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Prescription for peril?
"He said he didn't know why he felt so bad. He said 'Sometimes you feel like you can't take it.' "

By CATHLEEN F. CROWLEY, Staff writer
First published: Saturday, March 29, 2008

QUEENSBURY -- Seventeen days after Cody Miller started taking medication for his seasonal allergy, the 15-year-old killed himself.
     
Miller's parents believe their son's medication, Singulair, caused his death in August.
Kate and David Miller of Queensbury appeared on national morning television shows on Friday to tell their story and warn other parents about psychological side effects they believe are linked to Singulair. The drug, which is prescribed for asthma and allergies, is manufactured by Merck & Co.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced Thursday that it is investigating the possible connection between Singulair and suicide. In October, Merck added "suicidality" to the drug's label; Merck has changed Singulair's label and safety information three other times over the past 12 months to include side effects of anxiousness, depression and tremors.
Singulair, Merck's top-selling drug, earned the company $4.3 billion last year. It has been on the market 10 years. In clinical trials with more than 11,000 patients, one suicide attempt was reported, according to Merck, but the company said it was not necessarily linked to the Singulair.
"Essentially, (the FDA) has not drawn any conclusions about Singulair and suicide; it's just an issue that they are going to look at," said Ron Rogers, a Merck spokesman.
Cody Miller was the only child of Kate Miller, a hair salon owner, and David Miller, a state correction officer.
The Millers questioned their doctor when he changed Cody's allergy medication from Allegra to Singulair. They researched side effects on Merck's Web site and called the doctor again before filling the prescription.
"He said it was a perfectly safe drug with minimal side effects," Kate Miller said.
The first week on Singulair, Cody had leg cramps. The Millers didn't think much of it: Cody was working a summer job at a fun park and spent a lot of time on his feet.
"The second week, he was just not himself. He was very agitated, anxious, really having a hard time," Kate Miller said.
Cody was sweating profusely and couldn't calm down.
"He has never had any issues with emotional problems or depression or anything," his mother said.
Cody was heading into his sophomore year at Queensbury High School. He was nearly 6 feet tall with an athletic build. He played football and enjoyed hiking, skiing, wrestling and jumping on the family's trampoline.
The Millers attributed Cody's behavior to the normal turmoil of the teenage years.
On the day Cody killed himself, he came home from work agitated.
"He was hot and tired. His eyes were very red and very empty, like a person that has been so sleep deprived," Kate Miller said.
His parents sat him down to talk.
"He said he didn't know why he felt so bad. He said 'Sometimes you feel like you can't take it,' " Kate Miller said. "I said 'What is going on? What is the matter?' His legs were shaking. He was very, very nervous and upset."
Cody took a nap on their porch. The family ordered pizza and Kate Miller sent Cody upstairs for a shower when he woke up."Instead of taking a shower, he hung himself," said Kate Miller, as her voice broke with emotion.
As the family searched for answers after Cody's suicide, they dissected his computer for clues and found nothing to suggest he was unhappy. They found a Web site of testimonials about psychological side effects experienced by adults and children taking Singulair.
Almost simultaneously, Merck in October added "suicidality" to Singulair's drug information pamphlet. The term encompasses a range of behaviors from suicidal thoughts to attempted suicide and suicide.
The Millers contacted state Sen. Elizabeth Little, R-Queensbury, and U.S. Rep. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-Greenport. They reached out to the media and will soon tell their story to the FDA.
"It's very difficult to do this. This child was our only child," Kate Miller said. "We are fighting a fight to get information to people. It's not right when they tell you the benefits outweigh the risks and they don't tell you what the risks are."
Cathleen F. Crowley can be reached at 454-5348, or by e-mail at ccrowley@timesunion.com.

I realize that this child died right after starting to take this medication, but really, is the medication the ONLY reason that this happened?  I mean, he had to have some other issues in his life that brought this forward, but instead, we just have to look at the little pill that he started taking just a week before.  

Personally, I've been taking it for more than 2 weeks (actually, a few years, every day) and I have had no side effects of this type.  

I think that they should really take a look at charging the parents with some sort of crime.  I mean really, look at these comments...

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The first week on Singulair, Cody had leg cramps. The Millers didn't think much of it: Cody was working a summer job at a fun park and spent a lot of time on his feet.
"The second week, he was just not himself. He was very agitated, anxious, really having a hard time," Kate Miller said.
Cody was sweating profusely and couldn't calm down.
"He has never had any issues with emotional problems or depression or anything," his mother said.

Ok, so the first week on a medication, you have cramps, the next week, you're depressed, although you've never had any signs of depression...and you don't contact the doctor to say that there's SOMETHING wrong, whether it goes with the idea of a side-effect with the new medication or not?  I mean, if you started taking a medication and cramping with no other changes and then had major mood swings soon after, wouldn't you be heading back to the doctor thinking something wasn't working?

IDK, just my POV.

As a teenager he might have also been drinking those Monster/Red bull etc.......I know folks with raised liver enzymes after drinking this crap like it was water......maybe folks shouldn't be drinking those drinks and taking singulair{or anyother medication, alot of them get filtered through the liver}----and we are worried about our drinking water.......

there is no cure for stupid or greed,,,but there is a cure for ignorance.....

duh, the government says it's okay to sell so it must be 'safe'.........the government says it's okay for SI to on the aquafir too........

Kevin, you have a point. If I gave my kids medicine or even myself for that matter and saw a change like these, I'd call the doctor or pharmacist. But, we really don't have the whole story. Ya know the minute by minute, day by day. Clearly an overview.
I do believe that parents, for the most part, cause I know there are some awful ones out there, are good parents. They truly do the very best they can.