Montelukast, commonly prescribed for asthma under the brand name Singulair and sold in Morocco, has been linked to an increased risk of suicide, according to recent U.S. research.
The study, which found that the drug can cross the blood-brain barrier and affect mood-regulating brain cells, raised concerns after reports emerged of children, some as young as five, experiencing suicidal thoughts while on the medication, the Daily Mail reported.
In the UK, where over 4 million prescriptions are issued annually, the drug is typically prescribed when inhalers fail to control asthma, with 350,000 users, including 35,000 children.
Despite previous warnings, the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has recently updated patient leaflets to emphasize the risk of neuropsychiatric side effects.
While the drug remains widely used, with benefits outweighing risks for most patients, advocacy groups continue to press for clearer information and better awareness, especially after high-profile cases linking the drug to suicides.
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