Singulair and Depression: What Users Say

• San...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 19, 2020

For Allergic Rhinitis "I was given this medication, Singulair, for chronic nasal congestion and rhinitis. After about 2 months, I started to notice my mood changing. I was more argumentative, almost to the point of aggression. When I started to have bizarre dreams, I then researched the side effects of this drug. Here is what was listed: mental/mood changes (such as agitation, aggression, anxiety, trouble sleeping, abnormal dreams, sleep-walking, memory/attention problems, depression, hallucinations, thoughts of harming yourself/suicide). I immediately stopped taking this medication (it wasn't helping that much anyway) and these side effects have stopped completely. PLEASE be mindful of ALL the side effects of any medications you are taking! I never would have believed that something to help with nasal congestion could cause such problems."

• Mad...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• November 2, 2020

For Asthma "While on this medication, my asthma and allergies were almost non-existent. However, I also developed severe depression that almost took my life, anxiety, became easily agitated, and had pain in my mouth and back. Since I stopped, I feel happier, more patient, less sore, but my allergies have come back. If it weren't for the side effects, I would have kept taking it."

• Kdu...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 31, 2015

For Asthma "Started Singulair approximately 1 week ago. I will say it's an asthma miracle, but the side effects are unreal. I had extreme irritability (out of character for me), severe fatigue when normally active, mood changes, depression, anxiety. I wish doctors would really explain this to new users. Thanks to all of you who reviewed this medicine and gave me insight on what was going on, that's the reason for my post too."

• Dit...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• October 17, 2019

For Asthma "I was on Singulair for a couple of years, and I have depression with tremors/muscle spasms. Since stopping the meds, the pain in my back next to my lungs has returned but depression is getting better. Tremors are still happening after 2 weeks of not being on this."

• Sco...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 14, 2018

For Allergic Rhinitis "This drug is not for everyone. I took it for just three days and got very depressed, even to the point of having really dark thoughts, had a constant headache, an upset stomach, deep soreness in my teeth, mood swings, and irritability. However, it did help my allergies. Be very conscious of how you feel when you try this drug."

• MM ...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• October 10, 2018

For Allergic Rhinitis "I am a parent of two children. Both children took Singulair for allergies. Both children had issues while taking Singulair and experienced withdrawal effects once I stopped the medication. My daughter developed tics, tremors, anger, rage, OCD, anxiety, mood swings, and agitation, to name a few side effects. My son developed frequent urination, muscle issues, joint pain, and sadness. Both my children developed a hypersensitivity to all artificial sweeteners, dyes, and all emulsifiers/preservatives as the inactive ingredients are made up of most of these items. Their hypersensitivity to artificial sweeteners, dyes, and emulsifiers/preservatives still continues even though they stopped the medicine."

• dun...
• January 6, 2012

For Asthma, Maintenance "I took this medication a few years back. Although I read the side effects, I never imagined that I would have a bad reaction to the medication. This medication worked great in controlling my asthma. However, I became very depressed, suffered from anxiety, and just not me. It didn't happen immediately, but people started noticing a difference. I started noticing a difference. I never had a history of any of that stuff. After I came off the medication, I was back to being me. For me, the side effects weren't worth it."

• Cyn...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 28, 2022

For Allergic Rhinitis "My dr warned me Singulair had a black box warning due to sometimes causing depression and suicidal symptoms, but I wasn’t concerned. I am a psychotherapist and don’t usually have side effects to meds. Shortly after taking Singulair, I began to feel agitated and depressed. I felt negative and paranoid. Then one day I thought, “What is the point of living?” I remembered my dr mentioning the black box warning and stopped taking Singulair. My mood improved dramatically each day I was off Singulair. Please be careful."

• Gco...
• October 19, 2016

For Allergic Rhinitis "My wife was on this stuff for at least a couple of years. She suffered severe tiredness, nightmares, irritability, and even suicidal thoughts, accompanied by severe depression! Although it did make her feel better, the side effects are not worth it at all! She switched to Flonase, and it is just as good. Please, if you are on this medicine and have any of these side effects, please stop!"

• Pat...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• November 10, 2012

For Asthma "Singulair is an effective medicine, but it can have significant side effects. I experience a foggy head and depressed mood. I have also experienced muscle cramps in my back while on this. I have noticed, in reading through the comments, that quite a few people are suffering from some form of side effect from this medicine. One recommendation: I talked to my doctor about cutting the dose in half, from 10 mg to 5 mg. I now take a children's 5 mg tablet. I still get relief but don't experience the same level of side effects."

• suf...
• March 28, 2021

For Asthma "On this medication, I could finally sleep at night, literally. It helped so much with my asthma and my allergies. I could take deep breaths again. I needed my inhaler much less. But unfortunately, like many others, after three months of taking this (it takes time to build up in your system), I developed severe depression and I was very suicidal. Thankfully, I have a support system that I alerted of this possible side effect, and they were there for me. I went to my doctor, and she advised to stop taking it (as I uncontrollably cried in the office), and I felt better within a week of being off it. Don’t let my experience scare you, because I really went back to normal as soon as I got off it. I have yet to find a new medication that makes my asthma/allergy so nonexistent!"

• Gro...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 11, 2013

For Allergic Rhinitis "I have tried Singulair three different times. Each time it has caused suicidal tendencies in me. This happens soon after I take it. My mood was very scary on this. I was prescribed this for asthma and allergies. I stopped taking it since it seemed to just depress me."

