FDA Checks Into Singulair Suicide Risk

FDA Checks Into Singulair Suicide Risk

Possible Link Between Singulair Use and Suicide Risk Isn't Certain; Investigation May Take 9 Months

March 27, 2008 -- The FDA today announced that it is working with the drug company Merck to investigate a possible link between Merck's asthma and allergy drug Singulair and behavior/mood changes, suicidality (suicidal thinking and behavior), and suicide.

The FDA's investigation may take nine months. As of now, there's no proof that Singulair directly affects suicide risk.

Meanwhile, the FDA calls Singulair \"effective\" and advises patients with questions not to stop taking Singulair before talking to their doctor.

The FDA also asks health care professionals and caregivers to monitor patients taking Singulair for suicidality and changes in behavior and mood.

Singulair is used to treat asthma and the symptoms of allergic rhinitis (sneezing, stuffy nose, runny nose, itching of the nose) and to prevent exercise-induced asthma. It's in a class of drugs called leukotriene receptor antagonists.

Other leukotriene modifying medications include the asthma drugs Accolate, Zyflo, and Zyflo CR. The FDA is reviewing postmarketing reports it has received of behavior/mood changes, suicidality, and suicide in patients who took Accolate, Zyflo, and Zyflo CR and will assess whether further investigation is warranted.

Singulair Time Line
The FDA notes that over the past year, Merck has updated Singulair's prescribing information and patient information to include the following postmarketing adverse events: tremor (March 2007), depression (April 2007), suicidality (October 2007), and anxiousness (February 2008).

In February 2008, the FDA and Merck discussed how best to communicate these labeling changes to prescribers and patients. According to the FDA, Merck plans to highlight the recent changes in the prescribing information in face-to-face interactions with prescribers and to provide prescribers patient information leaflets about Singulair.

In response to inquiries received by the FDA, the FDA has asked Merck to evaluate Singulair study data for more information about suicidality and suicide. The FDA is also reviewing its postmarketing reports of behavior/mood changes, suicidality, and suicide in patients who took Singulair.

Singulair's web site includes the most current prescribing information and patient information for Singulair, according to the FDA.

http://www.webmd.com/asthma/news ... gulair-suicide-risk