Is Singulair safe?

Remember … in my earlier post about Cough and Cold, I mentioned that I stumbled upon reviews on Singulair’s possible side effects? And in case you don’t know what it is, Singulair is a medication commonly prescribed by pediatricians and doctors to reduce asthma in children (actually, adults as well) AND it costs a bomb as it has to be taken over a long period of time! My younger son has to take it for 2-3 months!

Well, as I was saying, while google-ing, I found that some reports saying that this medication can cause mood and behavior related changes - aggressive behavior, tantrums, nightmares, depression, anxiousness, hallucination, even suicidal, and the list goes on. Sounds ABSOLUTELY TERRIFYING! I began to think that perhaps my younger sons’ hyperactivity, tantrums, naughtiness and sometimes nightmares could be due to this drug? Or is it just pure Terrible Two ‘syndrome’ – he is 2 years old, going on 3. How can really I tell?

I went to ask my pediatrician recently. Like some doctors, he mentioned that manufacturers of drugs tend to list down ALL possible effects and if doctors were to follow, then ‘there will be no drugs to prescribe’. And, by the way, he thinks that Singulair is safe. Hmmm.. means what? Should I continue? If there is really nothing to worry about, what then is the hoo-haa all about????

If you are interested to read more, here are some links:
https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/medwatch/medwatch-online.htm

http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/group.php?sid=189360fe398ade586da36b6cf98a9054&gid=40378158644&ref=search

http://www.drugs.com/singulair.html

http://www.parentsforsafety.org/