Asthma Drugs Get 'Precaution' Labeling for Possible Psychiatric Side Effects
FDA says users of Singulair and similar meds should watch for such problems
Weldon said that he has not seen any increase in psychiatric problems with the drug, but that some patients had complained of nightmares after starting on Singulair.
"The physician really needs to review whether there are symptoms that have developed since patients started taking the medication, if there's an underlying depression that was there before medication started," added Dr. Rauno Joks, chief of the division of allergy and immunology at SUNY (State University of New York) Downstate in New York City. "Also, seasonal allergies in and of themselves can cause fatigue and lethargy, which makes it harder to assess, because those are some of the symptoms you have with depression."
Joks said he had seen headaches develop as a side effect of Singulair, but not psychiatric problems.
Leukotriene receptor antagonists target part of the body's inflammatory process. They are prescribed to treat asthma and the symptoms of allergic rhinitis, as well as to prevent exercise-induced asthma.
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