Singulair Lawsuits
Singulair lawsuits claim failure to inform medication links to suicides and unusual behavior changes.
Lawsuits filed against Singulair, a medicine approved by the FDA to treat asthma and allergy symptoms, and has been linked to severe injuries resulted from suicides and behavior changes.
DIAGNOSED WITH CANCER AFTER USING SINGULAIR? If you or a loved one have suffered severe physical injury or death from suicide or suicide attempt while taking Singulair, our skilled personal injury team is here to fight for you.
Singulair lawsuits build link between allergy drug and suicide, mental health risks
Singulair is an anti-allergy and asthma drug used by millions but recently it has been linked to mental health issues, including suicidal thoughts.
Patient advocates are now building cases against the manufacturers of Singulair over their failure to inform consumers about the risks associated with their product.
What is Singulair?
Singulair, also known as montelukast, is a common asthma and allergy drug manufactured by Merck.
Montelukast functions as a leukotriene inhibitor, suppressing the body’s reaction to allergens. Leukotriene causes the body constrict muscles around the lungs and airways. By dampening this response, Singulair can treat asthma and reduce allergic reactions.
What are the risks of Singulair for patients?
Authorities in the US have been collecting data on the possible risks of Singulair since 2008, when a teenager committed suicide after using the allergy drug for a short period of time.
In March, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued new requirements for montelukast manufacturers requiring them to add a “black box” warning to the packaging of the drug, telling consumers about the possible risk of mental health side effects, including suicidal thoughts.
“Some reports are serious, and many patients and health care professionals are not fully aware of these risks,” said Sally Seymour, the FDA’s director of Pulmonary, Allergy and Rheumatology Products at its Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, after the administration’s announcement in March.
According to the FDA’s findings, Singulair poses a significant risk of causing “agitation, depression, sleeping problems, and suicidal thoughts and actions.” The administration’s researchers analyzed data on “neuropsychiatric events”, including suicidal thoughts and actions, among patients taking Singulair. Based on its findings, the FDA concluded that the risks involved in taking montelukast may outweigh the benefits of the drug. The FDA now recommends Singulair only be used to treat allergic rhinitis.
The government now recommends that patients avoid Singulair and instead use alternative treatments if possible. Patients who have experienced damaging mental health side effects from the drug should contact the FDA’s MedWatch program as well as a patient advocate or personal injury lawyer to discuss possible options for compensation.
Side effects of taking Singulair
– headache
– mood swings
– behavior and mental health changes
– suicidal thoughts and actions
– skin rash, burning sensations
– numbing and weakness
– ear aches
– stomach pains
– fevers and other flu symptoms
Patients and families hurt by the mental health side effects of Singulair may be eligible for compensation
As evidence mounts that Singulair may cause severe and damaging mental health issues, patient advocates are building cases to help those affected by the drug. The recent findings by the FDA and other researchers open up possibilities for lawsuits to seek compensation from the manufacturers of Singulair. It’s increasingly likely that patients who’ve experienced behavioral and mental health changes due to Singulair will be able to secure a settlement from these pharmaceutical firms.
Pharmaceutical firms may face Singulair lawsuits
Complainants in cases against the manufacturers of Singulair and other forms of montelukast claim that the firms failed to disclose the risks associated with their product. Research from a range of studies going back to the early 2000s, if not earlier, showed the links between Singulair and mental health problems. Despite this evidence, drug companies failed to inform doctors, the FDA or consumers about the potential severity of these side effects. As the FDA and other researchers continue to publish new findings and recommendations, personal injury attorneys and patient advocates say that Merck and other manufacturers of montelukast are likely liable for the damages caused by their products.
