A MUM has opened up about how her son tried to kill himself when he was five after taking a common asthma drug that is linked to mental health disorders.
Harrison Sellick, from Melbourne, Australia, was first prescribed montelukast when he was two years old.
Supplied (Vanessa Sellick)Harrison Sellick (centre), from Melbourne, Australia, was first prescribed montelukast when he was two years old but suffered serious side effects, his mum Vanessa says[/caption]
Supplied (Vanessa Sellick)Harrison, who is now 18, still suffers with obsessive compulsive disorder symptoms, she says[/caption]
His mum Vanessa said he started having mental health problems by the age of three and talked about wanting to die by four, but his doctors never made the connection to the drug.
He came off the medication shortly before turning five but his symptoms got worse in the weeks after, shortly before he attempted suicide.
Vanessa told The Sun: “We started having to lock ourselves in the house as he kept fleeing. We now know that was during withdrawal. This is when he had his suicide attempt.
“He jumped in front of a car that missed him. His action was very deliberate. It was terrifying as I was just behind him but not close enough to stop him.
“It makes me feel ill remembering it. He looked at me before he jumped. I held him so tightly afterwards.”
Montelukast — also known as Singulair — was prescribed more than 4million times in the UK in 2022, according to NHS figures.
The 25-year-old medication is used to treat asthma symptoms, and is regularly given to children as young as six months old.
However, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency issued an important safety announcement in September 2019 highlighting the potential for “neuropsychiatric reactions”.
These can include “speech impairment and obsessive-compulsive symptoms”, it said.
Some patients have reported suffering hallucinations, including one child who said they saw red-eyed demons and melting walls.
The NHS lists mood changes, depression, aggression and thoughts of self-harm among the drug’s serious side effects.
Harrison, who is now 18, was first prescribed the drug back in 2007.
He started experiencing “really long meltdowns” that lasted an hour-and-a-half and made distressing comments “about death and self-loathing”, Vanessa said.
Harrison came off the drug after recovering from asthma but his mental health symptoms accelerated initially, culminating in his tragic suicide attempt.
Thankfully he survived, but Vanessa said he has continued to suffer with long-term reactions, including symptoms of obsessive compulsive disorder.
Vanessa is now campaigning with a global support group of 20,000-plus members to introduce clear warning labels on montelukast boxes in the UK, Australia and elsewhere.
She said: “We can’t continue to let families go through this trauma. We have over 20,000 members in our group and the stories are eerily similar.
“The UK and Australia are trailing behind the US and Europe who both have a black box warning.
“Drug companies should be required to have consistent warnings across the world. Geography does not seem to play a role in these side effects.”
We can’t continue to let families go through this trauma
Dr Alison Cave, MHRA chief safety officer, said patient safety is “is our top priority” but “no effective medicine is without risk”.
She said: “Since publishing a Drug Safety Update on montelukast in September 2019, we have conducted a further review into the risk of neuropsychiatric reactions with montelukast and are seeking independent advice from the Pharmacovigilance Expert Advisory Group (PEAG).
“Patients should continue to take montelukast as advised. Stopping medication without advice from a healthcare professional can be harmful.
“Please speak to your GP about any concerns and report any suspected adverse reactions to the Yellow Card scheme.”
Organon, which makes Singulair, said: “Nothing is more important to Organon than the safety of our medicines and the people who use them.
“Reports of adverse events are taken seriously and, as with all of our medicines, we continually monitor the safety of Singulair.
“We remain confident in the efficacy and safety profile of Singulairwhen used in accordance with the FDA-approved Prescribing Information.
“The product label for Singulair contains appropriate information regarding Singulair’s benefits, risks and reported adverse reactions.”
It added: “Organon is confident that it has communicated to health care providers and patients complete and appropriate information regarding Singulair for the safe and effective use of the medicine in line with the prescribing information.
“We encourage patients to discuss any questions or concerns about taking Singulair with their health care provider.”
He started experiencing “really long meltdowns” that lasted an hour-and-a-half and made distressing comments “about death and self-loathing”, Vanessa saidSupplied (Vanessa Sellick)
YOU’RE NOT ALONE
EVERY 90 minutes in the UK a life is lost to suicide.
EVERY 90 minutes in the UK a life is lost to suicide.
It doesn’t discriminate, touching the lives of people in every corner of society – from the homeless and unemployed to builders and doctors, reality stars and footballers.
It’s the biggest killer of people under the age of 35, more deadly than cancer and car crashes.
Yet it’s rarely spoken of, a taboo that threatens to continue its deadly rampage unless we all stop and take notice, now.
That is why The Sun launched the You’re Not Alone campaign.
The aim is that by sharing practical advice, raising awareness and breaking down the barriers people face when talking about their mental health, we can all do our bit to help save lives.
Let’s all vow to ask for help when we need it, and listen out for others… You’re Not Alone.
If you, or anyone you know, needs help dealing with mental health problems, the following organisations provide support:
CALM, www.thecalmzone.net, 0800 585 858
Heads Together, www.headstogether.org.uk
Mind, www.mind.org.uk, 0300 123 3393
Papyrus, www.papyrus-uk.org, 0800 068 41 41
Samaritans, www.samaritans.org, 116 123