Singulair and Churg-strauss syndrome

[agirltech2]

I was diagnosed with allergy induced asthma (which I am still not certain I have).  The Doctor gave me Albuterol, (which helped, but I was using it too frequently), they tried other inhalers which seemed to cause worse effects than the asthma.  So my doc gave me Singulair which immediately helped me to breath.  Since children were given this I felt it's probably ok to take.  After only 3 days my feet started to tingle, my hands and then my legs.  By the 5th day I ended up in the hospital emergency room with the most severe, excruciating pain I have ever felt in my legs and hands I have ever felt in my life. My Eosinophil count was very high (28.8)   I felt it was a reaction to the Singulair.  The doctor said no, that's not possible.  I could no longer walk, I had parathesis of my lower legs, feet and right hand, and was in the hospital for almost 2 months.  I was confined to bed or a wheelchair and used a walker.  It was the doctor's theory that I had Churg-Strauss Syndrome.  When I left the hospital I was given 80 mg of Oxycodone 4x day for pain, Percocett 4x day, Gabapentin, Prednisone 80 mg, then Methotrexate (low dose), as well as Valium for fear and terror that was caused by the Prednisone.  What a mess.  My own doctor knows nothing about Churg-Strauss or Vasculitis, and the Rheumatologist I see seems confined
to her own limited knowledge of the disease and won't go beyond her own knowledge.  Since I believe this is an allergic reaction to a medication (and if it truly is, will I get better?)   Will these dead nerves come back?  Will exercise help or what else can I do to get better?   This is the most devastating thing that has ever happened in my life.  
For the record, (and against all advice), I quit  (tapered very slowly off) Prednisone, stopped the Methotrexate after taking for 7 weeks, stopped Gabapentin, Valium, Oxycodone and Percocett.  I am going to a Naturopathic Doctor, who is also an Orthomolecular Nutritionist, a Darkfield Microscopist and acupuncturist.  I am no longer on the meds (which caused more problems than the disease), and physically I feel so much better.  I know this is a lot to write, but I really want to warn others of the horrible side effects of Singulair, that can happen so fast!  When I tried to find answers as to what was happening, my doctor didn'rt know, nor did he try to find out, the company that makes Singulair had nothing about this side effect.  People beware of pharmaceuticals!

[ambapanda]

hi there i also have churg strauss syndrome and was diagnosed April 2003....would love to chat or email.....linda.***@**** am hoping that you are in Australia like i am...but it doesnt matter if your not...our syndrome is so rare and frustrating but we can live with it....hope to hear from you or anyone with our wonderful syndrome...
Thanks Linda

[worriedmother3]

It is incredible that you are telling this story.  my son has had pins nad needles for almost two years, and we have been to all kinds of doctors doing every kind of test to figure it out.  It has really effected his life.  He can barely sit (a problem for an eight year old in school)  Churg strauss has been mentioned because he has had many cases of pneumonia (he has asthma as well)  Anyway we have been finding no answers and we recently took him into a well check with his immunologist.  He was prescribed neurotin by his neurologist and my immunlogist told me to get him off of the singulair before we gave him the neruotin.  He said that the side effect was kind of rare, but possible.  Of course we took him off of the singulair, but it hasn't taken the pins and needles away.  I hope that he will have some relief at some point.  We are planning of giving him the neruontin before the beginning of the school year to take away some of the discomfort.  How are you doing now?  Have you had any changes?