J.K. asks from Plano, TX on September 15, 2009
Reaction to Taking Pulmicort / Singulair
Hi Moms -
My son often takes medication for his chest when the weather turns like this ... generally with allergies. At 4 he is diagnosed with Reactive Airway Disease ... Anyhow ... last year he went a little crazy (literally throwing things, couldn't control his outbursts, etc) and I never thought much of it except maybe it was a very bad few weeks, he was sick, wasn't sleeping, temper tantrums, just a phase. Well as quickly as it started, it ended.
Last week he got sick with a cough so I started the course of Albuterol/Pulmicort/Singulair and wouldn't you know 2 days into it he turned crazy again ... I did some research on the internet and found this is not too uncommon.
I was wondering if any moms have experienced problems with your child and these medications? What were your experiences? What were you able to give your child as a substitute?
Thanks
Featured Answers
E.S. answers from Amarillo on September 24, 2009
i have had similar problems when my daughter took singulair same thing if she took liquid clairitin instead of the pill.She went haywire.
Pulmicort made my daughter very edgy and irritable and made her heart race.
She takes albuterol but only PRN!
More Answers
S.B. answers from Dallas on September 15, 2009
J.,
call your doctor or healthcare provider and tell him or her about the side effects. they may be able to suggest something else or discontinue some of the meds or change the dosing schedule. good luck
1 mom found this helpful
T.H. answers from Dallas on September 15, 2009
J.G. answers from Dallas on September 15, 2009
My daughter has had R.A.D. since she was 3 months old. Yes we experienced the sideffects on almost all of the inhalters/nebulizers and with singular, zyrtec and clartin. After reading on the internet and talking with her doctor we determined that the side effects (which generally went away, because her body was getting use to the meds) out weighted the risks of her not using them. We tried Albuterol, Xopenex, Pulimcort. We did find lesser side effects if we used the nebuilzer than then inhaler. I do not know why but her doc said he had herd the same thing. Her Pedi has a respational therpist (RT) and it helped alot to talk to her she gave really good advice on the situtation. We decreased the amount of the medication but gave it a few more times a day (inhaler). It lessoned the side effects but she got the relif and medicine she needed. My daughter is 6 now and we no longer depend on the meds seasonally but have them for "just in case" situations. Good Luck
While I know moms have lots of personal experience and advice and its great and very knowlegeable but none of it can substitute for your Pedi's knowledge and opinion. Also see if he has a RT or if your insurance will pay for one.
M.C. answers from Dallas on September 16, 2009
Singulair made my husband crazy--luckily he's old enough to explain what's going on! He had insomnia, anxiety attacks, was generally a mess. It took about 2 months to figure out that it was medication-related (he was going through some stress at work, and at first we thought that was it), but it was definitely the Singulair! He's tried a variety of different allergy meds since, and have found some that work almost (although not quite) as well on the allergy symptoms, but he'd rather have a few symptoms and be sane than re-visit the Singulair! Talk to you doctor and get your sons meds switched immediately, and good luck!
N.C. answers from Dallas on September 15, 2009
My daughter was on both meds as well and went crazy on them. Once I realized what it was I took her off it immediatly. It took almost a month to get her back to her sweet self but havent gone back since. We just take zyrtec and use the nebulizer and rescue inhaler as needed. Good Luck!
E.S. answers from Amarillo on September 24, 2009
i have had similar problems when my daughter took singulair same thing if she took liquid clairitin instead of the pill.She went haywire.
Pulmicort made my daughter very edgy and irritable and made her heart race.
She takes albuterol but only PRN!
R. answers from Dallas on September 15, 2009
Our son was exactly the same on pulmicort and he would also literally have sweats, shakes etc. as it was wearing off. We didn't allow him to stay on it-we called our Dr. and explained the situation to her and she was able to prescribe him a diff. medication, right now I can't remember the name, sorry. I suggest calling your Doc. and asking for a subsitute. HTH
K.M. answers from Dallas on September 15, 2009
I know Albuterol has been know to make children hyperactive. My daughter is on xoponex and pulmicort and we haven't had any side effects (she is five) my son who is 10 takes albuterol and he, I think because he is older it doesn't affect him that way. My allergist doesn't prescribe albuterol to young children for that reason. On the other had albuterol is a lot cheaper than xoponex. Which might be the reason it is prescibed more. Just my thoughts and experiences.
Hope it helps.
K.
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