I have been taking Singulair since it first came out in 1998. I do have to say it has been a miracle drug for me, as it has helped control my asthma, allergies, exercise induced asthma, pretty much everything. I also take Advair and it has been a miracle too! Before taking both these drugs I was a mess, in the Dr.s in the morning for a routine check up, no problems on my breathing test, 90% oxygen levels, and then in the ER by 6 pm that night, being admitted for low oxygen levels and asthma.
At that time I was about 135 lbs and in great shape. I had been working out with a trainer and was very energetic. Now I am MUCH heavier and no matter how much I work out or how much I watch my "diet" I cannot lose the weight. I can lose 1-2 lbs, but that is it. I have been working out with a trainer, been on Weight Watchers, Jenny Craig, and nothing. I couldn't figure out what was wrong until I saw this post and was amazed. I am going to see my DR soo and see if he can get me on something else and see what happens. I have also had some major mood changes and I wonder if that is the singulair too.
We will see. I will post an update as soon as I see my DR and figure this out. Please keep the posts coming and let us all know if you went off Singulair and lost the weight.
At that time I was about 135 lbs and in great shape. I had been working out with a trainer and was very energetic. Now I am MUCH heavier and no matter how much I work out or how much I watch my "diet" I cannot lose the weight. I can lose 1-2 lbs, but that is it. I have been working out with a trainer, been on Weight Watchers, Jenny Craig, and nothing. I couldn't figure out what was wrong until I saw this post and was amazed. I am going to see my DR soo and see if he can get me on something else and see what happens. I have also had some major mood changes and I wonder if that is the singulair too.
We will see. I will post an update as soon as I see my DR and figure this out. Please keep the posts coming and let us all know if you went off Singulair and lost the weight.
wow. I have been on singulair since '99 - I was 17 and 110 lbs. Now I'm 26 and 195. This finding just breaks my heart. I had changed medications so much when I was young that I never made the connection. I can't believe this stupid drug made me so fat. There is no other explination - I was always so skinny! I'm calling my doc tomorrow. Thanks yall.
hi all i been on singulair for two days, and i see my legs are geting biger, dont no about you all , but if you get 300 pounds you will still have a hard time breathing , no one no,s your body better then you, and i no mine, two days is all it took for me, i will not take it again.
Wow, I too have experienced a significant weight gain. I am 35 years old and always weighed around 100-105 lbs (pending what time of the month it is), but when I started taking Singulair I noticed that my clothes were getting very tight and I haven't changed my eating habits. Within a matter of a little over a month I gained a little over 10 pounds. And, like others, mostly in the stomach area, although my thighs and hip area did get a little larger also, but not as noticable as the stomach. I was able to breath a lot better on the medication and I was also taking it because I get severe nasal infections, which it helped out a lot too. But, I think I'll be going off the meds, because I don't feel comfortable with this weight gain, and don't want to gain even more. Also, the same as others, diet and exercise did vertually nothing for me.
I'm echoing everyone else on this post! I could not understand why I've suddenly put on weight when my body just doesn't do that. I've been on Singulair about 3 weeks and have gained over 5 pounds. To some that may not seem like much but it is very unusual for me. I never have a weight problem and I refuse to go with the conventional wisdom of it's your age (56). I have done absolutely nothing different in the past month except start the Singulair. And yes, the weight is around the middle and back. Back fat is totally new to me. Thank goodness my asthma isn't that bad and I can get by okay without it. My naturopath confirmed my suspicion that it might be the Singulair. She's putting me on a couple herbs. Too bad doctors won't acknowledge this. It definitely sounds like it affects your metabolism.
I have been at my WITS END trying to figure out why I cannot lose weight. I have tried everything. I eat 2 lean cuisines a day and have been on the p90X program which is an intense weight training program COMBINED with an additional 30 min of cardio every single day. Yet I cannot lose the weight. This is impossible logically and scientifically. I thought about having my thyroid tested. Singulair is the ONLY medication I take. I thought, surely a little tiny allergy pill couldn't be causing this weight issue so I didn't give it much thought.
I have eliminated every other possibility. After reading these posts I feel that there is a high probability that Singulair could be causing my problem. I will stop taking it for 30 days as a test and let everyone know. My asthma is mild and I have found that medications such as Advair make it worse.
I have eliminated every other possibility. After reading these posts I feel that there is a high probability that Singulair could be causing my problem. I will stop taking it for 30 days as a test and let everyone know. My asthma is mild and I have found that medications such as Advair make it worse.
