Montelukast and Irritability: What Users Say (Page 2)

• Anonymous
• October 17, 2012

For Asthma, Maintenance "My son has been on this medication since he was four. He is now 8. He has been a tough child, and I have had some suspicion that something is awry. After reading some of the responses, I had an ah-ha moment. He has been irritable and having tantrums lately. It is rare that he is happy. He nags and whines. He has no asthma symptoms, but I'm not sure if this is due to this medication or if he has outgrown it. I am taking him off this medication and see if I see a change in his disposition."

• Lex...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 13, 2015

For Allergic Rhinitis "When I developed late-onset asthma and lost my sense of taste, in addition to the chronic nasal allergies, I was finally put on this. It works wonders for allergies - no doubt about it. But ... poor sleep, vivid unpleasant dreams/nightmares. Increased anger & irritability (husband says complete personality change), severe & worsening memory problems. Last two weeks strong salt taste in mouth? Don't know if this is relevant? Any way, going to try to come off it, but not looking forward to return of allergies..."

• Try...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 25, 2013

For Allergic Rhinitis "I have been having chronic sinus infections due to allergies for the last year and a half. I finally went to an ENT who prescribed this medicine along with my current regimen (Allegra D, Flonase, Neti Pot). I have been on this medicine for about a week now, and I am unusually irritable and easily aggravated. I can tell that it's getting worse, as today I started developing anxiety along with it. I am not going to take it tonight and call the doctor in the morning. I saw on the label about mood issues and depression, but this is more like taking a stress amplifier. If I had complete relief from the allergies, I would consider continuing, but I haven't noticed an improvement, I still have extensive postnasal. Glad to see I'm not the only one."

• Ehl...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 24, 2020

"Taking montelukast 10 mg dose for MCAS (Mast Cell Activation Syndrome). Have had great results, especially with my stomach issues. Has also helped with sinus issues, chronic urticaria, and shortness of breath from COPD. I must admit, I was a little nervous about taking it at first because of the known side effects, but I haven’t really had any. The only (minor) thing I had was some irritability when I first started taking it, but it didn’t last for long."

• Rev...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 2, 2016

Montelukast for Allergic Rhinitis "Singulair causes symptoms in children that look like ADHD or ADD. It causes irritability, aggression, impulsivity, and hyperactivity in children. Before you treat your child for ADHD, try switching to an allergy or asthma medicine that isn't this or a corticosteroid."

• sue...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 17, 2020

For Allergic Rhinitis "My doctor gave me montelukast for allergies and I have been on it for about a year. I recently stopped taking it because I've noticed I'm getting leg cramps at night in bed, my entire body just hurts. My anxiety is through the roof, and my mood has been bad - everything and everyone irritates me. It makes me breathless when walking and I cough a lot more. I didn't take one last night, and I feel more relaxed today."

• Mjd...
• September 22, 2015

For Asthma "I was prescribed this drug for allergies and wheezing. The first couple of weeks, I noticed the wheezing stopped, but I became very agitated and aggressive. Then I started waking up with panic attacks. When I stopped taking it, my face swelled up. This medicine also made me very nauseous and gave me horrible stomach cramps. I had to stop it after a month."

• Mom...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• June 23, 2022

For Asthma "When my daughter was 4, she started this medication for her asthma. Shortly after, I noticed she would have more agitation, aggression, she developed small tics like ripping her hair out, cleaning between her toes, saying weird words just to say them. I honestly thought, she’s 4, maybe this is normal stuff. Well, she is 9 now, and she is suffering anxiety, OCD, obsessive unwanted thoughts, confession OCD—> she tells me things like, “I hope I didn’t scratch the wall, stupid middle finger, I thought something bad.” It was honestly a little odd, and it increased significantly this last week or so. It is now onto having suicidal thoughts and meltdowns, trouble going to sleep. She is not herself, and I’m terrified for her. I will be taking her in to see if we can get off this medicine. PLEASE, if you are considering giving this to your child, see if there are other options. My daughter is suffering because I didn’t take the steps I should’ve a long time ago."

