Asthma drug linked to suicide attempts, thoughts of self-harm

From Canada.com:
The side-effects of a popular asthma medication that has been sold in Canada for 12 years has been linked to suicide attempts and thoughts of suicide, as well as feelings of depression and hostility.

The July 2009 issue of the Canadian Adverse Reaction Newsletter from Health Canada cites montelukast sodium — which has been marketed in Canada since 1997 as Singulair — as having several connections to the alarming reactions.

Between its introduction to the Canadian market and Jan. 31, 2009, Singulair has been linked to two suicide attempts in Canada and 11 cases where users had thoughts of suicide or self-harm. In 29 other cases, 14 of which were labelled as "serious adverse reactions," those affected suffered from depression, hostility or other psychosis. No deaths have been linked to the drug's side-effects. ...more