Finally feel like we're getting somewhere with my oldest son's chronic nose issues. Finally got a dx of a sinus infection today prescribed a 10 day course of antibiotics and then based off the history this doctor seems to think there is some type of allergy. Especially with the family history and that the blood tests aren't always accurate either. So in addition to the antibiotic he wants us to start Singulair.
I've heard good things and I have heard bad things with this medication. I was told this was clearly a preventative measure not a symptom reliever so I won't see a change in my son's nose symptoms until the sinus infection clears. But hopefully with him consuming this medication daily over the winter/spring it can prevent another sinus infection episode. My only concern is that with the OTC allergy medications he had HORRIBLE mood swings. He was very aggressive, no focus or attention span, and generally was not my sweet little boy. I stopped the medications and he was different kid.
I have heard some children respond to Singulair with some pretty extreme side effects too. So I was just curious if your child takes Singulair and if they had any side effects? I know the only way I can tell is to go ahead and try it. I plan on waiting until his sinus infection clears up and then start it, maybe even 1/2 at first and work up to the full dose. I'm just nervous since he is very sensitive to these types of medications.
Be careful with Singulair. It caused fatigue, depression, and irritability for me. Not right away, but after about a week of taking it those side effects hit HARD. So I stopped taking it on a regular basis and now only take it every once in a while on an as-needed basis.
Good luck! Hope he feels better!
PS Maybe try Allegra. I have taken it for years and love it. No side effects. Works best if I take it first thing in the morning.
Singular caused temper tantrums from Hades in my son...we changed to Zyrtec, (a nasal spray that starts with an "O"), and Flovent. With the option to add Benedryl at bedtime if the sniffles start up.
We do have Albuterol and a nebulizer for wheezing.
Singular just wasn't for us...we tried it and he responded badly.
You can try it and see how your son does...
I would definitely try it for a month and see how it goes. We tried all the OTC with my daughter and Allegra and Zyrtec made her act like a crazy child. Then we worked up to Singulair with no side effects.
From time to time she would still have allergies/ wheezing (she has yr round allergies to dog, mold and dust), so I wasn't sure if it was working all that well. Her allergist recommended just using the Nasonex and going off Singulair and we were in the Drs office almost every month for wheezing, bronchial, ear, cough, you name it. So we put her back on.
It is pricey and different meds do work differently, but I would give it a try.
Ours is $73 per month just to prepare you. Depends on your insurance. And to think I used to complain when it was $30 per month :-)
My son has been taking Singulair (on and off) since he was 2 - he is now 15. It started out as an asthma preventative which is why it was prescribed to him. Then it was discovered that a secondary usage for it was allergy prevention.
We have never had any side effects with it and it has always seemed to help him, especially during the high allergy seasons. When he was little he took a chewable tablet so it was easy to administer to him also.
I would not take half - take it as prescribed by the Dr. Halving the doses usually results in the medication not working, then you just get discouraged and stop using is at all. Plus, most medicines, at full dose, take a few days to make a difference in the system.
Good Luck.
Mine has and has taken it since he was 3 or 4. He's now 12. He has had no problems with it whatsoever. It really helps with his allergies which in turn helps with his asthma. I do think it depends on the child on if they have any side effects or not. You might try it and see if it works for yours.
I wouldn't use Singulair on a child. I don't think they've even done studies of the medicine on children. I know there aren't any studies on how this medication affects a child's growing brain.
Instead, I would take him to a naturopathic doctor and have him tested for food allergies/intolerances. Many people who have ear and chest/sinus problems discover when they quit drinking or eating cow milk products that their problems go away.
I was one of them. I discovered four years ago that I have a casein allergy (cow milk/cow milk products). When I quit eating/drinking cow milk, my yearly/year round issues with sinunitis/rhinitis, bronchitis, chest colds, etc. cleared up and went away. My allergies went away. As did my asthma. I'd been on Advair. I quit Advair in May 2010 and haven't used it since. I also haven't used any rescue inhalers. Any and all problems/issues with my ears, my nose/sinuses, and my chest are gone, now that I no longer eat/drink cow milk products.
I would look for different options to help your son rather than giving him strong pharma drugs.
I've been on Singular for years now....love, love, love it.
I know many children who take it ...without side effects. Hope this works for your son.
So: what is his dosage, per his age and weight????
Because, like anything, if too much dosage is taken... it can then cause more observed side-effects... such as moodiness.
Dosage, is per age/weight. Not necessarily age.
Singulair, has a Kiddie version???
There are many OTC allergy meds. Which are basically, antihistamines.
There are: Claritin, Allegra, Singulair, Zyrtec. (I personally do not like Zyrtec, because it makes me tired and moody).
EVERY OTC allergy med... will affect a person differently. It is not a one-size-shoe, fits all... regarding any side-effects.
If you don't want to use Singulair, then don't.
Ask your Pediatrician, for another suggestion.
You don't 'have to' use Singulair.
Just as I don't have to use Zyrtec, just because my Doc may suggest it. Because it makes me feel real crappy.
I use, Claritin.
Now about his sinus infection: Yes at this stage of it antibiotics are needed. The sinus cavity, is a dark dank cavern, and simply looking in the nose a Doc can't even see all of it nor what is all in there.
My Hubby has problems with Sinus infections. He is just prone to it. Many people are this way. It is just him and his nose that he is prone to it.
Now (even my daughter at 3 years old could do this)... you can try a "Neti Pot." It is a nasal flush. There are many kinds. You could try that for him. But you need to do it per the directions. But for my Husband and daughter (when she is sick), this greatly helps, their Sinuses.
Or, you can try a saline nasal spray.