• Con...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 10, 2020

For Allergic Rhinitis "My 13-year-old son began taking it a month ago, and it cleared up his sinus issues pretty quickly. But there has become a downside. Almost overnight, he has become a different person. Moody, agitated, angry, even sad at times, and withdrawn on a daily basis, he was NEVER like this prior. The pill bottle came with warnings with symptoms similar to watch for, so when I realized this was not going away and was getting worse, I took my son off. Unfortunately, about a week off now, it’s almost like he is in withdrawal and even worse than before. I am hoping it gets better with time as he adjusts, it’s very scary. I would recommend no one take this without another person knowing so they can watch for behavior changes!"

• Jen...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 25, 2021

Montelukast for Allergic Rhinitis "I started using Singulair about 11 days ago, and I have noticed a big difference with my severe allergies. Unfortunately, I have also developed constipation, which is not listed as a side effect, and irritability. Both have gotten so bad I discontinued use last night, and after 12 hours, I am 75% better with both constipation and irritability, but oh, my allergies are back. Sigh."

• Ala...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 27, 2020

For Asthma, Maintenance "I've mild asthma, exacerbated by exposure to chemicals and exercise in extreme weather. May 2020 diagnosed with mold allergy, GP prescribed montelukast—it's modestly reduced symptoms. Suffer from depression and anxiety, generally well-controlled, despite the stress of COVID. Fast-forward to Sept. 2020—depression/anxiety much worse. Frequent suicidal ideation and anxiety that’s much more palpable physiologically. Lost my job, fired for having 'compatibility' issues—very uncharacteristic of me. I see a pattern of suicidal ideation and increased anxiety, agitation, isolating, and quicker to anger than usual and how it's negatively impacted me the past 5 months. Psych dropped me after 3 years—feels incapable of adequately treating me (we'd gone through many med changes since May with no improvement). I see the temporal connection of starting montelukast and am wondering if it's been the culprit all along. Can't believe none of my doctors thought of this despite its black box warning nor gave me any heads-up."

• not...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 17, 2020

For Allergic Rhinitis "My doctor gave me montelukast for allergies. It makes me sleepy, so I take it at night, and I can breathe better. But the side effects are leg cramps, every muscle hurts, feels like I just want to collapse and cry, can't seem to wake up and get out of bed, depression, anxiety, anger, irritation easily, bloated and gassy. I told my doctor that I stopped taking it, and it affects my mood, and she said that must be what's wrong with my son, he's on it too. I stopped taking it and am just going to do Claritin or Flonase."

• Aan...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 19, 2020

For Allergic Rhinitis "My allergies have caused me to be miserable for my entire life, ruining vacations and causing me to miss school. I have allergy and exercise-induced asthma, disallowing me from doing things I love, like hiking. My allergy symptoms have completely disappeared, and I am able to run and play without stopping every minute or so to catch my breath. One thing that has happened is that I am much more irritable, provokable, and angry. It has been hard to sleep as help. These are things to be aware of, but I personally will be looking for ways to solve these new issues because Singulair has given me a new life."

• Ful...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• February 15, 2022

For Allergic Rhinitis "I went on this medication (10mg) after a massive immune system meltdown that saw my allergies flare with severe fatigue and anaphylaxis-like reactions to perfume. I think it helped as a mast cell stabilizer, but I'm not sure I would recommend it. If you had asked me while I was on it if I had any side effects, I would have said no (especially because of how comparatively sick I was when I went on it). However, I have recently weaned myself off this after five years, and I am much better off it, and I definitely did have side effects. I'm less anxious, agitated, and impulsive. I have less brain fog (although this was worse in withdrawal). I had no interest in intimacy, but I no longer feel so dead from the waist down. My digestion has improved, I have less gut pain and diarrhea. I had weight loss resistance, even when on intake below 800 cal. But now I'm dropping weight without doing anything different. It will be interesting to see if my five years of high iron storage drops now too."

• Joj...
• April 25, 2021

For Asthma "I have a sleep disorder, including weird dreams and sleep paralysis. I can't gain weight (loss of appetite). If I'm not on montelukast, I get restless and violent, I get easily irritated, and my cognition seems to fluctuate, and I'm prone to the common cold."

• Anonymous
• April 27, 2009

Montelukast for Allergic Rhinitis "Tried it and it worked great except for the side effects of depression, anxiety, agitation, depression."

• pre...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 21, 2013

Montelukast for Asthma "Very good for asthma and allergies, but my mood changed for the worse. I woke up angry for no reason and very irritable. Made my anxiety worse too. I stopped it."