─ It is necessary to be aware of the toxic side effects before taking medication.
Asthma Drug Singulair Linked to Behavioral and Mood Effects: FDA Upgrades to Black Box Warning
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2021/01/15 03:15
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Seasonal changes are a high-risk period for asthma. According to the 2017 National Health Interview Survey by the Health Promotion Administration, the prevalence of asthma among children under 12 years old was 5.6%, and most of them were prescribed maintenance medications, with "Singulair" being one of them.
### Preventing Asthma Attacks
Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways. During an attack, symptoms such as wheezing, difficulty breathing, chest tightness, and prolonged coughing may occur. Based on severity, asthma can be classified into four stages: mild intermittent, mild persistent, moderate persistent, and severe persistent. Regardless of the stage, acute attacks can occur.
Depending on the severity, asthma medications are divided into two main categories: acute relievers and maintenance controllers. Typically, except for patients with mild intermittent asthma (Stage 1), those in the other three stages of persistent asthma require daily use of maintenance control medications to manage chronic symptoms. Common maintenance medications include Montelukast (Singulair) and inhaled corticosteroids.
### FDA Warning: Singulair May Affect Behavior and Mood
Pediatrician Peddy shared on his social media page that the U.S. FDA issued a Black Box Warning for Montelukast (Singulair) on March 4, alerting doctors and patients to potential behavioral and mood-related side effects, such as depression, sleep disturbances, suicidal thoughts, and suicidal behavior.
The FDA has continuously received reports of mental health side effects linked to Singulair. Some occurred during treatment and resolved after discontinuation, while others reported persistent mental health issues even after stopping the medication.
A related study involving asthma patients aged 6 and above found that, compared to inhaled corticosteroids, Singulair indeed increased the risk of behavioral and mood changes.
Although there isn’t sufficient evidence to confirm a direct causal relationship between Singulair and mood disorders or suicide, considering the potential severity, the FDA stated, "Singulair is not recommended as a first-line treatment for allergic rhinitis." Alternative medications, such as antihistamines, steroid nasal sprays, or allergy shots, may be considered.
Dr. Peddy also mentioned in his post that if you have allergic rhinitis, you should avoid Singulair unless other allergy medications prove ineffective or you experience severe allergic reactions to other treatments.
If behavioral or mood changes occur after taking Singulair, discontinue use immediately and consult your doctor for further treatment options.
Source:
https://news. sina. com. tw/ article/ 20200310/ 34479332. html