• Ast...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 15, 2013

For Asthma "Went to the hospital during an asthma attack. I was only on albuterol, and it was not working during this episode. Long story short, I got prescribed Singulair. Made me feel very sleepy at first. I could barely get my college work done. After about two months, I became very depressed from being so tired, and then became extremely thirsty. I drank two bottles of water every hour and could feel my lungs becoming irritated. I was drinking so much water I was getting nauseous. I then went to my MD, and he told me to stop taking it. After three days, my thirst went away. After about two weeks, I felt myself again. Singulair is now listed on my doctor's chart under 'medicine allergies.'"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• September 21, 2012

For Asthma "This really did help with my allergies and asthma symptoms I sometimes experienced. I took this for 2 years and never on a daily basis, but as needed (when my allergies would act up). It took me a while to figure this out, but I have now determined that when taking this medicine, I am very lethargic the next day, depressed feeling, and extremely agitated. For a while, I had just concluded I was a moody person, but after taking one, seeing how I felt, and then going off of it, I put two and two together. Literally, the next day without the pill, I feel back to my old self. So though it did help for allergies, for me, the pros don't outweigh the cons."

• Boo...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• November 9, 2020

For Asthma "I was on Singulair for many years. It helped allergies and asthma significantly. However, I also had a significant problem with depression. My doctor told me to stop taking it when she read about the correlation with depression. After a few weeks, I felt so much better mood-wise, but my allergy and asthma symptoms are that much worse. I was already taking Zyrtec (it has now been raised to a double dose), Flonase, Azelastin (a recent addition), Sudafed as needed, and Chlorpheniramine as needed. Doubling the Zyrtec was supposed to eliminate the need for the last two, but the taste of Azelastin is so unpleasant that the urge to just go back to Sudafed is very strong. I'm resisting because of age and HBP. The sinus clog/drip is ever-present. Retiring to Delaware has been great for our finances, very tough on allergies/asthma, slightly worse than Northern Virginia. And I hear there's really no place to 'hide.'"

• Hid...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• May 26, 2023

For Asthma "I was on this for a year with no improvement in my asthma. Two days after getting off of it, I began to have horrific withdrawals, including severe headaches, exhaustion, irritability, weepiness, depression, lightning shocks throughout my body, severe body aches, and inability to sleep. The worst seems to have occurred for 48 hours straight, with no signs of fever or sore throat to indicate flu. After seeing others in forums, it seems to be this medication."

• Oki...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• March 6, 2022

For Asthma "To the moms reading these reviews because your kid is taking this medicine but you can tell something isn’t right and wonder if it’s Singulair-listen to yourself. My son was on Singulair from the age of 5 until 19. While it did help his asthma, the side effects are not worth it. As a child, he could never sleep, had tremors, sweated like crazy, had anxiety and depression. Watch your child when they get to high school because something can change at that age and it seems the depression gets worse, suicidal thoughts began. My son stopped his meds on his own. Felt a lot better. Started having asthma issues, so he started it again at college for a couple of weeks. He is old enough now to be able to identify his feelings. He told me he stopped taking it and will never take it again because it made him suicidal."

• jea...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• February 22, 2025

For Allergic Rhinitis "I have taken this for 10 to 15 years and for me it's fantastic. No more asthma, runny stuffy nose, chest congestion. No weird dreams and zero depression, etc. like I've read in other reviews. Not for everyone, obviously. I always take it in the AM. I remember telling my doctor I never want to stop taking this. Changed insurance and didn't take it for a while, and it was like night and day. Immediately was back to the inhalers and hacking up goo every morning and coughing all the time. Went back on it, and in one week I was fine. For me, it's miraculous since it addresses all my symptoms, not just my asthma."

• Sca...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 13, 2021

For Allergic Rhinitis "If I could give no stars, I would. It caused me to have suicidal thoughts, and I put a fork to my throat this morning over something stupid, and my mom talked me out of it. I’m not the suicidal type, and Singulair made me want to take my life. I also have had aggression, worse depression, rage, and not giving a rat's booty on what I say to anyone. I talked to my mom like she was a nobody, and I’m not that kind of person. I even cussed my own husband out a couple of times. I would NEVER talk to anyone like that! I was literally scared of myself. I even broke something of my great-great-grandmother's, and it was one of the last objects my mom had of hers. I’m not the violent type at all. I’m hoping within a few days I can start feeling better."

• G-U...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 31, 2020

For Allergic Rhinitis "I was so happy taking this Singulair medication because it actually worked, however, I did have some stomach pains and some diarrhea. But wow, my allergies were gone! I did get a little depressed on it, but honestly, it was worth it with my allergies gone!"

• Aba...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 8, 2019

For Asthma "I would give this med a zero if allowed. It made me have night terrors, depression, and thoughts of harming myself. I do not recommend it and believe it needs a black box warning."

• Anonymous
• April 27, 2009

For Allergic Rhinitis "Tried it and it worked great except for the side effects of depression, anxiety, agitation, depression."

• Chr...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 3, 2023

For Asthma, Maintenance "I only took Singulair for a couple of days because of the terrible side effects. Nightmares, sadness, aggression, feelings of emptiness, heart palpitations, etc. Singulair is poisonous garbage."

• Chr...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 3, 2023

For Asthma, Maintenance "I only took Singulair for a couple of days because of the terrible side effects. Nightmares, sadness, aggression, feelings of emptiness, heart palpitations, etc. Singulair is poisonous garbage."