Singulair and Depression

Depression may be a side effect of Singulair. In clinical studies, depression occurred both in people taking the drug and in people taking a placebo, making it hard to know if the depression was truly related to Singulair. However, since the drug's approval, depression has been reported in some people who take it. If you are taking Singulair and depression symptoms occur, be sure to let your healthcare provider know.

Singulair Drug Information

Is Depression a Singulair Side Effect?

Several side effects are possible during treatment with Singulair^® (montelukast sodium), and depression may be one of them.

In clinical studies of Singulair before it was approved, depression was not reported as one of the common Singulair side effects. However, since the drug has been approved, there have been reports of depression in people taking it.

Singulair and Depression: Understanding Clinical Trials

Before most medicines are approved, they must go through several clinical studies, where thousands of people are given a particular medicine and compared to a group of people not given the medicine.

In these studies, side effects are always carefully documented. This way, it is possible to see what side effects occur, how often they appear, and how they compare to the group not taking the medicine.

In clinical trials, depression was not reported as a common side effect of Singulair, although rare occurrences of depression did occur both in people taking Singulair and in people taking the placebo (a "sugar pill" with no active ingredients). After a medication is approved and marketed, however, the manufacturer is required to keep track of side effects reported to them by patients or healthcare providers. Since Singulair was approved, depression has been reported as a possible side effect of the drug. But, because not all cases of depression are reported, it is impossible to tell exactly how commonly (or how rarely) depression occurs in people taking it.

(Singulair and Depression Continued: Page 2)