From Investing.com: 2024-11-22 06:06:15

U.S. government researchers have found that the asthma drug Singulair, originally sold by Merck & Co, may be linked to serious mental health problems for some patients. The FDA added a “black box” warning to the montelukast prescribing label in 2020, flagging risks like suicidal thinking or actions. Research shows significant binding of montelukast to brain receptors.

The behavior of montelukast is similar to other drugs with neuropsychiatric effects. Studies are ongoing, and results are not finalized. Research from Austria’s Institute of Molecular Regenerative Medicine shows significant quantities of montelukast present in the brain, affecting mood, impulse control, cognition, and sleep. Merck spinoff Organon stands by the drug’s safety profile.

Thousands of reports of patients experiencing depression, suicidal thoughts, and other psychiatric problems after using montelukast have been received by the FDA. At least 82 suicides linked to Singulair and its generic versions have been reported since 1998, with some involving individuals under 19. Lawsuits against Merck alleging knowledge of the drug’s impact on the brain are ongoing.



Read more at Investing.com: Exclusive-US FDA finds widely used asthma drug impacts the brain By Reuters