Suicide and a common allergy medication

My daughter took Singular for 1 1/2 months...although an active teen anyway, I did notice a particular change in her. However, as recently as last Monday, when her condition had worsened, the pediatrician asuugested we continue the singular with another allergy medicatuion and added a 2 other short term drugs to address the worsened symptoms. I chose to discuontinu the singular and other over the counter medication feeling it was just too much medication. I have to admit, I have seen a change in her mood.

I think this new group is being irresponsible. This hype is based on one parent who says Singulair is responsible for her sons suicide. They have offered no other evidence to substantiate this claim. This story is unethical and I hope Merck take them to court. I'll bet this is intentional slander. I am disgusted.

I have taken Singulair for 2 years and have never thought to kill myself.

I take the maximum does of Effexor and my doctor at every visit will ask me about side effects. Effexor is not suppose to be given to teens because it can cause them the have suicidal thoughts. Suicidal thoughts. I know a young boy who was put on a anti-depressant. He had suicidal thoughts and was immediately taken off the med. Suicidal thoughts is a red flag and I dont understand why with Cody there were no red flags. To commit suicide and do it right the first time is just too mind boggling.

Floyd, thanks for taking the time to post, however, Merck has already changed its warning to include suicidal thoughts before this teen took his life. The issue in the capital region is doctors had not been alerted to the change in the warning nor had the pharmacists and the package inserts hadn't been updated. This is not the effort of only one family. There have been numerous reports of patients having emotional issues after taking singulair and that's why the FDA is investigating. They don't act on one case.

I will say someting and be very breif ,I would never and my husband would never have subjected ourselves to this attention, if Cody had a red flag or a history.You have sorely missed the point we are trying to make that being ,"the information on mood and behavior changes was not there to make an informed decision to choose to not dispense this drug to our child!Did you know the company had updated the side effects 4 times.Our physician nor did the pharmacy know of these serious changes in side effects to watch for.The leaflet was not updated with this information.This would include depression,anxiety,tremors and now suicidal thoughts and actions,which should have been there considering 3 of the changes were added in april,I filled that prescription in July.Please know there were no signs and I am not blindly placing blame, there are others like my family, who have a story to tell.This drug is sneaking up on alot of illinformed people, consider yourself a lucky consumer to be so informed

princess wrote:

I take the maximum does of Effexor and my doctor at every visit will ask me about side effects. Effexor is not suppose to be given to teens because it can cause them the have suicidal thoughts. Suicidal thoughts. I know a young boy who was put on a anti-depressant. He had suicidal thoughts and was immediately taken off the med. Suicidal thoughts is a red flag and I dont understand why with Cody there were no red flags. To commit suicide and do it right the first time is just too mind boggling.

I wish it were just one suicide, not our son.You have really taken your time to slander a couple like us that are reaching out to many people to try and help.The fact that many are experiencing real psychological issues coincidentally, while taking this drug,it should not be ignored!We are saying the warnings need to get out to the proper people such as doctors and pharmacist,then the consumer will have the knowledge they need to make informed decisions to treat their illness.Thank you for keeping such an open mind.

Floyd wrote:

I think this new group is being irresponsible. This hype is based on one parent who says Singulair is responsible for her sons suicide. They have offered no other evidence to substantiate this claim. This story is unethical and I hope Merck take them to court. I'll bet this is intentional slander. I am disgusted.

Have you not been told Kate and Dave that there is nothing available to succussfully help ragweed allergy sufferes and the best thing you could have done is move?

My son and I have taken singulair for years. One teenager decides to kill himself and it is the fault of this medication. Geesh!

Benita;
I checked with my local pharmacy and the suicide postmarketing event was put into the label in October 2007. I thought this teen killed himself in August 2007. Your post is as inconsistent as I found your story. Now I' m really confused. How could the parents have been informed if the prescribing information wasn't updated at that time? I think you need to go back to the facts and get your story straight. This is very sad and you are ruining any credibility to this story. I am on Singulair and my doctor knew about the updated information last fall. He said you only asked one or two doctors which is not good investigative work. I am having a hard time believing this story.

Benita Zahn wrote:

Floyd, thanks for taking the time to post, however, Merck has already changed its warning to include suicidal thoughts before this teen took his life. The issue in the capital region is doctors had not been alerted to the change in the warning nor had the pharmacists and the package inserts hadn't been updated. This is not the effort of only one family. There have been numerous reports of patients having emotional issues after taking singulair and that's why the FDA is investigating. They don't act on one case.

Kate;
Are you priveleged to the information on how many suicides on Singulair have occurred? You seem to know. I heard on the Today show, a doctor said there were only 4 in millions of the people on Singulair and that couldn't be proved as related to the drug. Does 4 sound accurate? Kate, Expect to be disagreed with especially when you attack a drug that helps so many people.It has helped me a great deal.
I am sorry you lost your son. How do you know he was really taking the drug? I have told my Mom in the past that I was taking my medicine and I wasn't, I flushed it down the toilet. How do you really know he was taking it?

