Little kids on Singulair

[jamaicagirl]

I searched this earlier - and I found a thread from last April and I just wanted to see if anyone has any new imput on Singulair. My 5 year old son was just diagnosed with asthma and they want to put him on a daily dose of Singulair. He has mild symptoms of asthma, but they want to be proactive with him. He has had pnemonia(sp?) twice and bronchitis as well. I guess I just want to hear some not so scary stories of Singulair's usage, since the scary stories do stand out more.
Thanks for any input!
Michelle

 

[cab0899]

My son, who is 11, has been on various combinations of asthma drugs pretty much since birth. He has been on Singular, Flovent (discus and puffer formats), Pulmicort, Advair, Symbicort 100 and 200 and probably others that I can't remember off hand. He takes prednisone for 5 days at a time when he is bad and of course his ventolin when needed. He usually ends up in hospital every spring and fall, no matter what we do to prevent it. Haven't had any particular side effects from any of the drugs, he is a very small child and the pharmacist tells me that these kids on long term steroids do catch up and reach a median height but their growth spell is usually later than most teens.

I'm not sure what your specific concerns are, my son is consider to be a moderately severe asthmic and is a sports fanatic. He runs long distance (hopes to do a half marathon soon) and is a very competitive hockey goalie. He's was a little sidelined this fall due to a broken leg this fall during a football game. I was concerned all the steroids had decreased his bone density (one possible side effect) maybe causing the fracture but all the drs. said his bone density looked great on the xrays.

We usually go every 6 weeks for a breathing test to constantly adjust his medications. The winter is his best time so we were at the dr's last week and can take 3 months off from the breathing tests!!!

Hope that helps !!! Kim

 

[Stacy]

My nephew has a similar story as your child's. His doc put him on Singulair and he's doing great. They're planning on trying him off in the Spring because his symptoms do not havey any allergic component to them, just usually flair up during winter. Have you talked to your doctor about your hesistancy?? For as many scary stories I have no doubt you'll find just as many stories about children and adults with undiagnosed and/or under-treated asthma whose first "asthma attack" was a fatal one. There's always another angle to everything.

 

[ElaineP]

I was the poster about the warnings of Singulair.
My 14 yr old was on singulair from the time he was 5 until last March. It will be a year this March that he has not taken the drug. For him, at the age of 5 it was a life saving drug. His asthma was out of control. In and out of the hospital with pneumonia and severe attacks every three weeks.
Now if I knew then what I know now I am not so sure I would have put him on it.

Since off the drug his personality has taken a 360. He is the focused, happy child I remeber him as before Singulair. He is excelling in school and is not angry at the world or suicidal. Some side affects went away within a few weeks and some I think will always be a part of him.

Yes , his asthma is still under control. He uses albuterol when in a crisis along with Flowvent inhaler. He seems to be bothered most with repiratory viruses. I think as he as aged his asthma is less severe.

Flowvent and any steroid drug will affect their growth. My son was always small for his age. His growth spurts where less than average. Now as a teenager he is catching up. I don't think he will be over 5'8" , but neither my DH or I are very tall people.

It definitley is something to think about and weigh out the pros and cons. You know your son. If once he starts the drug you find his personality changing. Then question the singulair and if his Dr. doesn't agree find one that will listen to you.

I think it can be a great drug for some and a deadly drug for others.

You have any other questions you can pm me.