Singulair and allergies

[mom2g2b]

My ds has been diagnosed with allergies since he was a year old and had a seveer reaction. He needs to take something daily to help with the runny nose, etc. Claritan which is a white tablet in the 10 mg isn't enough. Singulair brings terrible behavior. He is sensitive to food dyes and that is probably the problem. Does anyone know of a stronger than Claritan med that doesn't have food dye in it? When the doctor gave me the sample, he said I'd see if two weeks if the med helped or changed his behavior. Boy has it been a rollar coaster. Singulair does help, but the behavior is unacceptable.

I'm thinking of calling Merck.

[Cherie]

Claritan didn't work for me. I had side affects from Singulair. I take Allegra (fexofenadine is generic name and very inexpensive too). It is prescription at this time but going over the counter later this year.

[Carol]

Allegra is already OTC. Is Zyrtec an option for your son? I have allergies/asthma, and I am on Zyrtec. Younger dd has severe allergies/asthma, and she takes Zyrtec and Singulair.

[mom2g2b]

Zyrtec made him act awful too. We haven't tried Allegra. I'll call the doctor and ask about it.

Thanks!

[vicki]

My son took singulair for years with no problems, so we started using it for my daughter with absolutely no preconceived ideas about it.

My daughter took it when she was 12. It was horrible! She became so depressed, and was crying, fearful, upset, you-name-it. She wasn't in puberty, so that wasn't it. I totally believe it was the singulair. I told the doctor who prescribed it, and she said to stop it immediately--that she's heard of this type of reaction.

It was so bad that my daughter wanted to give up ballet, soccer, everything because she was afraid to leave the house. We didn't mind her giving it up if she did it because she was sick of it, but not because she was scared. (She started dancing lessons at 3, but didn't get serious until she was 4. She is now 17 and studies all day, about nine hours a day and loves it, so dancing is very important).

Anyway, at 12, after being on singulair, she was so fearful that I couldn't leave her side!! She was terrified something was going to happen to me or her, and I had to go to every ballet lesson! I stayed in waiting room, but she even worried about the future when she would go on tour with the company. I had to assure her constantly that I would go on tour with her, following in a car. She didn't even want to try out for her beloved Nutcracker. Her sisters and I literally had to put her in the car to go to the audition, where she was crying and crying. (She got a good part anyway, but if she hadn't tried out she would have gotten no part at all.)

She wouldn't even go to her friends' homes--the ones she'd played with for years. She was living in a spirit of fear. We had many people praying over her.

Bottom line: she got off the singulair, and went back to her normal self. She's now been on tour many times....without me.

A real-life friend experienced something very similar with singulair.

If you google it, you'll find many situations like what I've described. Since I hadn't googled it before using it, I was totally unprepared.

Does he have asthma with his allergies? How old is he? I take Sudafed decongestant when necessary (generic, behind the counter--have to ask the pharmacist for it). Probably not recommended for kids.

[mom2g2b]

He may have asthma. When he gets sick he tends to wheeze and we have a breathing machine and Albuterol (spelling?) for that. He got up this morning and said he felt bad so I know I need to keep looking for what will work best for him.

[vicki]

He may have asthma. When he gets sick he tends to wheeze and we have a breathing machine and Albuterol (spelling?) for that. He got up this morning and said he felt bad so I know I need to keep looking for what will work best for him.

I should have added--DO NOT DO THE SUDAFED unless your doctor tells you to!

Your doctor might consider ADVAIR. My kids have used that for years.

[Stacy]

Just an FYI -- when I was on singulair, I started planning my own suicide. Thankfully, I had enough sense to check the side effects of the medicine. When I saw that was one of the side effects, I immediately stopped taking it.

[Ruth]

We are all so different. The only allergy med I can take is Claritin. Everything else makes me feel loopy and drugged and dizzy.

I have tried some OTC decongestants for allergies that have helped. I also use a nasal spray that really helps.

HOWEVER...the single best help with my allergies has been the use of a netti pot. I resisted using this thing for years, but I can not tell you how much it has helped me with my chronic sinusitis due to allergies. I have my 16 yo ds using a netti pot as well. He is hooked. He uses the netti pot, Singulair, and lots of vitamins including Emergenc-C. That has really helped him this season.

[vicki]

I LOVE Neti pots. Just make sure not to use tap water. It must be purified or pre-boiled and cooled down.