Researchers from the US government have uncovered alarming new evidence linking the asthma drug Singulair (montelukast) to serious mental health issues, including depression and suicidal thoughts. The findings, shared at the American College of Toxicology meeting in Austin, Texas, suggest that the widely prescribed medication, originally marketed by Merck & Co., could significantly impact brain function in some patients.
Once hailed as a revolutionary alternative to inhalers, Singulair was introduced in 1998 as a simple pill to treat asthma, with Merck advertising it as having minimal side effects. However, by 2019, thousands of reports from patients revealed disturbing cases of neuropsychiatric episodes,
including suicides, linked to the drug. While these reports did not establish a direct cause-and-effect relationship, they raised red flags for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
In response, the FDA added a “black box” warning to Singulair’s label in 2020, highlighting potential mental health risks such as suicidal thoughts and behaviors. New research now suggests the drug may bind to brain receptors involved in mood, cognition, and sleep, intensifying concerns about its long-term effects on mental health.
While further studies are underway, early findings show that montelukast could behave similarly to drugs known to cause psychiatric side effects, such as the antipsychotic risperidone. Experts warn that Singulair’s interaction with the brain may be more widespread than initially thought, with a notable impact on areas that regulate mood and impulse control.
Despite these findings, Merck and its spinoff company, Organon, maintain confidence in the drug’s safety profile. However, the mounting evidence, combined with thousands of reports of psychiatric problems in both adults and children, has sparked a growing concern for patient safety.
In a tragic case, a father recalled how his son, Nick, took his own life just days after starting Singulair, prompting calls for further investigation into the drug’s mental health implications.
