Any time I’ve mentioned it in asthma groups, the conversation can turn quickly. People share heartbreaking stories about serious side effects, including suicide. Those stories matter, and they deserve to be heard. Losing a child is unimaginable, and I don’t take that lightly.
At the same time, those stories can make people afraid to try a medication that might actually help them. The concern around Singulair is real enough that it now carries a black box warning. But it’s also true that the research hasn’t clearly established a direct cause-and-effect link in every case. Like a lot of medications, it comes down to weighing risks and benefits.
All I can really do is speak from my own experience.
For me, Singulair has worked very well.
Before I started taking it, spring was rough every year. I was constantly sniffling and sneezing, and it felt like I was always trying to stay one step ahead of my symptoms. About 15 years ago, a doctor told me he didn’t think most people noticed much difference with it, so he suggested I could stop. I did, and for a couple of years I got by without it.
At the time, that was fine with me. It was still under patent back then and cost about a dollar a pill, so I wasn’t exactly eager to keep taking it.
Then one summer, my allergies hit hard again. I was going through Sudafed like crazy—probably a box a week—and still felt miserable. One night, I woke up feeling awful and realized I was out of everything. The only thing I had was an old Singulair tablet.
So I took it.
Within about 20 minutes, I felt noticeably better.
That was enough for me. I went back on it and haven’t stopped since.
I understand the concerns. I really do. But I also know what it’s done for me. What frustrates me is that some people who might benefit from this medication may never try it because the conversation around it has become so one-sided. Like anything in medicine, it should come down to an informed decision between a patient and their provider.
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