In case you don't read this whole post, I want to get one important message across:
Do NOT give your child Singulair before doing some research, especially if they have special needs!
I just had to get that warning out there for all parents, now I can tell you why. Three weeks ago my sister and I were talking about how good Jaylen has been lately. He has been:
making lots of connections, saying more words and using them appropriately, talking about emotions, interacting more with his brother, behaving better, having one or two 30 minutes tantrums a week, which used to be a least 1 a day, listening a little more, caring about getting a time out, talking about making good decisions, stimming less (repetitive actions like arm flapping), having less sensory reactions, and less anger and frustration.
The reasons we came up with were that he is getting older and he is in a regular type of PreK, with social interaction being top priority, compared to ABA Discrete Trial Testing he had been doing daily before. But then my sister mentioned something I forgot. We took him off Singulair! Here's the story.
A year and a half ago my son had a few wheezing episodes, one so bad that my doctor told me to hang up with him and call 911.
When the paramedics got there they said he would be fine, but I should go to either the ER or a nighttime care center. So we went and he had a nebulizer treatment. There is a horrible story of waiting for 2 hours and me being 8 months pregnant while my husband was away with his Army unit, but that's a whole other post.
The next day we followed up with his doctor and she diagnosed him with Asthma. She said it was common in kids with allergies and all the other myriad of health issues Jaylen faces. So we just accepted it and accepted the prescription for Singulair. At this point Jaylen was still non verbal, so even at 2 he couldn't explain if he was hurting, having trouble breathing, or feeling off.
For a year he took his medicine every night. He had no more episodes, even during cold viruses he got in the winter. A year after the diagnosis, we moved to CT. We had his new patient/3 year old physical with his new doctor here. The minute I said he was on Singulair he did a cringe/double take. He explained that there has been a lot of buzz lately surrounding Singulair and kids, especially ones on the spectrum. The Dr. said they are no longer prescribing it to children because of instances of hyperactivity and violent behaviors it may be causing. He even looked further into my son's records and said he wanted to take the asthma diagnosis away. He didn't think that the 2 or 3 episodes warranted the diagnosis. I gladly agreed.
We waited patiently, wanting to see an instant reversal in behavior. I knew it might take a while, a few weeks possibly. But after a week there really wasn't a change. After two weeks, still nothing noticeable. After a month I completely forgot the whole thing. NOW, four months later, it has hit me like a ton of bricks and a light bulb going off at the same time!!!
I have looked it up on the internet, typing in Singulair and Autism, and there is so much info letting me know that I am not alone with this one. Many, many parents agree. Here is a link to just one site that had many examples of behaviors their children exhibited before, during, and after the medication. I do warn you, there are comments in there which may make you sad or angry, as it did to me, a parent whose world fell apart around her while reading. What had I been doing to my son for a year without even knowing?
Do I think it is the only factor in Jaylen's recent developments? No, of course not. But do I think it plays a huge role in it? Absolutely. So please, heed this warning. Talk to you doctor, and then another doctor, and then even another doctor. Do some research. Talk to other parents. This is a very serious deal in my opinion!
In case you don't read this whole post, I want to get one important message across:Do NOT give your child Singulair before doing some research, especially if they have special needs!I just had to get that warning out there for all parents, now I can tell you why. Three weeks ago my sister and I were talking about how good Jaylen has been lately. He has been:making lots of connections, saying more words and using them appropriately, talking about emotions, interacting more with his brother, behaving better, having one or two 30 minutes tantrums a week, which used to be a least 1 a day, listening a little more, caring about getting a time out, talking about making good decisions, stimming less (repetitive actions like arm flapping), having less sensory reactions, and less anger and frustration.
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Comments (3)
Thanks for the heads up!
I don't have any experience with this particular med but our paediatrician did say that pretty much all medications, including Ritalin/Concerta and Risperdal all carry the possibility of working in the opposite direction to what you expect.
As parents, we sometimes need to choose a medicated route but whatever we do, it's important to regularly take your child OFF the medication to see what they're like without it.
Many medications lose their effectiveness as the child gets older or heavier. Some children lean on the medications until they're able to self-regulate (and don't need them anymore) and sometimes the medication has side-effects which creep in unnoticed with long-term use.
Medication needs to be constantly reviewed. In Australia, we need to visit a developmental paediatrician once every six months for renewal. It's important that the visit is more than a simple script-filling process. You need to be reviewing the effects and the need for the medication and for that, you need to have seen your child both on and off the medication.
@gbollard@xanga - Great information and tips! Thank you.