Kate and Dave Miller wrote:

I wish it were just one suicide, not our son.You have really taken your time to slander a couple like us that are reaching out to many people to try and help.The fact that many are experiencing real psychological issues coincidentally, while taking this drug,it should not be ignored!We are saying the warnings need to get out to the proper people such as doctors and pharmacist,then the consumer will have the knowledge they need to make informed decisions to treat their illness.Thank you for keeping such an open mind.<quoted text>

There are always many sides to any "story". Much investigation needs to be done to prove or dissaprove whether or not this drug contributes to suicidal behavior.
The point that needs to be taken by the public is that if you or your family is taking Singulair-talk to your doctor,be very aware of the thoughts and feelings you or your family member is experiencing,and don't take lightly any
depression,anxiety or mood changes.
Personally,I am an adult who has taken Singulair for yrs. I find it very important for my ability to live daily with allergies. Would I be fearful of putting my child on it? Yes,I would,now. However,if people are alert,aware and commmunicate any changes to each other and the medical field..we will be safer.
And,to the Miller's are my condolences on the tragic loss of your son,Cody.

My son has been on singulair since he was two because of ear infections. He is now 6 1/2. Should I be taking him off this med? He seems fine to me.

This medication should be taken off of the market. My son two years ago was taken singular two weeks before he all of the sudden had suicide thoughts of hurting hisself and other people, I know it was this medication because it was all of the sudden. He had to be put in the hospital. Also he all of the sudden had OCD and enxiety at the same time. After he stopped taken singular he never had thoughts of suicide anymore. He is now on medication for OCD. There is no doubt in my mind that this medication caused his problem.

Cody Miller is a great kid i never expected him to do this. He played football with me and he also enjoyed professional wrestling like i did,I also took Singulair i saw changes in the way i felt not sleeping and just filling down and out. Hence i have stop taking this medicine and to all you people who think this is ridiculous maybe you shouldnt take it out on Mr.and Mrs. Miller there just trying to find a reason is that not understand able to some people.

Not everything has a reason why it happened Jeremy. Some things just cant be explained. I knew a young boy who was almost allergic to everything. His mother did everything humanly possible to make his life as comfortable as she could. She had the carpeting replaced with hardwood flooring - covered all vents - replaced his pillows with foam - changed his diet - lots more. We dont know the whole story here and blaming it on one thing is wrong.

I'm a student and am doing a paper on the Pharmacuetical Industry and how many drugs should have been taken off the market long ago. This is going to be one of the main stories in my paper. I definintely think the FDA should have warned people before it came to this. Katie and David Miller i think you're doing the absolute right thing. I'm extremely sorry for your loss.
To the people like Floyd and Becky, i can't believe there are people out there as rude and nasty as you. These people lost their son and they are simply trying to warn the public if you are on this medication. Show a little respect or don't comment at all about their situation.

You are fortunate to have a doctor who asks about side effects, Princess. Hopefuly you were told what the possible side effects are (not just being asked, "Are you having any side effects?) so that you will recognize a side effect if you have one. Adolescents, lacking life experience, may not recognize something as being a side effect. According to the news report, Cody would never have been advised of what the possible side effects of Singulair are. He may not have realized what was happening until he no longer cared, where the depression itself would prevent him from reaching out for help. Anyone, regardless of age, can spiral down into a suicidal state within hours. Adolescents' own body chemistry changes constantly, so a medication that causes few or no problems one day, may create horrendous problems the next.

princess wrote:

I take the maximum does of Effexor and my doctor at every visit will ask me about side effects. Effexor is not suppose to be given to teens because it can cause them the have suicidal thoughts. Suicidal thoughts. I know a young boy who was put on a anti-depressant. He had suicidal thoughts and was immediately taken off the med. Suicidal thoughts is a red flag and I dont understand why with Cody there were no red flags. To commit suicide and do it right the first time is just too mind boggling.

I understand what you are saying A Parents but he had two parents who loved him - whom he could go to - to talk about whatever problem(s) he was feeling. Its when you feel like there is no one to go to - to help you - that you feel desperatley suicidal. Its an uexplained feeling - that living is more painful then the act of killing yourself and putting an end to that pain.

I have Bipolar Disease. Usually drugs with side-affects influencing depression, suicidal thoughts, or mania are not prescribed to those with Bipolar disease. My psychiatrist is aware that I am taking Singulair, and has specifially told me that this side-affect is negligible. Then again, I check in with her regularly regarding my mood.

I am not saying that these facts apply to all people, obviously every person is different. All I am saying is that it is every consumer's responsibility check the potential negative reprocussions of all of their goods, including prescription drugs. We cannot take a drug simply because our doctor tells us to, we owe it to ourselves to watch our own backs too.

With that said, Katie and Dave- I am deeply sorry for your loss. I cannot imagine the pain you have gone through these many months. Please know that there are hundreds of people out there who's thoughts are with you in this struggle. Be strong-

--Morgan

Kate and Dave Miller wrote:

I wish it were just one suicide, not our son.You have really taken your time to slander a couple like us that are reaching out to many people to try and help.The fact that many are experiencing real psychological issues coincidentally, while taking this drug,it should not be ignored!We are saying the warnings need to get out to the proper people such as doctors and pharmacist,then the consumer will have the knowledge they need to make informed decisions to treat their illness.Thank you for keeping such an open mind.<quoted text>