Asthma Drug Singulair May Have Serious Side Effects

FDA and the Canadian health agency are studying to see if widely used asthma treatment drug Singulair's usage has suicide as its side effects.

FDA has started to look into the additional side effects of Merck's Singulair drug for Asthma treatment as reports link suicidal thoughts to Singulair usage.

Canadian press reports that Health Canada is also investigating the side effects of Singulair that reportedly is linked to Suicide.

"Merck said it recently added reports of suicide to Singulair's label, which already listed suicidal thinking and behaviour as reported side-effects," writes The Canadian Press.

Merck that manifactures Singulair, in the website related to the asthma treatment drug, reporting about the side effects of Singulair, writing the following:

Important Safety Information About Singulair from Merck

"SINGULAIR will not replace fast-acting inhalers for sudden symptoms. Continue to take your other asthma medicines as prescribed and have fast-acting medication available. For asthma, SINGULAIR should be taken once a day, in the evening as prescribed, whether or not you have asthma symptoms. If your symptoms get worse or you need to increase the use of your rescue inhaler, call your doctor at once.

"Side effects are generally mild and vary by age, and may include headache, ear infection, sore throat, and upper respiratory infection. Check with your doctor if you are pregnant or nursing. SINGULAIR should be taken once a day, as prescribed. SINGULAIR is available by prescription only.

"SINGULAIR has not been studied as a treatment option for both conditions in the same person."

Singulair asthma treatment drug is Merck's biggest seller, according to CBS video report on Singulair's side effects. More than 31 Million prescriptions were filled in USA last year. While FDA says Singulair may have serious side effects, it will take the agency up to nine months to determine if any regulatory action is needed.

In clinical trials of asthma patients, the most common side effects of Singulair were headache, flu, abdominal pain and cough. It has been later recently that Merck updated the information adding possible suicidal thoughs to Singulair's side effects.