So these negative feelings could be due to side effects of this drug. I suggest an urgent appointment with your doctor- also as someone suggested, ring the helpline for some immediate advice. The usual advice is to stop the drug. So I suggest insist on an urgent appointment with your doctor or trained specialist asthma nurse if the practice has one.

Is she on an inhaled corticosteroid? How bad is her asthma?

[Flora321 in reply to Africanleopard]

Thanks for this. My daughter is only on it for night time coughing so will def call GP to change over to preventative inhaler instead as they offered initially as well.

[Gareth57]

Hi, yes in my experience side effects can start after a prolonged time of taking a medication. For me I'd been taking montelukast for over a year with no problems and then started with really bad dreams, but because it had been so good with seasonal exacerbations I didn't want to stop taking it completely so now take it alternate days. It still seems to work but the dreams have stopped!

[hilary39]

Can you read this article without a paywall? It might be helpful to you- nytimes.com/2024/01/09/heal...

I had a bad reaction to Montelukast (psychedelic nightmares). It could definitely be the drug. A lot of people have issues with it. The good news is it seems to let up when they go off it.

What other meds is your daughter on? Has she tried a biologic?

[Flora321 in reply to hilary39]

Thanks for this. My daughter is only on it for night time coughing so will def call GP to change over to preventative inhaler instead as they offered initially as well.

[hilary39 in reply to Flora321]

Ok good! Keep us posted

[Waffle3]

I’m not sure if my post came through but my son had an awful reaction to montelukast. I would never have put him on it if I’d have realised the side effects. He is now on Symbicort inhaler. See NICE guidelines

bnf.nice.org.uk/drug/montel...

There is a big warning in the US - don’t give to kids with anxiety only if risks are very high and outweigh side effects . That news has only recently come to UK !!

nhs.uk/medicines/montelukast/

Hope they feel better soon

[Patk1]

My young grandsons been on it since 4yr old, with no probs.id speak to Dr x

[Poshcards]

Hi, I take Montelukast, what is in it to cause these bad dreams, is it an hallucinogenic?

[JJ8675309]

My son had serious side effects from Montelukast. He had been on and off of it since 2013. There is a group on Facebook: Montelukast (singulair) side effects support and discussion group, it may be helpful. They have several resources listed in the group. Please report any side effects to the FDA

[Poobah in reply to JJ8675309]

As this is a UK forum, the American FDA isn't our health authority and we have what is called, the Yellow Card scheme for reporting side effects, either through our GP, consultant, pharmacy or directly yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk/

In the first instance, it would be a good first step to discuss any side effects with the relevant health care professional, the pharmacist or the asthma nurses on the Asthma UK helpline.