I have been off and on Singulair for about 4 months now, and do not faithfully remember to take it every day mind you. But I have gained almost 10 lbs in 4 months. I work out 4 times a week in the evening and have also started walking on the treadmill for at least 1/2 hour every day on my lunch as I am panicking here about this weight gain. I lost 35 lbs 8 years ago and NEVER have gained any more than 3-4 lbs which we all do here and there and am totally stressed and strangely enough all the weight gain is in my back under my bra and my waist and stomach. I never was told about this potential side effect but was put on it after being admitted to the hospital with my asthma for two days back in late April, was also on Prednisone IV for those two days and then for two weeks after, as well as three other puffers and Singulair. Now am taking Advair, Singulair and Ventolin when needed but I hate to say I can't stand the way I look. I am the darndest healthy eater you have ever seen and everyone always tells me to live a little and also to stop working out so much but my weight has not budged, I even tried diet pills and my boyfriend lost 7 lbs and I in fact gained a lb. I am ready to scream and am very depressed. If I stop taking this, has anyone done this and the weight eventually came off? Help....immensely depressed..... :'(
I have been off and on Singulair for about 4 months now, and do not faithfully remember to take it every day mind you. But I have gained almost 15 lbs in 4 months. I work out 4 times a week in the evening and have also started walking on the treadmill for at least 1/2 hour every day on my lunch as I am panicking here about this weight gain. I lost 35 lbs 8 years ago and NEVER have gained any more than 3-4 lbs which we all do here and there and am totally stressed and strangely enough all the weight gain is in my back under my bra and my waist and stomach. I never was told about this potential side effect but was put on it after being admitted to the hospital with my asthma for two days back in late April, was also on Prednisone IV for those two days and then for two weeks after, as well as three other puffers and Singulair. Now am taking Advair, Singulair and Ventolin when needed but I hate to say I can't stand the way I look. I am the darndest healthy eater you have ever seen and everyone always tells me to live a little and also to stop working out so much but my weight has not budged, I even tried diet pills and my boyfriend lost 7 lbs and I in fact gained a lb. I am ready to scream and am very depressed. If I stop taking this, has anyone done this and the weight eventually came off? Help....immensely depressed..... :'(
I have been on Singulair for 6 months and have been slowly gaining weight in my middle section as well. What a relief to finally find this thread and realize it's the Singulair. I am also on Advair and Ventolin (as needed). I don't know what to do now though... I went off Singulair for a month and my asthma flaired... so I know it's working for me. Now I am struggling to get it back under control... but I hate the way I look!
Is there nothing else we can take that does not have the side effect of weight gain?? If anyone is on another drug, please share it with us!!
Thanks...
Is there nothing else we can take that does not have the side effect of weight gain?? If anyone is on another drug, please share it with us!!
Thanks...
I too went on singulair last year and have gained 10 pounds. I lost almost 70 pounds five years ago and have stuck around the same weight since then...until now. I noticed in my pants and back...I can't zip up any of my dresses anymore. I can understand a pound or two of gain from eating...but not 10 in five months.
I took myself off of it a week or two ago. I'm worried though the weight won't drop with it. This sux.
I took myself off of it a week or two ago. I'm worried though the weight won't drop with it. This sux.
I agree with everybody on the post, I have been wondering why I cannot lose weight. I worked out everyday for 45 days and some days barely ate i only lost 4 pounds. It has been almost 2 weeks since I took singulair and I havent even exercised and Im already down 3 pounds. also, I felt a little weird when I quit taking them. now i dont know if it was even helping me. i think i will stick to claritin for now.
I started to feel better because I started a powerful healing program called Isagenix, and decided to discontinue the Singulair. I stopped taking it for 2 weeks and I Caught a virus. I was frightened to get asthma symptoms so I thought I might try to start taking it again. That morning I woke with the most horrible pain in my entire thigh!. I could barely walk. It was as if my muscle was in complete spasm for the entire night while I was sleeping and It Hurt in the worst way. It took 4 days for the pain to finally subside. The only difference was the singulair. So I stopped taking it . Now since I haven't taken it in 2 weeks I have lost 15 lbs. This drug should not be available to people and should be banned from the market.
If You are on it get off it ASAP. the benefits do NOT outweigh the side effects.
If You are on it get off it ASAP. the benefits do NOT outweigh the side effects.
I am so thankful I found this post! I've gained 20 pounds over 2 years, but have been unable to take them off with diet/exercise, and in fact, continue to gain weight. I am taking Singulair and Asmanex, and have been for 2 years. My doctor said the medicine would not make me gain weight. I have gained weight in the same places other responders have -- in my mid-section, where no matter how much weight I've gained before I've never gained it there.
Thanks so much for the posts!
Thanks so much for the posts!
I am 32 and have been on Singulair for about 2 years as well. I have also gained 20 pounds in the last two years. I work out a lot. In fact, over the last several weeks, I have been doing 1 hour of intense cardio and lifting weights everyday and am still gaining weight. I am going to stop taking it and see if I can lose weight easier. I'll let everyone know in one month.
ps
My diet has never changed in the last two years
ps
My diet has never changed in the last two years
I am completely shocked over what I've read in the post so far. I have been taking Singulair in combination with Zyrtec for about a year now and have gained a whopping 20 lbs which has caused much distress for me mentally. I have been, like the others posted before me, working out and eating not only healthy calories, but well below what I know to be my necessary calories each day to just maintain my current weight. I have been in the fitness industry as a certified personal trainer and group fitness instructor for over 10 years and so I know what it takes to lead a healthy lifestyle and loose unwanted lbs. I have been so hard on myself and since Singulair and Zyrtec are the only meds I take I questioned my Dr. and did have my thyroid tested, which came back well within the normal range. The singulair works so well for my breathing issues but I'm not sure it is worth the additional weight gain. To be honest I am quite MAD and yet relieved it wasn't just in my mind. My story is just like everyone elses on this site, so it obviously isn't. I can't believe I'm paying over a hundred dollars a month for a prescription that has caused such significant weight gain. I had suspected it could be the drug and read the packaging and even looked up their website to check on side effects there and when nothing was posted, I just pointed the finger back at myself for not working out enough or eating too much. I didn't google it until tonight and I will not be taking the pill one more day. I am even thinking of calling my local news station to try to inform others who are out there like me. I'll write back in to let you all know what happened as I will continue to eat very health and exercise daily.